Final Approach to Christmas

It was nice to come in yesterday and say, "I don't have to go back to work for the rest of the year!" The semester is over, Christmas break is here, Hallelujah!

So here it is over six weeks since I last wrote. However, three weeks ago I discovered my last post had been stuck in the drafts folder of my email and had not gone out as I had thought. This was due to issues we had with our internet service over October and November. To keep a long story short, we have switched providers, the issues we were having have cleared up, and our bill is lower. I know these issues are first world problems, but it sure is hard to function nowadays when your speeds are slower than dial-up. Moving on.

To touch on what has been going on with us, Thanksgiving was a nice break in our routine. Since I got the week of Thanksgiving off this year Vicki and I decided to spend the weekend before the holiday in Gatlinburg. I must say the idea of getting away was so exciting that over a week out I was counting the hours until we left. Vicki picked me up from school on the 19th and we were on our way. We had supper with the boys in Cookeville that evening. In Gatlinburg we enjoyed hiking, shopping, revisiting some favorite places to eat (like Log Cabin Pancake House and J-Del's Pizza), and discovering some new ones (such as Peter's Pancakes in Cherokee, NC). And we had a fun lunch date with Brent and Sabrina Freeland on our way home.

The boys got a three day break for Thanksgiving. Nate and I cleaned all the leaves off the yard the day before Thanksgiving, chopping many of them and pushing the rest to the field with the mower. Ben was spending the day with Mei Lin and was happy he missed that job. I'm happy the job is done.

We celebrated our Thanksgiving on Friday, mainly due to Jenna's work schedule. The seven of us gathered for a mid-afternoon meal followed by a game of Loaded Questions. After that we cleared away the aftermath of our feast and drug out the Christmas decorations. Jenna and Nolan left when we began to assemble the tree to decorate their house.

You know, I think that was the point when it really hit me that Jenna is married. Up until now it has just seemed like Jenna was away at college once again. Oh, I knew intellectually that she and Nolan are married and have a home of their own, but her being away really hasn't been any different from her college days. This time, when she didn't spend the night in her old room, but went to her own home, is when it sunk in at an emotional level. It is good. It is as it should be. Still, it's a little strange.

Since the holiday we've been coming down the final stretch of the fall semester. We just wrapped up mid-term week at Davidson Academy and the boys have finals at Tech.  Now the four of us are home and the house is full again. Ben, incidentally, is sleeping in Jenna's old room.

So here we are at the beginning of our Christmas break. We have all the normal holiday activities ahead plus some chores to get done, like cleaning out the gutters and trimming some trees in the yard.

Merry Christmas!

Joe

Autumn

Fall has arrived. Our corn has been harvested. The trees are starting to turn and leaves are beginning to carpet the ground.

When I last wrote I asked for prayer for my friend Brian who had suffered a major heart attack. The majority of you reading this will already know that Brian passed away back on the 12th. There was a memorial service for him on the 16th in Kentucky where he lived and then a funeral here at our church a week ago (the 23rd). Brent did an amazing job speaking at his brother's funeral service that day.

Vicki and I drove up and visited with Debbie and her daughters a few days before Brian passed away. As hard as it was to enjoy a meal together without Brian there I am glad we had that visit.

As Kenny put it, our little corner has taken a hit over the years. With Aunt Mar, my mom, Don and Katie Henry, Mrs. Sue, and now Brian gone it seems like more of us are up the road in the cemetery than in the places where we'd like for them to be. That has been hard. I look forward to the day when death has lost its sting.

Life moves on and we must move on with it. While Vicki and I were in Kentucky to visit Debbie and the girls (that was on the 7th) we also checked out the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. Both museums are very well done and we thoroughly enjoyed them. Vicki and I also noticed that there was a general difference in the people visiting the museums as opposed to other public places where we find ourselves. It seemed to us that we were surrounded by people who were happier, more courteous, and more friendly than the typical mix of folks you rub elbows with in public. It was refreshing. I would love to know a museum employee's take on our observation.

The preceding weekend we drove to Cookeville to visit the boys. We got the chance to test drive some electric cars at an expo, which was fun, hike at Burgess Falls, and go to church with the boys. A pleasant surprise was to see one of my former students who graduated with Ben and is also attending Tennessee Tech get baptized that morning. Ben was also part of a little commissioning service that day before heading off to Romania.

Ben had a good trip to Romania and has returned safely. We have heard a few details but not enough to report here so that story will have to wait until we see him over Thanksgiving and can hear more about it. In the mean time, school and work are keeping me and Vicki busy. Vicki also made a quick trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama, with Mrs. Ann Morris from our church so that Mrs. Ann could visit her daughter who lives there. They were gone the 15th through the 18th and had a big time. Jenna and Nolan are busy as well and I only run into them at church on Sunday mornings. They have gotten some kittens but lost one to an owl, they think.

So with that said, Happy Halloween. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it, then Christmas and the New Year. Where is the time going?

Joe

It's...It's...It's Blue!

 I was all set to publish my latest edition on Sunday when we got a text telling us that one of my childhood friends, Brian Freeland, had suffered a massive heart attack. Brian lived up the road when we were growing up. He and his two brothers were my best friends. I don't see them nearly as often as I would like these days. You may recall that their mother, Mrs. Sue, passed away six months ago.

So, receiving that news sort of took the wind out of my sails and we've been praying for Brian and his family all week. Brian has had a very close brush with death and he is not out of the woods yet, but has made good progress, if slow, all week. Many of you reading this already know about Brian, but if you did not, I know his family would appreciate it if you join the rest of us in praying for his recovery and healing.

I will say Brian has always epitomized courage to me. I remember when I was in the 6th grade and he in the 8th hearing his voice over the school PA system for the morning announcements. His part was to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian, like actor James Earl Jones, is a stutterer. He has never let that deter him from anything, even leading the whole school in the pledge to the flag that morning.

Now for what I had originally written...

Yes, it is very blue. Toyota calls it Speedway Blue. There is a new-to-me truck sitting in our driveway; more on that later.

The newlyweds are back from their honeymoon and getting down to the routine of life together. They went to Savannah, Georgia, and then Hilton Head, South Carolina. We invited them and Nolan's parents over for dinner the Sunday evening after they got home (the 12th) and we heard all about their trip, saw the pictures, and it sounds like they had a great time. I thought of Mom as they told about their trip because they included plenty of pictures of all the food they ate. Those were the details that were always important to her.

