Rock Garden

It was announced that we would be visiting the “Hartman Rock Garden”. Our Grand Court bus was loaded this afternoon, as we left for another “outing”. There were 12 Residents, plus Timi, the Activity Director/bus driver.

Here’s how the “garden” is described on the Internet:

From 1932-1939, H.G. Hartman built a 35’ x 140’ rock garden in Springfield, OH. It contains approximately 20,000 individual stones. Hartman started with a fish pond and then filled his yard with statues, miniature stone castles, cathedrals, and other historic buildings. There are models of the White House, tributes to boxer Joe Louis and the Dionne Quintuplets, as well as religious scenes.

Since his father’s death in 1944, the property was maintained by Ben Hartman, H.G.'s youngest son. However, Ben passed away in 2007 and in 2008, and the property was put up for sale. In 2009, the Kohler Foundation began restoring the site.









Yes, this is actually someone's backyard.

There is a couple there presently, restoring some of the scenes. The man in this picture told me that there are 20 more truck loads of rocks to be brought here, and placed with the others, and that the two of them had been doing this since last April.



The Rock Garden is on the corner of McCain Avenue and South Russell Avenue - west of South Yellow Springs Street in Springfield Ohio - actual address: 1905 Russell Avenue.

There is no charge to walk through the Garden.

We spent maybe a half hour or more there, marveling at the detail of the scenes, and at the thousands of rocks/stones there.

There’s nothing I could say that would adequately describe this scene, so I’ll just share some pictures I took.




Twenty more truck loads?

Whew!

Town Hall

Well, it’s almost here!

The first Town Hall meeting, I mean.

The first one I am in charge of, actually.

One of the”perks” of being President of the Resident Council is that you get to “chair” this monthly meeting.

When I was nominated for the job of Resident Council Member - by the two continuing members, actually - they told me that the biggest problem they had was a poor attendance at these meetings.

Kind of “my first assignment”, really.

Their intention in nominating me became apparent the first meeting after the election: they voted me in as the President.

When I’m writing this, it’s less than 24 hours ahead of the meeting, and, earlier this evening, while walking down to supper, I passed in the hallway, my EXPECTED Mystery Resident - that NO ONE here suspects is so - but me.

In passing her by (as I always do since I walk so fast), I casually said to her,

“Planning to come to the Town Hall Meeting tomorrow afternoon?”

(Just a little assurance is all that I needed.)

“You know”, she said, kinda pausing, “I can never hear what goes on in those meetings, so I suppose I won’t go.”

(An unexpected sweat breaks out on my brow - and it ISN’T the heat!)

“Uh…..you know, we bought a Public Address System for this meeting, just because many said they couldn’t hear.”

“I’ve always thought something like that was needed.”

Stalling now, I say,

“Sure would like to have you come and let me know how the new idea worked - as a special favor to me.”

(Any sign of “capitulation”?)

“Well, we’ll see”, she said. “I have to go to the bank, and I’ll see what time is left.”

Here I am, now, less than 24 hours before catastrophe, sitting helplessly at my computer, not knowing whether “the best laid plans of mice and men sometimes go awry”, fits this situation .

(Why did I have to think of THAT phrase?)

I hope I can sleep after this!

Maybe a light blow to my skull would help. (Would you believe a “heavy” one?)

And, why did I have to think up this crazy idea of telling my thoughts BEFORE something drastic would happen?

(Expecting NOTHING DRASTIC would happen, I guess.)

It’s too late now, unless I delete what I‘ve just written.

I think I’ll go to bed and cogitate - not to mention pray!

The only comforting thing I can think of is that ON THE POSSIBILITY that something like this COULD happen, I kept my options open by NOT telling anyone who the Mystery Resident was intended to be. Not even that person.

“I’ll just interview another, and act like it was the first choice”, I thought.

“Thought”, mind you, NOT expecting it to happen!

“Any how”, my justifying mind keeps saying, “there was nothing so spectacularly better about this one than another one. There are several who would qualify.”

“And, they’re MY criteria, anyway.”

Good night!

Monday morning at breakfast: Town Hall later today.

I have begun getting together all of the gear needed - one amplifier; two speakers; two microphones; iPod for “prelude” music; “iPod dock” to play it on; two speaker cables; two microphone cables; Aux connecting cable from dock to amplifier; AC extension cable; and a four wheel cart to haul it on.

At lunch, I see the “prospective” Mystery Resident” has arrived to eat.

Good sign!

Nodding to her, I smiled.

(She doesn’t have a clue.)

Same is true of others. I’ve had at least one Aide venture a guess as to the name, and several others who think the “blank” photo looks like their candidate - All wrong!

At lunch, Timi asked me if I wanted to make a final push announcement for the Town Hall meeting, and I said,

“Why don’t you do it.”

She did - in her own inimitable, convincing way. Many smiled at me.

A few minutes later, I remembered that I hadn’t made a public announcement about the PA system helping us old “hard-of-hearing” seniors understand what is going on, so I did so, smiling at my “Mystery Resident” again, and sat down.

I had picked out a “Playlist” of songs to use as a “prelude”, and last night before going to sleep, I timed it at just over one hour.

So, if I start the iPod just before leaving for the Dining Hall, it will time out at just before 2 PM.

I arrived at the Dining Hall just before 1 PM. The staff members were still eating lunch, so I got out all of my gear, and began “hooking it up” a little at a time.

Shortly, Timi came back, and doing what she always does at Dining Hall “get-to-gethers” - began moving the tables to the outer edge of the Hall, and then lining up the chairs in a modified semi-circle - row by row - from the front.

She always sets up two or three tables up front for the members of the Resident Council to sit, with a chair for me at one end. I think she had planned on my being behind the tables, in the middle, being the Chairman of the meeting.

But, since I had to be out front to do the Mystery Resident interview, I moved my chair to the outside end of the tables, along with a microphone at either side of the room.

Timi took down all the names of the attending residents to put in the “hat” for the later drawing. Quicker than having them all “sign-in” she figured.

They began arriving at about 1:30, but were encouraged to wait in the Outer Lobby until the chairs were all set up.

I tried to help some with the chairs, but since Timi knew of my lower back problems - that will hopefully be resolved tomorrow with the impending “caudal epidural” shot I am to receive - she headed me toword the nearest chair as much as she could.

The two Maintenance Men brought in the large “over-stuffed” chair I had requested for the Mystery Resident, and placed a “RESERVED” sign on it and spotted it right up front, stage right.

I glanced up from the “chair moving”, and noticed the arrival of my Mystery Person near the back.

PTL!

Since we all knew that hearing for her might be a problem, I motioned for her to come down front, and sit in front of one of the speakers - stage left.

I’d like to see a picture of the smile on my face in doing so.

“By jove - she came!”

One of the things that I had said to myself last night was, that I should ask Timi to bring her camera.

Here - at 9:30PM - AFTER the Town Hall - I remember it!

Son-of-a-gun!

At about 1:45, I looked up and saw the new Executive Director coming in the door. I was afraid she wasn’t going to make it.

At about two minutes before 2 PM, I turned off the iPod music, and waited for the hour to arrive.

When it did, I rose and said,

“The time for the meeting having arrived, I do now call the October 2009 Town Hall meeting to order. And before we even have the reading of the minutes, I want to ask your indulgence.

“The meetings I have had a part of the last 40+ years have been largely christian, religious meetings, so we have always started off our meetings with prayer, and ended with prayer.

“I have been reticent to do that here, since this is not a religious organization.

“However, unless anybody has an objection, I’d like to ask God’s Guidance as we look at the things we need to discuss.

“Is there ANYONE having an objection to my doing that? If so, raise your hand.”

After waiting, and no hands were raised, and no objection noted,
I prayed for God’s Guidance.

The meeting progressed naturally from there, with the reading of the minutes, and a word from me as to how the meeting will be conducted.

