GREETINGS Friends and Family!
I’ve
procrastinated for as long as I can this year, waiting for that inspiration to
share fun stories and family anecdotes but when you basically have been low in
the bunker with your head low there is a serious lacking in the fun story
category. No travel to speak of this year as Susan and I only ventured across the state line
twice in the camper and both trips were pretty short and restrained. But…..we
are still hanging in here and keeping the fire going literally, in hopes of a
big comeback tour in later part of 2021, God willing. This for sure was not the
first year of retirement we had in mind last spring when we were waiting out
the cold 1st quarter months to bring the camper out of it’s long
winter sleep. We had camping reservations all done, supplies in the ready and I
was working on some “To Do list” projects I had been planning on for most of my
working for hire life time. The shop DID get cleaned out, filled up a 30 yard
dumpster and had some nice bonfires. I had several loads of goods to donate to
Habitat for Humanity and local charities……then the train came to a screeching halt…..March
arrived and the reality of Covid.
Susan and I
tried one camping trip to Dollywood and then up into Tennessee hills with our
masks on (ones Susan made and furnished to all the family and friends). But
with the nervousness involved when you met folks and such it just wasn’t the
same. We came home early.
What we have
missed the most is spending precious time with our kids, grandkids and great
grandkids. We live through their postings and occasionally have a screened in porch meet up with a few at a
time. I know all of you have similar stories of how you are coping. But I have
faith all will pass at some point. My heart is sore from all the hurt I see on
the news from so many families forever scarred by this past years events.
One unforeseen
side effect of this first year of retirement is my Superintendent’s disease
which I have dealt with for all these years, where I would lay awake at night
making lists of things that needed to
get done at the job, and would have to get up and write down several pages of
notes on a legal pad. Well now it has morphed into laying awake and
STILL working on past jobs or imaginary ones my muddled
mind makes up…..Geeezzzz…..Talk about
needing to get a life….So I get up the next morning and when I recall what job
I was working on ,still share my issues and frustrations with Susan…..life goes
on….
Susan has a new
job, working for Carrie our daughter who is a “virtual assistant” to folks
online. Susan is her “Actual assistant”. This keeps her out of trouble while I am piddling around the shop. Susan
gets up before me and now I am the one rolling over and waiting till 7am to
venture out for coffee. Life is good…. I
REALLY enjoy the fact I now don’t cringe when I see a freeze or rain front is
coming in…..only concrete pours I make are in my dreams…
The rest of the
family crew just went on the annual trip to Dollywood for Christmas as it has
been a tradition we started years back when I was blessed with a nice end of
year bonus that let us rent a cabin and
get passes for the kids. This year Susan and I just didn’t feel it was worth
the risk so we stayed home, and the kids decided to not get a cabin but try and make the trip up and back in one day
for the most part. They had a great time and shared their adventure with us
with postings. I am so happy they all believe in traditions so strongly and
enjoy being together as a family…..one of the greatest blessings we have as a family.
I feel so very
blessed this year for all I have and have had in my life. Here in the hills
where we live I am grateful for the opportunity to have my family living so
close to me thanks to my parent’s decision to buy this land back in 1953, the year I was born. And both
my daughters live next door, and now the grandkids are either living here or
are planning on moving back to the property.
Susan asks me what I want for Christmas……I
look around……”This is just fine….”
I hope all of
you made it through this year and your loved ones are well. May this next year
bring us hope and wisdom to appreciate all our true blessings of family and
friends like y’all…..
Love You All,
Buddy and Susan
