Not Just "Missy Cissy"-

Eyes wide open... it's still dark. What time is it?
I raise my head off the pillow to see the face of the alarm clock over the blonde head lying next to me... it's 2:30. Here we go again!

We push the doohickey on top of the thermostat all the way to the left before we go to bed, so the temperature in the house gradually drops to 50 degrees overnight. On top of this we have a floor fan stirring the air to make some white noise, so the wind chill in the bedroom could be even less than 50. At this temperature my 12 pound, furry, "living hot water bottle" finds it most comfortable to burrow beneath the covers and curl up in my crotch. So far she hasn't budged... another indicator that the room is mighty chilly.

Oh well. I'll lie here quietly. The waterbed is heated. My living hot water bottle is in place. I listen to Sara Jean snore... wait, that's a misnomer... HUM. It's actually a comforting sound, not irritating at all. Over the sound of the floor fan I hear the refrigerator motor kick on downstairs... my hearing surprises me sometimes... I'm not deaf to all frequencies quite yet.

We're half a mile from the railroad tracks. I hear the drumming of the big diesel locomotive idling. In the distance I hear the approach of another train. It reaches the crossing and blows the horn and I smile. In the wee hours of the morning the engineers cheat... they're supposed to blow "Loooonnnnnng, loooooonnnnnnng, short, loooooonnnnnng", sustaining the last long toot all the way into the crossing. At this hour, in deference to those living right next to the tracks, most of them pull the rope for their horns about halfway and get a half-volume toot. Sometimes their horns sound more like goats crying out for a mate. After this train passes, the engine I heard idling speeds up, then I hear another half-hearted horn bleating. He was waiting for the other train to pass so the track would be clear. Maybe one was going Northbound and the other South? I can't tell from my listening point, but I bet that was the case.

I gently raise my head and glance at the clock... 3:05.
The alarm to wake me will sound at 5:40... I have a dreaded day shift today. I lie and listen to the wind blowing outside and I'm glad I don't have to work in it. Twenty-five degrees with a 10 knot wind does not make me happy. Lying in bed next to this beauty with a loyal dog helping keep me warm is what makes me happy. The thought of having to get up while it's still dark outside is stressful to me, and is what is causing this insomnia.
Head raised... 3:47.

The last time I raised my head before dropping back into slumber the clock read 4:11. I woke five minutes before the alarm went off and took care of my bathroom needs before waking Sara Jean. She has a big day today and needed to be up early too.

Coffee.
Egg sandwich... yum!
Lunch bucket and thermos in the car, along with other work needs, I'm on the road a little after 6 A.M.. Flying weather this morning will be nice, but the forecast for this afternoon includes rain and snow... normal for this time of year.

At work my mechanic announces he has "phase inspections" to perform on the aircraft, and it will be "out of service" until Noon. We start the tug, attach it to the BK117, and carefully pull it into the hangar. When I finish this post and push "publish" I'll lie down and catch a nap...
Remember, "E.M.S." means "Earn Money Sleeping".
I hope you slept better than I did last night, but if not I hope you can make a little money today while taking a nap!

So let's hear about selling homes, giving away kitties, working out at the Y, doing the same old work for a "new" employer, recovering from the tragic loss last weekend, and anything else that might be happening to our beloved VK's.

Friday, 5 February 2009

I woke to a cool, gray, rainy day today...
The last two nights have pretty much been non-flyable due to weather. Wednesday night the risk was fog formation. Last night I got to work to find the helicopter already in the hangar...
Ceiling and viz too low to go, and the forecast was bad for the whole evening. Still, hospitals call to see if we can come transport some patient in desperate need and we have to tell 'em NO!
When I hired on for this job, one of the pilots that brought me on board here had a saying-
"Some days it just sucks to need a helicopter transport. Pick your days to get hurt or sick carefully."
The forecast for today and much of tonight is still schmutz. I'm taking my tax information to work with me to start getting it in order, and the neat part about this job is that I'll be paid pretty well while doing that.

I chatted at length via Facebook with Tools yesterday afternoon.
He's still doing well... sounded to be in great spirits. But his Dad is not so good. Tools indicated he could die at any time. The route Tools takes to come home brings him within a few miles of Casa Greybeard, and he has stopped to spend the night here before on his way home. I reminded him we have a perfectly good empty bed downstairs, and cold beer in the 'fridge. It's another of those situations...
I liked and respected his Dad, so naturally you hate to hear he's perilously near the end of his life. But when Tool's shadow darkens our doorway there will be good times and once again great memories will be shared. Again, even the dark clouds have a silver lining.

Echo has her home for sale. DJ has a cat that needs a good home. Hawk and his bride are safely in Florida enjoying weather that I hope is much better than what we're experiencing here at home. And let's see... seems to me something out of the ordinary is happening Sunday, isn't it?
(I get paid well for watching TV too!)

I'm sure I'm forgetting something.
Bring all of us to speed with your news!

Madison Ave Memories

Pokin' around again, and once again you benefit from the fact I have a job where I can sit and surf...
A job that makes it nearly impossible to keep that slice of cake from ending up on my tush.
Lucky you. (Lucky me too, I guess.)

I ate there once, and it was a bad experience.
Next time ya see me... ask.
But we all drove by the place for years, and I was wondering if they were still in business...
They're not, but the family has opened another restaurant in Madison, Indiana.
(The review is a good one.)

And... GUESS WHAT?!!
I had an absolutely delightful chat with Carol C. (or Casey B.) this evening.
We talked for a half hour or so and still need some time to catch up.
I invited her to meet with us in Eufaula, so you guys need to join me in the "full court press" here.
Casey, you out there?

How Things Have Changed!

It would normally be on a Summer Friday or Saturday night-

"(Greybeard), check the total for me!"
The old cash register at the "Frostop" had a little door just above the keys that you could lift to expose a window that, when reset the night before, would show the day's total receipts.

"$112.oo"...
And there would be a celebration... business had been wild and we were exhausted from pushing hamburgers, pork tenderloins, and ice-cold root beer out the door, but WOW!
$112.00!

And from that total would be paid rent, insurance, power, gas, supplies to replenish inventory, cleaning supplies, wages, and a maintenance reserve.

Today, $112.00 covers a good meal and tip for two people at a 3-Star restaurant.
How times have changed, huh?

We're still shy a pilot, so I'm still working my tush off... (except the weather has kept us on the ground for three days straight.)
I wish I had good news to share, but in my opinion the best news of the decade happened last Tuesday, and you may not agree with me at all on that issue.

April and the Eufaula pilgrimage will be here before we know it. Remember H&C need your $200-per couple deposit by 28 February or so. YOU ARE PLANNING ON COMING, AREN'T YOU?
(Don't make me come over there to talk to you personally!)

Okay VK's...
Surely one of you has something exciting to share, right?
Click "Post a comment" below and spread your news.

To Casey (Carol) Bade-

If you are stopping by and visiting here, Casey, PLEASE leave a comment below and let us know!

Friends In Need

I'm tryin' like crazy to think of something lighthearted to say on this Friday Forum.
If you too are watching the National and International news right now you know...
It's hard.
But... "I get by with a little help from my friends".
So, friends... a little HELP, please.

Baby Boomers - Feeling your age yet?

