More friends

  Back in June we traveled north in what we called the friends tour. In Illinois we visited with long time friends Mark and Sharon Hoelscher, Dr. Mark Hoelscher to be totally respectful. In Iowa we visited with Danny and Joy Carroll. Danny has been my friend since middle school. Relationships covering decades, not to be taken lightly.

 Sad to say we let life get in the way of another relationship. Mike and Cheryl Rogers, Dr. Cheryl Rogers to be totally respectful. In our years in Tyler we went to church together, raised our children together. Mike and I hunted together and enjoyed many trips to the family farm hunting, playing 42, telling tales and making memories. In 1987 when Mary was in hospital dealing with cancer, Mike did what true friends do. With out being asked or prompted he came to hospital and pulled me away to help me cope. Never forgot that act, never will. After a wonderful couple of days our joint commitment to each other is to not let life get in the way. Thanks Mike and Cheryl for a wonderful time. See you again soon!

  On to Jasper tomorrow on our way to Lake Charles. From Jasper I hope to make a 200 plus mile round trip to visit a lady I consider my second mother. Mrs Jessie Barber played a huge part of my childhood. We spoke on Christmas eve, first time in 36 years. If successful, it will be a fitting crown on the 2016 reunion tour.

  Stay tuned



on the road again...

Elvis has left the building

  Well maybe not Elvis but we have for sure. With a pocket full of money after selling our house, we have begun the next chapter in our book of life. It was a hectic six weeks of packing, downsizing  and donating. But it is done and we are back in Maggie, which feels like home. We are outside Tyler for a couple of days. Tomorrow brings a day with some old friends. Should be a fun day.

  In a previous post I indicated our stuff would not fit in our storage facility. Glad to say with the help of a big shoe horn and an industrial size jar of K-Y jelly, I was able to get it all in.

  Nice warm temperature, no rain for now so it is back to gathering rosebuds...

Why?

 Why are we in Alvord? Current temp is 26 heading to 16 in Alvord. In Edinburg it is 85 going down to a chilly 45.

  I ask again, why are we in Alvord?


  Neither of us are fans of cold weather.


Rosebuds are frozen...

Really, we tried

  Today the sad reality set in on us. Suspect we had just been in denial up till today. It ain't gonna fit. We have given away, or sold for pennies on the dollar, thousands of dollars worth of home furnishings ,  tools, you name it. Having said and done that we will need a second storage building. A second go around will be required in the future to pare down some more.

  A look ahead has us leaving Alvord on the 27th heading to Tyler. After visiting with friends and revisiting old haunts we head south. New Years eve will find us in a state park in Jasper. Then it is on to Lake Charles for three weeks. After that we begin a new chapter in our book of life.

Yes Virginia, we have downsized.

 We have fully furnished a young mans apartment. Took multiple loads to a local auction house. Made many trips, plus more to come, to a local charity. Having said that, we still have a lot of stuff. House is getting empty but storage will be wall to wall before we are done. Suspect we will end up donating to a charity in the valley.

  Excited about the future but moving sucks...