BACK WHERE WE STARTED (November 11 - December 12, 2023)

The flights from Missouri to Tennessee went without incident and we arrived at the Wyndham Resort at Fairfield Glade. We have been visiting this resort for over 40 years. It is where we became a part of the Fairfield/Wyndham family in 1982.

Our first month was spent, for the most part, just enjoying some alone, down-time. It was good to be able to just relax with no schedule. Hiking was my primary activity. We did have visitors from Alaska stop in for lunch on their way through the state.

We did manage to eat at both the new eatery, Skillets Grill, and the Stonehenge Grill. I would recommend both. Insta Cart delivered our groceries from Food City. 

                                                 REFLECTIONS

Whoever would have thought that when we purchased a "Vacation Ownership" package at Fairfield Glade that forty years later we would be enjoying a nomadic retirement because of that decision. 

When we "signed on the dotted line" we understood that this would be an investment in our young family and not an investment to gain financially. And it certainly was. And it is.

We secured a unit in, the yet to be built, Kensington Woods section. Now, all those years later, that is where we are staying. We regret nothing. Since retirement in late 2016 we have spent 232 nights here.

"Time Share" isn't for everyone. Buying a "retirement home" isn't for everyone. Living on a "cruise ship" isn't for everyone.  You know; "different strokes for different folks" and all.  For us, it works. It has provided countless days of enjoyment for our children, our grandchildren, and our friends. It has been a blessing.

Like anything you do, if you fully invest yourself in understanding how it works and are committed to make it work, there's a good chance that you CAN make it work.

Little did we imagine where that long ago decision would lead. Actually, it has led right back where it all started.

The Dicer Kids at Fairfield Glade Playground in 1982

PASS TIME OR PASTIME? (October 16-November 11, 2023)

After finishing our brief stay in Indiana, we made our way to Missouri where we were joined by six other couples for the annual "Celebration of Friends".  This group has met together in the fall for the last seven years.  We all graduated from college as friends in the 1960s.  This year we gathered at WYNDHAM MOUNTIAN VISTA RESORT in Branson.  It is always a wonderful time of simply being together.

Following that five-day event, we moved about an hour on down the road to spend a couple of weeks with my son and his family.  It was special to see how much our great granddaughter has grown.  As usual, I found my way to Wilson's Creek National Civil War Battlefield to do some photo shoots of whitetail deer.

Now it's off the WYNDHAM FAIRFIELD GLADE in Tennessee. We will be "visiting" there until the first of the year. It was there that we first joined the Fairfield/Wyndham family in 1982.  The rest is history.

                                                                 REFLECTIONS

Autumn has always been my favorite! Don't get me wrong. I like all four seasons.  It is just that there is something special about the fall. Since childhood I have enjoyed the changing of the trees from green to a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors. 

Where I grew up in Michigan, fall meant hunting. As an adult I spent happy an hour searching for pheasants or sitting quietly beside a deer trail.  The musty smell of fallen leaves always brings back memories of those times.

Now, because of my pacemaker, the only shooting I can do is with a camara! It's not quite the same but, at least it lets me pursue two hobbies at once. 

Hobbies are defined as "activities done regularly in one's leisure times for pleasure."  Once you are retired and "old", they became so much more than that. They are "activities done regularly for pleasure to keep one's mind and body active". 

Photography, for example, keeps one on the outlook for the new, the different, the interesting. It requires being active, creative, and calculating (as you figure out f-stops and stuff). Thus, the numerous photographs I publish.

Writing is, likewise, a pleasurable experience that keeps one's facilities sharp and allows for creativity to continue to be explored. Thus, this blog.

Then there's "Road to the Masters by EA Sports".  It requires dexterity, quick reactions, and a bunch of factoring as one strives to better previous scores. Thus when, after hours and hours of pleasurable activity you manage to score a 20 under par, it provides an undeniable feeling that you're still "with it".

Now, it's back to another round of golf while sitting on the couch. Life is good!

  

"ONE IS THE LONLIEST NUMBER" (September 3 - October 15, 2023)

Seward, Alaska Harbor

 In Alaska when the Fire Weed blooms at the top of the stalk it indicates that winter is just around the slippery corner.  It also indicated to us that our time in the frozen north was coming to an end.  Our last days were spent saying goodbye to all the wonderful new friends we had met and preparing for the journey back to the lower 48! When our Delta jet lifted off from the airport in Anchorage, we had spent 103 days in Alaska.