Wait until someone asks if you’re still driving. That’ll make you feel it. Well, it’s happened to me. My vision has never been good, only corrected by glasses/contacts. Recently, it seems to have gotten worse. Some cloudiness. My right eye also had acquired a ‘floater’. That happened as I was driving and all of a sudden – I noticed what looked like small raindrops on the windshield. It was a clear day and I knew it wasn’t raining. I covered up my right eye and the ‘raindrops’ disappeared. Arrived at my destination and after a while, I wasn't seeing the spots. But I was left with a ‘floater’. Every time I tried to focus on it, it moved. It was like a ghost. Was I really seeing it? I did a little research and found that this was not unusual for my ‘age’. It happens… I don’t really notice my floater now. It is still there but, No big deal…. By coincidence though, I received a note from the Eye Doctor office saying it was time to come in for a check up. OK – normally, my thinking is “If it is not broke, Don’t fix it.” But, my insurance now covers eye exams and ‘helps’ a little with new glasses – so with some spousal encouragement, I made an appointment. Doc asks if there had been any change in my vision – I told him about the floater, but not about the cloudiness – my floater didn’t seem to be a big deal to him at all. But about half way thru the exam – he stops – steps back and asks if I am still driving at night ….. Well, after getting up off of the floor and sitting back down in the chair, I said “Yes, I am. What’s Up?” Cataracts.. Both eyes – right eye is worse. He set me up with a specialist. Went to him and he confirmed.

Good thing is – they are doing refractive surgery and hope to leave me with monovision. That means I will be able to see distance with the right eye and near with the other. I have been doing this for years with my contacts – just wearing one and it seems to work well. Because of the cataracts, Insurance will pay for most of it and I will not have to wear glasses or contacts. I have not been able to be without one or the other for a long time. BTW, first surgery went well. Back home within 2 hours. Next day follow up - less than 24 hours after - vision in my 'new' eye was almost 20/20. Get the left eye done in two weeks. I did tell the Doctor that I was a little disappointed. I now have dark circles under both eyes and I didn’t think that they were like that before the surgery. He didn’t buy it….

Now - Cinders says I need to get my hearing corrected next. Can your ears get cataracts? After that - What will be next???? I really don't want to think about it...

2010 – Everyone stay healthy and have a great New Year… Hope to see everyone soon.

Quiz

I didn't do well here.
Rita and other younger VK's will no doubt do better.
Give it a shot, then let the rest of us know how you did!

2010 !

Here we are...
The beginning of a new year and a new decade.
There's a lot of uncertainty around, but we all know that can lead to opportunity for those that are willing to take the risk and step through that "open door".

I just got back from helping my son move to L.A..
While there I got a call from Carol... she and Tracy were on their way home from Arizona. Bo just wrote to say Clint is driving to Mesa, AZ this week, and that she and her Mom will be headed that way by air. Safe travels to all!

For me, and for at least one other person we all know, 2009 has been unsettled because of workplace changes. Those changes continue for me, producing stress and nudging me toward retirement. I'm now fearful of the economy and the possibility of having to live on a fixed income, so I'm trying to hang on at work until the future is more clear.

Uncertain times are troubling.
It's nice to have friends that have become almost family when stress surrounds you.
Thanks everyone for your caring and concern.
Here's hoping the future is bright for us all!

Now, look into your crystal ball and tell us what you see.

The Kink In Morgantown Road

It's gone... Changed so much I can hardly recognize my old neighborhood when I return.
I know you remember it.
Southbound Morgantown road intersected Smith Valley road and there was a stop sign. Smith Valley and Morgantown roads then joined Westbound for about 100 feet before Morgantown assumed its own identity again and headed South past CGHS, then on in the general direction of Morgantown. Our house was the fifth house on the East side of the road, South of that intersection. I sometimes wonder if the amount of time I spend reflecting on that house... on that neighborhood... is a mental illness. I try to convince myself that what I'm really doing is trying to revert back to a simpler, safer time, when everything seemed clearer... happier.

At this time of year, life would slow down. We'd be out of school for the Christmas break. Those that were traveling to be with family would be cocooned with those loved ones at their destinations. Businesses would close.
I can remember going outside on Christmas Eve and listening to the quiet. It'd be so quiet, you could hear the leafless branches in the trees complaining about being pushed around by the slight wind. A car, almost always headed South on Morgantown, could be heard coming long before you could see it... the sound of its approach louder, and taking longer, than the sound of its retreat. And if we had snow on the ground, the quiet was even more noticeable... the snow acting as a natural insulation and sound dampener.

"You can't go home again"...
Those days are gone, aren't they? We're separated from that place by time, and "progress".
The kink in Morgantown road has been straightened. The stop sign has been replaced with a stop light. The neighborhood has grown, and traffic has increased.
But our memories remain.

I remember the quiet.
And it brings a warm stillness to my heart.
Have a safe, happy Christmas everyone, and thank you for being a part of my life.
For that, and for so much more, I thank our Lord on his birthday.

The Edge of Night

Home from school... dump the books and get ready to deliver "The Indianapolis News" to 47 customers. Of course the TV would be on in the background, whether or not someone was watching it. At that time of day the last of the day's six or so hours of "Soap Operas" would be on...
If my "recollector" is correct, it would be "The Secret Storm", or,
"The Edge of Night" playing as I got ready to go back out the door.

I no longer watch much network TV, but I heard the reports when "The Guiding Light" and "As The World Turns" were taken off the air.
I used to watch "The Young and the Restless" because there were a couple actresses I found attractive on that show... (Does anyone else watch TV with the sound muted?) A quick search shows it's apparently still a part of CBS TV's lineup, and for heaven's sake, I see the gal that played Mrs. Chancellor when I first saw the show is still part of the cast! She must be taking her Geritol!

Soap operas, game shows, children's programming, News, Weather, and Sports...
We've talked about it before... the role early TV played in our lives. Captain Kangaroo and Mr. GreenJeans were aimed at a younger audience than the class of '65, but we watched as we got dressed for school and Mommanurse loved that program. (Bunny Rabbit, Mr. Moose, and Grandfather!)
Got a memory you'd like to share?

It's a week until Christmas, folks.
Be safe, please.

CenterGrove.org

I signed up for classmates.com not knowing what I was getting myself into. If you've also signed up there, you know most of what you'd LIKE to do there cannot be done without ponying up extra cash. I'm still glad I signed up there...
Signing on there put me back in touch with two or three classmates, and for that I'm grateful.

When I'm sitting around at work waiting on the phone to ring I frequently enter "Greenwood, Indiana" or "Center Grove High School" into a search engine just to see what turns up. Two nights ago when I did that, this site came up. The fact that it has a .org address means it's a non-profit, and I'm hopeful signing on there will beat a few schoolmates out of the bushes.

Drop by and take a look, then sign on if you're of a mind to.
But first... what's goin' on in your life?

_ _.. (Dah, Dah dit dit)

Short night, and I'm fighting sleep as I post this one.
I'll publish this much, then add to it later.
Got a clue?

ADDED LATER:
Spring 1967?
I've finished Basic Training and Advanced Training and I'm a holdover at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina waiting for my orders sending me to O.C.S. to be cut. I hear this Dude from my High School class is on the base, so I go to visit him.
He's living in this G.P. medium tent!
Now ordinarily that wouldn't be so bad, but it's ********* cold outside right now! They're heating this stupid tent with a stove in the center, just like it's 1867 and his next assignment will be with George Custer out West somewhere!
And what's he doing while he's enjoying the ambience at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina?
He's learning Morse Code, for heaven's sake!
Morse Code!
That's like... a foreign language from outer space, isn't it?
Jeez!

