Wednesday, June 1
Last week we learned of the death of my former mother-in-law, Etta Marie Neel. Whenever we were in southeastern New Mexico, I would visit her at the nursing home in Lovington. "Grandma" recently suffered some severe medical setbacks and, after hospitalizations in Lubbock and Roswell, and a fight to the finish, she passed away peacefully with two of her children and other family members at her side. Unfortunately, Barbara Jean, her oldest daughter, was unable to be there because of her own medical issues. Arrangements for Grandma's funeral were delayed because of the Memorial Day weekend, but it was finally scheduled for tomorrow, June 2, in Lovington.
At first, it was doubtful whether I could attend due to the rehearsal schedule for our community band, but in the end, I decided I couldn't not go, so this morning we loaded the car and headed out for New Mexico.
The trip was generally uneventful. We've seen the countryside from Mineola to Hobbs many times so there wasn't much we saw that we needed another photo just like the last one...that is, until we got to the Weatherford area on I-20 and spotted this very patriotic truck and a flag flying above a construction area...
While we were driving, Barbara received a message from Leah with a photo collage announcing the upcoming adoption of Kaiden...
To which Barbara added her own creation...
We arrived in Hobbs around 2:00 pm New Mexico time and checked in to our motel. After we got the room squared away, I drove to Lovington to go to the funeral home and visit with Larry and Linda (former brother-in-law and sister-in-law) and Martha (Larry's wife).
When I got back to Hobbs, we went to Rosa's Cafe for a wonderful Mexican dinner (with enough leftovers to do it again soon), and then returned to the motel for a quiet evening and some much-needed rest.
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Thursday, June 2
Heather, Andy, Alexander, and Abby drove in from Richardson last night, and Whitney, Jim, and Jimmy arrived from Olathe, Kansas. We didn't see them last night, but did visit with them at their hotel this morning before they took in a movie.
We went over to Susie's (our "adopted" sister) house and spent time with Susie and Karen and Connor's two sons, Eli and Jacob. Karen stopped by for lunch and we all had a bit of a family reunion.
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Friday, June 3
We had a long drive back to Mineola ahead of us today, so we got up early and hit the road. Traffic was okay and the weather was good (even if there were a bunch of low, dark clouds), so we made good time as we rolled east across I-20.
We've made many trips across I-20 over the past ten years and have always noticed the large smokestack at Thurber, hardly even a wide spot on the highway. With time to kill, we stopped for a few minutes to look around and take some pictures.
Many years ago, Thurber was founded as a coal mining town. In the intervening years, it was the site of a large brick manufacturing facility, and a major player in the early oil and gas industry. Today it is a ghost town, with only the restaurant and the old smokestack and fire department building as a reminder of what once was.
After our short stop at Thurber, we motored on across I-20 to Fort Forth, where we dropped down I-35 for a few miles to Burleson and a Cracker Barrel to wait for Leah and Kaiden to come for a short visit.
While we were shopping, I saw this plaque that reminded me of Grandma Neel. She was an avid gardener, and I'm sure she knew some folks for whom this was fitting....
When Leah and Kaiden arrived, we visited for a bit and watched them play a wicked game of checkers out on the front porch. Now, if we had posted this journal on the day we made it; we wouldn't have been able to post it since it shows Kaiden's face...but...now...he's ours and we can do what we want! lol
With our visits over for the day, we got back in the car, joined the 5:00 0'clock traffic on I-20, and played "stop and go" until we got to Balch Springs, where we opened it up and made tracks back to Mineola.
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Saturday, June 4
After all the travel and excitement of the week, we elected to do as little as possible today, and certainly nothing noteworthy.
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Sunday, June 5
It was a busy Sunday. First, we attended the morning service at Yantis First Baptist Church, and this afternoon we had our Spring Concert with the Lake Country Symphonic Band.
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Monday, June 6
After a busy day yesterday, we just put life on cruise control today...finally finished putting things away after our trip yesterday, and did a little straightening around the house.
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Tuesday, June 7
The day we have been waiting on for a l-o-n-g time...we're going to be grandparents again, this time through the adoption of Kaiden by Leah and Ryan.
We drove to Cleburne this morning and joined Ryan, Leah, Kaiden, Nancy (Barbara's sister), and Keylin (Nancy's granddaughter) for lunch.
After a lot of talking and fine dining at the Blackeyed Pea, we drove downtown to the courts building to wait our turn to enter the courtroom for the adoption proceedings.
And finally, Ryan and Leah had a son, Kaiden Alex McQuitty, and we added to our flock (or is it herd?) of grandchildren.
The trip back home seemed to take hardly any time at all, as we relived each moment of the day, several times!
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Wednesday, June 8
With a trip to New Mexico for the Eastern New Mexico University Alumni Band Reunion coming up, (and our hopes that we'd do the trip on Taz), we decided that we needed to start doing some serious riding to get in shape. Our first stop today was at Walmart so Barbara could find a stylin' cap to wear when she isn't wearing a helmet.
And then it was time to hit the road for some serious "practice" miles...
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Thursday, June 9
Today we prepared some food to take to Jeremy and Emily Durig up in Quitman. Jeremy had a serious accident last week and did some major damage to his left knee, so we wanted to help them out a little with food and conversation.
Of course, the best way to get to Quitman is on Taz, so we loaded all the food in the luggage compartments and headed up the road.
Visits to the Durigs on Taz require Taz rides for Jameson and Jeremiah, so while Barbara visited with Emily, I took the boys on personalized rides through Quitman.
Jameson later told his mother and Barbara that Mr. Jim drove really fast...at least 80 miles an hour!
Since we were already out and about, we voted to ride on up the road to Winnsboro for a Sonic break. We were hoping to meet up with Pat and Joe for a short visit as well; but that didn't happen. Of course, there is a Sonic in Quitman, but that wouldn't require much of a ride, and the ride is what it's all about!
Back at home (finally) we just chilled out for the evening. After all, riding Taz can also be a tiring, hot and sweaty business, even though we were testing our water vests today.
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Friday, June 10
We spent today just piddling around the house, and then this evening we drove the car up to Emory join our Friday Night Bunch for supper at Jerry and Diane's lovely new home. The food was good and a great time was had by all.
Jerry and Diane's neighbors have all kinds of animals on their property. Tonight, the llamas were particularly cooperative when it came time for photo ops. We're not sure, but we think the head llama is named Llarry.
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Saturday, June 11
We received word the other day that the East Texas Patriot Guard Riders would be having a gathering at Leon's Steakhouse in Longview. What better way to get in a good practice ride and also go to Academy to find some moisture wicking shirts to wear while riding.
First on the agenda, though, was a trip to Naturally Nails so Barbara could get a pedi. Then, we got on Taz and headed east on U.S. 80 to Longview.