From this note in the Agenda, I read:

D. Explanation of how the meeting will be conducted by Chairman.

1. Robert’s Rules of Order
2. All may have the opportunity to speak, but only after being recognized by the Chairman.
3. To “get the floor”, one must raise a hand if someone else is presently speaking; or, if the room is quiet, one should say “Mr. Chairman”. After being recognized, a microphone will be provided so everyone can hear. Then, a motion or comment may be made,

4. Only one person may speak at any one time, and after recognition by the Chairman.

I then mentioned how our Resident Council sees itself - mainly that of representing the residents to management. We recommend actions that the residents would like to see done, and management takes these under advisement.

I then mentioned 5 items that the Resident Council had requested from Management, and all had been addressed positively.

The introduction of the new Executive Director was next, and she did not give a speech as I assumed, but told us a little about herself, her family, and her work with The Grand Court.

We then proceeded with reports, information, and suggestions from Residents to the departments of:

1. Activities
2. Assisted Living/ Nursing
3. Dining Services
4. Housekeeping
5. Maintenance, and,
6. Marketing.

There were several comments, questions and suggestions from the residents.

A major amount of time was spent on a growing problem of a mis-understanding about the Assigned Seating at the Noon and Evening meals. The mis-understanding of not only the residents, but also by some staff members.

The time spent on this problem was well spent, with seating charts posted and assurances that both the staff and residents now understand.

Halfway during the Department presentations, I went over to the empty chair - that was OBVIOUSLY for the Mystery Resident, wondering, aloud, where - and WHO - that person was.

I asked several male and female residents if they knew who this person was, and all had to say they did not. I asked some staff also. All said "No".

I then related how that yesterday just before supper I had asked the Mystery Person (who did not know she was that person), if she were going to attend the Town Hall meeting, and how I agonized about this until she showed up here, now.

After asking her if SHE knew who was the Mystery Resident - getting a negative response - I said,

“What is your name, please?”

She gave her name, and I said,

“That’s the right answer, Mrs. (her name), YOU are the Mystery Resident of The Grand Court for October 2009.”

Applause, yells and “yessss” rang out through the room.

“You really ARE telling me the truth?”, she asked.

After getting her and her walker safely situated in the special chair, I began interviewing her about her life, family, and her experiences here at The Grand Court, and what she says to anyone asking about her experiences here.

I asked her,

“If you have the opportunity to tell people about The Grand Court, what do you say.”

“The friendliness, the friendliness. Especially the staff. You can depend on them - oh, I have to wear a hearing aid, and if I need help, they give it. I just think the service is wonderful.”

The residents applauded.

I told the Mystery Person about the $10 gift certificate to any store/restaurant in Springfield - along with an IOU from me for same, until she told me her choice.

Lest I forget about the drawing (and I probably did), Timi brought up the “sign-in” sheet hat, and I asked the Mystery Resident to pick out a name. That person will be taken out to eat by the Executive Director.

I closed in prayer, thanking the Lord for the Guidance He had provided.

Part of what Timi does at these meetings, is to record the names of all of the attendees. The list held 32 names.

I was later told my 3 couples that they would have attended, but previous appointments/commitments prohibited it. That’s 38 people, total, who would have come.

One of the continuing Resident Council members (who had said that the first problem was in getting residents to attend this meeting) said that she thought the attendance was double the number who normally attended.

Praise the Lord.

Whew!

Activity Meeting

WE (at The Grand Court), are “equal opportunity breakfasters and lunchers”.

WE go “where the food is”.

Not that we don’t have sufficient food right here in our Dining Room.

“Senior Citizen Restaurant Outings” have nothing to do with food availability at home.

It’s not the FOOD, silly. It’s the OUTING!

And “camaraderie”.

And “fun”.

And “bus riding”. Ugh!

Each month, Timi has an Activity Meeting. It’s for US to suggest to HER what we’d like to do as a group the following month.

And, restaurant suggestions are taken: Recently, we’ve been to Bob Evans; Urbana Airport Café; Collier’s; KFC; McDonald’s; Mel-O-Dee; Olive Garden; Red Lobster; Rudy’s Smokehouse Grill; Young’s Dairy; and Golden Corral, that I can presently think of.

I’d missed all of these meetings before. I just went to the Activities I was interested in, accepting (or rejecting) what activity she had to offer.

WHY does she have this meeting each month?

I found out at the October meeting last week. There were 12 to 15 residents there, suggesting what she might do to help “keep us busy”.

She has to come up with FIVE different, individual, interesting, beneficial (like exercising daily), and participatory activities - for EVERY DAY OF THE MONTH.

At this meeting, near the end after a good bit of discussion and suggestions were made, she offered a free Hershey bar to anyone who could suggest something that HAD NOT been previously done or suggested. (She gave away 4 that day, I think.)

Any wonder she wants suggestions?

FIVE activities every day?

Whew!

I’m looking at this month’s Activity Calendar and I see:

Doctor’s visits - Exercise Class - 20’s and 30’s Trivia - Catholic Communion - Pretty Nails - Kitchen Cabinet - Campfire and S’mores - Wii Bowling.

And, that’s JUST the First Day!

Shall I go on?

The Exercise Class is every day - Monday thru Friday.

The others just listed are for EVERY THURSDAY!

On Fridays, add: Coffee Klatch - Bingo - and, week-to-week, either Picnic; or Apple Cider on the Patio; or Breakfast/Lunch “eat out”; or Dominoes; or Happy Hour; or Ice Cream or Bus ride; or Patio Chat; or Ohio River Boat Lunch Cruise; or Board Games; or “Deal or No Deal”; or Hallowe’en Party, etc.

Want more?

Saturdays are relatively quiet, in that Timi is not normally here.

But, regulars on Saturdays are: “Sit and Be Fit” (TV exercises); Lawrence Welk show; Fun & Games. Additional Saturday entries include: Memory Walk; Guest Musical Artist; Family Fall Festival; Penny Ante Game; afternoon movie; etc. (Have also been to a football game.)

Sundays are about the same each week with: Hour Of Power TV Program; an afternoon movie called Sunday Celebration Theater; and Puzzle Time. In October, the Sunday movies included: “Around the World in 80 Days“; “The Spirit of St. Louis”; “Always”; and “Memphis Belle”.

Regulars on Monday are: Bus to local banks; Bus to groceries; Exercise Class, of course; and Bingo. From week-to-week added are: “Community Connections”; “Youthful Dreamers”; “Resident Council Meeting”; “Town Hall” (residents meeting); Bus Ride to see leaves; Health Talk; etc.

Are you tired yet? I am, and I’m now only reporting what is available.

Might as well go to Tuesday’s regulars (besides the daily ones mentioned at first); Doctor visits on bus; Bible Study at 7:30 PM; and Easy Listening Music.

Then, a Volleyball Game was added on a Tuesday this month; Activity Meeting; Community Bingo (outsiders can come); “History Reveals: The Story of Flight; “Discover your Creativity (Crafts) with Judy Roberts; “Birthday Bash” one Tuesday a month with guest musical talent.

Can’t stop now:

Regulars on Wednesdays: Exercises; Game Night; plus the daily ones already mentioned.

Extras on Wednesdays this month: “Daring Dances”; Book Mobile; Mall Area Shopping; Who Am I?; Skip-Bo (a game); Fitness Adventure - Parachute Games; Scrabble; Gin Rummy; Trip to Young’s Dairy; “It All Adds Up”; Wal Mart shopping; Dollar Tree shopping; Pizza ordered in; A Daring Journey - Albuquerque; etc.

Uhhhh, for Timi, it started all over again for November, and NOW December.

She’s even potentially planning an outing tour of WEEC. She just told me, though, that it will be a “Mystery Trip”.

(Mum’s the word!)

Tijuana

Mexico, that is.

I think the only time Jean and I were in Mexico was one time when there was a Christian Stewardship Council seminar in San Diego CA.

We drove, so we could also visit my Sister Miriam and her husband Stanley in Phoenix, on the way.

After the Seminar, we wondered what it would be like to go across the border to the well known city of Tijuana. In fact, going across the Mexican border at all was an adventure for us.