The big news for Nolan is that he's gotten his own service truck at work. He's going to continue doing ride-alongs for a while as we move into fall and people start switching to heat. He's only seen the A/C side of things since he started back in the spring. Still, it's a big deal to get your own service truck.

Nolan's birthday was Friday of last week (the 24th) so they hosted their first party at their house when they had us and his family over to celebrate Saturday evening. There were 15 or so there and we enjoyed kabobs out on the front lawn and a corn hole tournament.

Ben and Nate are both doing well in Cookeville. We've heard from Ben more than Nate. Ben has become involved with Stephen Street Baptist Church there and is leaving on a week-long mission trip to Romania next week. He is going to be doing a lot of manual labor to help widows in need prepare for the coming winter. This opportunity came up rather suddenly but we are glad he has the chance to go and be of service to neighbors on another side of the world.

Ben had a little mishap with his Jeep a few weeks ago. He was driving to a friend's house one rainy evening on a road he was unfamiliar with when he came upon a curve that was sharper than he was expecting. He wound up doing a 180 and sideswiping an embankment. So, in trying to figure what to do with a 2005 Jeep Liberty with just under 200,000 miles the best deal we got was from our insurance company when they offered $5400 to scrap it out. This led to a slight vehicle shuffle with Ben getting my truck (a 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 with almost 180,000 miles) and us shopping for a replacement for me.

Vicki loves to be on the hunt for a car and she rose to the challenge; and challenge it was between trucks holding their value so well and the current computer chip shortage, affordable pickings were slim. Still, Vicki did her homework and a week ago Friday (the 17th), when I had a day off, we were prepared to drive all over creation to chase down some promising vehicles. We started in Springfield and the second truck we looked at spoke to both of us. So, there's a very blue Toyota Tacoma Prerunner with crew cab in our driveway now. People who see it don't believe me when I tell them it is a 2005 model with only 121,000 miles and one previous owner. It’s been fun for me because of all the vehicles we’ve owned—14 in all—this is only the fourth one I’ve bought where I’m the primary driver, so it's been like Christmas morning whenever I drive it. Of course, now I'm noticing every blue vehicle on the road.

That's about all I know to tell for now. It may be quieter around our house with all the kids gone, but Vicki and I seem to be as busy as we ever were. I'm enjoying teaching physics, and I'm amazed at how much I've forgotten in the last 27 years, but it's coming back pretty quickly. I'm having to hit the books hard though. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to teach the subject again.

Joe

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Nolan Magee

 This marks the 18th anniversary of the Swann Family News. For kicks I went back and read my first post to remember what life was like. Back then Jenna had just started kindergarten, Ben was enrolled in a Mother's Day Out program, and Nate was just beginning to sit up on his own and eat solid food. Pauline, Vicki’s mom, had moved next door from Camden that March and I was trying to mow three yards on a mower that was too small for the job. Our van had 153,000 miles on it. And when Vicki and I went out on a date, our night on the town was Captain Ds, grocery shopping at Kroger, and a rental movie from Blockbuster Video. We enjoyed free babysitting between Pauline, Mom, and Aunt Mar.

My how life has changed since then! Jenna and Nolan's wedding was Saturday and they are on their honeymoon in Savannah, Georgia, and then to Hilton Head, South Carolina. The Joneses went home yesterday, the Cotters are on the road for home now, and the boys return to Cookeville tomorrow. It's about to be really quiet around here.

I have to hand it to Jenna, she planned this thing to a T and stayed within budget. She and Nolan thought of every foreseeable detail, then Morgan volunteered to direct the wedding. She took Jenna's plan and executed it flawlessly. The weather was perfect.

Jenna hadn't asked for much help from us throughout the process but by the middle of last week things were ramping up and it was time to marshal the troops. What was so nice was that our family and the Magee family came together and made it all happen like a well oiled machine. All the women met at church Thursday and put in a long day decorating. When I got home from work and they took me up there to see it I was stunned. The centerpiece was an arch Nolan had made out of the old barn wood from the barn across the road that had been torn down back in the spring.

Friday turned out to be mowing day for me. I got up early and mowed our yard, most of which hadn't been mowed since July due to lack of rain, then I mowed the church yard. What was so helpful was that Nolan's dad, Steve, and three other men from his family came and trimmed and spruced up the landscaping at church. If I hadn't had their help this would not have gotten done as the job was too big for me alone in the time I had and the boys didn't get in from Cookeville until lunchtime. When the boys did get home they fell to doing the detail yard work at home that I didn't have time for and did a great job for me. After lunch we became the table and chair moving crew, hauling everything over from church to Jenna and Nolan's front yard (they are renting a house a couple of miles from church) for the rehearsal dinner that evening.

While all this was going on the women were enjoying a bridal brunch that Lori and Kathy hosted and served over at Kathy's house, which is where I grew up. We men were called in to clean up the leftovers for lunch. The bridal party and Vicki went to have their nails done that afternoon while the rest of the women put the finishing touches on the decor. It all came together in plenty of time for the 4:30 rehearsal.

The rehearsal went so smoothly we finished ahead of schedule and then went to Jenna and Nolan's house for the dinner. A large catering order was brought in from their favorite restaurant, Baja Burrito, and we enjoyed a pleasant evening talking under the trees and playing yard games. When it was time to give speeches you could hardly hear what was being said for the cicadas in the trees. It was an evening to remember. Everyone pitched in to move tables and chairs back to church for the reception.

Since it was a 10:30 wedding, the next morning was an early one for us. Jenna left at 5:30 and Vicki was out the door at 6:00. I followed a couple of hours later. What I didn't count on was having to stop at 6:30 that morning to clean out my septic line. At least that was a quick fix.

By 9:00 I got to see Jenna in her dress and enjoy a special moment with her. She was stunningly beautiful and that is a moment that will stick with me. She certainly takes after her mother who also looked beautiful as Mother of the Bride. Jenna had choreographed the schedule so well that we got to have these special moments, get all the pictures taken ahead of time, and were well clear of the sanctuary before the first guests arrived.

My memory slows down again when I met Jenna in the bridal room to escort her into the ceremony. Indeed, a special private moment with her, and it was hard to take my eyes off her as I walked her down the aisle. I almost tripped. She was so beautiful. They had asked me if I would pray, so after we got to the altar and Steve had everyone sit I opened the ceremony with my prayer (see below). That was hard to do.

Steve, who is an ordained Nazarene minister, officiated for Jenna and Nolan. He did a marvelous job, his words so appropriate. Jenna and Nolan moved to the unity candle. When they returned Vicki, Steve, Ginger (Nolan's mom), and I joined Jenna and Nolan on stage for a time of private prayer with them. This too, was very special. The whole time we were doing this Nolan's best man was singing a song he had written for them. After the vows and exchanging of rings my daughter became Mrs. Jenna Magee and we all marched out. Vicki and I high-fived before heading up the aisle.