The weather forecast was for possible late afternoon showers, so we didn't pack the rain gear. Don't trust the weather forecasters...
When we got to Longview, we rode straight to Academy where we not only found the shirts we've been looking for...we found them at half price. It really was a great day!!!
After checking out with our new shirts, we rode around the loop to Leon's Steakhouse, where we found nearly 150 bikes lined up in neat rows in the parking lot.
We figured that it would be a typical food fundraiser, where we would buy a meal and a portion of the proceeds would go to help fun PGR activities. Boy, were we ever wrong! While there were some fundraising activities available (silent auction, live auction, etc.) the meals (fried catfish with all the trimmings) were donated to the Patriot Guard Riders by Leon's in grateful appreciation for what we do to serve and support military veterans and their families. Needless to say, a great time was had by all!
When we had eaten our fill, we soaked our water vests in the bathroom sinks, put them on, and headed west on I-20 toward Lindale and Mineola. The water vests worked just the way they were supposed to, and we rode comfortably all the way home.
After resting a bit at the house, we again put on the water vests and rode Taz to Lake Tawakoni to meet up with Ryan and Kaiden who were having a father/son weekend camp-out and fishing trip. Kaiden enjoyed the fishing, but he was more than ready for some quality Taz Time.
We needed to get back to Mineola before sunset, so we left Ryan and Kaiden to their adventures and rode back home, stopping first at the Subway in Emory for supper to go.
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Sunday, June 12
We went to church in Yantis this morning and then had lunch with our friends Gene and Michelle at Lip Smackers, a restaurant located at the north end of the 154 bridge over Lake Fork. We had not expected to see Gene and Michelle until much later in the summer, but they came to their Texas home to get away from their farm in Kansas for a few days.
It was a hot afternoon and evening, so we just stayed inside and enjoyed the air conditioning.
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Monday, June 13
Today was one of those days that we just stayed inside and took care of business...paid bills, balanced checkbooks, cleaned of the desk and filed the piles, etc. Not a good day...not a bad day...just a day.
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Tuesday, June 14
Flag Day
On June 14, 1777, in order to establish an official flag for the new nation, the Continental Congress passed the first Flag Act: "Resolved, That the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation."
Inspired by decades of state and local celebrations, Flag Day - the anniversary of the Flag Resolution of 1777 - was officially established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916, but it was not until August 3rd, 1949, that President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day.
Each year on this date, We republish a piece that I wrote in 2003 following a discussion with Barbara about the seeming lack of knowledge of what the nation’s flag represents among school students, many of whom recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily in their classrooms, but do so in rote fashion without thinking about what they are saying.
The following piece was dedicated to the students of West Middle School in Liberal, Kansas.
I AM THE FLAG
I am the Flag of the United States of America. It is almost impossible to go through a day without seeing me…flying proudly over public buildings and military bases…marching at the head of parades…or displayed as lapel pins on the jackets of patriots, young and old.
Perhaps nowhere do I strive to be displayed more proudly than in the schools of our country, for it is there that the first lessons of patriotism are taught to those who will grow up to guide, guard, and defend the country I represent.
But even there, as I am seen by millions of students each school day, I am in danger of neglect. Like all things that are commonplace, I am often taken for granted, and the pledge that was written to show honor to my colors and my country becomes a meaningless ritual, chanted without thought, by young people who have not learned, or who have forgotten that I represent the sacrifices, hopes, and dreams of all who came before, and of countless millions around the world who would share in their freedom.
It seems that it is only in the times of war or national tragedy that I have meaning to the masses who call this land their home. If that is true, then our country is only one generation away from losing the rights and privileges that I represent, and that you take for granted. For after all, if you don’t care, then who will teach those who follow you?
Whether I fly proudly over the buildings of your community, or am placed beside the flags of your houses of worship…whether I am seen as a pin in the lapel of a military veteran, or as an oversized decoration covering the playing field of a football or baseball stadium…or whether you see me draped in silence over the coffin of a father, mother, sister, brother, son, or daughter who served or gave their life for this country, I still represent each and every one of you, and the freedoms that were won on the battlefields around the world.
To you I make this promise…
“I pledge allegiance to those who call the United States of America their home. I will fly proudly as a symbol of your hopes and dreams, and of the blood, sweat, and tears that were shed to gain and protect your rights, privileges, and freedoms. For as long as I am honored and respected, I will be a daily reminder that we are truly ‘one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’”
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By noon, the air in the house was rich with the aroma of fresh-baked zucchini bread made with zucchini that Ryan gave us last week when we were in Cleburne for the adoption. Barbara baked it for distribution to friends and neighbors, but of course we had to do our own taste test to make certain it was good enough to give to someone else. It was more than good enough, so this afternoon we made run (on Taz, of course) to the Autumn Wind assisted living facility to visit Jenny and Addie and share some sweetness.
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Wednesday, June 15
We spent the morning doing some house cleaning and making lists for our upcoming trip to New Mexico on Taz, Part of our time was reviewing weather forecasts for the areas we would ride through so we would know whether we had to change our travel plans. As of today, it appears that a Taz experience is a viable transportation option.
Earlier this week, I got a call from the local Chevy dealership alerting me to the fact that we were due for service on the car Since there was a slim possibility that we might have to take the car to New Mexico, I took it in this afternoon and had the work done...just in case.
Later this afternoon we donned our water vests and went for another practice ride to see how we would hold up under the heat.
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Thursday, June 16
Both of the old (very old) lawn mowers at the lake lot gave up the ghost recently, so this morning I loaded the lawn mower and trimmer from the house and took them to Our Little Lot to do some serious mowing, trimming, and edging. After three hours of working in sweltering heat, I had finished nearly all I had set out to do, so I loaded everything back into the car and returned to the house in Mineola.
Meanwhile, Barbara had been checking updated weather forecasts for all the points between Mineola, Texas, and Portales, New Mexico. Between what I had just experienced while mowing and what Barbara was finding out about projected weather conditions, we made the executive decision to ditch the idea of taking Taz on the New Mexico trip in favor of taking the car. After all, if a Taz trip isn't fun, it isn't worth the grief to take it. We weren't happy about the decision, but by now, we knew it was the right one.
So, we spent the evening revamping our plans and lists of things we would be taking with us on our next adventure.
Friday, June 17
We spent the morning rewriting our lists and selecting and laying out everything we would need for the next 10 days. For us, it is not just a matter of grabbing and going. We learned the hard way (well, I learned the hard way...Barbara is a veteran list-maker) that if we don't write it down, something important will be forgotten.
This afternoon we drove out to the lake lot, disconnected Big V from all her moorings, and then I drove her to Lindale to Camping World to be worked on in the near (we hope) future. The next time we see Big V, we should have a new microwave/convection oven and we'll be ready to hit the road in her again.