In those days of “free access” to both Mexico and Canada, we had no problem entering and returning. No passport was needed.

It seems to me, though, that we may have planned on going in, since I believe I contacted our Auto Insurance Carrier about coverage in Mexico, before we left.

Crossing the border was uneventful. We just got in the long line of cars and trucks, and gradually crept forward toward the gate. I don’t remember what questions we were asked, except that I’m sure they wanted to know how long we were to be there.



My memory is that Tijuana is not far from the border, so we drove into and around the streets of the city. We didn’t, of course, know where we were going, but driving down a busy street, we saw some shops.



Being curious, we stopped and shopped. I don’t remember what we bought, but it was some souvenir, like a throw rug or something.



While on that street, I saw a “fast food” shop, open on the street - featuring Tacos. I had been eating Tacos at Taco Bell for a long time. In fact, the owner of the first Taco Bell here in Springfield was from San Diego, and we talked about the trip before and after.

Anyway, I thought it would be a good idea to buy a REAL Mexican Taco, so I stood in line at the Cashier, all the while watching what was put into the tacos.

What I saw was NOT what I was used to seeing in a Taco, so I backed away from the shop before my turn came, and went to the car.

Being tourists, we drove around, and turned left at the next intersection, then left again, and ended up on the street just behind the Taco Shop. We could right away see the back door of the shop, and lo and behold we observed a worker “dragging” a side of beef ON THE GROUND, IN THE DIRT, toward the Taco Shop.

Uhhhhh………… I was kinda glad I opted out of the Tacos!

Again being tourists, we didn’t want to return to the US too soon, so we found a reasonably wide road going east.

The scenery was beautiful! The mountains were covered with round boulders, just like the small stones we see on the gravel roads here, EXCEPT that some of them were several feet in diameter.



When we reached Mexicali, I thought I remembered that there was a California city similarly named, so we went back across the border to Calexico CA. Uneventful crossing.

I’m not sure, but I THINK this was the trip that we took from El Paso TX northeast - clear across Texas in two days - ending up in Texarkana, on the borders of Texas and Arkansas. One city name - two states.

While traveling the two days in Texas, we saw some remarkable scenery, through Fort Worth and Dallas, on to Texarkana, then, Little Rock and Memphis.

At one of the towns in Texas (I couldn’t guess which one) we parked the car in the lot of a Motel, registered, then ate supper. (I should mention that we were then traveling with a dark blue WEEC Station Wagon, with the call letters splattered all over both sides of the car.)

Returning to our room, we shortly heard a knock on the door, and a man said,

“Is Mike Maddex here?”

“Uh….yeah. Who wants to know?”

“I saw the WEEC car outside and the Front Desk told me it was you driving.”

Turns out he was a listener to the station, and just wanted to greet us and thank us for the ministry of WEEC.

Amazing!!

(I THINK this was the same trip on the way out west, that a man in a “Lum and Abner” store we stopped at, recognized my voice from the other side of a floor-to-ceiling book shelf)

(Another parenthesis: Timi, our Activies Director, still drops her jaw whenever someone recognizes me at some public function.)

“I knew you’d see someone you knew!”

I think, maybe “working the room” at some banquet or other function may contribute to that. I just can’t help it. I have to look around and see people.

Some folk say,

“Mike, you’d make a good politician.”

Meaning, of course, my “glad handing”, NOT my legislative ability.

Though this posting is about Tijuana, I must comment on our trip to and through San Diego on the same trip.

We’d never been there before.

The most striking thing I remember was the Coronado Bridge, linking San Diego to the Coronado Island. There was a ferry also, but the bridge was the fascinating thing - to me.



The Christian Stewardship Conference we were attending was in the area called “Mission Valley”. In fact, I was so uncertain of the name of that “valley”, that I called a friend of 20 or 30 years ago here in town, who told me about it at that time. He reminded me of the name today. He is a native of San Diego.

My memory of it is that the Conference was in a large Conference Room in a Motel, with smaller rooms available for side meetings.

After the meetings was when we decided to drive around San Diego, and then go to Tijuana.

Isn’t it just like me to remember some small “snippets” of information, then gradually, figure out a way to remember (sometimes “call for”), MORE facts?

That’s what I’ve been doing since last November on this blog. I just let my mind wander - or meander - on some experience I’ve had, then “follow the trail” of thoughts. I’ve had over 120 of these postings since then, and unless the Lord calls me home soon (or maybe lets me lose my mental faculties), I’ll probably keep on remembering - and sharing - thoughts, whether anyone reads them or not.

Collier's Outing

Well, we had another “outing” at The Grand Court. This one was a luncheon at Collier’s Restaurant, near the Upper Valley Mall.

But……it was MORE than just a luncheon outing.

There had been a “sign-up sheet” for this outing for over a month. We’ve had several - to different restaurants each time - but I haven’t gone to all of them.

These luncheons are normally for a Friday Noon, leaving our front parking place - in the “glorious” Grand Court bus, at 11 AM.



It seems that there were 14 or 15 residents who signed up this time, but when “bus loading” time came, there were only 10 who showed up - besides Timi, our Lifestyles Program Director - who drives the bus on these outings. I’ve mentioned previously that she directs and coordinates the Resident Activities here.

As we were loading the bus, Timi said she had a surprise for us, and would tell us when we left. Her surprise turned out to be that after lunch, we were going down past Young’s Dairy, to just north of Yellow Springs to see a LARGE field of Sun Flowers, before the expected rain in a few days, dampened them.

We all got on the bus, and set out for Collier’s.

There is space on the bus for any wheel chairs, canes or walkers that anyone needs - in the back. There’s a “lift” there for these as well.

When we arrived at the restaurant, we were met by Pam Raines, our Assisted Living Director (Head nurse), who had driven her car.

Going in the restaurant, I told the lady who was holding the door for us that we had 11, instead of the 14 that Timi had initially reported (based, of course on the “sign-ups”) No problem. I had mis-counted, though, since Pam made 12, and later a resident named Paul arrived, after a Doctor’s visit. His daughter brought him to the restaurant. (There were 14 chairs at the long table). Paul had called ahead, and Timi placed his order. Just before he arrived, his cheeseburger and fries were placed at his spot on the table.

Since the food on these outings are at the individual resident’s expense, we had to have separate checks at the restaurant.

We were shown to what I have always called “the party room” on the south side of the building. After we were all seated, I said to the waitress, “Did we tell you that these are ‘separate checks’, and you MAY want leave our section?”

“Not at all”, she assured us.

While eating, there was a lot of friendly “repartee” amongst us, as well as kidding. It was very enjoyable - as was the food.

With Paul now with us, we had a total of 11 riders, and one driver, and we left for the Young’s Dairy area.

The field of sun flowers was outstanding. Timi drove all the way back in the lane, then turned around and came back so the bus door was on the side of the flowers. She pulled slightly off the lane, nearer the flowers.



We all got out, and surveyed them.



Timi wanted to take some pictures of some of us beside the sun flowers, and each one “sidled up” beside them.





Everything was fine, and after all the pictures had been taken, we all climbed back onto the bus, and Timi took off.

Heading back north again, we turned in to the Young’s Dairy parking lot, and we all went in for ice cream treats.

I had my favorite - a cake cone of one dip of Butter Pecan ice cream, while others had a Root Beer Float, strawberry sundae, two large cones of some special ice cream, and a dish or so of ice cream. We sat in the Dining Room and ate.



Some of us, though, went outside early to see the pumpkin display, and of course, Timi took pictures. I had gone toward the bus, so was not in on that event. I can participate, however, by looking at this picture (as can you.)



I was standing on the bus lift (off the ground maybe 5 feet), waiting for the walkers to arrive, when one of them was placed right near the lift, and I THOUGHT about leaning down and picking it up to put it ON the lift.

Timi either read my mind, or saw me leaning that way, and she said,

“Don’t pick that up”!!!

I didn’t.

