Sarah and Gage took a little road trip Sunday and are boarding an airplane tomorrow. Tomorrow, Steve and I are also flying out. The four of us are going to two (sort of) separate places–except they’re sort of the same, too. (Are you confused yet?) Details to follow.
Recently Steve invited me out on a Special Date. Here is my Special Date Apparel.
As we were pulling out of the driveway date he said casually, “There might be wild bears.”
And then, a few miles later, “You’ll be hearing a lot of gunshots.”
Bears and guns? He knows the language of my heart.
Our destination was a location outside of town where there is a large gun club that stands adjacent to the R.C. flying field, a place where there have indeed been numerous wild bear sightings amidst the flying of the planes and the firing of the guns.
And our purpose for being there?
Well, since I am going to be sixty on my next birthday, Steve thought he shouldn’t let any more time pass before introducing me to my first riding lawnmower experience. (He and the other RC Club members take turns mowing their 2-acre field.)
He gallantly showed me where the air horn was located on the mower so that I could scare off any aforementioned bears who might decide to accompany me on my first lawn-mowing adventure.
The grass wasn’t overly long and so it was sometimes hard to tell where I’d been. I’d be riding along and suddenly see a little patch that I’d missed on the last pass and I would veer over there to cut it before re-veering back to my original trail. I’m sure I probably looked quasi-inebriated.
The weather was in the low 70’s, with a light breeze and low humidity–beyond gorgeous. I rather enjoyed my circular travels around the field as Steve flew his glider around me. Thankfully, the bears decided not to join our date; they probably wanted to keep their distance from the crazy woman driver.
Last week, we finally did something we’ve been threatening to do for quite a while. We sent off all of Ken and Vernie’s 8mm home movie reels, as well as our family’s mini-VHS tapes from back when the kids were, well, kids.
As Steve was packing everything up to be digitized, we found it interesting to look at some of the printing in Ken’s inimitable handwriting.
Japan. Korea.
Brussels. Venice.
We should have the digitized copies back before Christmas so it will be fun to show the grandkids all those old movies.
If you’ve ever considered doing this, we used Legacy Box. (I found a Groupon for half price.) One thing I especially like about Legacy Box is that other companies charge by the foot on reel to reel movies but Legacy Box charges one flat price per movie. And they make it incredibly easy to get the movie labeled and boxed up, even sending a shipping box.
The thing that tipped us over the edge in deciding to do this now was that the home of a pastor’s family we know burned to the ground. When I looked at the photo of charred ground with just a chimney left standing I thought, “Ok. It’s time to get it done.”
Many of you faithful readers have seen comments by Fred Johnson. He and his wife, Lucy, live relatively nearby and we have met them several times under a variety of circumstances and also stay in touch by email.
Part of an email we received recently included this paragraph:
Finally, a funny story to brighten your day. The compressor on our 21 year old refrigerator died and we had to order a new one – tentatively scheduled to arrive October 13. But we’re doing okay because our 1974, avocado green, JCPenney refrigerator in our garage is chugging right along, keeping our food cold like it has since the day we got it. It has never had a repair. That’s what they mean by “the good old days.” 😉
BTW, the small GE fridge we just bought at Home Depot cost MORE than a brand new VW Beetle in 1967 ($1950) which we couldn’t even dream of buying back then.
I love thinking about that stalwart, 48-year old, avocado green fridge still plugging away out in the garage, and also learning that a modern fridge costs as much now as a new VW Beetle did back in 1967. Since his little snippet made me smile I asked him if I could include it in a Thing Post.
Steve was in a music store recently and the store owner gave him the history behind a particular guitar.
He said that the guitar was the exact Martin D-18 model that Andy Griffith played. Martin made 300 of those guitars to his specifications and Andy signed each one. Also, his name is inset in mother of pearl on the fretboard.
We’ve had a young Dare Challenge graduate in our church for the past few months. He left us last week to prepare to attend Bible school and pursue music ministry.
Wayne only learned to play piano a year ago but has made great strides. He also has a fantastic singing voice and has started writing songs. We invited him to be on our worship team while he was in Manteo.
Steve and I spent some time working with him on his songwriting and he made a lot of progress. (He wasn’t playing on his phone in this picture; he was getting ready to take a photo of Steve’s hands playing a certain chord.)
Steve has also been mentoring, Hope, the girl in the foreground, on guitar and I’ve been working with her sister, Emma Grace, on the keyboard. Tim, the guy in the middle, is another Dare Challenge graduate Steve has mentored.
Emma Grace and Hope have started playing and singing at youth group and Tim is helping to work with them and mentor them in that setting.