Eugene Jinks

Sad news arrived this morning from Mr. L.-

(GB), I read the obit of Everett Eugene Jinks' obit in today's DAILY JOURNAL. I taught Eugene in the sixth grade at Center Grove in 1958-59. He lived on Smokey Rd., not far from school. He was a likable kid, and he was one of my special kids. He had a talent of singing. I had purchased a tape recorder, and on occasions, would bring it to school, and play around with it. Everett had a nice voice but would not sing in front of the class, but would sing in the closet with the tape recorder, then come out and we would play his singing to the class. He invited me to his birthday party.
We lost touch but when both of us were older I did get a telephone call from him wanting me to come to INDY to hear him sing in his band. I didn't make it, but now wished I had.

Gene was in the class of '65 for a while and was set back in either our 5th or 6th year. If I recall correctly he had a brother about a year younger named Ernie.
Ron S. and I also had a standing invitation from Gene to come see him at a downtown club, and we had the pleasure of seeing him perform. His band was a Country and Western band, and I remember being impressed with Gene's voice and presence on stage.

As you have more information, please post it in comments here.
He was a good guy. I'm sorry he's gone.

Ten Guys From Indiana University-

These guys were selling a Christmas CD on QVC today. Why have I never heard of 'em before?

I Am Thankful

Today is a day to reflect and be thankful for our blessings.
My son is home. We HAVE a home to which he can return. We are warm, dry, and relatively without worries. In just a few hours there will be a feast on the table we use only two or three times a year that a large percentage of the world's population cannot even fathom, yet we can (and do) take this blessing for granted.
I have grown to know many of you better than I ever knew you years ago because of our shared thoughts here at VK. I have met and will meet some of you in the future because we share a common geographical and, for the most part, a philosophical bond.

I think we're all concerned about the near future. But we know we have the will and the resources to get this ship of State turned around and headed in the right direction, eventually.

So I'll share my prayer of thanks with you:
God, thank you for the strengthening relationship I have with my schoolmates and their spouses. I know I am blessed, and I give you thanks not just today, but EVERY day, for the gifts you have given us.

Everyone... classmates, schoolmates, friends and family...
If you are traveling today, please be careful.
From our house to yours...
Thank you for sharing.

"I Will Have Milk"

It's a phrase that has stuck with me all these years. Someone still in contact with Rick P. please ask him if he still remembers saying it...
He heard it in a movie or cartoon and liked it enough he said it over and over...
Apparently the character was in a bar and was asked what he wanted to drink. The response?
"I will have milk." And the phrase was said in a lilting way...
The first three words in rising pitch, with the last, "milk", at a lower pitch than the first. It WAS funny when Rick said it!
(Another phrase he picked up that I know he heard on some cartoon was "Why-for did you bury me in this COLD, COLD ground?" )
Isn't it odd that those things are memories that pop up for me now and then?

Do you remember the "Golden Guernsey Dairy"?
Someone help me with exactly where it was...
My vague memory of it was somewhere in the Southport area on the West side of a major arterial street. I thought the cows were beautiful... a golden caramel color and white. The milk was good too. But maintaining a dairy is hard work for little money, so I'm not surprised "Golden Guernsey" is long-gone, and that land is now covered with homes.
But the memory remains.

Got something, anything to contibute?
I think TD and Cinders are in Southern Florida.
Tonight is the night of the B-Ball game in the old gym.
Me? I'm stuck in an endless loop... work, sleep, work, sleep, work...

You can brighten my day and stimulate our lives by sharing your news!

CG 125 years

I received this from my cousin this morning, Shiela Crump.


Friends,

On Saturday, Dec. 5, in conjunction with a boys basketball game, we will honor many individuals who have had a part in the rich history of Center Grove High School. The game will be held in the West (Old) gym. Game time is 6:00 p.m.; tickets are $5. Please plan to be in the gymnasium by that time to enjoy all of the festivities; parking will fill early.

We plan to honor National Merit finalists, choral and band directors, former cheerleaders, all former coaches, former Administrators and Principals, former School Board members, Former teachers and staff, alumni who have served in the military, the oldest living male and female alum, state champions in all sports, boys and girls silver anniversary basketball teams, boys 50 year basketball team, all former male and female athletes. What a group!!!!

A reception will be held following the game in Room 333 at the north end of the gymnasium. An extensive display of CG memorabilia will be on display.

Please share this information with everyone you know and plan to attend. Please let me know regarding your plans to attend by November 29 by contacting cstdmt1941@aol.com, or tumeyc@centergrove.k12.in.us, or by phoning 317-888-1676 or 317-627-0971. We look forward to seeing all of you for this celebration.


Carol Summers Tumey
Secretary, Center Grove Board of School Trustees
1952 Skyline DriveGreenwood, Indiana 46143
317-888-1676 / 317-627-0971

Jason, Freddie Kruger, and...

It's the 13th of November.
It's Friday the 13th!
It's a Happy Day, 'cause TwoDogs and Tools were born years and years and years and years and years and years ago!
Happy Birthday guys...
Watch out for Freddie and Jason.

Too Good Not To Share:

Tip O' Hat to Life Is Good.
(Good stuff there... go see.)

Spontaneity – VK style

It was to be a short, fast visit home – one more of hundreds of blitzkrieg trips to Indy over the past 30-odd years. Aunts, uncles, dozens of cousins, friends of the family – try to visit all. Pitch-in dinners, meals at Greys, Dentist, Doctor and beauty shop appointments for Mother, (pant, huff, gasp).

Then comes the house cleaning (windows, curtains, carpet, knick-knacks, screens replaced with storm windows , gutters cleaned, car care too) fix house for winter, rake leaves --- feel guilty because I’ll never get even half of this done and it will all be left for my brother and other family members.

I’m not complaining - not at all! That’s just the way it is when you live far away.

I will admit to a major case of resentment because there was never time to see friends from HS. I tried to keep quiet about it but smoldered all the way back to Texas

As always, the best part of visiting home was the wiener roast at Rosie’s. Listening to conversations, looking at the stars, feeding hot dogs to real dogs, helping little guys with s’mores ,,, well, that’s just my favorite part.

Then came Vandy’s Kids! Reconnecting with life-long friends became a reality. Mini-reunions were like discovering a treasure trove of priceless gems – memories, friendships, laughter.

This is a long way of telling a short story; it’s a gift – it’s plagued me all my life.

Just before we left Texas, an email to/from Rosie suggested a wiener roast for HS friends. IT WAS JUST TOO PERFECT. Well, it was perfect for me but a last minute notice for others.

Mr. PT and I called everyone we could think of who lived near Rosie. Some of those VKs called others. And WA LA! On the spur of the moment, we had a party!

Of course, it poured down rain that night. In fact it rained side-ways. But it didn’t seem to matter. We sat around a pool table, shared food and laughter. I can’t believe everyone FOUND the place --- so many twists and turns south of Banta and mostly in the middle of nowhere.

Jane Ann and Guy made it all the way from Kentucky,,,, in the pouring rain,,, with a puppy. Puppy-sitters are not spur-of-moment people. I can’t believe they drove so far, braving so many obstacles, for a nuked hot dog. Ya gotta love it!