We all successfully got back on the bus, and headed home. I didn’t think there was as much animation and talking as there had been when we first left home, but everyone seemed to enjoy remembering what we had recently experienced.

We arrived back at the The Grand Court in just about 3 ½ hours after we left.

What a wonderful outing.

I sent a text message to Timi: “That was a great outing! You’re the best.”

She is certainly a synosure to all of us!

(Another new word I learned from my reading. I just can’t wait until I can use these new words.)

cy·no·sure

cy·no·sure [snə shr]
(plural cy·no·sures)
n (formal)
1. center of attention: the center of admiration, attention, or attraction
2. guide: somebody or something acting as a guide or used for direction.

-cy·no·sur·al [snə shrəl], , adj
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

I’ve come to really enjoy these outings. When Jean and I were here before, we didn’t participate in them at all, because of her condition. Thus, it was hard for me to get “hooked in” on these things now.

I think maybe the Summer Arts Festival trips kinda solidified my satisfaction in them. The “getting away”, along with the developed “camaraderie” we have, makes them very enjoyable.

Well………..the time I convinced everyone to go to my hometown of Mechanicsburg on one of the trips certainly helped my enjoyment.

The McDonald’s Sundaes we get, occasionally, helps also!

Don’t you think?

And, since I am still one of the “able bodied” residents, I enjoy helping with the wheel chairs, walkers - and even electric scooters - on and off the bus.

The driver can’t do everything!

My experiences at The Grand Court - especially these last several months - have been very fulfilling to me!

M R I

Properly named, “Magnetic Resource Imaging”.

It’s like a “CT Scan” - almost.

It somehow gives a view of the inside of a person’s body not seen in any other way. Most people have either “had” one, or know of someone who “has”, or heard talk about it.

Don’t expect me to be “pontificating” about it, since I’m not that knowledgeable.

I do know what “they” are like, though, because I have had 2 or 3 of them - over the years.

Most times it has been because of a back problem I’ve had for 8 or 9 years. Arthur Itis has hit me, and some of the parts of my spine have a tendency to rub other parts - or SOMETHING like that.

You know “Arthur”, of course, or at least heard of him. His proper name is “Arthritis”. Get it now?

In about 2004, my back was giving me enough trouble that my doctor suggested seeing a surgeon in Colulmbus. When setting up that visit, I was asked to get an MRI - which I did right here in Springfield.

My back was so bad that I could not stand erect. I had to bend forward to keep my back from severely hurting.

Jean and I drove to Columbus to meet the Surgeon, and he showed us the MRI, and explained - visually - what Arthur was doing to me.

The best way to correct the problem was with surgery, though he gave me doses of a brand of prednisone to help with the pain.

I was admitted for surgery on January 2, 2005.

Our two sons accompanied me to the hospital, and Tonya stayed with Jean in Springfield. I was frankly surprised that the Surgeon would operate on an 80 year old man.

The surgery was performed that day, and the NEXT DAY I was walking erect down the hospital hallway!

I was just today looking at my medical records for 2003 - 2005, and I can’t now believe that I was so helpless before the surgery. The records say that I was barely walking; fell some; and was in severe pain.

I had asked the Surgeon if I could pray with the Operating Room staff and him before the surgery, and he readily agreed.

The next day after the surgery, the Surgeon was visiting me, and I said to him,

“I was hoping to be able to pray with you before the surgery, but I guess it didn’t happen.”

“Yes it did!”, he said. “You prayed for me, the anesthesist, and all the Operating Room staff, just before we all went into the OR”.

Son-of-a-gun!

Anesthetics do some wondrous things. I was apparently given a shot just before the “prayer time”, and, to this day, I don’t remember the incident at all.

But God did!

A year or so after the surgery, I began getting some back pain again, and when visiting the Surgeon again, he prescribed a series of “epidural” shots in my spine - done right here in Springfield. There were 3 treatments in that sequence, and after the procedures, the pain was gone for a year.

The next year, I had another series of shots with the same result.

These have lasted me until just the last several months, when my pain increases if I walk very far - down to the dining room, actually.

Last month, my doctor and I agreed to try some Rehab work, to alleviate any muscle problem that might be there.

To date, I’ve had 5 sessions - that are VERY GOOD, and beneficial to my back and leg muscles - but my lower back keeps getting worse.

On Friday last, I arranged for an appointment with my Physician for Monday (yesterday), and together, we decided that I should maybe start the “epidural” shots again.

That meant, of course, that I needed an MRI.

This was arranged for 3:10 PM today, Tuesday.

Along with the appointment to get the MRI, the doctor gave me another dosage of the “prednisone” - a 6 day regimen of 21 tablets - to help relieve the pain. They began working immediately. Not TOTALLY free of pain, but improvement.

After the test today, I was given a CD, with the results of my MRI, that I was to take to Dr. Abraham, the “pain” doctor, who would decide whether to administer the epidural.

Late this afternoon (Tuesday) I received a call from the “Scheduling Person” at the MRI Lab, indicating that the doctor there felt I should have a second MRI, which we scheduled for two days from now at 2:15 PM.

“Why the second MRI”, I asked.

“I don’t know. The doctor just asked me to set up another test.”

Right!

For you long time readers of this blog, you will remember the “panic” I felt last February, when my TB test “spot” on my arm was reddened, and the Internet suggested that might be a problem.

There WAS no problem, of course, but I had a “worried and sick” stomach before I found out.

What SHOULD be my reaction to the call for a second MRI?

I think it should be just as I feel it now. Feels different this time.

In spite of my history, I’m not worried at all. I’m in God’s Hands, as I was before, without thinking of it.

But, why do I feel calm now, when I did not in February?

I don’t know.

But, I do remember one time years ago when a friend told me of a fact he heard of, that some Christian people have a tendency to worry when it’s NOT necessary, but when they SHOULD worry, they don’t.

Remember now, that I am presently writing right at the time I have just described. I don’t know at all why there is to be a second MRI, but frankly, I’m not worried at all!

Go figure!

It’s now Wednesday morning after breakfast: Slept well. Feel fine. Not much back pain.

Thursday afternoon, 3 PM:

Slept well - no problem. Had a scrambled egg, one bacon, two whole wheat toast, orange juice, and hot tea for breakfast. Did the daily exercises, and made up the Proposed Agenda for our Resident Coucil meeting with the Executive Director next Monday.

And, lunch was OK.

Second MRI at 2:15. Shorter time today, and I had asked for the headphones to play WEEC for me, rather than the “jazz” they played last time - when she didn’t ask what I wanted.

Have you ever had an MRI?

You know why they give you headphones, don’t you? Not for you to listen to music - though part of the time you can hear it.

No………..it’s to block out the AWFUL NOISE that machine gives out.

Grinding, rumbling, knocking - everything but whistling.

Noisy!

I, of course, asked why I had to have a second test after two days.

“The doctor wanted to see higher up on your spine.”

Right!

I held my hands higher on my chest this time, along with the “panic button” they give you in case you have trouble.

Went well, and I got a replacement CD to take to the Pain Doctor, that, she said, included the first test as well. More of the spine to look at, I guess.

Had you remembered that the reason for this whole MRI thing, was to see why my lower back hurts?

Now, I have 12 more days of waiting to see Dr. Abraham ( a friend, actually, who helped Martha’s pain before she died) for an evaluation. Experience tells me that if that goes well, a week later than that (at least), I’ll have my first of 3 epidural shots in my spine - two more a week apart after that one.

If last time (4 years ago) is any indication, my pain will be gone the same day!

Praise the Lord!

Not presuming on the Lord, now. Just following experience.

I MAY not wait for all of that to post this, since the subject is MRI. If I get panicky for not having something to post, I’m liable to use this one before the epidural.

What do you think?

This is Wednesday. By yesterday - a week after the first MRI - my back was hurting so badly that I FAXed Dr. Buchanan to ask if I could have a PRX for a heavier pain medication, and another series of prednisone - or, whatever he would suggest.