Since we rarely see ourselves as others see us, Barbara followed me to Lindale and got this shot of Big V rolling down Geronimo Street as we left our lot at Holiday Villages. By the way, those speed bumps are real witches for motor homes...and even worse for motorcycles!
After getting Big V checked in at Camping World, we returned to the house to rest a bit and then drove to Quitman to join the Friday Night Bunch for food, fun, and fellowship at the Red Dome Restaurant.
Saturday, June 18
Because of our change of plans about which vehicle we'd take to New Mexico, we were able to get a little extra sleep time this morning before getting up and ginning around. It didn't take long to pack the car and secure the house, and then it was time to head out on another set of adventures.
It didn't take long to get to our first stop, Grand Saline, just 13 miles from Mineola. It wasn't a planned stop, but for years we've been talking about stopping for a few minutes to try to get photos of an old building down by a set of railroad tracks. For some reason, we decided that today was the day, so we pulled to the side of the road, pulled out our cameras, and fired away. The following is the result after Barbara did some clever editing.
We then got back in the car and headed for I-20 and the route through Canton, Terrell, Dallas, and onto I-35 W to go to Burleson to be part of Kaiden's adoption party. We didn't think it was our place to photograph all the guests that joined us for the occasion, but the few we took of the family show that a good time was had by all.
The party was just getting into full swing when it was time for us to leave. We weren't sure how far we would get tonight, but we knew we wanted to put as many miles behind us as possible so we wouldn't have a terribly long drive tomorrow.
We took a couple of back country routes between Burleson and Weatherford; the first was planned, and the second was accidental. All we'll say about that is we saw some country that most folks around here don't even know exists!
Once we finally found I-20, we put the pedal to the metal and headed west, finally stopping at Eastland for the night. Luckily, we had taken a couple of Ryan's delicious hamburgers (with all the trimmings), so supper was easy...and better than anything we might have found at the local fast food places.
Sunday, June 19,
The trip across I-20 was generally uneventful except for all the rain we drove through beginning at Abilene and continuing until we pulled off for a break at Big Spring, where we left the "big road" and headed north toward Lamesa.
We stopped at Lamesa to attend the morning service at First Baptist Church, and then continued our journey west on U.S. 180 through Seminole and then into New Mexico and the city of Hobbs, Barbara's hometown in her "growing up" years.
We still had plenty of time to get to Artesia, so we took an hour or so to visit some special places in Barbara's personal history.
First stop: Heizer Junior High School
Then, Southern Heights Elementary School...
Followed by a stop at what used to be Southern Heights Methodist Church...(The chain link fence and barbed wire are more recent additions).
By the time we finished our sightseeing, it was noon in New Mexico and time for some great Mexican food at Rosa's Cafe. We got so busy eating our meal while sitting in the outside area that we forgot to take any photos...imagine that!
A few miles west of Hobbs, we left U.S. 180 and took the cutoff road that runs through the oil patch toward Artesia. We were pleasantly surprised to find that much of the road has been widened and repaved, making the driving a more enjoyable experience.
While I drove, Barbara took some photos. The first was an iconic pump jack out in the middle of nowhere...
Soon, we left the cutoff road and got on U.S. 82 West, headed toward Loco Hills (yes, there really is a community by that name) and down 12-Mile Hill into Riverside (yes, when the Pecos River has water in it, the name is appropriate)
And then into Artesia, home of pecan groves, magnificent sculptures throughout the downtown area, and on the outskirts, miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles.
Eventually, we arrived at the Terpening place, the land where we lived in Big V for the first four years of our retirement. Our concrete pad was available, but without Big V, we decided we'd take Jerry and Nancy up on their offer of lodging in their beautiful home for a couple of days.
Jerry and Nancy were on their way home from a weekend in Benjamin, Texas, so we made ourselves at home and then went back into town to KFC for a bucket of chicken and assorted goodies so supper would be ready when they got home.
Tonight...lots of talking and getting caught up since we last visited. We felt just like we were at home because, well...we were back home.
Monday, June 20
Nancy had the day off (from her regular job, that is...she managed to work all day at the house), so we just stayed around the house and visited with her while she did all the household chores.
Jerry and Nancy have adopted a turtle that showed up at their place. He/she/it doesn't require much attention, so it's the perfect pet for a busy couple. I named it "Terpy" because, well...it just seems to fit.
We went to the grocery store with Nancy this afternoon just to see what we could see. As we walked past the produce coolers, we spotted this strange looking fruit. Barbara asked one of the ladies who was working there what it was, and she said it was a jackfruit.
We decided we needed to give it a try, so the lady cut off a large slice to take home. Barbara looked it up and found that it is the national fruit of Bangladesh...so now you know.
We tried the jackfruit this evening and found that it had a bit of a tangy sweet flavor...not bad, but definitely an acquired taste.
When Jerry got home from work, he took some steaks that Nancy had prepped and put them on the grill. Those, with the other dishes that Nancy prepared made for a wonderful dinner.
And, when everything was cleaned up and put away, we settled in to a rousing game of 99.
Tuesday, June 21
This morning was a time of reliving some Artesia memories. When Jerry and Nancy left for work, we grabbed the cameras and headed to Artesia High School, where we graduated in 1962. The iconic main building was demolished many years ago, but much of the physical plant remains, although nearly all the buildings have been remodeled over the years.
Our first stop was at the music building, where we spent the first hour of every morning when we were in school here. The concert risers on the old outdoor bandstand have been removed and replaced with a flat concrete stage, and a wall now separates that area from the music rehearsal rooms.
From the music building, we took a short walk to Morris Field, the football stadium when we were there 55 years ago. We went to the area where the band sat in the old rock and concrete stands and I played the AHS Fight Song, "Onward Bulldogs," just for old times sake while Barbara took some pictures of us reliving the glory days.
When we were finished at the stadium, we drove downtown to the new library on a mission to recapture the past. The dominant feature of the library is the giant Peter Hurd mural that was rescued from a building in south Texas and trucked to Artesia to be cleaned up and placed in a new setting.
Our primary mission while in the library was to search through microfilm files of The Artesia Daily Press to find some photographs that included us during our senior year at AHS.
The first photo we found was the seed of a story that Barbara has to tell...
Barbara: I'll try to be brief...My family moved to Artesia my senior year which meant that I had to make new friends and be the new kid in a cliquish town. But, one of my best memories was the fact that Mr. Bradbury picked me to be Huckleberry Hound and I got my picture in the paper even though I was the new kid in the band. It made me feel so special!