The reception was in a large tent set up on the church lawn. Since the photos were out of the way there was no long wait. All the guests lined the pathway to the reception area and blew bubbles as Jenna and Nolan headed out to the tent. The coffee cart from Historic Perk proved to be very popular as well as the photo booth. The weather was absolutely perfect. It could have easily been 90° or hotter as is normal this time of year. People stayed and visited and Jenna and Nolan were able to really enjoy spending time with all who were there.

I think the most special memory I have of the day is watching Jenna and Nolan dance. They were totally in the moment. My guess is the crowd may have even disappeared for them. They seemed to be in a world unto themselves. It should be one of those special moments for them that feels like it will last forever but ends all too quickly all at the same time. Toward the end of the song Jenna put her head on Nolan's shoulder, closed her eyes, and the look of joy and contentment spread across her face. All was right in her world.

I'm sure a society columnist for a newspaper from back in the day would have written this differently. I know Jenna dazzled in her wedding gown and Vicki rocked a blue dress. But beyond that, well, these are just the memories of a very happy and grateful Father of the Bride. Vicki and I were reflecting as we drove to church in the rain Sunday (yesterday) morning that it was a fairy tale wedding. I can't think of a more appropriate way to describe it. I've joked with Jenna since she was little that all I was buying for her wedding was a ladder. Her comeback was always that she lived on the ground floor and didn't even need a step stool. Joking aside, her wedding was priceless and I wouldn't take anything for it.

Joe

T Minus 10 Days and Counting

 People ask me if I am sad or nervous or sad about Jenna's upcoming wedding. I don't mean to sound heartless here, but I'm really not nervous or sad. I am happy for her and Nolan. The start of this school year has been busier and more stressful than most so I haven't had much of an opportunity to focus on the wedding. It has just been an event, albeit a big one, on my calendar and I haven't had a whole lot of time to think about it. And since Jenna is so organized most of the details have been taken care of in such a timely manner that neither Vicki nor I have been asked to do much. That is likely to change in the next ten days, but so far the date has been silently slipping up on me. Hopefully I won't find myself emotionally unprepared for the big day.

As I think about Jenna getting married I keep going back to one afternoon here at the house when Jenna was just a few months old, so it was the summer of 1998. Vicki was out for some reason. She never went far or was gone for too long because she was nursing, but babies scared me to death and I was nervous, terrified even, whenever she went out to run an errand and have some much needed alone time.

I remember having fun playing with Jenna but being very relieved when she finally got sleepy and went down for a nap. I came upstairs where our computer was at the time to do something but wound up sitting there at the desk contemplating fatherhood. Now I am not a little kid person (obviously, since I teach middle and high school) and the thought of having a little kid that I couldn't relate to at home for the next 10-12 years scared me to death. I am also not an athletic guy, I've never even enjoyed watching sports on TV much at all, so the thought of possibly going to practices and games in the years ahead was very discouraging. All of these thoughts and feelings were swirling around in my mind as Jenna slept and I wasn't in a good place. Then an idea that I feel came from God popped into my mind.

I am very careful about claiming that God has spoken to me, but in this case I believe he placed this thought in my mind to germinate and grow over the months and years to come and that thought was, "You're raising her to leave." It truly hit me with a jolt and I sat back in the chair to consider this new idea. Raising her to leave. All of a sudden I had the end in mind; a goal to aim for. This wasn't about me, but her. I need to enjoy the days ahead even if they aren't things I would pick to do because this is about my daughter, not me. Enjoy each phase because all too quickly that season will come to an end and Jenna will move on to something new. And I always keep it in the back of my mind that I'm raising her to leave, to go out into the world and be a child of the King, made in his image. It was my job to show her how to live in his likeness.

This idea has been in the back of my mind ever since. It has guided me as I've raised her and her brothers. Now Ben and Nate are both away at school. (So strange that the air conditioner upstairs that normally runs 365 days a year is now silent.) In ten days Jenna leaves. She will join Nolan in marriage and they will create their own family. She will be leaving the protection of my home and building her own with Nolan. And if God blesses them with children it will be their duty to raise them to leave. One of these days Ben and Nate will do the same thing.

So with the wedding in ten days I am humbly grateful to find myself where I am. She's ready. She's found a good man. And while she and Nolan will always be part of our family it is time for her to leave, and I'm good with that.

Hopefully nothing will happen in the next week and a half to derail the big event. If it does, we'll just deal with what we're presented with. If you cannot come to the wedding you can look Jenna up on Facebook. The ceremony will be live-streamed from her account.

Joe

Back to School!

 Where did the summer break go? It was so short! In-service begins tomorrow. We have open house Tuesday evening. Classes start Thursday. There is one thing I am excited about this year: I get to teach physics! I will miss our former chemistry/physics teacher, John Claxton, who retired in May. He was one of our best teachers and I am so glad Ben and Nate both took his classes. And I certainly have big shoes to fill in following him. But I finally get to teach the subject I got into education to teach after 27 years in my career.

Jenna is enjoying her job, though working 12 hour shifts is an adjustment. She made the happy observation the other evening that she didn't have to study for anything before going to bed. I know that feels good.

Nolan moved to the house they will be renting this weekend. He had been planning for some time to move out a month before the wedding to get settled in and the house set up like they want it ahead of time. The big day is just 34 days away.

Ben's stint at Lighthouse Camp is over. He returned home last weekend and has begun working with Nate at Marysville Marine. They will move to Cookeville, Ben to his house and Nate to a dorm room, in a couple of weeks. Nate and Vicki went to orientation at Tennessee Tech Thursday and Friday. They came home with information overload and, I think, a newfound reality that heading off to college is right here!

Ben enjoyed working at camp. From what he says it was exhausting, especially as he was the only adult counselor in a cabin of boys. His days started around 5:00 AM and lasted until lights out at 10:00 PM, later if there was a homesick camper. I think he may have a deeper appreciation for parents and teachers after this. He certainly saw a lot that he had never seen before growing up in our home. This camp ministers to many of the summer campers throughout the year with parties and weekend retreats and Ben says he plans to be part of that when he can. I can see a more seasoned young man in my son today than I saw two months ago. Vicki put it very aptly when she observed that Ben was a dad in training this summer. Looking back, I really wanted Ben to get into some sort of internship opportunity this summer, something to put on his resumé. Today I am glad he followed God's leading here.