We spent the next month or so in Indiana.  We shuffled between our cabin outside of Bloomington and our daughter's home in Avon.  They were days of splitting wood, sitting by the firepit, watching our granddaughter play volleyball, and a bunch of doctor appointments.  It was a time of getting our feet on the ground and adjusting to the drastic time change.

We were able to watch several volleyball games and be there when our granddaughter's team won their sectional tournament.

Our "homestead" in Indiana

REFLECTIONS

When we are asked; "Where's home?", our reply is Indiana.  Indeed, that's where we hold our driver's license, that's where we vote, that's where we pay our property taxes, that's where our doctors are. It's "home".  However, when this year is over, we will have spent a total of 48 days in the Hoosier state and in the last 6 years of retirement we have spent only 14% our time there.  Like the old song says; we "love to go a wandering".

Wandering has some upsides.  It's awesome to be able to travel and see so many beautiful pieces of planet earth. It's wonderful to meet so many new folks along the way.  It's amazing to not be "tied down" to things.  One of the biggest things is that this lifestyle stretches us to deal with so many new and different things.  It keeps us growing and going.

At this stage of our earthly journey, it is important to continue to look toward the future and to be challenged to conquer new obstacles along the way.  It keeps us focused on life and living.

Yet, wandering has some downsides!  The biggest downside may be that, when you spend so much time traveling, you sacrifice "community".  We love our friends.  We love our family.  The problem is that we are limited in the amount of time that we can connect with them. Therefore, we try to make every moment with them count. 

It also means that, when we wander, there is a great deal of alone time.  My wife deals with that much better than I do.  For me, it is difficult to not have a consistent group of people that I can be with on a daily basis.  

I know that the "facebook fantasy" is real and that if you read people's posts you would think that they have a perfect life.  I guess that I just want you to know that, for us, there are certainly times when we wish we could be with family or friends and we just can't. It hurts.

Having said all that; we still feel so blessed to be able to do what we do.  Just know that there are times when, as Three Dog Night sang, "One is the lonliest number that you'll ever do. Two can be as bad as one, it's the lonliest number since the number one."

Alaska Wanderings (July 27-September 2, 2023)

Living life on the edge in Girdwood, Alaska

Every summer that we visit Alaska this blog devotes an issue to some photos to hopefully show the readers the beauty and ruggedness of our 50th state.  This will be that issue.

During the past five weeks we have seen the church, where I have been serving as interim pastor, interview and extend a "call" to a parsonage family from North Dakota.  They have accepted and will arrive soon.  Our last day in Seward will be September 17 and the next blog you read will have been penned in Indiana.  It has been a joy to pastor these fine people.

Also, during this time frame, we experienced a visit from our oldest son and his wife.  They flew into

the Last Great Frontier to join us in a jaunt of about 1,400 miles across the massive state.  Stops were made in several places including; Talkeetna, Palmer, Wasilla, Seward, Homer, Ninilchik, Whittier, Anchorage, Soldotna, Kenai, and Girdwood.  They were exciting and wonderful days of, once again, exploring this great state.

Many of the following photographs are from those days.  Others are from our time in Seward since the last blog was published on July 26th.
 

                                                      

  REFLECTIONS OF THE JOURNEY

For whatever reason, I couldn't get the caption feature to work correctly.  So here is a list of where the following photographs were taken.

1. Seward, Alaska (Harbor)

2. Seward, Alaska (Resurrection Bay)

4. Bear Creek, Alaska (Exit Glacier National Park)

5. Seward, Alaska (Resurrection Bay)

6. Hatcher Pass, Alaska (Little Susitna River)

7. Girdwood, Alaska (Alyeska Resort)

8. Girdwood, Alaska (Alyeska Resort)

9. Ninilchik, Alaska (Russian Orthodox Church)

10. Blackstone Glacier, Alaska

11. Whittier, Alaska (Downtown Black Bear)

12. Kenai Peninsula, Alaska (Aleutian Island Sunset)

Trust you'll enjoy the photos. Why not pick your favorite and leave a comment below.