Isn’t it great to see the gift of mentoring passing from person to person? If you hold on to something tight in your hand, it just stays there. If you open your hand and give what you have to someone else (time, talent, treasure), your gift will just keep going on and on.
I didn’t see this photo when it was first taken; I just found it on Steve’s phone. This is before the wedding when Steve took Sarah out one last time as a single woman. Doesn’t it just melt your heart?
Steve showed me this thing-a-ma-bob that he had gotten from his mom’s house. (If you can’t tell by the photo, he is wearing his best pair of shorts.)
Of course, I had no clue what it was so he explained that it was his dad’s old sheep-shearers from either Scotland or England. (Circa 1960.) Steve’s dad used to have Steve trim stuff up with them when he was a boy. Of course, Steve had to take me out to the front yard so he could give me A Smith Sheap-Shearers Demonstration. (Except there were no actual sheep.)
I love old things that have an interesting history.
I went for my 3-month follow-up chest scan last week.
My appointment with the thoracic oncologist is later in October. However, I messaged the office a couple of days ago to ask about the possibility of them letting me know by phone or email if the report was okay. It would be a bit frustrating to drive five hours round trip, fork over a $120 copay, and then spend thirty seconds listening to a doctor saying, “Yup! Everything’s dandy!”
The nurse said they could certainly do that so I could possibly hear something on that in the next few days.
I also got my 24-hour PH impedance test (which I have non-affectionately dubbed as my Nose Job) scheduled for October 28. I was in touch with Dr. Lobo to tell him that I have the worst gag reflex known to mankind and that I was not at all hopeful the process would be successful. He was empathetic but said we would give it a whirl and if it didn’t work out (or I inadvertently slugged someone in the attempt), they would put me under the same type of sedation used for colonoscopies.
So. We shall see.
Gage continues to do a great job as our Kids’ Leader. He recently put a song together for them to do in the service and everyone loved it!
The day before the twentieth anniversary of 9-11, Steve and I took his Mazda Miata out to the Sonic drive-in and then went for a beach walk. So beautiful!
As we strolled along enjoying the evening, we suddenly noticed an unusual sound coming from behind us. As we turned around, we saw a woman by the shore, her bagpipes sending melodies out over the waves. She was playing God Bless America, America the Beautiful, and Amazing Grace.
This woman was marking the anniversary of a great heartache in our country with dignity, beauty, and a full heart. People stopped walking and gathered around her to listen, inhaling the beauty of the moment, the poignancy of the music, the glory of the sea.
For those brief passing moments, we were all just Americans together–grateful for the gift of that evening.
What about you?
Any guesses as to where those airplanes are taking us? Of course, I can neither confirm or deny until the next post but wanted to see if anyone had a good guess.
Have you ever had an appliance (or a car or other belonging) that lasted way longer than expected? What’s the story?
Have you ever been mentored or been a mentor? In what area?
Are you a riding lawnmower fan, a push mower van or a fan of not mowing the lawn at all? I’ve heard a lot of people say they sort of enjoy mowing the lawn.
Anxious to hear where you, Steve, Sarah and Gage were going.
My mom had to replace her stove two years ago. It was bought in 1987 so made it 32 years. I believe her refrigerator was bought the same year, not really sure. It’s still running. On the other hand, I bought a new washer when I moved here in 2014. I had to replace it the beginning of this year.
I’m a fan of not mowing. That’s why I live in a maintenance provided community. When my dad still was able to mow his lawn, I would help him occasionally. He had a riding mower as their lawn was pretty good sized.
Phyllis,
It’s amazing how reliable those old appliances were. Thirty-two years is a long time!
What a great thing to live in a community where maintenance is provided. I know you are so thankful for that wonderful benefit.
I love “Thing” posts!
I remember my mother’s avocado dining room chairs when I was little – they were plastic vinyl! I’m pretty sure we had an avocado fridge as well to match 🙂 At some point we got something in that mustard yellow of about the same time frame. Lordy!
I have no idea where you are jetting off to but I hope it’s somewhere fun!
I’m not a huge fan of yard work but I do mow the grass at my parent’s lake house with the riding mower while my husband does the push mower and the trimming so that we can get it done quicker! My dad used to let me ride the riding mower when we lived out in the country and there wasn’t too much for me to run over 🙂
Love all the pictures but especially Steve and Sarah’s last date and the bagpipes on the ocean. Those speak to me.
Praying for good health reports always!
Can’t wait to hear about your adventures!
Suzanne,
Mustard and avocado. With a spinach wrap and some turkey, you could have made a sandwich! 🙂 Those were some interesting colors back in the day.
I’m right there with you in not needing anything to run over when mowing. A wide-open space is best, by far!
Glad you enjoy the Thing Posts and especially the daughter/dad photo and the ocean story. Such sweet moments.