Now fast forward to 1994, after Jim and; I had married. One day he came home and threw his papers, marching charts, and books on the couch. Now this was quite a shock as Jim usually is more subtle when he's upset. My reaction was to say, "Wow! What is that all about." Jim said, "I've had it! I need to do what Mr. Bradbury used to do. Just stick a costume on (name withheld to protect the guilty) and get them out of the formation!" Before I could say anything, Jim started trying to take back his words...he forgot that he was talking to one of those "costume" kids. So....after 30 years of thinking I was special, I found out the real reason Mr. Bradbury picked me.
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After finding Huckleberry Hound and friends, we continued the search for a photo that we both remembered having been published, but neither of us could remember exactly when it was taken.
Our search paid off when we got close to the end of the microfilm reel to the December editions of the newspaper...there we were, Barbara, our friend Steve Kinney (now deceased) and me standing at Mr. Bradbury's podium while we looked at one of the scores for the 1961 Christmas concert. Wow...that brought back some powerful memories. Need it be said that we were younger then?
As part of the ongoing commissioning of sculptures that reflect the history of Artesia, a special sculpture was placed in the new traffic circle just outside the library.
One of the great things about Artesia is that it has some wealthy and influential residents who are willing to put their money where their mouths are and who generously support education, arts, and athletics.
As we returned to the house from our trip down memory lane, Barbara got a call from her sister, Carol, who said that she and some of her children and grandchildren would be at one of the parks this afternoon. So, after lunch and a short rest, we left the house and drove out to the park to meet them all and relive more memories.
It isn't an official visit to Artesia without a meal at La Fonda Restaurant, so tonight we made this trip official as the fellowship and fun with Jerry and Nancy continued through a delicious Mexican dinner.
When dinner was over, we headed back to the west side of town. Just as we reached the turnoff to the house, the sun was disappearing over the horizon and we just had to stop to get a shot of it.
Wednesday, June 22
Sunrises in Artesia are especially beautiful. I tried yesterday to get a couple of shots, but the timing was all wrong, so this morning I went out early to see what I could get. The result of my early arrival and patience is the sequence as the sun rose over the Pecos Valley. The sequence was shot from the eastern edge of the Terpening property.
When I finished with the sunrise sequence, I turned around and got these two shots that include the windmill and part of the pecan grove on the property.
After Jerry and Nancy left for work, we finished our packing, loaded the car, and headed off on the next leg of our adventure...driving west a couple of miles until we reached the site of the long-abandoned Spor-Tee Fun Center, one of the first trampoline and goofy golf centers in the area. Our reason for stopping this morning was to relive, more or less, a moment that I would, if I could, do over.
Mother and Daddy, along with Ed and Gertrude Kinney, Steve's parents, threw a party for our classmates following the Baccalaureate service. My responsibility was to go home and change clothes and then get to the Kinney's house as soon as possible to help Steve greet the guests.
What really happened was a major case of cranial flatulence. Instead of going to the Kinney's, I picked up Barbara and we then met up with our friends Gary Dodd and Diane Bryan, and we headed out to Spor-Tee for a round of goofy golf. Please don't ask why I thought that was a good idea, because I have relived that night many times, and still don't have an answer.
Well, we eventually got to the Kinney's and joined our friends for a fun evening, but not without a chilly reception from Mother and Daddy. Even though they were enjoying the celebration by kids they had known for the past 12 years, I knew I hadn't heard the end of it. And sure enough, I hadn't. When I got home I got every bit of the lecture I deserved. I had to apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Kinney the next day, and then the matter was closed. Now if I could only forget what a bone-headed move that was!
Well, the long and short of the story is that the Spor-Tee is still standing (kind of), and serves as a reminder of times long ago when the kids of Artesia had to spend 25 cents a gallon for gas and drive a few miles for entertainment.
We left Spor-Tee and drove west on U.S. 82 through the communities of Hope, Elk, and Mayhill before turning off and taking a back road between Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. We eventually made our way to Ruidoso, gassed up the car at the Apache Travel Center, and then drove up the mountain to the beautiful Inn of the Mountain Gods, our home away from home for the night.
The following is a set of views from our balcony...
Eating and clowning around were very much a part of the afternoon and evening...
Thursday, June 23
We got up this morning, got everything ready for another travel day, and then went upstairs (or is it up-the-elevator?). We had the elevator all to ourselves, so we decided it was a perfect opportunity for some silly selfies. We were having so much fun we forgot to hit the button for the main floor. But, someone called the elevator from a lower floor and we didn't finish our photos until just as the doors opened and we managed to get a partial photo of whoever wanted the elevator...Oops!
We got away from Ruidoso around 10:00 am and drove to Roswell, where we stopped at our favorite used book store to load up on reading material. Then it was across town to meet my sister-in-law (brother Jerry's widow) for lunch at Golden Corral. Carol, Barbara's sister, was at work and couldn't join us this time.
We said our goodbyes to Jane and headed north on U.S. 70 toward Portales and Eastern New Mexico University, where we would spend time at the biennial ENMU Alumni Band Weekend.
After checking in at our motel, we drove over to the university to register for the activities. The exterior of the music building is much as it was 54 years ago when I first entered ENMU as a music major, but the interior has been greatly modernized.
Jane Henry and Janet Barnard, band friends from the way-back days, were on hand to welcome me as the first registrant of the event.
We returned to the motel, had a bite of supper, and then I went back to the music building to meet up with 67 band alumni who had returned to the campus for a weekend of making music.
Friday, June 24
While Barbara spent the morning at the motel, I was in the Floren Thompson, II, Rehearsal Hall (named for our band director when I attended ENMU). We just thought that last night's 2-hour rehearsal was intense. Today's rehearsals (that's right...multiples) were extremely intense, but we had only a total of 10-11 hours this weekend to prepare a major concert program, so we all had to bring our A game.
Barbara's sister, Carol, arrived from Roswell this afternoon to join us for the weekend. The three of us attended the Reunion Band banquet at the Campus Union Building, where we enjoyed delicious food and a great time with old and new friends.
When we saw Carol in Artesia the other day, Barbara commented that she needed an apron so she wouldn't have to wear mine all the time, especially when we are at Toccoa. Carol is a good seamstress, and when she showed up today, she had a new apron especially for Barbara, who modeled it for us when we got back to the motel tonight.
Saturday, June 25
We started the day by packing and loading as much as we could in the car. I had a rehearsal all morning and we had to check out of the motel by noon, so whatever didn't get moved to the car, went to Carol's room so that at least one room would be completely cleared.
Our rehearsal was extremely intense, but the band was totally focused on bringing the music to life for this afternoon's concert, and although we were exhausted when we finished at 12:15, we were pleased with the results and excited to return to the stage at 4:00 to warm up and make final preparations for the 4:30 concert.
Meanwhile, from the looks of the photos Barbara and Carol took this morning, things weren't quite as intense back at the motel...
