Now, I left everyone hanging with our arrival to Snow Hill Maryland. I need to back up just a little bit. While we were visiting my cousins in Florida, we spoke to John's nephew, Napolean, in Maryland. It turns out that he had taken a whole three week vacation! He thought that we were going to visit Maryland for the whole three weeks! SO, we offered to fly him into Florida and ride back up to Maryland with us. Since he was only waiting on us to show up, he accepted the offer. We picked him up at the Jacksonville airport on our way out of Florida.
It was my first time meeting him, so I didn't know what he looked like to look for him....LOL! I had talked to him on the phone on several occasions and felt like I knew him already. We had a wonderful time "going home" to Snow Hill with him.
Snow Hill, Maryland is where I got caught up and lost in our vacation. It was where John was born and raised. He left at 18 and never went back, other than to visit his Mom, while she was living. Any trip back after that was only to attend funerals of close family members. So, this visit was truly a visit and a chance for him to see people that he hadn't seen in 30-40 years.
As we approached downtown, we came upon the old house that belonged to John's family for many, many years. His brother, Tommy lived in it and sold it, not too long ago. It will be restored for historical purposes. I was so looking forward to going downtown to the Julia A. Purnell Museum. John's mother was a midwife and she delivered most of the people there in Snow Hill that we spoke to. John's brother, Tommy donated her bag and tools that she used, to the museum. It's not a large building and we were told that if we didn't see her things, that they were in storage. They change the items around each year because they have so many things. As it turned out, her things weren't there this time.
We spent more than an hour just walking around downtown. John would remember the area and tell me all about it. He spoke with the lady at the hardware store and reminisced about some of the people there. John remembered her father, fondly. As we continued our walk, we came upon an old pool hall. Napolean told us about how one of John's friend, now owned and ran it. It wasn't open while we were there. We continued our walk and Napolean happened to turn around to see John's friend, pull up in front of the pool hall.....LOL! John made it a point to run back and see him, if only for a quick chat.
I could see John starting to really get into his hometown visit. THAT was enjoyable for me to see! I was busy snapping pictures.
Next, John mentioned a lady that he remembered as a young boy, to Napolean. Napolean said, "she lives right over here, still, on the next corner." Sure enough! They were so happy to see each other! John was surprised to see that she had grown children....no one had ever mentioned that to him in the past. Sweet, Sweet lady!
Downtown, Snow Hill, where a lot of the blacks live is still as poor as it was when he was living there. Nothing much has changed there. OH.....they do have some sidewalks now. That was something that he noted.
As I looked around and saw field after field of corn and soy beans, it was then that I realized why John had left and never moved back. It's just not him. He joined the Army at 18 and began to grow away from what his life was. He wanted something more and different. I would say, California is different....LOL!
Napolean had a friend that had just moved back into the area, Bev. She was a wealth of information!! Very enjoyable to be around, so we invited her to come along with us and hang out. John would ask her questions about different people in the area. I don't think she was ever stumped for an answer.
We went and stayed with John's brother for one night. He was on his way out of town for a family gathering on his wife's side .....going to North Carolina. He bought a large piece of property with a house on it. It also came with a graveyard. Two people are buried there from the 1800s. He has built a picket fence around it to keep everyone from walking on them.
The next day we went to Ocean City Boardwalk.....wow....was the wind blowing there! We had a nice day, but we were ready to get on our way as we had some more stops to make.
We stopped in a town called Salisbury, Maryland to see another one of John's friends, Elmer. He called John a few months back. He had ran into John's brother, Tommy and got our phone number. He called and told John that the last time they had seen each other was back in 1957, they were in Europe! Ahem....that's the year I was born! Anyway, we got to see him and his wife. Great people and a memory like you wouldn't believe!!!!
I just noticed how long this entry is. I will take a break and start back up.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Getting back to my blog
Hi Everyone!Once again, I'm waaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyy over due with my blog!! We made it home safely with no tickets even. We kept our cruise control on. It made it more relaxing for us that way. We got back to work on September 11th. and even though we enjoy our little jobs, coming back was a bit tiring. I ended up sick after the first week with a sinus infection. That took almost a whole two weeks to get over, but I made sure that I got lots of rest!!
I got to work early, on my first day back to work and went in to see my Dad. When I go into the area that he lives in, I try to see if he's going to notice/recognize me before I say anything to him. Well, he didn't notice, but that's okay. I'm glad that he wasn't worried about where I was. We brought back some salt water taffy from the eastern shore. He was happy to have some of that. He still loves his sweets. He's doing all right, but his mind is getting much worse. I have to admit that the majority of the time, he doesn't know who I am when I approach him. I attend an Alzheimer's support group meeting each month and that helps, a lot! I have let go of the caregiving that I used to give him. I let that facility do it all now. All of what's happening to him is "normal," I just have to keep that foremost in my mind.