His Nurse called-in the two medications that I requested.

How to get them?

I don’t think I’ve mentioned that since last Thursday, I haven’t had a car. Jim’s Electrical Contractor’s Van broke down, and he had to “borrow back” the car he lent me when I moved here the end of February.

I didn’t tell Jodi about not having the car, knowing she would do her best to get here to provide transportation for me - whether convenient for her, or not.

She was trying to decide whether to go to church again with me, or back to the one we went to last week (First Christian), where Rylan can get involved in the Awana or other kids program during the week.

On Friday night she said it would be to First Christian. During the day Saturday, she mentioned that she may go with me again. That meant, that I would have a ride to Church.

Then, at 9PM Saturday night, she said she was not well, and would not be going.

I had a plan in mind all along that if I didn’t get the car back; or if Jodi didn’t go with me; that I would call Roy and Sharon Landrum - the friends who took me to my church a couple months ago - along with Sharon‘s mother, Norma - when in the same circumstance.

I called them, and they said they would certainly pick me up Sunday morning, and any other time that I needed it. They did, thank the Lord!

Yesterday (Tuesday), then, Jodi called in the AM to say that she got off her job at Comfort Keepers at noon, and she and Rylan would come here to see me at about 12:30. We planned lunch together.

When they arrived, I was sitting outside on a bench near our parking lot, and Jodi was about ready to call me to see where my car was, and she saw me.

I got in her car, and told her that she was a God-send, and that after we ate, I needed to get my two prescriptions, and then go to WEEC to pick up an amplifier, microphone and two speakers that I had bought for the next Town Hall Meeting here at the Grand Court.

“Grandpa!! How did you get to church on Sunday?” I told her the above story.

God’s Provision - or a “God Moment”, as David Mains used to call it.

I wrote all of that above to say that, by Tuesday afternoon (yesterday), much of my pain has subsided. And seated now at this computer - after taking the medication Dr. Buchanan prescribed yesterday, I have practically NO back pain at all.

Walking back and forth to the Dining Room, and a little walking this afternoon with our Bus Outing at The Dollar Tree, I did have some discomfort, but negligible.

Within the next 2 or 3 hours I’ll be retiring, and can expect some pain off and on, but I’m thankful for what I’ve just been through.

Except for the postings where I’ve inserted photos, I think this is the longest one I’ve put on.

So, the next report on the Epidurals, or other experiences about my back between now and then, will probably be on a subsequent posting.

In the background, I can almost hear some (many?) of you saying,

“Doesn’t this guy EVER shut up?”

Answer: “Not so you could notice it.”

The Miracle Worker

A couple of months ago, I noticed a listing at our church of a group called “Golden Gaters”. They have taken “trips” or “activities” that appeared to be for “old timers” - like me. The trips mentioned didn’t interest me very much, until I saw one scheduled to go to Cedarville University to see a stage play entitled “The Miracle Worker”.

This struck a chord with me, since right away I knew that it was the story of Annie Sullivan, the partially blind lady who began working with the legendary Helen Keller, when Helen was merely seven years old, and Annie, not quite twenty-one.

I had seen the original television movie starring Patty Duke as Helen, and Anne Bancroft as Annie - made in 1957.

This was followed by a Broadway play in 1959, with the same cast.

Then, some years later I saw the same story, starring Patty Duke again - but, THIS time, as Annie Sullivan, along with Melissa Gilbert as Helen.

Then, less than a year ago, I again saw the original movie on Television.

I was as intrigued this third time, as I was the first. The story was captivating, and appeared to be essentially true, and was written by William Gibson, based on actual letters from Annie Sullivan in 1887.

Back to the “Golden Gaters”.

The promotion/announcements about this “outing” - as we call them here at The Grand Court - gave a date of October 2, and the need to sign up and pay $18.00 by September 20. The price, of course, included lunch at the “humongous” student cafeteria, principally designed for the 3,000 plus students of the University.

When the sign-up sheet appeared in the Narthex of the Church on September 13, I signed up right away. Then, on September 20, just before church started, there were only seven signed up.

That’s plenty for the bus, I presumed.

The next thing that happened is a mystery to me. I thought sure I had put the date of October 2 in my BlackBerry, for the trip to Cedarville. I just forgot about it after I paid for the ticket.

On Thursay, October 1, I got a call from the man who arranges the Golden Gaters outings, saying that I should arrive at the church at 11:30, since the bus would leave at 11:45.

The “light went on”, and I just said,

“What day is that, now?”

“Tomorrow”, he said.

“I’ll be there.”, I said, never “letting on” that I goofed.

I still can’t figure out what happened - unless when I upgraded to a later model of BlackBerry, is it possible that I didn’t “copy” that date?

Hardly - since I “restored” all the BlackBerry data from the “back-up” file on my computer. Everything else copied. I must have neglected to “schedule” this outing on the phone back in September.

Praise the Lord for “filling in” for my mistake.

I arrived at the church right on time, and discovered that an old friend was driving the bus (I’m not well acquainted with every one there yet). Then, the man and wife arranging the tours were known to me. And, just before we left, Ernie and Irene showed up. Ernie was one of my Board Members when I was President of WEEC.

So, I began to feel at home.

The leader answered a question about how many were going, and he said 20. Apparently, several had signed up that same Sunday at the deadline. It turned out that the bus driver’s husband was sick, so we were short one of twenty.

We left the church right at 11:45, and went south to Cedarville.

The bus driver knew right where to go. I would have been lost, since they have added maybe 10 or 12 buildings since I used to visit there.

An aside: When the leadership of the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland bought Cedarville College in ABOUT 1952 or ‘53, I attended an Evening School class there, taught by Dr. Arthur Williams. (I could’t remember his given name for several days - until now.)

Back to The Miracle Worker:

We arrived at one of the Student Buildings there, that housed - among other things - the Dining Room; the Theater; the Bookstore; and myriad other rooms and, I suppose, Classrooms.

We joined the 3,000 plus students in the LARGE Dining Hall, and got in line at one of the maybe 7 or 8 different lines to different kinds of food.

I filled up on that, then got two pieces of chocolate dessert, then filed out to the hallway to await the entrance to the Theater.

Another couple was there that I have known for over 40 years, and we spent a good bit of time reminiscing and fellow-shipping about the Lord and the past. They now attend the same church.

In fact, the wife reminded me that they felt I was responsible for their attending this church 30 some years ago.

They had attended two different churches in the Springfield area, she reminded me, but didn’t feel quite at home at either.

My being at WEEC made them think that I might have an idea for a place for them to settle down in a church.

Here’s why:

When I was at WEEC, new listeners would move into our listening area, wondering where would be a church of their liking. Often, they would call me and ask for a church “like WEEC”.

What I always did was to ask them where they attended church “back home” - if they were happy in it - and after their telling me about it, I recommended 3 churches I knew of near their home, and having a teaching as close as possible to their old church. Never only one denomination.

I would not permit any of us staff members to recommend our own local church. That would hardly be objective, now, would it?

You might ask:

“How would you know so much about the churches that you could recommend one?”

Over a period of 20 plus years, I got a picture of the hundreds of churches in our listening area that NO ONE ELSE could possibly have gotten - without doing what we did.

After our three children got their own families, Jean and I spent every Sunday visiting different churches in our listening area - for over 20 years. In some cases, I would be the guest speaker, guest singer, or just a visitor, but I could get a picture of that church in my own mind, in order to recommend it - or not.

So, when this couple asked me for a recommendation, I found out their doctrinal preferences, and suggested this church that they now attend, would most likely meet their expectations.

Though I don’t remember specifically, I’m sure I suggested more than one.

I digress, as usual.

The time came for us to enter the Theater, and for the Play “The Miracle Worker” to start.

The Theater is rather small, though it has a nice sized balcony. You could feel a kinship with the actors, and be “right in the picture” with them.