Harbor in Seward, Alaska

Resurrection Bay Silver Salmon

Resurrection Bay, Alaska

CROPPING VS. SEEING THE WHOLE PICTURE (June 27 - July 26, 2023)

Lowell Creek Falls

     After recovering from a light case of Covid we settled into our time in Seward, Alaska.  Seward is a town at the end of the road.  Called the "Gateway to Alaska" it has been an important location throughout the history of the state. From the early settlers to the prospectors during the gold rush, to the building of the Alaskan Railroad it has played a vital role. Today it is the heart of a bustling seaport and tourist trade. 

     This past month has been a mix of ministry and exploration. The weather could have been better. Long-time residents say it has been the coolest start to summer that they have ever seen.  Temperatures have hovered in the high 50's and low 60's with about double the average rainfall.     

     In spite of sickness and less than ideal weather our Seward experience has been amazing. The church here is earnestly looking for a new pastor and have welcomed us into their fellowship during the interim.  This group of "locals" have been instrumental in helping us learn about their community.

                                                               REFLECTIONS

Resurrection Bay Sunrise

     I took this picture of the sunrise over Resurrection Bay while sitting at the desk in our apartment.  The screen in the window gave it the look of an oil painting.  Sometimes things aren't always what they seem to be. As a matter of fact, before "cropping", this photo would have included a gravel parking lot and a storage rental facility.  

     Is the picture above accurate? Yes! Is it complete? No!  I have altered it make it more acceptable to those who view it.  Who wants to look at parking lots and metal buildings when there are majestic mountains and a brilliant sunrise to be seen. 

     I've come to the conclusion that that is how I choose to look at life. I'd rather "crop" the unpleasant and discordant out of the picture of my life and focus on the pleasant and harmonious. Oh, I see the whole picture, but I'd prefer to zoom in on the aspects that will bring joy and peace to my being. It's the "think on these things" aspect of the Bible ("If there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - think on those things")     

     Whether it's people or places, I choose to look for the beauty and crop the unpleasant from my view. Call me an optimist and proclaim that I see the world through "rose colored glasses" and I will say that you are exactly right.  It works for me.

 

     

     

WAITING FOR THE NEXT PITCH (May 27-June 26, 2023)

Seward, Alaska

 

We caught the early flight from Indianapolis to Minneapolis and on to Anchorage, Alaska.  It was about lunch time in the "Final Frontier" so we convinced our driver, Danny, to stop at the world-renowned Burger Man (Artic Roadrunner).  Then, with our hunger satisfied, we began our two-and-a-half-hour drive to Seward!  Danny, a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Seward, filled us in with some of the blanks on the church as we drove by mountains, streams, rivers, lakes, forests, and meadows.  

It was good to be back in what has become our summer state!  In recent years I have served as interim pastor for churches in Soldotna, Eagle River, Juneau, and now, Seward.  This is not something we planned but something we have fully enjoyed.

We arrived in Seward in midafternoon and immediately were impressed with this port city on Resurrection Bay.  We were shown our upstairs, three-bedroom residence and spent the next several hours unpacking and moving in for what could be a four month stay.  After a long day of traveling and a four-hour time change, we were ready to call it a day at 7 p.m. Alaska time.  The problem was that in Alaska in June the sun doesn't set until after 11 p.m and it never "really" gets dark.

In the ensuing days we have met so many wonderful people and taken some time for exploration in our new environment.  Church service went well, a work and witness team from Georgia did their thing, and then it happened.

                                                           

End of Nash Road

                                          REFLECTIONS

The work and witness group headed back to "the outside" and within hours our small congregation found itself immersed in Covid!  That's right C O V I D!  Hadn't heard of a case in months and now half the church, including me, were fighting the virus!

Instead of watching Sea Lions frolic, I am watching reruns of "Foods That Made America Great".  It's one of my favorite programs but, not quite what I was expecting to be doing in Alaska. Instead of relaxing on a rustic bench, breathing in fresh mountain air, beside a tree lined and mountain framed trail, I am sitting on a leaned-back recliner, trying to take a deep breath without coughing.

Life has a way of throwing us change ups when we are expecting fast balls.  The secret is to remember it's a long at bat with several more pitches to come.  There is no need to panic and even should we strike out it's no big deal.  Professional baseball players become All-Stars by batting .300.  That means that 7 out of 10 at bats are failures.  With that in mind, I am going to stand back (well actually lay back) and wait for the next pitch.