I got to work early, on my first day back to work and went in to see my Dad. When I go into the area that he lives in, I try to see if he's going to notice/recognize me before I say anything to him. Well, he didn't notice, but that's okay. I'm glad that he wasn't worried about where I was. We brought back some salt water taffy from the eastern shore. He was happy to have some of that. He still loves his sweets. He's doing all right, but his mind is getting much worse. I have to admit that the majority of the time, he doesn't know who I am when I approach him. I attend an Alzheimer's support group meeting each month and that helps, a lot! I have let go of the caregiving that I used to give him. I let that facility do it all now. All of what's happening to him is "normal," I just have to keep that foremost in my mind.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Arrived in Snowhill, Maryland 8/30
We're currently in Springfield, MI. and we're headed home.
We arrived in Snowhill, MD, John's hometown, on Wednesday, August 30th. This was my first time there and I have to say that even though I loved the first part of my trip, Maryland was the highlight!
I got a chance to see where John grew up. As we walked the town, people knew he was there. They would stop and chat with him. He got to see people that he hadn't seen in 40 years even. I met family that I've talked to on the phone, but haven't ever met in person.
Anyway.....I'm not done with blogging about my trip, but since I didn't get a chance to blog this last week, I will have to work on it when we get home. I have lots to share......pictures too!
Until we get home...
We arrived in Snowhill, MD, John's hometown, on Wednesday, August 30th. This was my first time there and I have to say that even though I loved the first part of my trip, Maryland was the highlight!
I got a chance to see where John grew up. As we walked the town, people knew he was there. They would stop and chat with him. He got to see people that he hadn't seen in 40 years even. I met family that I've talked to on the phone, but haven't ever met in person.
Anyway.....I'm not done with blogging about my trip, but since I didn't get a chance to blog this last week, I will have to work on it when we get home. I have lots to share......pictures too!
Until we get home...
Monday, August 28, 2006
Arrived in St. Augustine, FL 8/27-29
We had a smooth drive coming into Florida. I think we've gotten acclimated to the time change now. It's three hours later here.
Here we have been visiting with my cousin's Wayne and Faye. I have a lot more family here, but I'm not going to be able to visit them all on this trip.
Again, we've been hanging out and visiting. It's VERY HOT here too. We've been watching, tropical storm Ernesto. It's supposed to hit here on Thursday. We leave in the morning and will be heading up to Maryland. From the looks of it, we will be dragging it into Maryland with us. I'll let you know.
The first night, Wayne fixed us a scrumptious dinner!! Pork roast, on the grill with yams, cooked cabbage and corn bread......OH, was that a nice treat!
I got a chance to locate and visit a stamp store, here in St. Augustine. The name of it is Claire's Collectibles. WOW....what a great place to get lost in. My cousin sat at the front counter and chatted with the owner, Claire, while I looked and looked and looked some more. I made sure to pick up a few things, since she had some different stuff at her store. She's been there for fourteen years. It was a pleasure to shop in her store.
John and Wayne took the car in for a oil change and wash.
We went to dinner at a new place, just down the street from my cousin's. It was called Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q.....YUM, YUM, YUM!!!! John ate too much this time. If you're ever in the area, make sure that you get by to eat there. They have a couple of place in Jacksonville, Florida too. From there we actually too the plunge and went to Dairy Queen. Now we're ALL stuffed...LOL!!!
Tomorrow we will stop in Jacksonville, Florida, just about an hour away from here, and pick up John's nephew. He's on vacation and decided to hop a plane and join us for the trip up to Maryland. He lives in Washington, D.C. We invited him to join us and get in some visiting time with him, on the road.
I'll try to hook up and update more when I get to my next stop.
THANK YOU WAYNE, FAYE and FLORIDA!!!!
Here we have been visiting with my cousin's Wayne and Faye. I have a lot more family here, but I'm not going to be able to visit them all on this trip.
Again, we've been hanging out and visiting. It's VERY HOT here too. We've been watching, tropical storm Ernesto. It's supposed to hit here on Thursday. We leave in the morning and will be heading up to Maryland. From the looks of it, we will be dragging it into Maryland with us. I'll let you know.
The first night, Wayne fixed us a scrumptious dinner!! Pork roast, on the grill with yams, cooked cabbage and corn bread......OH, was that a nice treat!
I got a chance to locate and visit a stamp store, here in St. Augustine. The name of it is Claire's Collectibles. WOW....what a great place to get lost in. My cousin sat at the front counter and chatted with the owner, Claire, while I looked and looked and looked some more. I made sure to pick up a few things, since she had some different stuff at her store. She's been there for fourteen years. It was a pleasure to shop in her store.
John and Wayne took the car in for a oil change and wash.