That's about all there is from our house. Vicki is doing well and enjoys a girl's night out with a couple of high school friends every now and then. Fluffy still disappears for a few days at a time and comes in with stick-tights, those Velcro-like seeds, embedded in her fur to show for her adventures. And the red, feral, barn cat is brave enough to walk within three feet of me now. At least we haven't seen mice in years.

Joe

Jenna Swann, Real Nurse

 Yes, I know RN stands for Registered Nurse, but when I was a boy and my Aunt Helen Turner, who was an LPN, was working to become an RN "real nurse" stuck in my mind. Not that LPNs aren't real nurses, but that's what goes on in the mind of a boy. Sadly, cancer interrupted Aunt Helen's course of study and she passed away in 1980 before finishing her degree.

Back in the present, I am proud to say that Jenna is a Real/Registered Nurse. She passed the NCLEX, has her license, had a good first day on the job at the hospital yesterday, and is ready to embark on her career. As special as her graduations from Trevecca last year and Union this year are, this, to me, represents the culmination of all her hard work. She may decide to continue her education in the future, but this is a significant milestone of fulfillment in her life, and I am very proud of her. She certainly looks like a load has been lifted from her mind.

The wedding plans are coming along nicely. It is hard to believe we are seven weeks away from the big day. Last weekend Jenna and several friends flew to Chicago for a bachelorette weekend getaway. It sounded like they had a lot of fun there. Today there was a wedding shower at church where she and Nolan were blessed with a lot of household items for a good start in life. Nolan will be moving into the house they will be renting in a couple of weeks so the forming of their own family and stepping out into life is getting tangibly real.

In other news, the last weekend of June featured the return of Trash & Treasures, our annual community yard sale in Cross Plains. The whole event has changed from what it was years ago. All the booths seem to be clumped into three locations rather than spread over the entire length of the town. We came away with a few treasures this year, and it was fun to walk around town once again and run into folks we haven't seen in a while. And since Ben and Mei Lin were both in we were all invited over to Mei Lin's house for dinner one evening that weekend which we thoroughly enjoyed.

The next weekend was a busy one too. We had our Kilgore Remembrance Ceremony Saturday morning since Independence Day fell on a Sunday. We filmed it this year and posted the video online (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpK46m6mN3E) so if you're interested and have about 50 minutes to spare you’re welcome to see what the ceremony is all about.

That afternoon all of Nolan's family (his parents, his three brothers, two girlfriends, and a cousin) came over for a cookout. Fortunately it was an unseasonably cool day with few mosquitos and we could enjoy playing yard games and eating on the picnic table. As that fun was winding down we all drove over to the house that Nolan and Jenna will be renting so his family could see where they will be living. Immediately after that our family went to Kenny and Lori's where they were having the Christmas Eve Eve party that they had to cancel back in December. All very fun but we went to bed that night partied out.

And this weekend while the wedding shower was going on I went to Adams for the Threshermen's Show to visit cousins and see the steam engine run once again. That engine was built in 1924. I hope I'm running that well if I make it to 97. It was good to see family and there were a couple of new brides in the picture since I saw everyone two years ago.

It's hard to believe I've just got a couple of weeks of summer left before the back-to-school in-service starts up. Ben and Nate will return to school later in August. Where do the summers go?

Joe

The Summer Routine

The school year is over. We're back from vacation. Now we're settling into the summer routine. So what is everyone doing?

For those of you who don't know or have forgotten, I am a 12 month employee at DA, so while I have more flexibility with my hours without classes and a lighter schedule, I'm still going in to work. Vicki, of course, is going in to work too. Vicki and I did celebrate our 27th anniversary with a lunch date at the new 6th & Main Restaurant in Springfield just a few doors down from her office and visited an art exhibit. We also enjoyed a nice Father's Day with one of my favorites, chicken lasagna. And for dessert Jenna made my favorite chocolate cake.

Jenna is continuing to work at Historic Perk both as a barista and coffee roaster. Even though she has graduated she is still studying to prepare to the NCLEX exam which she has signed up to take on July 15 in Evansville, Indiana. I know she would appreciate your prayers as she prepares for that exam. She will start her new job with NorthCrest the next day. She is also moving through her wedding planning checklist when she isn't working or studying.

Nolan has started his job as an HVAC tech with Wheeler Mechanical since his graduation. Right now he is riding along with another tech for on-the-job training but hopes to be in his own company vehicle making service calls in a few months. He has certainly begun collecting some interesting stories from his job, mostly about dogs.  We had hoped he would get to go with us for the Gatlinburg leg of our trip but being new to the job and having the trip to Colorado just before he didn't feel like he could miss work, so he wound up house sitting for us while we were away.

Ben went back to work briefly at Marysville Marine where he worked last summer to fill in a short gap of time before beginning a summer stint as a camp counselor at Lighthouse Christian Camp in Smithville (https://lighthousechristiancamp.com). He reported for orientation the week before our vacation and has returned while the camp runs through most of July. This camp serves underprivileged children from Nashville to Cookeville free of charge.

When Ben was here he and Mei Lin tried to squeeze in as much time together as they could. Now she has returned to Birmingham for a summer job while Ben is in Smithville. I think they have plans to be home on a few weekends. They did have one mishap here at the house one night when they were sitting on the porch swing and one of the screw eyes holding up the swing failed, pulling a couple of ceiling boards down with it. Fortunately they were not hurt but it was an impressive sounding crash.

Nate has also started his summer job; also at Marysville Marine. Ben trained him. Now all his fun trips are behind him and he'll be working 40 hours a week until it is time to head off to Tech.

The only other member of the family to discuss is Fluffy. She is a mostly outdoor cat (she will spend the night upstairs when it is really cold outside) and in the summertime she will disappear to who-knows-where for two or three days doing who-knows-what. She has been spayed so her disappearances are not romantic interludes. She gave us a scare because she was nowhere to be found after we had gotten home from our trip. Nolan had seen her every day that we were away except for the last two days and he had continued to replenish her food dish when he didn't see her. We were getting concerned when she had been absent for six days and were very glad when she showed up on the back porch the other day. I have often thought it would be interesting to put a GPS tracker on her to see where all she goes but I've never been interested enough to actually spend the money to buy one.

So, that's the news from our house. I feel like I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel when I'm writing about the extended absence of our cat, but that's about all I have to offer right now.