When the rehearsal was over, I caught up with Barbara and Carol at Subway and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch before taking a ride to find peanuts at the peanut mill complex (which was closed), riding out to the Blackwater Draw archaeological site and the site of the (soon to be) old football stadium (which became the new stadium after I graduated from ENMU.
There was a Dollar Tree store close to the campus that called our names, so we stopped there to shop and kill some time before going back to the music building.
One of the great pleasures of attending the reunion band weekend is visiting with old friends. This afternoon we had the pleasure of meeting members of the Thompson family as they attended the concert that honored Mr. Thompson, our band director so many years ago.
The concert went off wonderfully, with excitement for all the right reasons. Whether the band members had been gone from Eastern for 50 years, or five years, we were all transported back in time to our days as student members of the ENMU bands...what a great feeling!!! I was so thankful to have my own set of groupies (Barbara and Carol) to share in the excitement and beauty of the afternoon.
When the concert was over, we said goodbyes to friends new and old, got Carol on her way back to Roswell, and then we headed toward home, driving through Clovis, Texico, Farwell, and Muleshoe before finally stopping for the night in Littlefield.
Sunday, June 26
This was a Point A to Point B day. After grabbing some breakfast at the motel, we gassed up the car and drove through Lubbock, Post, and Snyder before reaching I-20 and heading east until we finally got home to Mineola around 6:00 pm. We unloaded the car, piled everything on the bed in the spare bedroom, and crashed for the rest of the evening.
Monday, June 27
Still exhausted from our journey, we were a little slow getting around this morning...these days, it takes longer to recuperate than when we were younger.
We spent the morning doing the laundry, catching up on mail, paying bills, etc. Barbara worked on photo collages for the May journal, and I called the dermatologist to get an appointment to have a spot on my jaw frozen. Imagine our surprise when they told us they had an opening for 3:20 this afternoon!
After lunch and a short nap, we prepared for the trip to Lindale to see the physicians assistant. Luckily, we sat for only a couple of minutes before we were called to the examining room. Mrs. Wilson was quick and efficient, and we were out of there at 3:19, one minute before the scheduled appointment. That will probably never happen again, but it was nice for it to happen today.
Tuesday, June 28
I got up early this morning to go to prayer meeting at Yantis, then stopped for a few minutes to check on Our Little Lot at Holiday Villages. As expected, the lot needed mowing, but the mower and trimmer were at the house, so I decided I'd just have to wait on that chore.
When I got back to the house, Barbara was in full kitchen mode, preparing meals for today and breakfasts to freeze and have ready whenever we needed them. The photos show the results of her work...
One trick in the kitchen that Barbara learned on Pinterest was to wrap celery and bell peppers in foil to keep them fresh longer. We have found that using this tip kept our veggies crisp and green for several weeks.
While Barbara was busy in the kitchen, I went outside to mow, trim, and edge the yard, fill the hummingbird feeders, and generally get the place dressed up.
When the yard work was finished, I got cleaned up and then moved into the kitchen to make up a couple of batches of sausage balls.
A nice house and yard, food in the pantry, and meals ready to eat...we are truly blessed!!!
Wednesday, June 29
Hallelujah!!! The final installment of the May Journal/Blog was posted, mailed, and published first thing this morning. Now we are only 29 days behind schedule, but we spent a large part of the day correcting that "little" problem by working on the June photo collages and reviewing our calendar notes for text. Who knows...we might even get completely caught up one of these days!
Barbara had texted Leslie earlier this week to get a much needed haircut appointment for us, Luckily, we were able to get in today and have a few pounds of hair removed.
I had praise band rehearsal at church tonight. Because of the VBS schedule this week, we were able to have rehearsal at 6:00 pm, leaving me time to drop all my mowing equipment and supplies off at Our Little Lot before returning home.
After I'd been home a few minutes, we decided to go to Sonic for a milkshake...something we rarely do, but it just felt right for some reason. It was too warm still for a Taz ride, so we took the car. With milkshakes in hand, we drove around to the plaza by the train station and were pleasantly surprised to find these Fourth of July decorations on display...
Thursday, June 30
With the last of the May journals published, we began to think that may, just maybe, we might be able to get the June journal out in a timely fashion. It was way too hot to spend much time outside in the yard, and a Taz ride was out of the question, so we buckled down to finishing the June collages (most were already prepared), and getting them all organized to paste into the appropriate places in the text (which was somewhat prepared.) Anyway, the upshot was that we spent nearly all day focused on the journal/blog...didn't get it
finished, but we made some great progress. What a way to end a month!!!
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Friday, June 17
We spent the morning rewriting our lists and selecting and laying out everything we would need for the next 10 days. For us, it is not just a matter of grabbing and going. We learned the hard way (well, I learned the hard way...Barbara is a veteran list-maker) that if we don't write it down, something important will be forgotten.
This afternoon we drove out to the lake lot, disconnected Big V from all her moorings, and then I drove her to Lindale to Camping World to be worked on in the near (we hope) future. The next time we see Big V, we should have a new microwave/convection oven and we'll be ready to hit the road in her again.
Since we rarely see ourselves as others see us, Barbara followed me to Lindale and got this shot of Big V rolling down Geronimo Street as we left our lot at Holiday Villages. By the way, those speed bumps are real witches for motor homes...and even worse for motorcycles!
After getting Big V checked in at Camping World, we returned to the house to rest a bit and then drove to Quitman to join the Friday Night Bunch for food, fun, and fellowship at the Red Dome Restaurant.
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Saturday, June 18
Because of our change of plans about which vehicle we'd take to New Mexico, we were able to get a little extra sleep time this morning before getting up and ginning around. It didn't take long to pack the car and secure the house, and then it was time to head out on another set of adventures.
It didn't take long to get to our first stop, Grand Saline, just 13 miles from Mineola. It wasn't a planned stop, but for years we've been talking about stopping for a few minutes to try to get photos of an old building down by a set of railroad tracks. For some reason, we decided that today was the day, so we pulled to the side of the road, pulled out our cameras, and fired away. The following is the result after Barbara did some clever editing.
We then got back in the car and headed for I-20 and the route through Canton, Terrell, Dallas, and onto I-35 W to go to Burleson to be part of Kaiden's adoption party. We didn't think it was our place to photograph all the guests that joined us for the occasion, but the few we took of the family show that a good time was had by all.
The party was just getting into full swing when it was time for us to leave. We weren't sure how far we would get tonight, but we knew we wanted to put as many miles behind us as possible so we wouldn't have a terribly long drive tomorrow.
We took a couple of back country routes between Burleson and Weatherford; the first was planned, and the second was accidental. All we'll say about that is we saw some country that most folks around here don't even know exists!
