FALL FOLIAGE AND THE FRAILTY OF LIFE (October 18 - November 15, 2021)

Curt and Jenny

As we conclude a month at Wyndham Fairfield Glade in Tennessee, I am reminded of both the beauty of autumn and the fragility of life.  Some blogs are difficult to pen but must be written none the less.  Thus it is with this edition.

The Cumberland Plateau was ablaze with the changing optics of fall.  The canvas, with random patches of yellows, greens, reds, and oranges, blended wonderfully against the backdrop of deep blue skies, flowing white clouds, and distant mountains.

Scott and Autumn

Our spacious two bedroom Kensington Woods condo was filled several days with the blessing of family and friends.  Picture puzzles were pieced together, table games were hotly contested, and hours were spent in front of a flickering natural wood fireplace. Drives into Crossville for lunches at Fortes, shoe shopping at French's, and the Military Museum, provided opportunities to enjoy each others company.  An outing to the Cumberland Playhouse to see Scrooge, The Musical was a perfect night out with Curt and Jenny, Sherry's brother and sister  in law.  Our daughter's family from Indiana joined us for a few days too.

Here's where it gets really difficult.

Jimmie and Doretta Durnil

The Durnils had joined us before on our WYNDHAM adventures.  We had explored the beaches of South Carolina together at Myrtle Beach and Edisto Island.  Now they were joining us to enjoy the beauty of the Cumberland Plateau as it transitioned from summer to fall.

Doretta and Sherry had attended High School together so each visit contained several trips down memory lane.  They were again good days until the day before they were suppose to leave.  Doretta complained of a headache and within a couple of hours was having difficulty communicating.

Jimmie took her to the hospital in Crossville where she lost consciousness and was air flighted to a trauma center in Murphysboro, Tennessee.  She never regained consciousness and sixteen days after walking out the door of our condo she was gone.  From prayers, hugs, and kisses to eternity in two weeks.  Her diagnosis was viral meningitis.  She will be missed by many.

REFLECTIONS

Doretta was a Christ follower.  Like so many, she believed that for the believer "the best is yet to come".   Our hearts are broken but our hope is in Him.

I look out over the Tennessee woods beyond our deck.  Once vibrant with fall colors, the trees stand naked and stark.  Their colorful leaves lay in wind blown piles on the ground.  Life, in every regard, is a cycle and can change quickly.  Once again I am reminded that we should treasure every day....every moment.  Tell those you love often that you do.

 

SUPPLY CHAIN STRANDED SENIORS (August 12- October 17, 2021)

 

(Adelyn)

Once again September marked the time for our annual GATHERING OF FRIENDS. This year's event was held in "Music City" (Nashville, Tennessee).  Eight couples (college friends from the 1960s) enjoyed five days of Nashville sites and the comfort of our lodging at WYNDHAM NASHVILLE.  The reunion was sandwiched between time in Indiana and Missouri with family and friends. The two month long hiatus was perfect.

(Ethan)

Volleyball in Indiana and Marching Band in Missouri reminded us of how quickly our grand children are growing!  I spent some time golfing, fishing in Sugar Creek, and exploring Wilson's Creek Battlefield.  Summer turned into autumn and now we embark on a long WYNDHAM RESORTS ADVENTURE with extended stays at the GLADE (TN), CYPRESS PALMS (FLA), OCEAN RIDGE (SC).  We will finish our sojourn mid May, 2022.  THAT IS IF WE CAN EVER GET STARTED!

(Rick Wetnight and friend)

REFLECTIONS

For the last 5 1/2 years we have soared from adventure to adventure as the guests of a major airline thanks to their generous retirement benefit of free air travel.  In these past 5 plus years, it has been pretty much smooth sailing.

However, as I pen this blog, I find myself seated at a work station in the Springfield, Missouri airport!  We arrived at 4:30 a.m. and it is now after 2 p.m. and the next possible flight to catch isn't until 5 p.m.!  Flights all across the country are "oversold", standby lists sport 20 to 30 names, and there are no rental cars to be found.