Joe

A Key Vacation

Here we are post graduations and the flurry of graduation parties to boot. We have a house full of graduates now. After a couple of weeks delay we’ve started our summer off with our last family vacation together, just the five of us, before Jenna gets married in September; one last hurrah before the family looks different.

There were several reasons why we didn’t take our vacation immediately after school was out. First, Nate had signed up to go on the youth camp trip with church, his last as a student, which was scheduled for the week of Memorial Day. Nate was one of 30 from our church to spend a week at a missions camp in Talladega, Alabama, and reports that they had a great time. Second, Jenna went with Nolan and the Magee family to Colorado for a wedding over the first few days of the month. In addition to the wedding in Denver Jenna got to go to Colorado Springs and saw where Nolan grew up before his family moved to Nashville. And third, we were coordinating with the Jones family to meet them for a few days while they vacationed in Gatlinburg.

So, with all the kids back in town from their activities—Ben had been in Smithville, Tennessee, while Jenna and Nate were out of town, but I’ll save that for next time—we loaded up the van and headed out for Gatlinburg a week ago last Sunday (the 6th) where we had reserved three nights at the same resort where the Jones family stays every year. We were pleasantly surprised upon checking in that our unit had been changed and that we were practically next door to the Joneses. Their entire family got to come so between the two families there were 11 of us enjoying time together. We had vacationed with their family for several years when the kids were young some 20 years ago so we revisited several of the traditional things we used to do together; breakfast at Log Cabin Pancakes, a picnic at the Chimneys (where we saw a bear this time!), strolling down the Parkway in Gatlinburg, etc.

Last Wednesday we said our goodbyes and headed back to Nashville where we boarded a plane bound for Miami then rented a van and drove to Key Largo (actually Tavernier) where we had reservations for two nights. We enjoyed looking around the Upper Keys and especially the snorkeling trip to Horseshoe Reef and Dry Rocks which is where one of the Christ of the Abyss statues is submerged. It was really interesting to look down on all the coral and tropical fish from above. Unfortunately the sea was a little choppy and this got the better of Vicki in spite of her taking something for seasickness ahead of time. She was one of about a dozen people who camped out near the stern of our pontoon boat wishing the trip were over faster. She was all smiles after clearing her stomach a second time.

Friday we drove on down to Key West. I knew this drive involved bridges, but it was nothing like the picture I had in my imagination. I had envisioned a series of very long bridges (on the order of 10-30 miles each) connecting a handful of small islands, so I was surprised when the majority of the trip from the mainland to Key West was on land, and while we did cross 42 bridges the Seven Mile Bridge just south of Marathon is the longest one. Most are much shorter. The drive is very pretty.

When we got to Key West that afternoon we took a guided kayaking trip through the red mangrove trees growing in the shallow water. We saw all sorts of cool critters including small sharks, a sting ray, a sea cucumber, jelly fish, and crabs. The trees were literally crawling with crabs. This, for me, was the best part of the trip.

We stayed in Key West for two nights and enjoyed several restaurants, sunsets and street performers on the Mallory Square waterfront, visiting the Hemingway House and Truman’s Little White House, pictures at the Southernmost Point Buoy, and of course, plenty of ice cream treats and key lime pie.

By Sunday our time was drawing to a close so we drove back up the Overseas Highway for one night in Miami before our flight home on Monday. Toward evening we enjoyed some time at the beach. The only hiccup in the whole trip was the small storm that was moving through Miami as we had boarded our plane. Lightning in the area delayed the loading of our luggage, and once that was onboard we had to wait our turn to take off. To add insult to injury the Wifi on the plane was down. Fortunately, all passengers were good sports in spite of the hour and a half delay as we crept to the end of the runway. Once in the air all was good.

This time last year Vicki and I took an anniversary trip to Memphis. Looking back, that excursion was such a fluke. People were hoping that things were loosening up after everything had shut down last spring that things were trying to sputter back to life. We were lucky to have hit a little season when some attractions were open and only a few were venturing out (we had Graceland practically to ourselves). Compare that with today and things are definitely returning to normal. Ignoring the two days of air travel where the federal mask mandate is still in place for airports and planes, I would guess that less than 3% of the people we saw were wearing masks, and most of them were employees of a business that still required their workers to be masked. Signs are disappearing and the social distancing stickers on floors and sidewalks are so worn they are practically unreadable.

So that was our vacation. It was a fun one. We had saved and planned to take a cruise to Alaska but that’ll have to wait for another year. Now we’re home and it’s back to work for all of us. At least I don’t have classes for six more weeks. Next time I’ll touch on the summer routine.

Joe

Graduations Galore

It's graduation season and we have two graduations down with one to go. Nolan graduated from Trevecca a week ago Saturday (the 8th). We didn't go to his commencement due to limited seating but we did drop by his parents' home for the graduation party afterwards and had a wonderful time getting to know his grandparents who are in from California. We were also there that Friday evening (the 7th) for a family wedding shower in Jenna and Nolan's honor. This was also a lot of fun and we have enjoyed meeting some of Nolan's extended family which included two aunts, an uncle, and a cousin who flew in as well as his three brothers who live locally.

Jenna's pinning was Thursday evening. She wrapped up her classes this week and will now turn her attention toward studying for the NCLEX exam.

Nate had three AP exams last week and is done with his classes. He will have to return to school for graduation rehearsal but his classes and our carpooling days are over. We rode together for the last time Friday as he wanted to be part of the Last Hoorah or field day at school. Nate has run his last track meet of his high school career. He completed the 3200 m run in 12:33 and set a new personal record of 5:33 on the 1600 m run. What a great way to finish up!

Sunday before last (the 9th) was Mother's Day, of course. It was odd not being able to celebrate that with Mom this year, but with things the way they were a year ago I suppose last Mother's Day was sort of a dry run for things to come in that regard. Jenna cooked a nice meal for Vicki and we all enjoyed honoring her as the matriarch of our little clan. Nolan spent the day with his family since he had so many relatives in, however, Mei Lin spent most of the day with us which made the day all the more fun.

One change here on the farm is that the old stock barn that stood across the road from the house has been torn down. I have no idea how old that barn was. I would say it was built in two stages because the main part had a central hall that ran perpendicular to the road with three or four stalls on either side. The loft was still about half full of hay. There used to be an addition built behind that which was more of a storage shed. When I was growing up an old truck was parked in the front part of the barn and one of the first model Gleaner combines was parked in the back. We sold the combine for scrap metal years ago and the shed fell down soon after that. Later I noticed the loft beams starting to give way so Jackie pulled the old truck out. Now the old barn is a pile of scrap wood. I ran across a picture me taken in 1971 with that barn in the background. I was amazed not only how large the barn looked then but also how much the trees have grown around it in 50 years.