We went to dinner at a new place, just down the street from my cousin's. It was called Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q.....YUM, YUM, YUM!!!! John ate too much this time. If you're ever in the area, make sure that you get by to eat there. They have a couple of place in Jacksonville, Florida too. From there we actually too the plunge and went to Dairy Queen. Now we're ALL stuffed...LOL!!!
Tomorrow we will stop in Jacksonville, Florida, just about an hour away from here, and pick up John's nephew. He's on vacation and decided to hop a plane and join us for the trip up to Maryland. He lives in Washington, D.C. We invited him to join us and get in some visiting time with him, on the road.
I'll try to hook up and update more when I get to my next stop.
THANK YOU WAYNE, FAYE and FLORIDA!!!!
Left Hattiesburg 8/26
I wasn't able to access the internet while in Hattiesburg, after we left the hotel. Very frustrating trying to get hooked up, so I just gave up. I can't seem to work the pictures on here well enough either, so I will work on pictures when I get home.
We had a wonderful visit with my friends in Mississippi. First of all, I need to mention that these friends are more like family than friends. Mardell and Virgle are like a second set of parents for me. They played a big role in my rearing. Their daughter, Barbara is like a sister to me. We grew up together and I've always missed hanging out with them. They lived in Escondido until 1974 before moving to Mississippi.
On this trip we've been visiting more than anything. We got to go out for catfish and hush puppies, the first night that we were there. I can't remember the name of it, but it was sure good!!
We also got to go back to a place that I remembered from my visit of four years ago......O'Charley's. Their yeast rolls are to die for! I ate a basket full of them!!
THANK YOU MARDELL, VIRGLE, BARBARA, DARRELL and MISSISSIPPI for a wonderful time!!
We had a wonderful visit with my friends in Mississippi. First of all, I need to mention that these friends are more like family than friends. Mardell and Virgle are like a second set of parents for me. They played a big role in my rearing. Their daughter, Barbara is like a sister to me. We grew up together and I've always missed hanging out with them. They lived in Escondido until 1974 before moving to Mississippi.
On this trip we've been visiting more than anything. We got to go out for catfish and hush puppies, the first night that we were there. I can't remember the name of it, but it was sure good!!
We also got to go back to a place that I remembered from my visit of four years ago......O'Charley's. Their yeast rolls are to die for! I ate a basket full of them!!
THANK YOU MARDELL, VIRGLE, BARBARA, DARRELL and MISSISSIPPI for a wonderful time!!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Arrived in Hattiesburg, MS 8/23
We got here at about 11:30pm. We're still on California time and able to stay awake a bit longer to get here.
It was a good trip. We breezed through Louisianna and I forgot to get postcards to send out!! I sent some from Texas so the next batch will have to go from Mississippi.
We are going to be seeing some of my long time friends.....I was here almost 4 years ago and I'm excited to be back and visit them again.
It was a good trip. We breezed through Louisianna and I forgot to get postcards to send out!! I sent some from Texas so the next batch will have to go from Mississippi.
We are going to be seeing some of my long time friends.....I was here almost 4 years ago and I'm excited to be back and visit them again.
Goodbye Texas
I would have to say that our visit to Tyler Texas was, interesting.....LOL!!!
We got up this morning and called my friend, Cathy, to meet us for breakfast at Denny's, located just in front of the motel we were staying in.
I had noticed, while taking my shower that the water was "slow" to get warm if you had it on cold and visa versa.....just something that I noted.
While waiting to be seated, I overheard a customer, talking on the phone at the cash register, say, "so, are they going to sentence you today or tomorrow?" Hmmmmm.......we were escorted to our table.
When we were waiting for our server to wait on us, I looked up just in time to see a man walk up on the seat of the booth in back of him, to set himself back down next to a man in the booth, just in front of us.....ROFLOL!! My eyes just about popped out! I guess that he didn't want to disturb the person by having him get out and let him back in his seat.
We just about had to twist our server's arm to get anything out of her. I asked her if she would bring us more coffee........she showed up with the coffee pot and stood there waiting for us to hold up our cups....LOL! She was in no hurry to get things done. That's when I told Cathy that even my shower water was slow to change temperatures.....I told her that it must be something about Tyler.....LOL!
She and I left and escorted John to the local Mall. We didn't want to bore him with our trip to the scrapbook store. ( I will post a link to it tomorrow...I forgot the business card in the car) They had some fun and different things there that I hadn't seen in other stores that I've been to.
We went back to the mall, picked up John and we were on our way again. I got to see a armadillo.....dead, on the side of the road, but I saw one......another thing, not moving a bit.
We didn't stay there long, but we did have a good time!! THANK YOU LORRI, TODD, CATHY and TEXAS!!!
We got up this morning and called my friend, Cathy, to meet us for breakfast at Denny's, located just in front of the motel we were staying in.