Jeanie and Steve came (LOVE my new Indy Coaches club wardrobe and coffee cup AND the books about General (Wishard) Hospital history. OH and the pictures of a new grandbaby boy! What a cutie) I stand ever-ready to help carry luggage to Sweden. Five minutes notice is all I need

Two – dogs and Cinders made it. TD is already planning the 45th Class Reunion and I would humbly suggest that it is too soon to plan if the Spur of the Moment Wiener Roast on A Rainy Night is an indicator. Cinders brought some killer brownies too

Mr. & Mrs. Hawkeye made it also with pictures of a new grandbaby boy. AND so many funny stories! Both are retired but busier than ever donating time and skills to needy folks in the area.

Dan & Edna found Rosie’s, too. Both are still working, enjoying grandkids and looking better than ever. Dan helped catch-us up on local news and the fun of being the Class Treasure. What is our balance? Pretty close to Zip. (easy math, huh Dan?)

David J made and we had a long conversation but I only understood half of it. Seeing my perplexed faced he told me we had changed subjects a few minutes ago. Whew! Otherwise TopCat had become a totally different person, had a totally different job,,, and I was totally confused. Alzheimer’s makes my life so entertaining

Mark G and Robyn made it. Mark made me feel so much better about the monkeys he cared for at Lilly’s. He often made popcorn for them – something they really enjoyed. And Robyn was like so many VK spouses -- so easy going, funny and familiar I could swear she was in our class (her youth gives her away though)

The result of our last blitzkrieg trip! Lots of laughter. Jeez Louise it was fun.

For a good time on the spur of the moment, call Vandy’s Kids. For me, it just doesn’t get any better than that. Rosie and Mike never have to get me another Christmas or Birthday present.

Early TV

I've blogged about being excited at first, hearing they'd be airing all the old "Lone Ranger" episodes a few years back, then being disappointed at how the acting was terrible, the story lines predictable. But when those programs first aired when we were kids the medium was in its infancy and we only had a choice of a couple channels. So we'd rise in the morning and watch the "Test Pattern" until that lame programming came on. I think part of the reason those old shows seem lame now is that we've seen the same story lines over and over again.
The plots were rehashed SO often...
"Lassie" did amazingly intelligent things, which were later repeated by "My Friend Flicka", then modified slightly so "Flipper" could do them in the water.

But the commercials...
They frequently were better than that programming, weren't they?
How many of them had a strong effect on ya?
"Sugar Frosted Flakes", "Ovaltine", "Buster Brown Shoes"...
I can remember those well. I know I pressured my parents to buy "Ovaltine" after watching "Captain Midnight"...
Do you remember the "Magic Decoder Ring", with which you could decode the message at the end of the program every week? (The message was always another commercial, like "Drink your Ovaltine for good health!") I was always sending 25 cents for shipping and handling along with my name and address to receive some "free" trinket advertised on whatever cereal I happened to be eating at the time, then day after day I'd check the mailbox to see if my new treasure had arrived.

Remember any commercials that motivated you?
What about the early TV programs?

Facebook

Harry and Carol do it.
Carol and Tracy do it.
Marilyn F. does it.
Mr. and Mrs. Hawkeye do it.
Ferdy does it.
Bomargirl does it.
Tools does it.
Mommanurse does it.
Cissy does it, and by using it just reconnected with several old classmates.
Rita does it too, as does brother Mike.
I wrote in this post how I got back in touch with Bob P., and via him and others hope to find other schoolmates and friends.
Let me re-emphasize...
Don't be frightened to "stick your toe in".
Facebook is wonderful, and it makes "reaching out" to find old associates easy and fun.
Take a look. Try it.
I bet you'll be glad you did.

Vandy's Kids-Class of '71

Last Friday night I was sitting at Buca di Beppo's with 21 other "girls". I haven't seen them in 38+ years. Two were fellow classmates. The rest were from the classes of '72 through '75.

Wow...

I really didn't have the time to go, but I wasn't going to miss this for the world. My son, Mom, and I were leaving for Nashville, TN at 5:30 the next morning. I didn't care--I had to see these old friends. I packed my senior yearbook into the car that morning before I left for work. Leaving from Crane cut off about 20 minutes driving time. I arrived a couple of minutes after the 6:00pm meeting time. There were only two girls there, and I didn't recognize either one of them. That's ok...they didn't recognize me either. But we had a common thread. We were graduates of Center Grove.

Before long, the huge round table was filled with 22 chattering women, all anxious to catch up on the lives of each other. We each took a turn standing, introducing ourselves, and giving a short synopsis of our lives since Center Grove. One had a Phd, one worked at Center Grove, some were retired. I wish I'd written in all down.

Later I asked everyone to go around again, stating the most unusual thing they'd done since graduation. I started, telling the group that I had ridden a camel in the Thar Desert in India. The next two, including the one with the Phd, were "Harley" girls. One of my classmates had ridden in the Goodyear blimp. Another girl was on the verge of producing a children's TV show when 9/11 hit and the plans went south.

Most of us had decided on dessert and coffee, when the waitress brought in a gorgeous cake she said was delivered by a man who requested it be sent to our table. The cake read, "Center Grove Sweeties". We all thought it was the husband of one of the '72 graduates; later we found out that it was a member of the class of '71, and he was "lurking" around to see the reactions. Thanks, Tom!

After cake and coffee, there was an open invitation to Janet's house...but I really needed to get on the road and head back to Loogootee. I think most of them went, and I heard it broke up at 1am. That's almost a slumber party!

Saturday I'm meeting up with my best friend Brenda, and maybe even her folks. I haven't seen her in probably 20-25 years. I can't believe time can go by that quickly. Gosh...I can't wait. I think this is what we both need--a reconnection with the past, and the tearing down of an imaginary wall between us. This blog inspired me to step out and make the effort to find my old friend and my other classmates. Mr. V would be proud to know he was still making a difference in his students' lives.

Above is my class photo from fifth grade--Mr. Stewart's class. My best friend is sitting next to the window behind the tall kid in the plaid shirt. We weren't friends that year, but by 7th grade we were inseparable. If I remember right, this was taken in November. There was snow on the ground. The year was 1963, so this was taken right about the time Kennedy was assassinated...

...46 years ago? Is that really possible?

"Cissy"

Telstar!

When this tune first hit the airwaves, Tools called excitedly and asked, "Have you heard it?"
...Satellites bein' launched, and the first music being augmented by synthesizers.
We had front-row seats to history, folks. Later generations take this stuff for granted.

It's Friday forum time.
Do you have news "for'em"?

Frankly Scarlet...

My Dad and I had been down to St. Petersburg, Florida to attend a cousin's 50th wedding anniversary celebration and were on our way back home. When I'm not in a huge rush I like to drive different routes from point A to B in hopes of seeing something out of the ordinary.
Not far from Harry and Carol's house I looked at the map and decided to get off the Interestate and take the most direct "blue highway" route back home. That decision lead us to the bridge between Georgetown, Georgia and Eufaula, Alabama, about midway across the "Walter F. George" reservoir, AKA "Lake Eufaula".
We turned North on highway 431 and almost immediately I was sorry
I was driving and couldn't take my eyes off the road more. On my left, overlooking the lake, were some of the most beautiful old homes I had ever seen. One after another, they were breathtaking. I made a mental note to pass back through one day with Sara Jean in tow so she could see them. (And the day that happened it was pouring down rain, so she couldn't enjoy the view and I was once again disappointed.)