I absolutely love your “Thing” posts. I’m not sure on the plane trips…the first thing I thought of was Florida, but I’m not sure what/where Sarah & Gage would be that’s different from visiting MegaNate and family. I sometimes help with yard maintenance, but it’s not my favorite (I don’t do heat well, so of course I live in Texas- HA). Early in our marriage when we first moved from Georgia to Arkansas, my in-laws lived in “the country” on about 2 acres. Tim & I would mow for them and I got the new riding mower because it steered easier than the old one. We lived in an apartment at the time, so it was nice to do a little yard work. You look good on the mower…like a pro! I will have to check out Legacy Box. Most of my VHS tapes have been transferred to CDs, but I have a few mini-VHS I need to digitize. I also have a 2nd (or 3rd or something) cousin who has dozens of the old 8mm film her Dad used to take that includes me & my family in my MUCH younger days that I’d love to have copies of. Isn’t it “strange” how the old appliances seemed to last FOREVER. We never replaced an appliance when I was growing up, and the only repair I remember my dad making was replacing burners on the stove. (Ours were bronze instead of avocado, but to compensate, that’s the color my mom picked to paint the living room when they bought our house when I was 5). When I think of something lasting longer than expected I think of “Old Blue”, my husband’s 1999 Dodge Dakota truck. We bought iit used in 2000 or 2001 and he drove it as his primary vehicle until he bought his new Ford Ranger in February. It was still running, but we were afraid it was going to start needing regular repairs. The Andy Griffith guitar is VERY cool. The picture of Sarah & Steve is stunning as are your beach pictures. I can imagine how moving it must have been listening to the bagpipes while standing on the Outer Banks. Just spectacular. I hope you get good results from your tests soon and I look forward to hearing about your travels!
Sue Ellen,
Hooray! Another “All Things” commenter. Thanks for taking the time to do that. 🙂
As for bronze appliances, those work, too, especially if they match the living room! Your mom was quite the color coordinator matching her appliances to her living room paint. 🙂
Yes, you would definitely enjoy getting those old films digitized. So much to revisit the long past years.
I’m going to guess a trip to Wisconsin to see family, with Gage and Sarah staying with cousin Caleb and Amanda and you and Steve staying with your sister. Have fun, where ever you are going! I LOVE to fly, so am a bit envious. 🙂
We have a small dorm size refrigerator in our basement that we use for beverages. We have had it for probably 37-ish years and it still works like a charm! I hesitate to even say that for fear of jinxing it….eeeek!! Oh, and it is coppertone brown. LOL
We have a self-propelled, walk-behind mower. It’s super easy to use and starts on the very first pull. Every. Single. Time. Love it! Someday when we move, we hope to find an acreage so will have to invest in a riding mower then. We might have to draw straws for who gets to use it because we both enjoy mowing and yard work!
Lee Anne,
Thirty-seven years is a really long time for an appliance to work! I love hearing stories of things doing exactly what they were built to do . . . day after day after day. Steve always says today’s world has so much built-in obsolescence. And it’s true!
I wish you’d come and do our yard work. Steve loves to mow but neither of likes to plant things or prune things. Oh well!
My parents bought a refrigerator when they married in 1953. Only refrigerator they have ever had. When my mom died in 2004 my brother brought the frig back to the farmhouse she grew up in Wisconsin. My brother owns the farm. Frig is still chugging along. Never had a repair. Still keeps everything cold and the little freezer on top still works fine too.
Ellen,
The Frig and the Farmhouse. Sounds like a country song. 🙂 Chugging along since 1953? It could give some of these new whippersnapper fridges a few lessons!
Wow-no idea on where the planes are heading, but hope you all have a great time. I can’t think of an appliance that has lasted longer than expected, but I have clothes that are over 25 years old and still being worn. I have a pair of shoes from 1967 that I keep for costumes. Not in great shape but I can still wear them. I have a pair of those sheep shears, I thought they were for trimming grass. No idea where I got them, but glad to know what they really are. I like mowing in any form. Something about the fresh smell of the grass and the fresh look the lawn has. I have used our riding mower twice. My husband has a back and forth cutting pattern and I tend to go in circles and swirls. He didn’t like that so he continues to do the lawns. I had fun at it and thought it looked fine. When he cut last week he noticed afterward that he had missed a large section of fairly tall grass. It was not missed this week…
Patti,
Clothes being worn a quarter-century is just as laudable as appliances working forever. Kudos to you for finding stuff you like and carrying them through the years with you!
