We greet you this year after a very busy year of being road warriors following our dream (working to pay the bills). As a job comes to a close those around me always ask, “Where ya off to next?” As I guess I am always a little “off” I take pause as to what they are implying, but then presume they mean geographically. I tell them, wherever “they” send me. The fates that is (Marty my boss).
This year had me last writing you from Greenwood, SC as I was finishing a bank there for some fine folks I have added to my friends list (a term stolen by some facebook inventor dude). When that adventure finished up Susan and I hitched up (our camper not the horses) and headed down just a little south to another interesting location, Thomson, Ga. There I was lucky enough to get to build a big metal barn covered with brick in the middle of a 10 acre Love’s Truck/Travel Center parking lot. Ah there is nothing like the smell of diesel exhaust to get you going at 6:30 in the morning! The good thing about this job (and the ONLY good thing) is that not being able to find a normal campground with full hook-ups (water, electric AND SEWER) we found ourselves staying at Georgia State parks in the vicinity. One was Elijah Clark and the other was Mistletoe. Both are on lakes and were very beautiful locations (where I came home to share my diesel smelly clothes with nature each night). Only problem with Georgia state parks is they do NOT have full hook ups, NO Sewer) and they limit you typically to only a 2 week stay before having to move off a site. We were lucky to hit on a site by accident at Elijah Clarke that was for a park Host (workers who work for the park for a free site) and had a sewer hook- up ..WOOHOOOOOO (things to get excited about when you are OLD!) but when our allotted time ran up we moved on to Mistletoe. There we found a beautiful site on the lake but would have to get up with our flashlight and wander to the facilities at 3am typically (also something you do when you are OLD). This always gave you a sense of excitement wondering who or what you might run into or step upon while in mid-wander. Luckily we never ran into/stepped on our legless friend that Susan holds in such high esteem (good snakes are dead snakes per Susan), but did happen upon more than a few deer enjoying a night snack.
As this adventure neared an end while sitting in my truck/office in the middle of the trucks spewing ethereal smoke into my windows at 106 degrees (did I say this job sucked!) I saw on our company calendar an item of interest….there was a bank in Key West we were putting a bid in on……Hmmmmmmmmmm. Now as much as I would miss the 3am walks to the john and the diverse characters you meet at a truck stop at all hours of the day and night…….I think that a change in latitude might just fit the ticket…….so I mentioned to someone at the office that I would entertain taking on a trip south……WAY south! Well……….lo and behold we go the job and so did I.
Susan and I left on Labor day weekend and drove for 2 days sans the camper to arrive in a very different location than I had ever spent any length of time. Our pre-conceptions have been thrown out the window (or off the scooter as it were) now that we have met the conchs (locals) and shared their paradise/home.
We set up home in a condo (NEVER thought that would be) and again my preconceptions went south, some very nice and courteous folks live here and not once have they made me wash my truck or told me I couldn’t wear boots to work. And there are so many accents down here my lack of an accent didn’t stand out once…well maybe a time or two. Told a waitress as she seated us “Precciate-it” and she immediately asked where we were from.
Another carry over that has dual meaning I didn’t fully appreciate is for many years you all know that I tend to call folks “partner” when hailing them or saying goodbye…such as “See ya partner”….after using this term several times here I realized that there are more meanings to it than I was eluding too….so my terminology may have caused some here to think I was eluding to maybe a innuendo of romantic interest…oh well….what the heck….as I say……some really nice folks down here…
Susan has been in heaven down here as the photo opportunities are endless and she has always loved the beach. She works in her office that has a view of the Atlantic ocean with palm trees swaying and beach breezes blowing, an occasional cruise ship coming by her window……..I am afraid the view from her office at home and the raccoons and turkeys might pale. That and it is never cold here…..oh my. She might stay when I finish I am afraid….think she might be looking at getting Conch citizenship!
But we will be home soon and the question has already been asked “Where ya goin next”. I tell them that if there is anything to this Karma stuff I guess the balance of things will take me to somewhere like Wisconsin in DEEP snow!! BRRRRRRRR
My kids this year have earned their keep in looking after our home place. Melissa religiously would go up every day to feed Maggie (our cat holding the raccoons off the porch) and get our multitude of bills and junk mail to us. This while she managed her own menagerie of parental duties and worked. Not sure where she got all her gumption, must have been one of those skipped generation things. And now she is going back to school at Kennesaw State, regression or an escape I am not quite sure but either way, very proud of her.
Carrie is watching the house for us now and sharing the joys of homes owning you. She and Daniel (her man) are house sitting and taking a break from living in town. They seem to enjoy the rural life again and still get to town to enjoy Sushi (yuck!) and other towny stuff. Tasha our four legged grandchild REALLY enjoys the country life…lots and lots of sticks to chase when thrown. We are currently going over house plans and Carrie still wants to live out here on the land that Mom and Dad passed onto us.
That purchase back in 1953 (a great year for many things! My birthday!) has gone on to give joy and a life to so many in our clan. Some day I would love to write something of that story before it is lost. Would be something to share with family and friends who knew the parents and what they offered up for all to share.
The grand kids as usual are up to many and varied things and it is a joy to see the accomplishments they gather each and every day. We are very proud of them and count our blessings to have them all near to us geographically and otherwise. Two of them are driving and have their own cars (fair warning to all!) and are looking at colleges. The other two are right behind and closing fast on adulthood. Melissa has a clock, kinda like the doomsday clock except in reverse……it constantly monitors till when she reaches that glorious PK state we go through twice. First is Pre-kids and then it is Post-kids. Wooohooooo. But a little secret I will let you in on…they never really leave….they come back…..with additions!!!! But don’t tell her!!
As always, as you should know, all of you our friends are with us in our hearts and we wish we could share our adventures with you each day. Susan does one heck of a job on her blog and I would recommend you checking it out. I do each day just to see what mood she is in before coming home! But as always I recommend stopping to smell the roses or watch the sunrise/sunset and know that you’ve got a friend in us for life.
Merry Christmas again and thanks for taking the time to read another of those dreaded family reviews you get each year….if nothing else it made ME smile!!
Love ya,
Buddy and Susan