Eufaula, Alabama has an interesting history that you can read here, including the fact that Eufaula is home to the largest "state of the art condom production factory in the United States"! (I wonder if they give tours?)
In April every year they hold an event called "The Eufaula Pilgrimage" where you can tour these beautiful anti-bellum homes. (At that link you can see that Southern Belles also dress in Civil War era costumes for the celebration... neat!)

So we've begun planning on another VK mini next April, and you have plenty of warning to start juggling your schedule around to attend. H&C are beginning to look at rental homes to accomodate us, and many of these are located on water with an available pontoon boat so we could cruise or fish as desired. We obviously cannot make firm plans about housing until we have a fairly solid number of how many would like to attend, but one unit we already looked at will sleep 14 and would cost $140 per night which, seems to me, would make staying at Eufaula cheaper than staying home! (And this cost included access to a pontoon boat, didn't it Harry?)

So if you have an interest in viewing these old Southern homes, or if you love to fish, or if you just want a chance to meet and greet old/new friends once again, we'd like to begin to get a feel for how much interest we'd have in a "Gone With The Wind" mini.
Think you'd be interested?

Once again, Friday befalls us,
so let your comments fall on willing ears!

CG celebrating 125 Years

Tonight was the homecoming game at CG playing against Ben Davis. CG kicked their butts.

They had a full front page write up last week in the Daily Journal.

This is one of the pictures that was on the front page.

This is some of the article:

At Center Grove High School, a four-room schoolhouse has become a 2,000-student building. And the barn for students' horses has been replaced by acres of parking lots. The original school nickname, Swedes, has become the Trojans. Among all the changes, though, a spirit of community and pride has remained. Those qualities will be on display all year long, as generations of Center Grove students mark the 125th anniversary of the high school. "You need to know where you came from. You need to know why things were the way they were before you can know where you are," said Meresa Girdley, a 1975 Center Grove graduate.

The first year of high school classes in White River Township came in 1884, in a two-story building that had four rooms. Dubbed Center Grove, the school was named due to its location in the center of the township amid a stand of trees. When the first class graduated in 1888, four students received diplomas. More than 500 graduated in May.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In 1915, teachers could not be married or dress in bright colors. They had to sweep their classroom at least once daily and start a fire for warmth by 7 a.m.

• The school nickname during the 1930s was the Swedes, a nod to the heritage of the boys basketball coach, Swede Chambers. After Chambers left the school in 1938, the student council voted to name themselves the Trojans.

• Men in the early 1940s were granted diplomas as soon as they turned 18 so they could enlist in the military if they chose.

• The first graduating class of Center Grove High School, in 1888, consisted of four students: Edgar Shufflebarger, Paschal Earl Dorrell, Harvey Harrell and George Ballard.

SOURCE: "Center Grove: Unveiling the Past."

Forty-Four Years?

Yeah... Summer of 1965.
Look at those young faces!
Got thoughts to share?
Please do.

Yes Virginia, There IS a Cissy Apple!

"How do you know this gal?"
My wife, oddly, is afraid of people. Getting her to meet others is like pulling molars. And just as oddly, she's outgoing and fits in so easily once the ice is broken, she always admits her fears were a waste of time when we say our goodbyes and get on the road. Such was the case on Sunday as we drove away from Cissy and Leroy's house.

No, I'm not ashamed to admit I invited myself. Cissy mentioned something about making a great cheesecake and I couldn't avoid saying "Prove it!" We took advantage of the fact that Loogootee is not far off the route we normally take home from Echo's and pulled into Cissy's drive about 3 P.M.
Cissy's smiling face was the first we saw, followed by Rudy the Miniature Pinscher. Leroy wasn't far behind.

There's a normal period meeting anyone where it's a little uncomfortable finding out if you really like them. With Cissy and Leroy that period lasted about 15.5 seconds...
Big smiles, lovely home, and typical VK hospitality. Cissy DOES in fact make a mean cheesecake. On top of that, Leroy is a winemaker, proud of his fine product, and willing to share it. Let me emphasize that... Leroy likes to give out samples of wines he's made! I tasted none I didn't like and a couple so good I was ready to grab the bottle. (Leroy offered and I gladly accepted one we particularly liked.)

Cissy knocked us out with some of the beautiful Rosaries she is making and Sara Jean was impressed with several, finally selecting one as a gift for her Catholic niece. Cissy initially refused payment for it. We forced her to at least take money to cover her costs. (I looked at it again today Cissy... gorgeous!)

Greybeard and wife needed to be home before dark, so we cut our visit shorter than I would have liked. In the car, Sara Jean said "That was TWO HOURS?"
I responded "Yeah, and as usual your fears were unfounded!"

"I know. Just shut up, okay?!"

IndyEcho's Annual Fall Mini

This year's Fall Mini - put on every year by Indy Echo and Shifty - was a great success. As always, it became apparent early that we would have lots to talk about. Some of us do not see each other during the year, but the conversations are always easy. Echo had her home sparkling and Shifty had prepared for the bonfire by gathering fallen tree limbs and smaller branches through out the summer. Just as he was heading down to light the fire, though, it started to rain. A few scattered drops at first, it appeared that we may still be able to sit around the fire and tell tall tales. Well, the rain picked up and it soon dashed any hope for a bonfire. No matter.... The food was delicious and the desserts were just waiting to be 'sampled'. Yep, you guessed it - I must have sampled every one of them and they were all winners - and it is beginning to show... IE and Shifty's home is large enough for every one to find space to enjoy the wonderful food and talk with others at the same time. A few of us went to the patio (before the rain), others at a table set up in the family room and the rest were able to sit around the kitchen table. After dinner, those of us on the patio came in from the rain and found places in the family room. Everyone seemed to have a great time. My count was 17 - help me out if I have missed anyone. A good group, but, the numbers were down a little this year. We missed those that were not able to make it this year. Thank You, Indy Echo and Shifty for your enduring and endearing efforts to put this on year after year.

Next year - 2010 - will be our 45th year. Any suggestions regarding (our 'every 5th year reunion' ) the how, what, when and where will be helpful for planning purposes. Some earlier suggestions was to have it in conjunction with the Alumni Banquet. This is always on a Saturday night - think about a possible late afternoon Reception before the banquet - somewhere not far from the school and then moving to the school. Last year, the banquet was held in the old gym. This was a great venue for it and brought back some great memories.

Edinburgh Bound?

Added to comments in the post below:

Hello All,

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow Sept. 26.

I sent directions to those who requested them. If any of you need directions or get lost just call 317-729-2440. Shifty will put up signs again to guide you in.

Didn't hear from a lot of you on what you planned to bring so Shifty and I are gonna start cooking tonight. Rest assured there will be plenty. If we have doubles of anything we will all just have to eat more.

This weather is not working to our benefit. (IF) weather permits we still plan on the fire. So bring chairs and jackets. Never know what to expect. If to wet and muddy we will just have to suffer and swap stories around the kitchen table instead of the fire.

Look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow.

Shifty & Karen

PS> If anyone needs a place to roost bring an extra blanket there is plenty of room.

Campers welcome. Can park by the barn and there is electric you can hook up to.