We made one change here in the house that has made all the difference and made us wonder why it took us 26 years to do this: we took the pantry door down. I think I remember trying to take it down once and having trouble with the screws holding the hingers to the door frame. I should have tried harder then because having that door down has really opened the space up. So we are laughing at ourselves that it took us so long to catch on to that one.

In the humor department, we've also gotten a laugh out of the pair of wool dryer balls that we have. Vicki bought these some time ago and they just live in the dryer to tumble around with each load of laundry. I've come close to naming them because it is so easy to imagine that they have personalities of their own with both seemingly bent on escaping the dryer. Sometimes only one ball is in there and you never know where its partner has gotten off to, then it magically shows up. Other times I've been folding towels only to see one scurry across the floor as if it is hoping to escape my notice. On other occasions both are AWOL. The other week we had washed our sheets and in putting the sheets back on the bed with found two stowaways hiding, each in a separate pillowcase, as if by splitting up they have better chances of evading capture and return. I've thought about sticking some googly eyes on them for fun but the plastic would probably melt.

So, there's a peek of life at our house as we enjoy the last of what has been the normal rhythm of school years since Jenna started kindergarten in 2003.

Joe

Another Goodbye

I have some sad news. I have known the day to report this was coming for several weeks now, but that doesn't make it any easier. Mrs. Sue Freeland has passed away. All last year she has been the picture of health, then, on Christmas Eve, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I'm glad her family had four months with her, but still, it's a bit of a shock.

I have written about our neighbors, the Freelands, on many occasions here. They have figured prominently in my life and are dear friends. Mr. James Earl and Mrs. Sue were our next door neighbors when I was growing up until Kenny's parents built their house between us. The Freelands have three sons—Brian, Steve, and Brent—all a year apart. Brent and I are the same age. They were my best friends growing up. My earliest memories of them are playing with them in the church nursery. We all enjoyed a very idyllic country childhood, went to school together, and all wound up attending MTSU after high school. Steve and I were neighbors in the same dorm for two years and Brent and I were roommates on two occasions.

I don't see Brian, Steve, and Brent nearly as much as I would like, but I still count them as good friends. And their parents have always been special to me, people I look up to. I've played at their house about as much as their boys played at my house. They've been constants at church for as long as I can remember. So, Mrs. Sue's passing hurts.

I got to visit Mrs. Sue two weeks ago. We had a good time reminiscing and just catching up since I had last seen her before Christmas. I am so grateful I got to hug her and tell her I love her; something I never got the chance to do with my mom the last 11 weeks of her life. So, I am hurting for my neighbors and friends who are dealing with a loss they didn't see coming before Christmas.

On another note, Nate has just ten days of school left, so he is most definitely coming down the home stretch. Seniors get out a bit earlier than the rest of the students, so my school year will continue a couple of weeks beyond his. Graduation is on the 21st.

Davidson Academy went forward with their prom this weekend, as many schools in the area are doing. Nate and six of his friends decided they didn't want to go to the prom, but they wanted to have fun night. So, they all dressed up, met at a local park for pictures, went out to eat, and then went bowling. Basically, they did everything they cared to do on prom night except attend the prom itself.

Joe

Happy Easter!

The trees are pushing out their leaves, early plants are blooming, the mower is serviced, farmers are gearing up to plant corn, spring is here. With spring comes Easter and we are so thankful that things are more normal than they were last Easter. We had two services at church today to help with social distancing and both services were well attended.

We decided to celebrate Easter within our family this year with a Seder meal. This was the fourth time we've done this; twice at church about 15 years ago, once here at home in 2015, and now this year. It's probably laughable at what we really don't know about doing this. There were several things we knew were wrong. First of all, we did not have our meal on Passover itself but on the evening before Easter so that everyone could be here. Then we couldn't find any matzah and had to make our own with the flour we had on hand; definitely not kosher for Passover. And with nowhere to find the shank bone of a lamb a drumstick from a rotisserie chicken had to do. I suppose someone could be critical of all this, but all inexperience aside, each time I've partaken in a Seder I have found that it enriches the meaning of Easter and the ordinance our church calls Communion greatly, and I can't help but feel that my King is pleased with the effort, no matter how feeble it may be. I know that traditions change and evolve over the years, but there are elements of the Seder that have been practiced for centuries and are clearly evident when reading the Gospel accounts of the Last Supper. What happened that night with the events that followed—the crucifixion and resurrection—revolutionized the Disciples' understanding of what the Messiah had come to do. Experiencing this meal also helps me set aside what I think Jesus' mission is and focus more on what he said his mission was about; something much more universal in scope, not focused on me.

So, we gathered for our Seder, imperfect as it was, to celebrate this season. This "we" included Nolan, of course, but also a new face at the table. In the last few months Ben has struck up a conversation with a high school classmate, Mei Lin, whom he went with to the senior prom with a couple of years ago. Mei Lin is a student at Samford University now so it isn't so easy for them to see each other. From what I hear it is a good thing that nation-wide local calling is a standard of cell phone plans. Mei Lin was home at the end of February so Ben decided to come in as well. When he told her he was coming in that weekend she asked what was bringing him home. He simply said, "To see you."

Mei Lin's mom teaches Pre-K at DA. I ran into her in the hall a few weeks ago and she said, "Is your son trying to steal my daughter?" To which I could only say, "I think so." This weekend the two of them have spent a lot of time together. Ben presented her with an orchid Friday and asked if she would be interested in dating. From the smile on his face I'd say she was interested.

So, we gathered for our Seder, imperfect as it was, to celebrate the season and the reason we have this season. What a way for someone to be introduced to a family. Here we are, a bunch of Baptists and Nazarenes who really don't have a clue how to do what we're doing but trying our best to honor our King, even if it is a departure from how we normally do that. I have found a lot of humor with how all this has come together this year, yet I am humbly grateful for the people who are becoming part of my children's lives.

I'll close wishing you a happy Easter. No matter where you are or what you're dealing with in life, it is good to stop and celebrate the fact that death has been defeated and the King reigns.

Joe

Spring Break

The snow is a distant memory and spring is here. We're back in school after our spring break and Nate has begun his final seven weeks of high school. I know I've been talking about this the whole school year, but it's getting really real now. The last one is just about out the door.