Once we finally found I-20, we put the pedal to the metal and headed west, finally stopping at Eastland for the night. Luckily, we had taken a couple of Ryan's delicious hamburgers (with all the trimmings), so supper was easy...and better than anything we might have found at the local fast food places.
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Sunday, June 19,
The trip across I-20 was generally uneventful except for all the rain we drove through beginning at Abilene and continuing until we pulled off for a break at Big Spring, where we left the "big road" and headed north toward Lamesa.
We stopped at Lamesa to attend the morning service at First Baptist Church, and then continued our journey west on U.S. 180 through Seminole and then into New Mexico and the city of Hobbs, Barbara's hometown in her "growing up" years.
We still had plenty of time to get to Artesia, so we took an hour or so to visit some special places in Barbara's personal history.
First stop: Heizer Junior High School
Then, Southern Heights Elementary School...
Followed by a stop at what used to be Southern Heights Methodist Church...(The chain link fence and barbed wire are more recent additions).
By the time we finished our sightseeing, it was noon in New Mexico and time for some great Mexican food at Rosa's Cafe. We got so busy eating our meal while sitting in the outside area that we forgot to take any photos...imagine that!
A few miles west of Hobbs, we left U.S. 180 and took the cutoff road that runs through the oil patch toward Artesia. We were pleasantly surprised to find that much of the road has been widened and repaved, making the driving a more enjoyable experience.
While I drove, Barbara took some photos. The first was an iconic pump jack out in the middle of nowhere...
Soon, we left the cutoff road and got on U.S. 82 West, headed toward Loco Hills (yes, there really is a community by that name) and down 12-Mile Hill into Riverside (yes, when the Pecos River has water in it, the name is appropriate)
And then into Artesia, home of pecan groves, magnificent sculptures throughout the downtown area, and on the outskirts, miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles.
Eventually, we arrived at the Terpening place, the land where we lived in Big V for the first four years of our retirement. Our concrete pad was available, but without Big V, we decided we'd take Jerry and Nancy up on their offer of lodging in their beautiful home for a couple of days.
Jerry and Nancy were on their way home from a weekend in Benjamin, Texas, so we made ourselves at home and then went back into town to KFC for a bucket of chicken and assorted goodies so supper would be ready when they got home.
Tonight...lots of talking and getting caught up since we last visited. We felt just like we were at home because, well...we were back home.
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Monday, June 20
Nancy had the day off (from her regular job, that is...she managed to work all day at the house), so we just stayed around the house and visited with her while she did all the household chores.
Jerry and Nancy have adopted a turtle that showed up at their place. He/she/it doesn't require much attention, so it's the perfect pet for a busy couple. I named it "Terpy" because, well...it just seems to fit.
We went to the grocery store with Nancy this afternoon just to see what we could see. As we walked past the produce coolers, we spotted this strange looking fruit. Barbara asked one of the ladies who was working there what it was, and she said it was a jackfruit.
We decided we needed to give it a try, so the lady cut off a large slice to take home. Barbara looked it up and found that it is the national fruit of Bangladesh...so now you know.
We tried the jackfruit this evening and found that it had a bit of a tangy sweet flavor...not bad, but definitely an acquired taste.
When Jerry got home from work, he took some steaks that Nancy had prepped and put them on the grill. Those, with the other dishes that Nancy prepared made for a wonderful dinner.
And, when everything was cleaned up and put away, we settled in to a rousing game of 99.
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Tuesday, June 21
This morning was a time of reliving some Artesia memories. When Jerry and Nancy left for work, we grabbed the cameras and headed to Artesia High School, where we graduated in 1962. The iconic main building was demolished many years ago, but much of the physical plant remains, although nearly all the buildings have been remodeled over the years.
Our first stop was at the music building, where we spent the first hour of every morning when we were in school here. The concert risers on the old outdoor bandstand have been removed and replaced with a flat concrete stage, and a wall now separates that area from the music rehearsal rooms.
From the music building, we took a short walk to Morris Field, the football stadium when we were there 55 years ago. We went to the area where the band sat in the old rock and concrete stands and I played the AHS Fight Song, "Onward Bulldogs," just for old times sake while Barbara took some pictures of us reliving the glory days.
When we were finished at the stadium, we drove downtown to the new library on a mission to recapture the past. The dominant feature of the library is the giant Peter Hurd mural that was rescued from a building in south Texas and trucked to Artesia to be cleaned up and placed in a new setting.
Our primary mission while in the library was to search through microfilm files of The Artesia Daily Press to find some photographs that included us during our senior year at AHS.
The first photo we found was the seed of a story that Barbara has to tell...
Barbara: I'll try to be brief...My family moved to Artesia my senior year which meant that I had to make new friends and be the new kid in a cliquish town. But, one of my best memories was the fact that Mr. Bradbury picked me to be Huckleberry Hound and I got my picture in the paper even though I was the new kid in the band. It made me feel so special!
Now fast forward to 1994, after Jim and; I had married. One day he came home and threw his papers, marching charts, and books on the couch. Now this was quite a shock as Jim usually is more subtle when he's upset. My reaction was to say, "Wow! What is that all about." Jim said, "I've had it! I need to do what Mr. Bradbury used to do. Just stick a costume on (name withheld to protect the guilty) and get them out of the formation!" Before I could say anything, Jim started trying to take back his words...he forgot that he was talking to one of those "costume" kids. So....after 30 years of thinking I was special, I found out the real reason Mr. Bradbury picked me.
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After finding Huckleberry Hound and friends, we continued the search for a photo that we both remembered having been published, but neither of us could remember exactly when it was taken.
Our search paid off when we got close to the end of the microfilm reel to the December editions of the newspaper...there we were, Barbara, our friend Steve Kinney (now deceased) and me standing at Mr. Bradbury's podium while we looked at one of the scores for the 1961 Christmas concert. Wow...that brought back some powerful memories. Need it be said that we were younger then?
As part of the ongoing commissioning of sculptures that reflect the history of Artesia, a special sculpture was placed in the new traffic circle just outside the library.
One of the great things about Artesia is that it has some wealthy and influential residents who are willing to put their money where their mouths are and who generously support education, arts, and athletics.
As we returned to the house from our trip down memory lane, Barbara got a call from her sister, Carol, who said that she and some of her children and grandchildren would be at one of the parks this afternoon. So, after lunch and a short rest, we left the house and drove out to the park to meet them all and relive more memories.
It isn't an official visit to Artesia without a meal at La Fonda Restaurant, so tonight we made this trip official as the fellowship and fun with Jerry and Nancy continued through a delicious Mexican dinner.
When dinner was over, we headed back to the west side of town. Just as we reached the turnoff to the house, the sun was disappearing over the horizon and we just had to stop to get a shot of it.
