October Re-Creation

We've had a stretch of absolutely gorgeous weather in Greybeard-land. The two or three days leading to our "Valley Walk" weekend were "keepers", with the only possible complaint being the days were a little too warm. Over the last two weeks the temps have moderated here but the rain has mostly stayed away...
We're about 10 inches in arrears on the moisture scale and you can tell it from the cloud of dust following the combines as farmers harvest their crops... (they're getting those crops in in record time, by the way!)

Once again I'm at work waiting for someone to do something stupid so the phone will ring and I can go out and alight in the center of some intersection somewhere. This is my second night of two...
Sara Jean and I will be pointing our old car Southbound again Friday afternoon, destination- Destin. We'll spend Friday and Saturday nights there, then head farther South to Titusville Sunday to visit with a friend I met via the internet whose brother was also a helicopter pilot in Viet Nam and was killed during my tour there. Our main reason for the trip is to watch what MAY be the next-to-last launch of the Space Shuttle from this lady's back yard patio. We're hearing we'll be close enough to the launch site that our Margaritas and Grand Marnier will be shaken and mixed by the Shuttle's vibrations, thankyouverymuch. Sara Jean has never been to the Cape. I've not been since November of '69 when I was disappointed as I watched Apollo 12 disappear into the clouds and fog three seconds after liftoff. We're both looking forward to a safe, exciting (and visible!) launch.

We'll return to Destin after the launch and stay until Sunday the 7th. We tried to entice TwoDogs and Cinders to come have Red Beans and Rice with us at "Kenny D's" but they've just returned home from the Tampa/St. Pete area and say they have had their fill of travels AND Florida for a while. That leaves a bedroom open in Destin if you're interested in coming down, so COME ON DOWN!

But if you're trapped at home and home is still the Indianapolis metropolitan area, I think you should be tempted to go have a look here.
That's gotta be interesting and could be the impetus for another trip back to Indy for Sara Jean and me.

I'll keep you updated next week as we eat cajun cuisine, fresh seafood, and soak up the sun.
Why don't you keep the rest of us updated on your goings-on in the comments now?
C'mon now...
Do it!

Sidewalk Surfing

You know five or six of us went to the "Cruise Night" at the "Suds" after our Valley walk two weeks ago. If you have ANY interest in cars at all, it's something you should do. The Suds is open every Saturday night from late Spring through Fall, and you won't believe the crowd that gathers for the event.

I was on my motorcycle and left after most of the celebrants had already gone home. I drove up to the intersection that had the little Strip Mall that "Walker's Department Store" was once a part of. At the very end of that little mall, there's a road that goes downhill, back toward the Suds. When I say downhill, I mean DOWNHILL. It's a fairly precipitous dropoff in a short space, maybe a 30 foot fall over a 60 foot distance. We used to skateboard there.

Like so much else, it's interesting now to look at what has happened to some of the stuff we started. "Sidewalk Surfing" we called it, but it was the beginning of what is now skateboarding. We'd take a plank of wood, put steel roller-skating wheels on each end, and go have a ball.
Nowadays kids have huge boards with grippy (neoprene?) wheels, and where we did well to just steer and not "wipeout", these kids can do unbelievable things with their boards, as I'm sure you've seen.

They've put a concrete post in the middle of the road there by what used to be Walker's, but there's nothing there to keep "skaters" from flying down that hill.
I wonder if any ever do?

Friday.
Have a good one.
Tell us your news.

VK Valley Walk & Gathering - Oct 9, 2010

We had a great group of friends, lots of good conversation, wonderful weather and lots and lots of great food. We were all sad the day had to end.

The "Valley Walk" was lots of fun. We traveled from our house in 3 cars and 2 motorcycles (TPO & GB) to go to the valley and parked in the EUB Church.

