June, 2020
Monday, June 1 - Tuesday, June 30, 2020
June did not go anything like we had hoped or planned. This was to be the year that we took Taz on a ride up through the Dakotas, and then across through Montana, Idaho, and Washington, and possibly into Canada. However, nature, Covid, and politics (all of which seem to be somehow intertwined) took over and changed everything.
The first few days of the month were pretty much standard...yard work, housework, doctor visits, and the everyday stuff of life.
One day, while doing some yard work, we saw our friend Garrett and his helper working on another yard. The news was full of reports of racial violence and Black Lives Matter, so we asked if they would come talk to us as friends and share their views about what was going on in the country. We had a great and enlightening conversation and ended by holding hands and sharing in a group prayer...and remaining friends, even closer than before.
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Saturday, June 6
While the journal/blog has been primarily about family, friends, and adventures, we have also used it to refresh folks' minds about important dates and events in history.
Today marks the 76th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, the largest amphibious invasion ever, by Allied Forces, and the beginning of the end of World War II. Every American citizen should consider this as a pivotal date in our country's history. If we had failed, the world be far, far different than it is now. But, the efforts of allied fighting men and their support system were successful, and democratic nations and republics are better off for all who planned and fought, and those who died in a valorous effort.
John, Carol, Nick, Randi, and Peyton arrived from San Antonio last night...it was too late for photos, but we made up for that today.
We think it is evident from the photos that a good time was had by all! 😀
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Sunday, June 7
The kids had to head back to San Antonio today, so we joined them for the first leg of the trip to Terrell, where we met Ryan, Leah, and Kaiden for a brief Colwell family reunion.
No Colwell family gathering is complete without sharing memories of Jimmy Clint.
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Monday, June 12
As we wrote earlier, this was supposed to be a summer of grand and glorious travel adventures, but then everything changed. While we haven't been in total isolation and quarantine, we still wanted to do something new and different, so we came up with plans for a trip to Red River, New Mexico, someplace neither of us had ever been.
With bags packed and the house under the watchful eye of our neighbor, John, we took off this morning on a new adventure. Our first stop was in Hobbs, New Mexico, to visit our "adopted" family...had a short, but fun visit with Susie, James, Karen, and the boys.
Then it was on to Artesia to visit with Jerry (Nancy and Becky were in Abilene visiting Amanda and Zeke and the boys) Terpening, more of our "adopted" family...
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Sunday, June 14
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 I 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 over-sized 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.’”
James A. Little
February 1, 2003 Liberal, Kansas
This morning we attended the morning service with Jerry, at First United Methodist Church.
During the afternoon we went to one of our nieces' home to visit Carol and her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.
And then it was back to Jerry and Nancy's house to pack for tomorrow's leg of the adventure and spend an evening playing Fibbage.
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Monday, June 15 - Thursday, June 18
Travel and four days of the Red River adventure began early this morning. We stopped in Roswell to have breakfast with Carol,
and then headed north for who knew what...
Since we didn't know much about Red River except for its ski country hype, we just focused on seeing what we could see and doing what we could do.
Our hotel was one of the Best Western properties we have found (and are willing to recommend). Not only was it quaint in style and great in service, the river ran right behind it, and at almost any time we could see fishermen hauling trout out to be taken to the hotel grills for preparing a meal. Sections of the river will be prominent in several of our photo collages.
The ski lift is a "must" adventure...entertaining and educational...
Many of the shops and special event venues were closed because of COVID-19 restrictions as well as the non-ski season, so we made our own entertainment...like playing Down by the Riverside while down by the riverside.
Fine dining and sights worth seeing abounded, and we took advantage of as much as we could.
We set aside one of the days to go down the mountain and drive toward Angel Fire to visit the New Mexico Viet Nam Veteran's Cemetery. What an amazing tribute to those who served and paid the ultimate price of service in that terrible war. We highly recommend that anyone passing through the area stop for an hour or so to reflect and learn some some valuable history lessons.
Our last two days were filled with soaking up the sights, sounds, smells of Red River...
A day and a half of travel brought us home to Mineola, worn out from the driving, but with spirits refreshed by memories of another adventure. After unpacking and getting the house squared away, we joined the Mineola family for some fine dining East Texas style...
Anyone who knows Barbara knows that she collects crosses. This one from Red River has a prominent place in our kitchen/dining room. A beautiful memory of a wonderful trip.
Sunday, June 21 - Tuesday, June 30
After getting settled in from our New Mexico adventure, we returned to life as usual at the MIneola house and Our Little Lot at Holiday Villages. The return to "normalcy" actually began a new phase of landscaping at both places...but that's a story for next month...
We also returned to the fun practice of driving around to the houses of friends to visit (socially distanced, of course) and serenade them.
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“Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June.” – Al Bernstein
Loving life in Mineola, Texas,
Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Gramps/Gramsie
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ADDENDUM
On June 30, 2006, I walked out of my office at Liberal High School for the last time, having completed 18 1/2 years as a band/orchestra/choir director in North Carolina, Texas, Colorado, and Colorado.
Barbara had finished 37 years of teaching in Texas and Kansas when her contract year ended in May, so she was waiting in our new home, Big V (we had sold the house and packed only what we needed to live life on the road), and that afternoon we embarked on a whole new life.
Our home base was Artesia, New Mexico, where we both graduated from high school in 1962, and where the Terpening family let us live on their pecan farm, and we were able to visit with Jim's mother, Edith, who had returned to Artesia after many years in El Paso.
Barbara's sister, Carol, was just 40 miles away in Roswell, as was Jim's brother, Jerry. Jim's youngest brother, Ernie, and his family, also lived in Artesia, so our families were pretty much back together again, and we were centrally located for our hoped for retirement adventures.
Shortly after we retired we began a series of emails to fellow teachers about where we were and what we were doing. It didn't take long for those emails to become a journal that we sent out weekly, and following the advice of one of our high school classmates, Steve Kinney, who we got to visit in California on one of our early trips, the journal became a blog.
All this is to give some background and say that this posting of the blog celebrates 14 years of retirement filled with good times, hard times, smiles, joy, pain, and heartache. We've lost friends and family over the years, but we've been blessed greatly by the new friends we've made and the family members we have connected or reconnected with.
It is our dream that the journal/blog will continue as our way of sharing with family and friends, and encouraging them to live their dreams.
Fourteen years and counting...who woulda thunk it?
Thanks to all who have given encouragement and shared their friendship and their stories with us. We continue to be greatly blessed by our special link to each of you.
Love and best wishes to all,
Jim and Barbara (the "Little" people)
June 30, 2020
Mineola, Texas