That’s funny how different people have different mowing patterns. I’d be with you doing the circles and swirls . . . so much more fun, right? 🙂
I cannot imagine where you would all be going unless it is to Florida to see your other kiddos. It will be winter before we know it, so we need to get out while we can. I am a homebody and don’t have any desire to go anywhere…especially since we are still having to wear masks everywhere. I hate wearing them. I have been having a lot of wheezing for a few months and will finally go get checked the 16th. I love your “Thing” posts. <3 We have a refrigerator that is 23 years old..GE brand… and still going strong. I check it everyday to make sure it is working so we won’t lose our frozen foods. We are attending a memorial on Sat. for my husbands first cousin that died from Covid at 69 years old. Breaks my heart that so many have lost their lives to this pandemic. Only God knows why we are having to go through this and I trust Him completely. I am keeping my eyes on the Eastern sky…..
Kaye,
So sorry to hear about your family member dying from COVID. When it starts to hit close to home like that, it takes on a whole new reality from when you just read about it on the news. Peace and grace to you and your family.
Glad to know you like the Thing Posts; they are definitely a collection of miscellany!
GE brand has always been a reliable brand; glad your refrigerator is humming right along all these many years later.
I love your thing posts.
I guess… maybe Florida.
Absolutely love the picture of Sarah and Steve. Such love between a daughter and Dad.
We just replaced a 23 year old GE dish washer. I think that’s pretty old considering the wash machines and dryers we’ve had only lasted about 10 years. We still have our stove that’s 23 years old. It is a GE too, so when we purchased our new dish washer we bought another GE dish washer. We seem to have better luck with GE’s than some of the other brands.
I am a push mower type of girl. I enjoy cutting the grass. It is relaxing to me and I love to admire God’s creation as I mow. We have a pretty small yard so it only takes me about an hour. I have tried the riding lawn mower and I wasn’t to good at driving it. I drove over our brick border and took out 2 bushes. LOL Thankfully no neighbors saw me. They would have gotten a good laugh!
I love the pay-it-forward mentoring. How special. I know you all are so proud of the guys you have mentored through Dare Challenge.
Praying for good news from your scan.
Those children are so blessed to have Gage. They all look like they are loving every minute of their performance.
I know that was a special treat to hear the lady playing the bagpipes on the beach. I love all those songs. I am sure it was a moving experience.
I hope you 4 having a wonderful time on your getaway.
Besafe.
Joy,
Twenty-three years is a LONG time for a dishwasher. It always seems like they wear out faster than everything else. New dishwashers are so much better than the old ones; we just got a new one and a few months ago and have been blown away by the improvements.
I could absolutely see myself driving over a brick border and taking out bushes. And the first thing I would do is look around to see if anyone saw. 🙂
Thanks for commenting on every single Thing. Impressive!
Have I mentioned, I love ‘Thing Posts’! Becky, that’s a great photo of you in ‘Thing Two’, very pretty, thought it was Meryl Streep. ‘Hats off’ to Steve for his surprise date destination! A beautiful day, quality time together, a little mowing, and a little gliding! Awesomeness in action.
Kudos to you and Steve for sending your family treasures to Legacy Box. One of the pastors @ Biltmore Baptist Arden recently experienced a house fire. He and his family had recently moved to the area and the incident occurred prior to occupancy of their new home.
I so appreciate Fred and Lucy’s email! I spent last week in Halifax County NC visiting 91 year old mom, Dorothy. She very much cherishes her avocado green side-by-side refrigerator and stove! How wonderful that we can all look back and appreciate ‘the good old days’.
The Dare Challenge story is so very heart warming. Prayers for Wayne, Hope, Emma Grace and Tim. I know that they are appreciative of the mentoring received from you and Steve.
The photo of Sarah and Steve at dinner does melt my heart! What a precious expression of love!
Hats off to Gage for his involvement with the Children’s Ministry. I share that love and volunteer on Sundays with the three & four year old classes.
Okay, my ‘wild guess’ on the travel destination is either Scotland or England, tracing family history. The sheep shears planted this seed. If I am correct I KNOW that Becky, Steve, Sarah and Gage will have an AWESOME vacation complete with many stories and photos. I can hardly wait to see if I am remotely close!!!
I will continue to pray for excellent health reports.
Love & Hugs,
Gloria
Gloria,
Nice to be able to momentarily pass myself off as Meryl Streep! Thanks for the compliment
Isn’t it funny how so many old appliances were avocado? That’s a color you rarely see these days but it’s kind of a happy, energetic color. Maybe someone should bring it back into style.
Bless you for volunteering with the little kids. It’s amazing the impact an adult can have on those impressionable kids–sometimes the impact can last a lifetime.
I have to say, I would be utterly thrilled if we were off to Europe; we can sure dream, can’t we?
Thanks for taking the time to comment on every Thing. I appreciate you doing that.