The three weeks between our snow days and spring break were pretty uneventful; just clicking off school days until the end of the third nine week grading period. We discussed several ideas for what to do over the break, but since Jenna’s spring break is next week and Ben wanted to go camping with friends everything fell flat. Then I looked at Vicki and said, "You know, Aunt Linda's birthday is coming up. Why don't you and I fly down and celebrate it with her?” So, that's what we did. A week ago last Friday (the 12th) we boarded a plane and enjoyed a nice long weekend in Orlando with family.

I think Aunt Linda was really glad we came. Her daughter, Ann Beth, and one granddaughter, Emily, also traveled to help her celebrate. Of course, Jim, Dianna, and their boys live locally. We all went out to eat several times and enjoyed visiting and catching up on life. We also went to church with Aunt Linda at First Baptist Orlando. It was the first time she had been to church in person in exactly a year. And we went to visit Uncle Bob's grave at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. On one hand I wish our kids could have come and shared in all the fun, but on the other hand it was a nice weekend getaway for me and Vicki.

I suppose I am tooting my own horn here, but I was very glad that I could find an old picture of my great grandmother (Lizzie Hancock), print it, and have it framed for Aunt Linda. She had raised Aunt Linda and so is very special to her. Aunt Linda had mentioned to me this particular snapshot she had taken of "Mamma" with her Brownie camera and said her copy had faded to nothing. Based on her description of the photo I was able to find a copy that my mom had and made a copy. So, it was nice to be able to give that to her.

Nate went to Cookeville a couple of times last week. Once to attend an event at Tennessee Tech for prospective students and a second time to spend more time with Ben. Then Ben came home this weekend so they've seen a lot of each other.

Jenna is coming down the home stretch of her nursing program and gearing up to take the NCLEX exam. She's had her first job interview with NorthCrest Medical Center in Springfield and has been offered a day shift position as a MED-SURG nurse to begin in July. This was her top choice for jobs so she has accepted the position. We are really happy for her.

One last thing in closing. When I was a boy someone gave me a clock that my dad had made. My memory is fuzzy on this because I was little, but as I recall Aunt Ruth gave it to me when they were cleaning out my grandparents’ house for the estate auction. It's a nice mantle clock with a wooden housing which is the part that my dad would have made. The clock movement, which is Swiss, was from an airplane's instrument panel and is complete with the movable hands in addition to the hands that keep time. It is my understanding that the movement came from a B-29. Anyway, it has never worked in my lifetime and the glass face has always been cracked. Recently I took the clock to a local repair shop and I am so pleased to have it running now. It keeps great time unless I forget to wind it after eight days. I have also taken the cuckoo clock that used to hang on the wall in Aunt Mar's den in for repair but it will be a few months before I get that back.

So, that's the latest news from our family; hope all is well with you and yours.

Joe

What's the White Stuff?

 I do not want to ignore the fact that many have endured hardship through the recent winter weather. I have cousins in Texas who have been without power through the cold for several days. Ben and his housemates had no power for almost a day, however, they have a wood stove in their kitchen and so, could gather in one room to stay warm and even cook some food. Ben was in last weekend for Nate's birthday and I sent him back in my truck with a load of firewood so I think between that and what they already had on hand they are in good shape.

Last weekend was supposed to be a four day weekend for DA students due to parent/teacher conferences on Friday and the President's Day holiday on Monday. Then our administration gave holidays to the seniors Wednesday and Thursday of last week as a consolation for the traditional senior trip that they can't go on because of the pandemic. About that time the winter weather started rolling in and icy conditions shut schools down all across Middle Tennessee and beyond beginning last Thursday. And since our administration didn't say to shift to our distance learning mode we've all enjoyed seven good old-fashioned snow days.

Fortunately for us the first wave packed very little freezing rain or we might have lost power. It was mostly sleet and a dry, powdery snow. It didn't fall all at once, but sputtered to the ground for more than a day. We got out Tuesday and went sledding on what little hill there is that is walking distance from the house. I should pause and say that "we" includes Nolan as he came on Sunday for Nate's birthday dinner with the plan to get snowed in with us. Vicki went back to work on Wednesday, but a second wave of snow came through and refreshed the winter wonderland scene. This snow was wetter and better for snowballs and snowmen. We went up to Kilgore Park Thursday and went sledding on the hill there.

Classes were canceled for me and Nate, but Jenna and Nolan weren't so lucky. Jenna's classes have shifted online due to the weather and Nolan has been doing online only due to the pandemic anyway, so they are just finding a quiet space and doing class when they need to. We are also playing some games and watching some movies, but a big project right now is picture organization.

Vicki and I had said to ourselves that 2021 will be the year we make a serious dent in organizing our pictures, at least the pre-digital ones. We have thousands. Then you add all that Mom had into the mix and we have a truly daunting task in front of us. So last weekend I pulled out all the boxes that have pictures, hoping I got at least 90% of them. All of Mom's slides were put in one place and set aside to deal with later. It has been pretty easy to take our snapshots and put them in a large group to organize later. What has been immediately interesting to me has been Mom's pictures. Except for looking at them briefly a couple of years ago when we cleaned out her house, I really haven't seen pictures from my childhood since they were developed. Mom had such limited storage space that they were basically inaccessible once she found a hole to stick them in. What's worse is that a batch of pictures of me as a four year old are next to a batch of pictures from my high school days, so I'm just trying to get these in some sort of chronological order as a starting point to make sense out of what I have. Fortunately I've had this stretch of days to start this project so that I could organize things into manageable chunks to tackle on a given evening when life returns to normal.

Having alluded to Nate's birthday twice now, he turned 18 on Sunday. So hard to believe. We celebrated with dinner after church so Ben could beat the weather driving back to Cookeville. Vicki made chicken fajitas with all the trimmings. For dessert she made strawberry cake from Pauline's recipe which is one of Nate's favorites. Nate got a weighted blanket and light saber chopsticks (that actually light up) among his birthday presents; all in all a good birthday for our new adult in the house.

So now the snow is beginning to melt and the magical landscape is disappearing. Jenna and Nolan build a snowman on the north side of the big boxwood bush. Given the temperature has risen above freezing and will hit the 60s the next few days we are taking bets on the poor guy’s longevity. Life will resume its normal pace tomorrow and next thing you know it'll be spring break and then Nate's last nine week term of high school. Not meaning to wish hardship on others, but it has been very nice to have the weather force us to stop life and stay home without distance learning classes this time.

Joe

Cameron Got Hitched

 Last weekend we made a whirlwind trip to Belmont, North Carolina, where, as I quipped to my students, we went to see my 6' 7" nephew marry his 4' 11" fiancée. Cameron and Jessica seem to be a very well matched couple in spite of the 20" height difference.