If you're coming, we'll catch up on all your news there. If not, please tell us what's goin' on in your life in comments here.
I left my camera at work, so someone please bring theirs and get photos to share.
...News of Echo's mini coming here ASAP.

Greenwood

Ever wonder why towns started where they do? I know many form because of access to resources... water mainly. Some form because the railroad needed water... steam engines had to stop frequently to fill their boilers. Certainly some towns form because of mining... coal, silver, gold, or because they sit on an oil field.

Greenwood seems to have started on an East-West oxen trail. Among the very first settlers was a family named "Smock", who lent their name to the first settlement there... "Smocktown".
The Smocks apparently owned an Inn on the trail. The area was heavily wooded, so a sawmill was another of the first businesses in what is now Greenwood.

The town took another name after it was Smocktown, but that name didn't last long because there was already an Indiana town carrying that name. I think you may be surprised to learn the name residents had to discard. I certainly was.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I mentioned we spent a few days in Destin last week...
Cinders and TwoDogs established a beachhead there on Tuesday. Sara Jean and I left home on Wednesday, then stopped off in Pensacola to pick Nellie up, arriving Destin 2 A.M. Thursday morning. We all had coffee while watching for dolphins on the fine morning that dawned.
Shrimp Creole, Blackened grouper, Red Beans and rice, gumbo, and Shrimp St. Charles met their demise over the next few nights as we frequented "Kenny D's" every evening we were there. (A few Margarita's gave their lives in service to our bunch too.)
Harry and Carol arrived Friday to help me avoid a catastrophe by trying to install a porcelain-covered cast iron sink on my own. (Thanks Harry. After you left I realized how over my head I'd have been without your work!)
I think all are agreed-
We're all better friends now than we were 40+ years ago!


In just a week many of us (Harry and Carol too), will once again gather near Edinburgh for Echo's annual mini there. If you've been before you know what an enjoyable, relaxing time this is. Echo and Shifty have a lovely home with enough room for most to spread out and visit in case of inclement weather, but in years past we have been blessed with clear, cool, crisp weather... perfect for gathering around the large bonfire Shifty builds for the occasion. If you intend to attend, please let Echo know by calling her at 317 729-2440, or toll free 800 974-2441, and coordinate the dish you will be bringing for the pitch-in.
Lawn chairs are necessary. Weiners/buns, marshmallows, and roasting sticks are optional.

I know Hawk and his wife will be travelling so we'll miss them next week. Cissy, Rita, C&C and family will be camping at Loogootee, so once again we'll not be meeting them. (Sara Jean and I hope to stop by Cissy and Leroy's to try Cissy's cheesecake.)

So once again it's open forum time.
I know I seldom get responses to my plea, but I'll continue trying until you guys get it right...
You've got news to share...
We want to hear it.
So share!

A Friday For Comtemplation

Odd.
A small contingent of VK's find themselves in paradise, eating spicy foods and consuming pleasant beverages. It's hard to imagine the anger and confusion we all felt just eight years ago. We're watching Fox News coverage of the memorials in New York and are suprised to see reporters there in heavy jackets, bracing against an uncomfortable wind, while we here deal with sunny skies, 85 degree temps, and the milk green water dashing against the shore. Sara Jean, Cinders, and TwoDogs have already staked out a spot on the beach while I'm here at Kenny D's taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi. H&C are probably on their way to Destin as I type this. We'll all dine at Kenny D's this evening.
Life is tough.

It's hard to be angry under these circumstances but unfortunately we must keep a small fire stoked, lest we forget there are plenty of evil people out there that don't like our freedoms... don't like the way we live.
Three thousand of our brethren died eight years ago today.
Never, never forget!

Now, take a deep breath, reflect on those fighting for your freedom of speech, and speak!

Echo's Annual Mini-

It's that time of year again...
Well, almost. Echo has moved the date of her mini up just a little in hopes of making it easier for more to attend.
The date is 26 September at 2 P.M. (Eastern).
Since it's a pitch-in dinner, in order to insure everyone doesn't bring Aunt Betty's green bean casserole with Durkee's onions,
if you plan to attend she'd like you to RSVP at 317 729-2440, or toll free- 800 974-2441 and let her know what dish you'll be bringing to the table.
(Cheesecake Cissy!)

This event is open to everyone...
Those that attended Center Grove, and those that just wish they had!

In the past we have eaten and visited until dusk, then moved the gathering outside where Shifty always has a big pile of brush and logs for a bon fire. Bring lawn chairs, marshmallows, and a cooler full of whatever beverage tickles your taste buds 'cause visitors around the bon fire have been known to chat into the wee hours. (I'm gonna hide the shovel this year!)

Karen and Shifty's place is just outside Edinburgh folks, and it's not hard to find...
Watch for directions and more information here as the date approaches.

I hope to see ya there!

Fulmer's Orchard

Football practice started in August.
Full gear... NEVER take off your helmet unless directed by Coach Colegrove.
Two laps around the track before practice even started...
Wind sprints...
HOT, HOT, HOT!
It wasn't uncommon to lose nine pounds during a full-contact practice.

Practice over, I'd hit the showers and get back into street clothes.
It was a short walk across the street to Fulmer's Orchard where Mrs. Vera Fulmer would always meet me with a shy smile and offer up a cup of apple cider, no charge.
Dehydrated, that stuff tasted like nectar of the Gods!
Then I'd put a nickel on the counter and she'd hand over a beautiful, red delicious apple about 3/4's the size of a softball.
And the world was wonderful.

What's happened to ya since we last talked?
Give it up.

Bobby Joe

Do you have a Facebook account?
I do. And I started my facebook account for one reason-
To be found by people looking for me.

Yesterday I got a Facebook "friend request" from a guy named Bobby J. P******.
Listed as his High School?
CGHS.
I smiled and responded instantly.

I haven't seen or talked to Bob since 1966, but he was one of the good guys.
Good thing too... Bob was a fairly big man, with fists the size of cantaloupes...
A good guy to call friend.

Checking out Bob's "Friends" list I see photos for Pookie I*******, Paula D*****, Bill B*****, and Bob's sister Diane, who worked as a carhop at the Frostop.

This may (or may not) be a chance to bring some of those folks into our VK community, we'll see. But there's no question- opening my Facebook account is bearing fruit.

Maybe it's time for you to do the same?

Friday, And Log Inn Pics!

The "Log Inn" wasn't much to look at on the outside. But the line of folks waiting to get in to eat was an indication it might be worth the wait. We didn't wait long to be seated...
Maybe 15 minutes or so. (You can click these pics to enlarge 'em.)










We really didn't know how many were gonna show up, so we sat and chatted for about half an hour to insure everyone who intended to come was there. Here, Cinders and Ferdy catch up on their news.










The lineup on the opposite side of the table from me...
TC, Tracy, Carol, and Ferdy. Cinders and TD are just out of the photo on the right.










Hawk and his Mrs., and Sharon were on my side. Greybeard and Sara Jean are just outta the picture on the left.










TD speaks and TC looks convinced. Cinders seems skeptical. What were you sellin' TD?











This the "Lincoln Room", where Abraham Lincoln supposedly ate during a stop here in the 1840's. We ate in an adjoining room.