I had noticed, while taking my shower that the water was "slow" to get warm if you had it on cold and visa versa.....just something that I noted.
While waiting to be seated, I overheard a customer, talking on the phone at the cash register, say, "so, are they going to sentence you today or tomorrow?" Hmmmmm.......we were escorted to our table.
When we were waiting for our server to wait on us, I looked up just in time to see a man walk up on the seat of the booth in back of him, to set himself back down next to a man in the booth, just in front of us.....ROFLOL!! My eyes just about popped out! I guess that he didn't want to disturb the person by having him get out and let him back in his seat.
We just about had to twist our server's arm to get anything out of her. I asked her if she would bring us more coffee........she showed up with the coffee pot and stood there waiting for us to hold up our cups....LOL! She was in no hurry to get things done. That's when I told Cathy that even my shower water was slow to change temperatures.....I told her that it must be something about Tyler.....LOL!
She and I left and escorted John to the local Mall. We didn't want to bore him with our trip to the scrapbook store. ( I will post a link to it tomorrow...I forgot the business card in the car) They had some fun and different things there that I hadn't seen in other stores that I've been to.
We went back to the mall, picked up John and we were on our way again. I got to see a armadillo.....dead, on the side of the road, but I saw one......another thing, not moving a bit.
We didn't stay there long, but we did have a good time!! THANK YOU LORRI, TODD, CATHY and TEXAS!!!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Arrived in Tyler, Texas 8/22-8/23
Late this afternoon, John and I left from Todd and Lorri's house and headed towards Tyler to visit a friend of mine, Cathy. She had just been to California for a three week visit and now I'm getting to see all of her grandkids for the first time. She has a brand new little one named Jaiden. Here she is holding her. We were trying to get her pretty smile, but she knew better when I held up the camera....LOL....she put on that serious face!
Tonight we had dinner at a nearby Asian Buffet. The food was very good. All of the kids and grandkids were there.....thirteen of us in all! The little ones were really good.
Arrived in Arlington, Texas 8/20-8/22
Due to a few technical difficulties and a touch of laziness, it's been three days since I was here. I finally got connected tonight though, so here we go.
We arrived at my nieces and nephews (Lorri and Todd) house on Sunday afternoon. They fixed us a yummy BBQ'd dinner and we went for a dip in the pool afterwards. It was HOT!! The pool was so refreshing that we couldn't resist. AH....no pictures of us in the pool....LOL! You'd be scared to death if you saw us in bathing suits! Here's a picture of her luscious pool though.
We got up Monday morning and spent the whole day just visiting and drinking coffee. Todd had to work on Monday. His birthday was on Saturday and since we missed it by one day, we took him out for dinner to a local Mexican restaurant. Lorri invited her friend, Kim, that I have heard so much about. What a sweet lady she is! I just wished that I had MORE time to stay and visit. Todd's eyes are closed in this picture, but here he is with his BIRTHDAY FLAN!
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Arrived in Midland, Texas
We have arrived in Midland, Texas! After driving the most part of yesterday, I was too bushed to log in and do an update.
We stayed in Yuma, AZ. Friday night and headed out early Saturday morning to met my brother in Tucson. We ran into a butterfly swarm just past Yuma. Here are a few that got caught in the grill! Everything thing went smooth on the meet up.....we were on our way to Texas by about 11am.
The drive was good and nothing BIG to report. We plan to be at my nieces house around noon.
Friday, August 18, 2006
DEPARTURE DAY
Well, it's here. John and I both went to work. I got off earlier than he did, so I will finish up what I can to pack the car. We will be leaving tonight and go just a short distance. We will take off and stay in Yuma tonight. Since we usually wake at wacky times, we will probably be up rather early and head out for Tucson. We will meet my brother, Hogan, near the airport. He is going with us to Texas. His daughter, Lorri, lives in Arlington.......our first stop! Hopefully, I will be able to post regularly, since I'm taking along the laptop!
Day before we leave
Today, was busy at work but it went by fast. I only worked the morning and then my boss took over for the rest of the day. I got a few things done. I got the car cleaned up and polished. John and I want to see if it will help with getting some of the bugs off as we travel. The weather is going to be hot and cook them on....LOL! I got to hang out with April as she ran me around doing lots of this and that. I even fit in a pedicure!
Ding, Ding, Ding...
...went the Trolley!!
Wednesday was our outing day with our residents. We drove them down to Old Town, in San Diego and then hopped the trolley to Santee. We didn't do anything spectacular to speak of, but we had a lot of fun. I think it was the company of people that we took. We ate lunch and then headed over to a nearby Target to look around. As you can see, we even "goofed around" a little bit....LOL! Here we were trying on hats. It was a long day but the residents seemed to enjoy themselves. They slept good that night.