I announced here that Cameron had proposed to Jessica some 18 months ago (July 2019); a lengthy engagement so Jessica could finish graduate school. Of course, no one then suspected the pandemic would change the world by their wedding day. This was to be a much larger affair than it turned out to be with many of Jessica's relatives planning to fly here from the Philippines to attend. Travel restrictions forced them to watch the ceremony and reception via Facebook Live. And really, after Ben and Nate both had their brushes with the virus we are just thankful we weren't stuck at home doing the same thing.

I think the only major hiccup for us is that Vicki had found a really good deal on a VRBO for us to stay at and just days before we were set to arrive the owner of the home had to cancel our reservation due to a broken water heater. We wound up staying the first night in a hotel and the second night at the VRBO with the Jones family. It all worked out to be an unexpected blessing for us in many ways.

Traveling was uneventful. We picked Ben up in Cookeville as we passed through and dropped him off on the way home. We got to Belmont after dark Friday night, checked in to our hotel, and were looking for somewhere to eat supper when we got a text from Will and Darice asking if we wanted to come to the rehearsal dinner so that was a very pleasant surprise.

The wedding the next day began at 3:00 so our morning was pretty slow. When we arrived at the basilica on campus the wedding party were taking pictures on the front steps. We were glad the predicted rain held off. Jessica made a stunningly beautiful bride. Cameron cleans up well.

It was a very beautiful ceremony which included three Filipino wedding traditions in the Mass that were very special once I read the description provided in the program and understood the meaning. Jessica's brother sang throughout the Mass. He has a beautiful voice which added so much to the occasion. After the wedding we went to an area country club for the reception dinner and send off.

I feel like I am glossing over some of this; I don't mean to. I do want to note here that none of us had attended a Catholic wedding Mass before, so this was a new experience for all of us; also quite different from the Protestant weddings we are used to, so Jones family be prepared for something much shorter in September. As beautiful as all this was I think the parts that I treasure were the comments that I heard. You see, I am barely acquainted with Jessica, having only been around her Thanksgiving before last, and while I know Cameron, I really only know him as my nephew. My experience with Cameron has been through quick family visits where most of the time he was just one of the kids. We have talked some over the years but have not had the time to develop an adult level, in depth relationship. Those things will come and I look forward to that. I should be quick to add here that I grow relationships slowly for my part of it; that's just my nature.

So what I treasure from last weekend were all the comments and stories told on Cameron and Jessica by their friends in the wedding party at the rehearsal and reception dinners. Of course, I enjoyed hearing about the pranks and jokes, but then their friends got to the sincerity and depth of who Jessica and Cameron are as people. How Jessica was always willing to help a friend with their studies (all while teasing them about stereotyping her as a math whiz). How Cameron's roommate from Police Academy said from the heart that Cameron was always there when he needed a friend. The depth of friendship that Jessica cultivated with her friends. The fact that Jessica's friends noted that more than being a good boyfriend, Cameron was good husband material. The warm remarks the abbot said about them as he began the wedding. All these comments presented a clear picture as to the caliber of people that Cameron and Jessica are and it made me very happy.

So Cameron and Jessica, congratulations! I wish you all the best as you return from your honeymoon in Northern Arizona and settle down into life together. (By the way, one of our children--I will preserve anonymity so as not to embarrass our youngest--wondered if Catholics did honeymoons.) Pauline would be proud.

So the next wedding is in September. I'm glad Nolan came with us as he has now met with Emily's approval for Jenna, though I think he still has to face Cameron's police scrutiny to pass muster with him. Very interesting to see how Jessie and Pauline's little clan is starting to grow.

Joe

Total Makeover, Home Edition

 School is under way again for all of us. Nate and I have been at it for four weeks already, Jenna's classes resumed three weeks ago, and Ben returned to class two weeks ago. So strange knowing this is the last semester of the normal we've known for so long.

Nate's only big schedule change is that his Senior Research Project class is over and he has picked up Strength and Conditioning to satisfy a PE credit requirement. He is also running on the track team this spring and has begun conditioning with them. In a few weeks we'll be getting all the pre-graduation emails that are sent to seniors as they approach commencement. The time is almost here and it ain't going away.

Ben came across a DIY video for building your own light saber while he was on break. Intrigued, he bought the parts he needed and went to work. The blade is made of a tube of clear PVC. Inside is another tube of translucent white plastic to act as a light diffuser, and inside of that is a long strip of LED lights. All this is glued with epoxy to a handle made of various plumbing fittings. The result is impressive, especially at night. Ben has wound up making several of these for Nate and other friends. They have a lot of fun going outside and dueling like Jedis; then something will break and Ben is in repair mode. All in all very fun, but also good experience in product design for the manufacturing engineering technology major.

Jenna's clinicals this term are geared towards OB/GYN and pediatric experience and she has already seen a baby born. I think she is both fascinated and not ready to go through that herself for a long time to come.

Kelly and Kathy have moved into their house and invited us over to see it last night. What they have done is truly impressive. You may recall that we sold Mom's house to them about 16 months ago. Kelly and Kathy had sold their previous house and were living in Kenny and Lori's barn all this time while the renovation work was going on.

For the benefit of those of you who remember the house but live away, here's a quick rundown of how the house looks now. The most noticeable changes from a distance are that almost all of the trees are gone, the house is white now, and there's a new roofline. When you drive up the driveway you no longer have to drive between the power pole and anchor wire and you notice the living area has been enlarged to include the old patio, the master bedroom has been extended to square off that corner, and there's a new, large, covered porch across the back now.

Inside, the walls separating the kitchen, den, and living room are all gone making one large, inviting, open space. The old half bath is now a large pantry and the old pantry and hall closet are gone. The hearth, kitchen windows, and utility hall are the only places recognizable from before.

The house is now a two bedroom, two bath home where it was a three bedroom, one and a half bath home. My old bedroom is the most recognizable of the bedrooms. Across the hall the old master bath has been totally reconfigured and the door going from it to Aunt Mar's old room is all wall now. Mom's old bedroom has been completely repurposed as the master bath. Aunt Mar's old bedroom is still the master bedroom, but as I mentioned above, it has been enlarged to square off that corner of the house and opens out on the back porch.

I am thrilled for them. Now Kathy lives next door to her sister, Lori, and much closer to her mother. The house looks great and I am glad to see it take on a new character and serve them as their home as it served us for over half a century (Uncle George and Aunt Mar built it in 1965).

Kathy and Kelly, I am glad to see you there and wish you many years of happiness in that place.

Joe