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Wednesday, June 22
Sunrises in Artesia are especially beautiful. I tried yesterday to get a couple of shots, but the timing was all wrong, so this morning I went out early to see what I could get. The result of my early arrival and patience is the sequence as the sun rose over the Pecos Valley. The sequence was shot from the eastern edge of the Terpening property.
When I finished with the sunrise sequence, I turned around and got these two shots that include the windmill and part of the pecan grove on the property.
After Jerry and Nancy left for work, we finished our packing, loaded the car, and headed off on the next leg of our adventure...driving west a couple of miles until we reached the site of the long-abandoned Spor-Tee Fun Center, one of the first trampoline and goofy golf centers in the area. Our reason for stopping this morning was to relive, more or less, a moment that I would, if I could, do over.
Mother and Daddy, along with Ed and Gertrude Kinney, Steve's parents, threw a party for our classmates following the Baccalaureate service. My responsibility was to go home and change clothes and then get to the Kinney's house as soon as possible to help Steve greet the guests.
What really happened was a major case of cranial flatulence. Instead of going to the Kinney's, I picked up Barbara and we then met up with our friends Gary Dodd and Diane Bryan, and we headed out to Spor-Tee for a round of goofy golf. Please don't ask why I thought that was a good idea, because I have relived that night many times, and still don't have an answer.
Well, we eventually got to the Kinney's and joined our friends for a fun evening, but not without a chilly reception from Mother and Daddy. Even though they were enjoying the celebration by kids they had known for the past 12 years, I knew I hadn't heard the end of it. And sure enough, I hadn't. When I got home I got every bit of the lecture I deserved. I had to apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Kinney the next day, and then the matter was closed. Now if I could only forget what a bone-headed move that was!
Well, the long and short of the story is that the Spor-Tee is still standing (kind of), and serves as a reminder of times long ago when the kids of Artesia had to spend 25 cents a gallon for gas and drive a few miles for entertainment.
We left Spor-Tee and drove west on U.S. 82 through the communities of Hope, Elk, and Mayhill before turning off and taking a back road between Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. We eventually made our way to Ruidoso, gassed up the car at the Apache Travel Center, and then drove up the mountain to the beautiful Inn of the Mountain Gods, our home away from home for the night.
The following is a set of views from our balcony...
Eating and clowning around were very much a part of the afternoon and evening...
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Thursday, June 23
We got up this morning, got everything ready for another travel day, and then went upstairs (or is it up-the-elevator?). We had the elevator all to ourselves, so we decided it was a perfect opportunity for some silly selfies. We were having so much fun we forgot to hit the button for the main floor. But, someone called the elevator from a lower floor and we didn't finish our photos until just as the doors opened and we managed to get a partial photo of whoever wanted the elevator...Oops!
We got away from Ruidoso around 10:00 am and drove to Roswell, where we stopped at our favorite used book store to load up on reading material. Then it was across town to meet my sister-in-law (brother Jerry's widow) for lunch at Golden Corral. Carol, Barbara's sister, was at work and couldn't join us this time.
We said our goodbyes to Jane and headed north on U.S. 70 toward Portales and Eastern New Mexico University, where we would spend time at the biennial ENMU Alumni Band Weekend.
After checking in at our motel, we drove over to the university to register for the activities. The exterior of the music building is much as it was 54 years ago when I first entered ENMU as a music major, but the interior has been greatly modernized.
Jane Henry and Janet Barnard, band friends from the way-back days, were on hand to welcome me as the first registrant of the event.
We returned to the motel, had a bite of supper, and then I went back to the music building to meet up with 67 band alumni who had returned to the campus for a weekend of making music.
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Friday, June 24
While Barbara spent the morning at the motel, I was in the Floren Thompson, II, Rehearsal Hall (named for our band director when I attended ENMU). We just thought that last night's 2-hour rehearsal was intense. Today's rehearsals (that's right...multiples) were extremely intense, but we had only a total of 10-11 hours this weekend to prepare a major concert program, so we all had to bring our A game.
Barbara's sister, Carol, arrived from Roswell this afternoon to join us for the weekend. The three of us attended the Reunion Band banquet at the Campus Union Building, where we enjoyed delicious food and a great time with old and new friends.
When we saw Carol in Artesia the other day, Barbara commented that she needed an apron so she wouldn't have to wear mine all the time, especially when we are at Toccoa. Carol is a good seamstress, and when she showed up today, she had a new apron especially for Barbara, who modeled it for us when we got back to the motel tonight.
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Saturday, June 25
We started the day by packing and loading as much as we could in the car. I had a rehearsal all morning and we had to check out of the motel by noon, so whatever didn't get moved to the car, went to Carol's room so that at least one room would be completely cleared.
Our rehearsal was extremely intense, but the band was totally focused on bringing the music to life for this afternoon's concert, and although we were exhausted when we finished at 12:15, we were pleased with the results and excited to return to the stage at 4:00 to warm up and make final preparations for the 4:30 concert.
Meanwhile, from the looks of the photos Barbara and Carol took this morning, things weren't quite as intense back at the motel...
When the rehearsal was over, I caught up with Barbara and Carol at Subway and we enjoyed a leisurely lunch before taking a ride to find peanuts at the peanut mill complex (which was closed), riding out to the Blackwater Draw archaeological site and the site of the (soon to be) old football stadium (which became the new stadium after I graduated from ENMU.
There was a Dollar Tree store close to the campus that called our names, so we stopped there to shop and kill some time before going back to the music building.
One of the great pleasures of attending the reunion band weekend is visiting with old friends. This afternoon we had the pleasure of meeting members of the Thompson family as they attended the concert that honored Mr. Thompson, our band director so many years ago.
The concert went off wonderfully, with excitement for all the right reasons. Whether the band members had been gone from Eastern for 50 years, or five years, we were all transported back in time to our days as student members of the ENMU bands...what a great feeling!!! I was so thankful to have my own set of groupies (Barbara and Carol) to share in the excitement and beauty of the afternoon.
When the concert was over, we said goodbyes to friends new and old, got Carol on her way back to Roswell, and then we headed toward home, driving through Clovis, Texico, Farwell, and Muleshoe before finally stopping for the night in Littlefield.
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Sunday, June 26
This was a Point A to Point B day. After grabbing some breakfast at the motel, we gassed up the car and drove through Lubbock, Post, and Snyder before reaching I-20 and heading east until we finally got home to Mineola around 6:00 pm. We unloaded the car, piled everything on the bed in the spare bedroom, and crashed for the rest of the evening.
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Monday, June 27
Still exhausted from our journey, we were a little slow getting around this morning...these days, it takes longer to recuperate than when we were younger.
We spent the morning doing the laundry, catching up on mail, paying bills, etc. Barbara worked on photo collages for the May journal, and I called the dermatologist to get an appointment to have a spot on my jaw frozen. Imagine our surprise when they told us they had an opening for 3:20 this afternoon!