Vandy's Kids assembled, just prior to heading home for the evening. This barn, owned by TC's son Scott, is just a wonderful place for a get-together. Thanks again to TC and Sharon, and Scott and Lois, for your wonderful hospitality!

It's Friday once again.
Tell us what's happenin' with ya!

Valley Newsboy

Dennis Sikes, that was his name.
Odd that I can still remember it. He was 12 and I was 10. His family was getting ready to move out of the house that my second-grade teacher Dora Saunders would move into. Dennis had an "Indianapolis News" paper route. Dennis had pockets that jingled. I wanted pockets that jingled. Due to his move he needed someone to take his route, and I felt I was just the "man" to take it.

But there were a couple obstacles-
-I was too young. I think the Star-News people wanted their carriers to be at least 12.
-My parents also worried I was too young. They also knew that having a paper route would complicate my schedule should we want to take vacations or other time away from home.
But I had my mind set on having change in my pockets, so I persevered.

The route manager, a nice guy by the name of Mr. Hanson, came out and interviewed me, then talked with my parents. When he left the route was mine.
(Mom and Dad immediately set out to insure I knew how to make change.)

I delivered the Indy News evenings, Monday through Saturday, then I got up early Sunday to deliver the Sunday Star...
Seven days a week I delivered newspapers for almost 5 years. My pockets jingled. I saved and bought myself nice things. I was King of my world.
My bundle of papers was delivered at the end of our drive shortly after school let out. I'd pack them into a canvas saddlebag and throw them onto my bicycle (until I was twelve when I bought myself a Cushman Motor Scooter similar to this one), and I'd start out Northbound delivering papers to houses along Morgantown Road toward Bill Doty's Standard Station. Then I'd double back Southbound delivering along the way to old Smith Valley Road where I turned West and worked my way to Paddock Road. There I'd again go North to a couple newer houses near S.V. Road, then back South, over the bridge past Cissy, C&C, and Rita's house, delivering my last paper by simply walking through the back patio and into Ode Perry's old house where I'd lay the paper on their kitchen table. (I can still remember the comfortable smell of that place.)

I think I've written before about how much that route taught me...
Because of it I truly became a "small businessman" and learned ya always gotta have more income than outgo. I learned to save for things I wanted.
Much of my Valley clientele was elderly, so I also learned once in a while there'd be no one to answer the door when you came to collect at week's end. Having developed strong relationships with my customers over those five years, that was tough sometimes.

Doty's Standard Service, Effie's Variety Store, and Don Sutton's grocery were all great places to stop and have a cold refreshing "Ski" and maybe a bag of "Planter's Peanuts" in the summer, while affording a place to thaw out in the cold of Winter.

Papers delivered, there was almost always a pick-up basketball or full-tackle football game to be played at Steve and Danny W's house. (We were talking at our latest mini about the evening David W's collar bone got broken. We tackled tough!)

When it was REALLY cold, the creek would freeze over and we'd ride/slide our bikes up and down that stretch just beneath the old iron bridge. How we kept from breaking some bone while doing that is beyond me!

Ahhh.....
So there. I've shared some of my smiles with you.
Please, share some Friday-forum smiles with the rest of us.

The Log Inn Gathering

For all of you that could not make it to the Log Inn, you really missed some great food and again good fellowship with our classmates. Needless to say the desserts were delicious afterwards at the barn.
We want to Thank Terry & Sharon and Scott & Lois for the use of the party barn. It was the perfect end to a very good day. We set around visited and just plain relaxed after our bellies were full. Terry & Steve did play a little table tennis, "Did I say Little"???
David took some pictures so hopefully he will get them posted when he has the time. I hope everyone made it home safely.
Has anyone heard from Echo to see if they are OK and what happened to them Saturday night??

Dreams of Home

I don't often dream of Smith Valley. I guess the thought of visiting with all of you tomorrow sparked this dream last night:
During Winter snows, we'd often bring our sleds to the Hiatt addition hill near John K.'s house and sled down from there. It was tricky, 'cause you had to cross the street at the base of the hill where traffic didn't stop. We'd put a kid at the base of the hill to warn of oncoming traffic in case we needed to abort our sled run due to a car coming.

In my dream there had been an ice storm, coating everything in a thick layer of clear ice. I slid down the hill standing upright, then had to jump the cross street. Jumping/flying are frequently factors in my dreams and this was no different...
I jumped/flew for several seconds, making a perfect landing on the other side of the cross street...
Exhilarating.

Now, about this weekend-
Sorry you cannot make it Cissy. I had really looked forward to meeting the two of you, but fully understand that family is more important. We'll take a rain check for a "date to be named later."

Don't know yet if we'll be spending the night...
I was surprised this morning by my wife who said, "Let's play it by ear", meaning we'll bring an air mattress just in case we need to use it. We will certainly stay until we are "visited out", but then may drive the two hour drive home to wake in our own bed. (I snore when I'm tired, so it may be best for others if we don't stay!)

I'll call the Log Inn later and confirm reservations for 14-
TC and Sharon,
Echo and Shifty,
Hawk and Mrs. Hawk,
TD and Cinders,
JT and Barb,
Carol and Tracy,
SJ and GB.
... If I'm missing anyone, please let me know.

So, no cheesecake from Cissy, but we can look forward to cobbler made with fresh blackberries from Carol, and Sara Jean will make her killer peanut butter cookies.
Yum, yum!
Come hungry. Bring cash. See many of ya tomorrow.

Log Inn Gathering

I talked with Terry & Sharon this morning and they suggest we bring sleeping bags and/or air mattres. Barn is plenty big for whoever wants to stay.
If you plan on staying just leave word here so they will know about how many.
Terry said he would even fix eggs & bacon for breakfast. :)

Carson's Riding Stables

You can't read comments here and not notice there are horse lovers amongst us.
Joker, GH, and DJ all love the critters and, with TD and Cinders alongside (who met because of their mutual interest), will gather and share horsey experiences at every chance.
I think horses are beautiful, and there's nothing prettier than a slow-motion movie of a horse in full gallop... breathtaking.

Still, they are mighty dangerous. Anything that big, powerful, and spirited needs to be handled with discipline and respect. I have commented on several occasions how we often hear motorcycle riders derisively called "donors", while my experience flying injured patients is that horses can be every bit as hazardous to their rider's health. (Chris Reeve is a good example.) Interested in hearing a few gory stories? Ask when you see me next.

TD, DJ, Joker, and GH all owned their own animals and could saddle up when they had the time and inclination. For the rest of us, a place like Carson's was an alternative. My recollection is fuzzy, so help me if I screw up the details but as I recall Carson's was on the South side of Indy, not far from Beech Grove. For a few bucks you could drive the short drive and they'd saddle up a docile animal for you to go ride for an hour. I always did it a couple times a summer and felt it was a good value for the money... another fond memory.

Now, about next weekend...
I called the folks at "The Log Inn" and changed our reservation to 4 P.M..
I also told them our group may be as large as 14 or more. (Tracy and Carol, GREAT!) I trolled around the restaurant reviews and found this one, which seems representative of most:

"Great fried chicken! To-die-for mashed potatoes, slaw, etc. You can't miss this historic place. The service is always great, and quick. You may have to wait a bit for a table unless you get there early. This is our favorite family/special occasion place. "

... The hint at a possible wait to be seated was the most prevalent complaint, so we may have a little time to visit before being seated... Don't come famished.
Another thing I noticed... They don't take credit cards. Bring cash.