About the play:

On the first page of the program, a Sarah L. Murphy, Dramaturg (literary advisor to the play) writes:

Despite the fact that William Gibson wrote THE MIRACLE WORKER in the late 1950s, the story and themes remain timeless. Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan have become legends in American history. A deaf-blind child is taught to communicate and take part in the human experience by the half-blind 20-year-old. THE MIRACLE WORKER shows what can be accomplished by all who put their mind (sic) to it. It is a story of transformation, of love, of learning, and of meaning.

The theme of transformation refers not only to Helen and what she learns, but also to the relationship with her family. At the start, the Kellers aren’t sure what to do with Helen, a disobedient child they cannot reach. When Helen finally learns, the relationship is transformed to that of a loving family. Kate Keller can finally communicate with her daughter. Annie begins the play haunted by her past in the asylum. She hears voices that constantly bring up the pain she experienced. Once she realizes her love for Helen, those voices disappear. Annie has overcome her past.

Helen and Annie prove that the human spirit can triumph over all disabilities. They give encouragement to those who live with any disability and a challenge to those without one.

Several scenes from the original movie:







Helen Keller "seeing" President Eisenhower:



Helen in adulthood:





Having seen movie versions of the play at least 3 times, I was ready to compare this “College Age” cast to what I had seen on the screen.

Surely the movie version would be superior.

I found that NOT to be the case, at least in my opinion.

The dialogue was perfect, with NOT ONE hesitation in speech; the mannerisms of cast members were thoroughly believable; the stage settings and props were superb; scene changes were swift.

But, to me, the REAL test was the Classic breakfast table scene, in which Helen and Annie have a thoroughly crafted “fight”, over Annie trying to get Helen to feed herself, AND, “fold her napkin”. (At that age, Helen was incorrigible) This went on for several minutes, with one time both of them ending up on the floor, flailing at each other.

Outstanding!!!!

At the end of the play, some of us could not keep from standing, clapping and whistling to show our appreciation.

There are other “outings” of this Golden Gaters group that I might participate in. The next one is a visit to Rio Grande, OH, the birthplace of the Bob Evans Restaurants - and the FIRST one to open.

Since Jean and I had visited there twice - once the two of us, and another time taking along her 92 year old father, I don’t think I’ll go this time.

Actually, we have enough outings here at The Grand Court to keep us “old timers” busy.

THE MIRACLE WORKER, though, is worth seeing again, under most any circumstance.

Kenton Ridge

This is the name of a High School maybe 3 or 4 miles from us at The Grand Court, out in the County.

I have three events involving Kenton Ridge that I want to write about.

The first is the nearly 150 strong Kenton Ridge Marching Band.

As they have done at least one time before (the last month Jean and I were here in 2007, actually), the Band Director mentioned that they come “every other year”.

Three School Buses drove onto Vester Avenue from Villa Road, and parked along the street that had been blocked off by the City.

They were scheduled to appear at 4:45 PM, so at 4:30, my BlackBerry alarm went off, reminding me that I’d better get out the front door if I wanted to see the Band arrive.

I joined maybe 40 residents, plus some neighbor friends, in front of our facility, in chairs provided by the Staff.

Before long, we could hear noise, counting, and a whistle from down the street on Vester, and pretty soon, the drums announced the beginning of their march into our parking lot. 150 marchers FILLED our lot. Just their marching, chanting and drum action was thrilling. They marched just as they do on the Football Field, entered our lot, and paused.





The Director then announced the next several songs they were to play, and then they did so, one by one, as they entertained us.

The drums, trumpets, clarinets and other instruments thrilled us, as well as the way they shifted while marching in step, before us as they played.

Of course, our Intrepid Activity Director, Timi Neff, had to get on the roof of our facility to take pictures.



One of the results:



This visit by the band was part of their planned trip to Greenon High School, to play at the Football Game between their team, and the Kenton Ridge Varsity.

Applause, whistles and yells of support were given by those of us watching.

After their playing, the Dirctor announced that they would march back to their buses to stow their instruments, then return for the Hot Dogs and Pepsis that the Grand Court staff had prepared.

The band members “parked” on the front lawn, mostly sitting on the ground and talking while waiting for, and eating their supper.

They must have been relaxing there for over an hour, and our “family” interacted with them, expressing our appreciation and praise for their coming, and then entertaining us.

Right after they marched to their buses to deposit their instrtuments, I retired to the Dining Room for our evening meal, consisting of French Onion Soup, and Sirloin Beef Tips.

I didn’t tarry there long, though, since I wanted to interact with the young people, to tell them of our appreciation for their coming, and commending them for their “terrific” playing (I used that word.)

While doing that, Judy Falloon, the Marketing Director of The Grand Court, began taking pictures of the young people on the lawn after they had eaten. I was mingling with them expressing my feeling about what they had done, and Judy asked me if I couldn’t just pose with some of them for a picture.

At first, someone mentioned “tumbling”, and a “human pyramid” with me on the top, but wiser heads suggested one of the Band members try to lift and carry me, instead. Look!



After that, Judy asked some of those close to her (there were nearly 150 of them there, after all), if they would congregate around the outdoor sign of The Grand Court. Some of them started over there, along with me, and I gave one of my LOUD whistles - getting their attention - and asking them to assemble there “and smile” when I gave the cue.

They did, and Judy got the picture.



When this was completed, I walked with Judy back toward the front of the building, along with one of the “bus drivers”, I discovered. Judy said that the driver had suggested that she take a picture of me, pretending to drive one of the buses. (I’m so open to suggestion like this, that I immediately agreed to permit it. Some day, I might be sorry I was so willing. Remember? The pic of me on the ground wearing a sack in the Easter Sack race? No injury, thankfully.)

We walked over to the bus, and here’s the result of that:





When I got back to where the Hot Dogs and Pepsis were, there were only 6 or 7 “dogs” left, but I was too full to take any.

Timi, her husband Steve (whom I had just met for the first time), Pam, Jeff, and Karl started “cleaning up”, and returning chairs, tables, ice chests etc. to their proper places.

The Band was still present, but just talking and relaxing.

Since I had to get some things from Kmart, as well as cash for “tomorrow”, I went back inside to my room, then to my car. By the time I got out to the parking lot and my car, the buses had been loaded, and driven away.

That’s not the last I want to say about Kenton Ridge.

The Kenton Ridge Reserve football game with the Reserve team from Greenon is.

On Saturday, 7 of us plus Timi assembled on the bus to go to the Kenton Ridge/Greenon Reserve Football Game - at KR.

It’s only 3 or 4 miles north of us.

Though our family was living in Northridge when the Kenton Ridge School was built, John and Martha attended, and were graduated from Northeastern before that. Jim had been graduated from Lane Tech High School in Chicago, just before we moved here.

So, I had never been “back” behind the school to the Athletic Fields before. What a nice group of sports fields there.

Timi had taken along some of the “folded-up, portable” chairs so we could sit on the field level.

Timi’s son Caleb played on both offense and defense, so we were quite interested in watching him - and the whole game, of course.

Look at this “old codger”, intent on the game (we hope), oblivious of anyone else around.



The game began at 10AM, and we were back at the Grand Court for lunch at about 12:30. Sloppy Joes were waiting for us when we returned.

KR won the game 42-6, and it was especially exciting when Caleb intercepted a pass on his own 10 yard line, then sprinted the length of the field for a touchdown.

However, there was a penalty call against KR, and the score was negated.

One more event from Kenton Ridge - but two or three weeks later.

The daughter of our Grand Court Office Manager Lisa plays Volley Ball at KR, so Timi suggested to our residents that we might want to go see her play.

I think maybe 7 of us gathered together on the bus and went to the game.

Volley Ball is certainly different from when WE played - or even our kids played. Nearly all the rules have changed.

When the “referee” called one foul, I turned around and asked my neighbor behind me if he knew what was the call, and lo and behold, it was a friend of maybe 30 to 40 years named Paul. We greeted each other kindly.

Timi said, “I knew you’d find someone you knew!”

Our team won two out of three games.