After lunch and a short nap, we prepared for the trip to Lindale to see the physicians assistant. Luckily, we sat for only a couple of minutes before we were called to the examining room. Mrs. Wilson was quick and efficient, and we were out of there at 3:19, one minute before the scheduled appointment. That will probably never happen again, but it was nice for it to happen today.
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Tuesday, June 28
I got up early this morning to go to prayer meeting at Yantis, then stopped for a few minutes to check on Our Little Lot at Holiday Villages. As expected, the lot needed mowing, but the mower and trimmer were at the house, so I decided I'd just have to wait on that chore.
When I got back to the house, Barbara was in full kitchen mode, preparing meals for today and breakfasts to freeze and have ready whenever we needed them. The photos show the results of her work...
One trick in the kitchen that Barbara learned on Pinterest was to wrap celery and bell peppers in foil to keep them fresh longer. We have found that using this tip kept our veggies crisp and green for several weeks.
While Barbara was busy in the kitchen, I went outside to mow, trim, and edge the yard, fill the hummingbird feeders, and generally get the place dressed up.
When the yard work was finished, I got cleaned up and then moved into the kitchen to make up a couple of batches of sausage balls.
A nice house and yard, food in the pantry, and meals ready to eat...we are truly blessed!!!
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Wednesday, June 29
Hallelujah!!! The final installment of the May Journal/Blog was posted, mailed, and published first thing this morning. Now we are only 29 days behind schedule, but we spent a large part of the day correcting that "little" problem by working on the June photo collages and reviewing our calendar notes for text. Who knows...we might even get completely caught up one of these days!
Barbara had texted Leslie earlier this week to get a much needed haircut appointment for us, Luckily, we were able to get in today and have a few pounds of hair removed.
I had praise band rehearsal at church tonight. Because of the VBS schedule this week, we were able to have rehearsal at 6:00 pm, leaving me time to drop all my mowing equipment and supplies off at Our Little Lot before returning home.
After I'd been home a few minutes, we decided to go to Sonic for a milkshake...something we rarely do, but it just felt right for some reason. It was too warm still for a Taz ride, so we took the car. With milkshakes in hand, we drove around to the plaza by the train station and were pleasantly surprised to find these Fourth of July decorations on display...
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Thursday, June 30
With the last of the May journals published, we began to think that may, just maybe, we might be able to get the June journal out in a timely fashion. It was way too hot to spend much time outside in the yard, and a Taz ride was out of the question, so we buckled down to finishing the June collages (most were already prepared), and getting them all organized to paste into the appropriate places in the text (which was somewhat prepared.) Anyway, the upshot was that we spent nearly all day focused on the journal/blog...didn't get it
finished, but we made some great progress. What a way to end a month!!!
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Love to all,Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsy
This posting of our journal/blog marks ten years since we retired from teaching. It’s hard to believe, even now, that ten years ago today, I finished my duties at Liberal High School (Barbara finished her duties on June 1, 2006), left my keys on the desk, climbed into Big V, and we started out in a whole new life.
Over the ten years, we have called both Artesia, New Mexico, and Mineola, Texas. our home. And the amazing thing is that both communities are very much alike in many ways; so much so, that we are sometimes confused about where our “real” home is.
When we set out on this retirement adventure, our dream was to travel and do volunteer work. The Lord has been most gracious to us in guiding us through 44 of the 48 states in the Continental U.S.; and, He has provided enough service opportunities to keep us going and growing. We’ve been blessed to assist in the building of churches in Florida and Tennessee, and we travel to Toccoa, Georgia, twice a year to do at least two weeks of volunteer work at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center, where new friends from several states quickly became our "Toccoa family."
During the past ten years we have mourned the loss of several family members, including Jameson Mcquitty, a grandson, Jimmy Clint Colwell, a son, Edith Little, my mother, and Jerry Little, my brother. We’ve also mourned the loss, but celebrated the lives of other relatives, and friends new and old with whom we have crossed paths.
God has continued to answer our prayers in keeping us safe and expanding our horizons. And He blessed us greatly when we were led to a new church family at Yantis First Baptist Church.
All this is to say that we have been blessed abundantly, and we count each of our Facebook, journal, and blog friends as members of our extended family. You have mourned and comforted us in our sorrow, and celebrated with us at the births of our grandchildren and the recent adoption of Kaiden Alex McQuitty, the latest addition to our list of grandchildren.
Thanks for your prayers, support, and guidance, and words of encouragement through the first ten years of this adventure. We assure you that we will need even more as we begin the second ten years.
Thank you for following along on this journey. May God bless each of you as richly as He has blessed us.
Love and best wishes always,
Jim and Barbara
Mineola, Wood County, Texas
June 30, 2016
EPILOGUE
This posting of our journal/blog marks ten years since we retired from teaching. It’s hard to believe, even now, that ten years ago today, I finished my duties at Liberal High School (Barbara finished her duties on June 1, 2006), left my keys on the desk, climbed into Big V, and we started out in a whole new life.
Over the ten years, we have called both Artesia, New Mexico, and Mineola, Texas. our home. And the amazing thing is that both communities are very much alike in many ways; so much so, that we are sometimes confused about where our “real” home is.
When we set out on this retirement adventure, our dream was to travel and do volunteer work. The Lord has been most gracious to us in guiding us through 44 of the 48 states in the Continental U.S.; and, He has provided enough service opportunities to keep us going and growing. We’ve been blessed to assist in the building of churches in Florida and Tennessee, and we travel to Toccoa, Georgia, twice a year to do at least two weeks of volunteer work at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center, where new friends from several states quickly became our "Toccoa family."
During the past ten years we have mourned the loss of several family members, including Jameson Mcquitty, a grandson, Jimmy Clint Colwell, a son, Edith Little, my mother, and Jerry Little, my brother. We’ve also mourned the loss, but celebrated the lives of other relatives, and friends new and old with whom we have crossed paths.
God has continued to answer our prayers in keeping us safe and expanding our horizons. And He blessed us greatly when we were led to a new church family at Yantis First Baptist Church.
All this is to say that we have been blessed abundantly, and we count each of our Facebook, journal, and blog friends as members of our extended family. You have mourned and comforted us in our sorrow, and celebrated with us at the births of our grandchildren and the recent adoption of Kaiden Alex McQuitty, the latest addition to our list of grandchildren.
Thanks for your prayers, support, and guidance, and words of encouragement through the first ten years of this adventure. We assure you that we will need even more as we begin the second ten years.
Thank you for following along on this journey. May God bless each of you as richly as He has blessed us.
Love and best wishes always,
Jim and Barbara
Mineola, Wood County, Texas
June 30, 2016