Thanks Southwest, thanks economy, thanks employee shortages, thanks mandates!  It's the perfect storm.  As retired airline employees, at the bottom of the standby list, we feel a little like a container on a cargo ship anchored off the California coast with no way to get where we need to be.  So I'll just sit and REFLECT how good we have had it until today.   Maybe tomorrow.....maybe next week.  We will just have to wait and see.

RUN OF THE MILL (June 14 - August 11, 2021)

 

Fawns in the Pokonos

After returning from the Northwest, we spent the next 45 days in Indiana (19 days), Michigan (7 days), Pennsylvania (13 days), and Ohio (6 days).  Is it any wonder that friends, when calling or texting, always ask "Where are you?"!  As long as our health holds out, that will remain a natural inquiry.  Whether staying with family/friends or with WYNDHAM VACATION RESORTS it is the retirement life we have chosen.  In about a month, we will begin our sixth year of being "drifters"!

INDIANA: We spent our time in the Hoosier state between our cabin outside of Bloomington and at

our daughter's home in Avon.  They were days of doctor appointments, dog/house sitting, and enjoying some down time at our Indiana retreat.

MICHIGAN : Times with super friends (Halls/Bittenbenders) made these 7 days fly by.

PENNSYLVANIA : These two weeks were spilt between WYNDHAM DELAWARE ON SHAWNEE and Sherry's uncle's place on Lake Wallenpaupack!  They were filled with covered bridges, waterfalls, train trips, boating adventures, good conversation,  camp fires, and so much more.  When staying at the WYNDHAM we visited the Delaware Water Gap and the town of Jim Thorp.  Alaska Pete's is a recommended eatery.

OHIO: Again with long time friends (Moores/ Crawfords) before returning to Indiana.

REFLECTIONS

Clifton Mill (Ohio)

The Clifton Mill has been grinding away for 219 years on the bank of  the Little Miami River in Yellow Springs, Ohio.  That's a long time!  A long time to do the same thing day after day after day for 79,935 days!  Yet the "big wheel keeps on turning".  I am sure that it has had its down times but it has survived.  It still goes round and round harnessing the power of the river.

There is much to love about those, who likewise, remain faithful year after year to the task assigned.  In our day, too many run from place to place and job to job.  "Stick to it ness" is not a trait often seen. When things go wrong they
run off somewhere else in stead of "toughing it out".

"Run Of The Mill" has come to mean average or ordinary.  So here's to all the ordinary folks who have, year after year, grounded out a living and a life.  We, run of the mill folks, are who keep the wheels of our nation turning.  Let's remember to say thanks to those who faithfully serve us daily.

Lake Wallenpaupack (Pennsylvania)

BUCKET LIST 101 ( May 5 - June 13, 2021 )

After a brief stay in Indiana and Missouri we headed to the great Northwest.  It was time to work on our bucket list.  This time we were headed to U.S.  Highway 101 with the goal of traveling a significant portion of this beautiful coastal ribbon.  We used the World Mark by WYNDHAM in Seaside, Oregon, as a base for six days.  Nice resort on the Ocean. Lots of good eateries close and Pacific sunsets. From there we headed north into Washington and up to the Olympic National Park.  Ruby Beach was the terminus of our northward journey. Several stops were enjoyed including; Lewis and Clark National Park, Long Beach (Scoopers Ice Cream), and Astoria, Oregon (Silver Salmon Grille) The six days were a perfect blend of relaxing at the resort and exploring highway 101.

The second part of our wanderings were south bound.  This time our base was the historic Eureka Inn, in Eureka, California.   This celebrated hotel has hosted three presidents and dozens of famous folks.  The 15,000 nightly WYNDHAM REWARD POINTS were a bargain.