Seems no more than right that I print the ONLY recognizable picture of Katie (daughter of Lisa) that I have. When Lisa saw it, she said it was “awesome”, since Katie’s best friend was behind her in the photo.



Another surprise was when I saw Ernie and Irene coming into the stands. Ernie used to be on the WEEC Board when I was President. I greeted them and Timi just stared at me. They went up to a higher level in the stands.

Between games, I went up the steps to greet Ernie and Irene. They were there to watch their granddaughter play.

I got more than a kind stare, though, when I came back down the bleachers after going up to greet Ernie and Irene.

When I started up, Timi, said,

“Go to the aisle”.

I didn’t, but just climbed over the benches.

That was OK then, but coming back down, I got careless stepping over the seats, and little by little, I slipped down on my hands and knees. I heard gasps from the spectators. I turned around and waved at everybody.

Timi was too far down the bleachers to see the fall, but she said she heard it. I got a scowl when I returned to her row.

A couple of weeks ago, not in Timi’s presence, one of our lady residents said to me, after mentioning something Timi did, said,

“I dearly love that girl.”

I said, “We all do!”

In fact I sincerely believe that Timi is “called” to take care of us old people. I told her that, and she said,

“I say that all the time!”

We old timers really appreciate the love and concern of our family members as well as our “care providers”. That’s why we’re at The Grand Court. We NEED to be “cared for” - careless as we are.

When we left the game, I went to the aisle, and walked down - carefully.

(Didn’t want another scowl from Timi, our “Mother”!)

Grin.

I guess that covers Kenton Ridge.

Only thing missing was a photo of my fall. I’ll bet you would have enjoyed it - since I wasn’t hurt. It was SOOO graceful!

Oh well, “Ya can’t win ‘em all!”

Hmmm.

I guess I COULD re-create it, and ask Timi to photograph it.

IN MY DREAMS!!

Vermont Trips

Twenty to thirty years ago, Jean and I held a fascination for Vermont - and in fact, the whole New England area.

But several times - generally early in October when the leaves were turning - we traveled to Stowe VT.

Why Stowe?

Because of Maria von Trapp, of course! (Of “Sound of Music” fame.)

We loved driving through the State on small side roads, looking for the “ski slopes”, and the wonderful scenery. We could imagine what those “slopes” looked like covered with snow in the winter, but we never ventured there so late in the year.

The first time we arrived in Stowe, we looked for - and finally found - The Trapp Family Lodge and Restaurant. We arrived, of course, at the noon hour so we might see Maria “working the room” in the Restaurant. We were told in Stowe that she did that.



That first time, sure enough, while we were waiting for our dessert, Maria came through the room, visiting and shaking hands with her guests. She stopped by our table, and we got to speak with her, and shake her hand.

She was dressed like Julie Andrews was in “The Sound of Music”, of course - with a white apron, and white hat. Very jovial!


(This wasn't OUR picture. I got it from the Internet.)

I can’t tell you the year this was, but I DO remember that a year or so after that, we drove there again, and the Lodge and Restaurant had burned down. Later then, a NEW Lodge was built, but we didn’t go there.

This just comes to mind:

One of the times we were in Vermont, we stayed at a Holiday Inn in Rutland. While eating breakfast, coming into the room were three of the Lawrence Welk Troupe - Guy and Ralna Hovis, and Joe Feeney. They ate breakfast just across from us. We acted like we didn’t notice them, of course, but all the same, we were peeking at them - like “star struck” tourists.





I also just now remember the first time we went to Vermont, we didn’t know anything about the area then, and we were anxious to find a place to stay.

We saw a “Bed and Breakfast” style inn, and stopped by late in the afternoon - about supper time. Though it was a little early in the season for BIG business, this place was still just about full.

There was one room, however, but it was a large one for a large family, and they were holding it for a family that size. We pleaded with them to let us stay there anyway, since we were getting worried about having to sleep in the car. They said to come back in an hour of so, and if no one had rented it, they would let us do so. We did.

I don’t, of course, remember the cost, but they obviously felt sorry for us, and didn’t want us to sleep in the car, so they let us rent it.

Big relief!

(While writing this, I’m pausing several times to let my “sub-conscious memory” kick in. Sometimes it works.)

Oh……..one year when we went to Vermont, we hadn’t planned on it at all.

We were in northeastern New York, at the Word of Life Camp at Schroon Lake, in the Adirondacks (just visiting, not staying). While there, we visited Lake Placid also, where the Winter Olympics had been held a year or so before. We drove right by the LARGE ski jump that was used then.

After that, we headed north to Lake Champlain, and took a ferry across to Vermont. I don’t remember exactly where we crossed, but it might have been at Essex, or farther north to Burlington VT.

There were nearly a score of cars and buses on that ferry! One of the large buses was right next to us, and as the ferry kinda “rocked”, so did the bus, and it gave us an eerie feeling.

One year, we drove north from Vermont, right into Montreal, Canada. No travel restrictions then, of course. We didn’t even need a passport.

Because of my enthrallment (it’s a word. I looked it up.) with the French language, I always wanted to visit Montreal.

You know, I guess, that even if English is the national language of Canada, the principal language in Montreal is French.

Here’s the official word on that - from the Internet:

Montreal is a cosmopolitan city. Quebec's language laws impose restrictions on outdoor signs in languages other than French so you will see few signs in English, but in the parts of Montreal where most travellers go, services are available in English. French is heard in all parts of the city but in many neighbourhoods other languages will also be heard. Only half of Montreal's residents speak French at home.

The city is on an island, actually, in the St. Lawrence River. Its population is well over 3 million - the second largest in Canada, behind Toronto, Ontario. Montreal is in Quebec Province.


(Please forgive the "dimness" of this map. I think it DOES show that the river flows AROUND Montreal. Sorry.)

It’s pronounced: Moan- ray-al (as in alley), Kay-bek. (Montreal, Quebec.) The “n” sound in Montreal is soft, and in between the “h” and “n” sound, with a nasal quality.

I don’t remember that we stayed there very long, but it was an interesting experience for me, the “wannabe French speaker”.

I JUST had a terrific remembrance about THAT trip!

The Montreal Expos, in that day, played in a Baseball park known to American baseball broadcasters as “Jerry Park”.

OK.

But, the actual name was “Parc Jarry”, pronounced “PARK jar-REE.

It was the home of the Montreal Expos from 1969 to 1976, when it was then replaced by Olympic Stadium, after the Montreal Olympics.

Here's the Right Field Scoreboard at Parc Jarry:



When we drove by Parc Jarry, we were stunned by the small size of it, being used to stadia like Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Wrigley Field in Chicago and Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

To get back home, we took what we thought was a “trans-national highway”, that is NOW numbered Highway 401 (who knows what it might have been numbered in those days), west to Toronto, then down to Hamilton, Ontario, and on to Buffalo and home.

As reported here earlier in “New England Vacation”, Jean and I always had a fascination for New England and the Northeast.

What follows may be extraneous material for the subject of “Vermont Trips”, but it happened when we were in Vermont - and Maine.

Traveling east to New Hampshire, we ran across the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort at Bretton Woods, NH. We were not looking for it, but just naturally looked out our side windows, and “across the river and through the woods”, was a MAMMOTH hotel, sitting right on top of a mountain.



We were stunned!

This was the hotel that held the United Nations Monetary Conference, later named the Bretton Woods Conference. I had heard of that for years, and when I realized this was the site, I was “flabbergasted” (a good old Mechanicsburg word.)

Here’s the official word from Wikipedia, on the Internet:

The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, commonly known as Bretton Woods conference, was a gathering of 730 delegates from all 44 Allied nations at the Mount Washington Hotel, situated in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire to regulate the international monetary and financial order after the conclusion of World War II.[1]

The conference was held from 1 July to 22 July 1944 in July, when the agreements were signed to set up the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

As a result of the conference, the Bretton Woods system of exchange rate management was set up, which remained in place until the early 1970s.

I now remember that the time we saw the Hotel for the first time, Jodi was with us for our New England Vacation.

