Memory Lane - October 2011

Well, we made it safely to Florida and back home. The drive was beautiful with the leaves changing but no matter how I do it, the drive is too long. Where are rocket cars when you need them. Wild Mom's sonny-do list was completed. I finished the most wanted ones. We still managed to eat at Barnhill's (Buffet) in Pensacola and then ate at Ed's Seafood Shed in Mobile on the Causeway. I haven't drove there in quite a while. Coming home I drove the old highway (US98) back to Pace. That area hasn't changed a lot so a lot of memories were stirred up for everyone. Wild Mom's new shed (craft room) is nice and the work that Squirrel Man has done is impressive. Maybe I will have to get a shed and bring him up to finish mine. Lady loved the trip since all she did was read and sew. There wasn't a daughter-do list ... favoritism? We pre-bowled Sunday Night and managed to win 4-3, so we are not in last place anymore. Close but not there. On the kids league, we are in second place. This is better that last season but the surprise is my average sucks and we are still winning. Work continues to be a source of frustration but like a good soldier, I report in every morning for my tour of duty. On our trip we even manged a short stop at Star's and Chicken Man place in Marrietta. It was great seeing them for the first time since they were married. Amazing, she was alive and in one piece with no bruises. Just Kidding, they are doing great and constantly are pursuing the job market and planning on moving before long. We even managed to see Jenn (camerabug) for a little bit. She is as beautiful as ever though her neck/shoulder is giving her a fit.

On the home front, #1 works and spends his time with Vinny and AJ. #2 doesn't work and spends his time with the computer. Peanut spends all her time with Vinny and AJ. Vinny is now over 2 months old. Will someone please slow him down, he won't be a baby very long at this pace. It seems some days you can see him growing. Sometimes the thought of a #1 mini-me is frightening. AJ is excited about Halloween. Costumes, trick or treating, and pumpkins are his favorites. We will get to see Lou and Lil Princess this weekend. How we missed them and they were not very far from our thoughts the whole trip.

Well, as the year winds down, the one thing I have wished for all year has not occurred. I still hope it will appear as a Christmas present. Being at home last week brought many memories back. The pictures, memento's, and places where the memories were created brought home the thought that family is the most important thing we have. What would I do without them? We found the Half Dollar I gave to Dad when I saluted him the first time as an officer. The hand written note with the coin taped to a sheet of paper in a document protector was priceless. We even found my first discharge certificate as an E-1 from the United State Marine Corp in 1972. Now I must get it framed. Man, did my mind then take a whirlwind trip down memory lane. It would be 3 more years till I met the love of my life. Ok, enough of the Memory Lane stroll.