The Valley was in good shape, the houses looking neat and well taken care of. The Riley Kids even got to talk to the owner of their old home for a minute as they were leaving their driveway. They got permission to walk in the yard and take pictures. We got to talk to the people now owning the "Cotterman" home. It turns out the daughter of the people who used to live in the blue house across the street from the Cotterman home now lives in it. Everyone enjoyed remembering fun times (football, baseball, apple and tomato fights) in the yard of the Witty home. TPO's home also was on our walk and looking good. We enjoyed passing homes and saying who lived in which house and where the Doty, Sutton and Effie's stores and and the Bee Hive Restaurant were.

It is kinda amazing that most structures that were there when we were kids are still there. The Community Center still has a good looking baseball diamond still in use. The Community Center building was not in great shape.

On such a nice day, a lot of people and kids were out in their yards. A group of fifteen "Older People" walking down the street drew some attention. Everyone smiled and left us alone. Everyone had a story about the creek and "Iron Bridge" on Padock Road. Climbing on the bridge, swimming, ice skating, playing hookie from school and building a dam on the creek were a few of the memories.

I think it is a good thing to check in on old memories and friends from time to time. Sorta gives you a feeling of roots and belonging......a good feeling in your chest.....IT WAS A GOOD DAY.

Many thanks to those who came to be with us. It was good to be with VKs and remember those who couldn't be with us, but were such a neat part of our lives and growing up in the Center Grove area......The Valley.

Perfect? Nearly So!

It may actually have been just a little TOO warm. (I'm searching desperately for something negative to say about our gathering, and it's mighty hard, lemme tell ya!)

I'm noticing a trend here...
When we attended "The Best Little Whorehouse..." we all stood in the foyer after the show until it became obvious the employees wanted to close up shop. So we simply stepped outside and continued our soiree (yeah, I had to look it up too), there. I think we all stood and chatted for at least two hours total after the play. And that's been the norm...
When we get together we are averse to separating.

This weekend was no different, and it made for a relatively long, but wonderful day.
You weren't there?
Why?!
You were invited!

October In The Midwest

When prospective students come to me expressing a desire to learn to fly, and they want to build flight-time time quickly, I'll frequently tell them October is a great time to plan to do it. We are often blessed with really stable weather in October... almost no rain, but the stable weather also often comes with a hazard to flight... fog forming in the wee hours that burns off by about 9 A.M..



And that's been the case, at least here in my area, for the past week. We've had warm, comfortable days followed by coolish nights with a chance of fog, if the wind stays below 3 knots. Last week at my EMS job I finished a flight each night before midnight, and on each flight I could see the St. Louis Arch from 30 miles out. Stable air means a lack of turbulence, which makes pilots look like expert flyers even when they're not. These nights are so wonderful we frequently have to remind ourselves, "We're actually being PAID to do this job!"



I started two new students down the learning path last week...

One is a computer programmer.

The other is my UPS delivery guy, who those of you reading these blogs are aware I'm on a first-name basis with because of Sara Jean's penchant for watching QVC on television. He's a fixed-wing pilot with 900 hours and a commercial/instrument license in his pocket. He's also a radio-controlled helicopter pilot, so he's already familiar with the principles of helicopter aerodynamics. He's hovering earlier than most would be able to, thanks mostly to the R/C Helicopter experience.

I'm headed to Naptown today. I may be on my way, on the Pizza Bike, by the time you read this. I'm leaving early so I can take the "Blue Highways", ride comfortably, and enjoy the scenery.

I'm lookin' forward to seein' a bunch of you Saturday! 'Til then, be safe, and I'll try to do the same.

What news have you to share?!!

Sad News - Steve Witty's Mom

Alice L. Witty, 83, of Westfield, formerly Greenwood, passed away Friday, October 1, 2010. Survivors include four children, Warren Steven (Jeannie) Witty, Daniel Lee (Cheryl) Witty, Patricia Lynn Killman and Douglas Scott (Jennifer) Witty; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Harding Witty; two brothers; and four sisters.

A funeral Service will be conducted at 1 PM, Monday, October 4th, at G. H. Herrmann Greenwood Funeral Home, State Road 135 and Olive Branch Road. Visitation will be from 11 AM, until service time Monday at the funeral home. She will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens in Greenwood.

Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.ghherrmann.com