I told the gal we were having a mini-reunion and asked if there was a place we could sit and visit before/after eating. She said no, so I joked and said "Fine... We'll just bring lawn chairs and camp outside your front door!" The nice lady chuckled and said "You COULD do that... there's plenty of room, just no furniture."
Remember what happened after "The Best Little Whorehouse...?"
Discuss!

The restaurant is 12 miles North of Evansville, 1 mile East of U.S. Highway 41 on "Old State Road", just North and East of the intersection I-64 and 41. Check Mapquest or Mapblast.
Maybe TC can give us more detail, but I'm sure Carmen the Garmin will get us there just fine.
I'm looking forward to hugging and visiting with friends, both those I know AND those I oughta know!

S&H, And Top Value

It's another of those things that seems odd now...
I was thinking of the stamps retailers used to give out as incentives to shop at their stores...
"Top Value" and "S&H Green Stamps".
I think the IGA in the Smith Valley Shopping Center gave out Top Value stamps. My Mom would wait until she had lots and lots of them to add to the books you were supposed to stick them in, then she'd use a sponge to wet them and apply them to the books. We'd all look through the catalog they supplied to see how many stamp-filled books we had to accrue in order to get an appliance or some other doo-dad.
More memories...
Glasses or towels as premiums in boxes of laundry detergent. When I first set up independent housekeeping as a bachelor I think my cupboard was filled with glasses I got as premiums for buying gasoline at the "Gulf" Service Station...
Whatever happened to "Good Gulf" gasoline?

When I went lookin' for an image of the stamps I found the above photo of the General Store in Nashville, Indiana. (Click it to see the full photo.) Stores don't actually give those things out anymore, do they?

Two weeks from tomorrow we'll be meeting in Evansville...
Are ya comin'?

It's the last Friday in July. Time to sound off!

Honoring A Special Request

I was gonna regale ya here with details of our colonoscopies last week, but Hawkeye begged me not to, so I'll comply with his request. You do need to know one thing...
Sara Jean chickened out.
The day prior to our scheduled procedure, BEFORE she had started drinking the tasty "GoLytely", she started having diarrhea and throwing up...
Nerves.
And rightfully so. She has a strong gag-reflex so I sincerely doubted her ability to get a gallon of that stuff in her. Heck, I truly doubted she could get a full glass of it in her.
So she called and told the folks what she was experiencing and they rescheduled her. We have now found that if she absolutely refuses to drink the GoLytely there is another way to get the job done... with a "Fleet Enema".(?)
I'll let ya know more when I know more.

But for those that have not already read the play-by-play and are interested, you can go here and maybe read more than you want to know on the subject. But let me re-emphasize here, if you are over 50 and have not yet had this procedure done, remember Farrah, (maybe unnecessarily) dead at 62.

Shift gears now...
I don't know about you, but this Man-made global warming is about to chill me to death! We have had jacket weather most nights for the last two weeks.
The cold is also delaying growth in our garden. Sweet corn is ready to pick, but the ears are small. Tomatoes are growing slowly and most have spots or other problems making the fruit look ugly.

We are looking forward to seeing a bunch of you on the 15th. What time do you want to meet at the Log Inn for dinner...
Want to beat the normal dinner crowd? Is 5 P.M. better, or would you rather eat at a more normal 7 P.M. or so? (Consider we may want to visit a while after eating.)
Please make your thoughts known.

Hawk and his Mrs. are coming,
as are TC and Sharon,
TD and Cinders,
and Cissy and Leroy(?)
Didn't I also see that Echo and Shifty are coming?
Sara Jean and Greybeard will be there.
How 'bout you? Are you coming?

Friday forum again...
Lay a little lovin' on us!

TC, Birthday Boy

Today is TC's birthday!
(Sorry for the late posting, TC, but life has been quite a swirl!)
All together now...
"Happy Birthday to you...."

Hope your day was a good one my friend.

Transfusion!

I had to think a while about embedding this video here...
It was popular in 1956, just about the time I really started paying attention to music. As a matter of fact, my interest in this stupid tune may have led to my paying closer attention to ALL music on the radio and elsewhere. But 1956? Who's gonna remember that? Some VK's weren't yet born!



Other novelty tunes come to mind:
"Purple People Eater",
"My Friend The Witch Doctor",
"The Monster Mash"...
And you can probably name several more. I thought they were goofy, but fun. Other than the song parodies by "Weird Al Yankovic" I can't think of many novelty tunes being produced today, and that seems a shame. We could sure use a little more goofiness in our lives, couldn't we?

Sara Jean lives with "Goofy" every day!
It's Friday...
What's goofy with you?

The Fish Fry

Here we go again...
As a "Valley" guy, I'm beginning to be a little shy about telling stories that show how much more fun we had than those that lived elsewhere. But we DID have fun, and we knew we lived in a special place and LOVED it!

At about this time of year there would be a festival at the Smith Valley Community Center. I can remember a huge deep-fat fryer and lots and lots of delicious fresh fish being served there. Our family simply referred to this festival as "The Fish Fry", and it was a big deal-
Live music, lots of booths displaying arts and crafts and other doo-dads for sale. Games of chance...
The Fish Fry always drew a big crowd...
It was very much like a Mini-County Fair.

I remember one year they had a dunk-tank to raise money for charity. Diana D's Dad was the "monkey" in the tank. For a buck you got three baseballs to try to hit a lever that would drop the seat from beneath Diana's Dad and dunk him in a three-feet-deep reservoir below. It was a hot night and I remember thinking it might be refreshing to be dunked now and then, so I asked him if I could be the "dunkee".
I think he pulled a "Tom Sawyer" on me...
"Oh no, this is too much fun. I really don't want to give up the job."
But I begged, and he relented. I ran home and put on my swimming trunks. It only took about three or four dunkings for the "refreshing" dip to get old. I think I was the monkey for an hour or so before Diana's Dad took pity on me and sent me home to put my street clothes back on.

My memory of the Fish Fry was tweaked by Crown and Coke's comments about the Johnson County Fair this week. (By the by, how'd that go C&C?)

How long has it been since they had a festival at the old SVCC?
I know I'd gladly drive the distance home to attend one!

Okay, by now you know the routine-
It's Friday...
WHASSUP?

July 4th, 2009

It's a big weekend for us...
Big Bubba is coming home. We haven't seen him since we went out to Arizona in February, so absence has certainly made our hearts fonder. Monday is his birthday... he'll be 26. Time does fly, doesn't it?
He'll be here a week. We have all sorts of things we would like to do with him but we don't want to overdo...
So we'll make suggestions and allow him to make selections ala carte. One of the options is to go to St. Louis for the fireworks display. They do it REALLY BIG there...
They pull a barge out in the middle of the river in front of the Arch, and in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators on the Arch grounds, shoot fireworks from the barge for half an hour. I'm told these displays, sponsored by Macy's department stores, cost nearly a million dollars. I believe it too...
Unlike the displays we saw as kids, there is never a second where the sky doesn't have one, or several explosions entertaining you.

I have fuzzy memories now of going to the Meridian Drive-In theater on July 4th to watch the fireworks display there. I can't remember... did they shoot the fireworks between movies or at dusk?

We will have a good week catching up on life with our son. I hope your weekend will be a safe one, whatever your plans.
So what are your plans?