The southern part of our odyssey took us through Redwood country.  An excursion down the Avenue of the Giants was awe inspiring.  These mammoth trees, reaching toward the expansive, blue sky, are reminders of days gone by and of how small we humans are.

When our dream drive was finished we had driven 674 miles on U.S. 101 through Washington , Oregon, and California.  It was all that we thought it would be.  From the ocean, white with foam, to the lofty mountains, and Redwood forest, we were blessed.

 

FIND YOUR BEACH ACCESS AND ENJOY THE JOURNEY (April 6 - May 4, 2021)

 Our final month on Edisto Island was spent enjoying warm weather, jaw-dropping sunsets, and watching a pod of dolphins frolic in the bay.  We were joined for short visits by long time friends, Bryan and Rosie  Solomon and Don and Jane Dunnington.  My brother, Gary, and his wife, Carolyn, joined us for the last three days before dropping us off at the airport for our journey north to Indiana. Once again Edisto did not disappoint and we will count the days until when we return next spring.  The staff at WYNDHAM OCEAN RIDGE RESORT were helpful and friendly.  Our standby flight from South Carolina to  Indiana went without a hitch.  The next twenty days will find us visiting family in Indiana and Missouri.

REFLECTIONS

As I watched several dolphin provide entertainment in the mouth of Big Bay Creek, I couldn't help but reflect on how very much I enjoy my time on the shore of St. Helena Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. There may be more popular Islands but none fit me more perfectly than Edisto.

I'm thinking that in life it is also important to find who you are and to focus on that.  Others may be more glitzy and seem to be more popular.  But it doesn't matter what the island of their life looks like.  Yours may be completely different.  It doesn't make theirs better.....just different.  

Find your beach access and enjoy.  Edisto or Myrtle.....it is up to you. 

TIDE POOL MUSINGS (March 13-April 5, 2021)

Edisto Island is known for her amazing sunrises and sunsets.  It's laid back, timeless, vibe makes it the perfect place to host family and friends.  Ken and Linda Moore (friends from Ohio), Don and Val Pate (family from Virginia), our son in law and oldest granddaughter from Indiana, all visited during our first three weeks here.

Our two bedroom condo in WYNDHAM OCEAN RIDGE was filled with memories of days gone by and a mixture of laughs and groans as we played games. (which by the way were, as usual, won primarily by Sherry)

Walks on the beach, meals at Waterfront (all you can eat boiled shrimp), Whaleys, and Sea Cow, along with outings to Botnay Bay, were enjoyed by all.

This slow paced, beautiful island  continues to call us back and we've accepted that call since 1984.

                                            REFLECTIONS

Ever feel trapped and at a dead end with no outlet?  It's not a fun place to be!

This year there is a new tidal pool on the beach just below our deck.  When the tide comes in, it is filled to the brim.  When the tide goes out, it's level drops but it never empties.  Schools of small fish thinking, at high tide, that it's the ocean swim in and are stranded when the tide goes fully out.  For them, it literally becomes a "dead" end with no exit. 

The egrets and seagulls now have a seafood smorgasbord for their culinary pleasure.  When tide goes out...they come in.  Good for them, not so much for the panicked fish.

Sometimes we, too, follow the "school" into dangerous waters.  At first, all looks normal and good but before we know it we find that we are trapped in a place we never intended to be.  Simply put, choices have consequences.  Be careful who you follow and, if you make a poor choice, get out before it's too late.  

 

SOMETIMES IT'S ABOUT THE CLOUDS (February 14 - March 12, 2021)

 

The second half  of our stay in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was spent primarily by ourselves.   

A lot of "down" time and a lot of rest (think: afternoon nap).  While trying to recover after having Covid 19, it was beneficial to experience a period of solitude.

Wyndham Ocean Blvd. proved to, once again, be a gracious host.  The weather was a little cooler than expected but the Ocean sunrises were amazing.  Wes and Marcia Bittenbender stopped in for a couple of days on their way from Michigan to Florida.

Now, it's off to Wyndham Ocean Ridge on Edisto Island, South Carolina, until early May.