Here's Jodi (left) and Grandma (Jean), with the Hotel in background



We found a lane, or driveway, and drove back to the front of the hotel.

It was awesome!

So we could say we were in the hotel, Jodi and I got out of the car and went inside - exploring the lobby. We didn’t stay long, I don’t think, but long enough to brag about it - like right now.

Well, that was New Hampshire and not Vermont, but after all, this is “free association writing”, and in that form, you write what you are thinking.

Or, at least I do.

Back To The Bible 40th

When the Back to the Bible broadcast celebrated its 40th Anniversary, Jean and I drove to Lincoln NE to help celebrate.

It was in 1979, and my memory is that Theodore Epp was still alive, and was sharing the teaching with Warren Wiersbe. I couldn’t find anyone presentlly at B to B who was there in 1979, so my memory has to suffice.

Lincoln was a place to which we had never traveled before. And, since that was WAY before the GPS systems had been invented, we followed the old fashioned map in a Road Atlas.

My first personal contact with Theodore Epp, the founder of the broadcast in 1939, was when I was still at the Moody Bible Institute, as part of its Radio Ministry - sometime between 1954 and 1965.

Mr. Epp had been at the Institute, and spoke to the Student Body. While there, he visited the radio studios.

However, it wasn’t at the studios that I first saw him, but rather, in the Lobby of Crowell Hall, the main building of MBI then.

I had come back from the Sweet Shoppe, I think, having just had lunch. Entering the lobby to go to the elevator for the 10th floor, I glanced to my right as I came in (the elevators were to the left), and seated there in one of the straight backed chairs, was Theodore Epp. I recognized him right away from his pictures.



Was he reading a book? Or looking around? Or talking to someone ? Surely he was on his Cell Phone? (I’m being facetious.)

No.

Rather, he was very seriously looking at small cards in his hand, taken from a memory packet in his pocket, and he was memorizing scripture. He was oblivious of anyone or thing around him. In fact, when I approached him, he didn’t see me until I said, “Mr. Epp?”

He looked up right away and smiled.

He didn’t know me “from Adam”, as we used to say in Mechanicsburg. He just saw me as a fellow human being - and smiled.

I don’t remember a bit of our conversation, or what we each did after that, but I would HOPE that I had enough sense to invite him to follow me to the 10th floor and offices of WMBI.

He started the broadcast all by himself, in the studio of a secular radio station. No music. No announcer. No fanfare. Just Bible Teaching.

There have been two more regular speakers on the broadcast since his retirement - Dr. Warren Wiersbe, and Dr. Wilbur Kroll - who still speaks today.

I seems to me that on our trip for the 40th Celebration, we drove directly west to Omaha, then southwest to Lincoln.

In getting downtown to where the Broadcast was then located, we passed right by the football stadium of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Couldn’t remember the name of the stadium, but the Internet indicates that the Memorial Stadium was build in 1923. Many changes and seat additions since then.

It seems to me that the main celebration for the 40th, was held across the street from the historic site of the broadcast at that time.

Several other Christian station operators were there also, all of them friends of mine from the National Religious Broadcasters. We had quite a get together, renewing acquaintances, and meeting new ones.

I could try to remember some of those in attendance, and two or three do come to mind, but suffice it to say that the celebration was honoring Back To The Bible, not us station operators.

Something I remember now is that this occasion was the first I had heard of Charles Swindoll, and “Insight For Living”. Dick Bott from KCCV at Kansas City, a long time friend told me that this would be a good addition to the WEEC schedule. I said that our schedule was full, but he said that if he could look at our schedule, he could find a time.

Well, I’ve never programmed like that, but I did get a sample tape of Swindoll, and, convinced that it would be a good addition to our schedule, I found a suitable time. Daily at 7 PM. Then too, another longtime friend, Al Sanders, was the announcer on the broadcast.

It’s been at that time ever since.

While at Back to the Bible, we saw the studio where Mr. Epp broadcast from at that time, including his table, chair and microphone. Beside him was where the Choir sang. In the early days of the broadcast, they were produced live.

I was told that in those days, after the choir had been added, Mr. Epp would end his teaching at precisely 25 minutes, to allow time for the last Choir number, and the closing announcements. To be sure he didn’t go “over” in his time, the broadcast recording was started at 35 minutes past the hour, so at precisely the next hour, Mr. Epp would say good bye.

I don’t remember how many days Jean and I stayed in Lincoln, but I DO remember it was at the Holiday Inn, practically on the Airport grounds, north of town.

Many years later, when John and family moved from California (and Focus on the Family) back to Chicago (and Moody Bible Institute), they drove all the way, with their furniture being taken by truck.

The end of one of the 5 or 6 days they traveled brought them to Lincoln NE, and the Holiday Inn. Our granddaughter Molly, unaware of our previous visit to Lincoln, listened attentively to Tonya talking to me, when I related that we had stayed there years before.

Molly was dumbfounded when she heard just one end of the conversation, and asked her mother, “What did Grandpa say about this Motel?” Tonya told her about our previous visit. Apparently Molly decided that they couldn’t go anywhere that Grandpa and Grandma hadn’t already been to.

After leaving Lincoln, we drove west to Cheyenne WY to fill up with gas. A remarkable thing to me was that, on May 1, snow was falling on Cheyenne. Amazing.

Some details of the rest of the trip are a little hazy to me, so I MIGHT be combining one or more trips together.

Going north from Cheyenne (I 25 wasn’t built yet), we ended up at the Mount Rushmore National Park, southwest of Rapid City SD.

Black Hills, the Bad Lands and Mount Rushmore are in this area.

The Mount Rushmore National Memorial to four presidents was breathtaking! Though we had been there before, it was still awesome. The first time, we visited inside the building. This time, we just marveled at the sight. It could be seen from some distance away, through gaps in the mountains.



Driving through this part of the country, we had to stop on the road to allow buffalo (or bison) to cross the road.

We had heard of the “Bad Lands” for many years, but couldn’t imagine what they were like.

We found out.

We drove east from Rapid City to Wall SD, visited “Wall Drug” seen on thousands of signs along highways in the midwest and west, then took off southeast to enter the Bad Lands.

Here’s ONLY a part of Wall Drug.



Here's the promotional bit:

Wall Drug
Wall, South Dakota

For some classic road trip Americana, there's no better place to stop than Wall Drug in Wall, SD. It's more than a drugstore; it's an insane shopping experience right out of America's wild West. The 77,000-square-foot building is six times the size of an average drug store and stocked full of wacky Western wear. You won't miss it, because Wall Drug has more than 250 signs advertising its location along I-90. The tactic works -- Wall welcomes 2.2 million visitors a year, more than the entire population of South Dakota.

From there, we entered The Bad Lands, with desert, cliffs, mountains, animals, etc.

Here’s the OFFICIAL welcome to the Bad Lands:

Greetings and welcome to Badlands National Park.

Badlands contains some of the most spectacular vistas
and scenery in the world. It’s geological and
paleontological resources provide insight into climatic
history and biological diversity during the
Eocene/Oligocene periods. The area in and around the
Badlands also contains places of spiritual and historical
significance for the local Lakota community.

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center is a must see with our
award winning video and many new and exciting
books in our bookstore run by Badlands Natural History
Association. We hope you also take time to visit the South Unit of the park where
the White River Visitor Center offers a glimpse into the Native American influence and culture.

Take time to enjoy our Night Sky program at the amphitheater and
enjoy one of the most spectacular night skies in the country.
While you spend time at this special place in this special land, take time to view
and listen to the magnificence and splendor of the Badlands. The natural resources and beauty of the area have been preserved for you and for future generations to experience the rich heritage of our natural and cultural history.

And, some pictures from the Internet:







I don’t remember how long we were gone on the initial trip to Lincoln, but we saw some incredible sights. I wish I could remember more.

Isn’t it great that these trips and experiences allow me to “ramble on” in describing them?

(You don’t have to agree. We’ll still be friends! Just don‘t tell me.)