REFLECTIONS

Did I mention the spectacular sunrises?  My internal alarm wakes me up every morning around 6 a.m. no matter what time I go to bed. Watching the sky lighten, the horizon turn orange, and, finally, the golden orb as it peaks over the distant edge of the ocean, has been a daily routine.

Early on I discovered that taking an interesting sunrise or sunset picture required "context".  If you just captured the sun, the horizon, and the sky, every one looked pretty much the same. But if you throw in  a bird, some sea oats, or a palm tree in the foreground, "voila" it changes from boring to beautiful.  Even the presence of clouds enhances the image......"context".

It's why American Idol and The voice provide back stories on their contestants.  Otherwise they'd just all be singers.  It is the context that makes them unique and interesting.

Thus, it is with life.  The cloudy times make our lives "frame worthy".  They bring into focus our "sunrise moments".  They give texture to the portrait of who we are.

Clouds on your horizon are not necessarily a bad thing.  Use them to develop a photograph of your life that will cause people to say; "That's absolutely beautiful !"

PELICAN PONDERINGS (January 23 -February 13, 2021)

 

We flew from San Antonio, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,

and arrived at WYNDHAM OCEAN BLVD. on schedule.  Our 14th floor, ocean front, room welcomed us at 11 p m. and we tucked in for the night. 

We were greeted in the morning by an awesome Atlantic sunrise but temperatures in the 30s.  It has remained cold and bundled up beach walks are the norm.  Two popular places have become the chair in front of the windows and the firepit.

Not exactly what we were hoping for but nice none the less.  Oh, there have been a couple of sunny days, but most have been chilly, overcast, foggy, and rainy.

In spite of the less than "perfect" weather, we have enjoyed the past 21 days and are looking forward to the next 28 days here.

REFLECTIONS

I looked down on a group of Pelicans flying below our 14th floor balcony.  As they made their way effortlessly through the rainy sky I thought about how the inclement weather had put a damper on our time at the beach.  Yet here they were providing me with a special moment.

They reminded me that even in the midst of my most miserable times, if I will keep my eyes open, there are unexpected beautiful moments just a glance away.  Their appearance just off my balcony did not change the fact that it was still a foggy, drizzly, overcast day but it did, for a brief moment, give me a flash of excitement and the sense that things weren't as bad as I thought.  

Remember that you will glide by many who just need a moment of hope and remember, in the trying times of your lives, to keep an eye out for the beauty in your fog.

IN A RUT? (January 2 -22, 2021)

 

San Antonio, Texas, greeted us with an amazing display of holiday lights, warm temperatures, and

Lone Star hospitality.  The Wyndham Riverside Suites Resort was the perfect place to just kick back for three weeks and continue our bounce back from our run in with Covid 19.

Our time in this wonderful southwestern city was spent relaxing on the edge of the meandering river walk.  Short walks on it's paved, garden like trek, helped return strength and energy to a tired body.

This has become one of our favorite winter time stops.  Now it's off in the morning to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with her nearly empty beaches.

                                                  REFLECTIONS

They glided by every evening, these magical horse drawn carriages, as they carried their passengers through old San Antonio.  I watched them, from my condo balcony, as they circled their routes time and time again.  The indentation cut in the pavement by the hooves served as testimony to the sameness of their daily journeys.

It sounds a little like life.  Life is journey.  Round and round it goes.  Day melts into day; a 24 hour circle.  For the most part it is a journey of sameness.  We end up in a rut.  It is a rut of our own making.  

It can be a destructive rut or a constructive rut.  We go round and round carrying several passengers behind us.  They are primarily people we love.  They travel with us or observe us from a distance.  The question may be..... "If they follow the ruts of our life, where will it lead them?"

There is a song that implores "May those who come behind you find you faithful."  So keep on moving, knowing that our routine lives can, like horse drawn carriages, bring joy and happiness to those who join us for the ride.