I figured it out.  I am going to be here for about 100 days, so if 30 of those days are exceptional it will be an All Star kind of experience.  On top of that, I have an awesome manager and a great team (church) on my side.  We got this!

Exit Glacier Trail

GRADUATE TO COMMENCE (April 22 - May 27, 2023)

Two Brothers

Wyndham Ocean Ridge Resort on Edisto Island, South Carolina, was, again, a wonderful place to stay in the spring.  We will look forward to our return in 2024.  We ended the time with my brother and his wife as our guests.  They drove us to their home in Simpsonville, South Carolina for an overnight stay before taking us to the Greenville, South Carolina, airport for our flight to Springfield, Missouri.

Four Generations 

We jetted to Missouri to visit with my son's family.  While there, we were introduced to our first great grandchild, Aela, and attended the
High School Commencement of Aaron's youngest son, Ethan, and the Commencement for Aaron's wife, Jennifer, as she finished Nursing School.  Following the dedication ceremony for Aela, we flew to Indiana.  It was there that we spent some time at our cabin, took care of doctor appointments, and attended the High School Commencement of our daughter's daughter, Abigail.  That's a pretty busy schedule for two old great grandparents!

Now it's time to pack for our four month stay in Seward, Alaska.

Three Graduates

REFLECTIONS

I have been reminded these past few weeks that life moves on.  My brother is now 84 and I will turn 75 in June.  My grandson is now a father and my son is a grandfather.  Yeah, I know, that makes me a great grandfather. My daughter in law has started a new career.  Two more grandchildren have graduated from High School.  Next week I will celebrate my 54th wedding anniversary!  It's now been 13 years since I pastored a church. We will soon begin our 8th year of retirement.  Time, indeed, does march on.

One of the commencement speakers we heard expressed how much she did not like "slow walkers" in the school hallways but then enjoined her classmates to "slow walk" their lives after graduation. She encouraged them to not rush by the moments that make life special.

If you are younger, with children, I ask you to consider how quickly life is moving along.  Take time to enjoy them as they explore their world.  Be present in their lives.  If you are older, commence to reflect and invest yourself in the lives of those closest to you. Slow down, count your blessings, and challenge yourself daily.

We should never just "graduate". We should "commence".  We should never just end each segment of our lives; we should begin a new adventure with all its challenges and blessings.

To graduate or to commence?  I choose to commence until my final commencement day.

Commencement at Olivet Nazarene College (1970)

MORNING SIGHTS AND SOUNDS (March 29 - April 21, 2023)

Sunrise Voyage

 The last three weeks have been a time of solitude here on Edisto Island, South Carolina.  We've had no guests and have pretty much just enjoyed the quiet, peaceful surroundings that continue to draw us back to this place.  I began to wonder if I really had anything to comment on for this blog.  I felt like we hadn't really done anything worthy of mention.  Then I remembered that every day is a day to be enjoyed, to be cherished.  Just the sights and sounds of the world around us can bring us happiness and memories.

REFLECTIONS

Sunrise Coffee

With that in mind, let me REFLECT on the sights and sounds of this typical morning on "our" favorite island!

I sit on our deck and watch the sun crest the horizon above the towering palm trees.

I listen to the waking world of the marsh just outside our door.  

The squawking of the gulls as they welcome the new day and the sound of a boat as it motors out to that perfect fishing spot let me know that it's going to be another good day. 

 Soon the sounds increase as the distant shriek of an Eagle echoes over the verdant marsh.  

The crows and songbirds begin an aerial war with dissident mutters as one seeks to find the other's nest and the other seeks to protect its territory. With the crows vanquished, the songbirds rejoice with gentile melodious trills that seem to bring everything around them into harmony.

My vision now shifts to the blue waters of the Sound and the expansive low land salt marsh, with its slivers of water, that shelter and feed so many residents.

I see a flock of a dozen snow white Egrets as they wing their way toward the feeding grounds looking for minnows and small crabs. 

An eagle-eyed Osprey hovers in the air as it seeks to spot its breakfast in the waters below.

I listen to the sound of quivering palm fronds as they are kissed by the moist ocean breeze.

A line of pelicans skim the surface of the bay while the ever-present dolphins put on their show in the mouth of the inlet.

And lest you think all is perfect, someone's two-year-old just pitched a fit on their deck.

All of this before 10 a.m.!

THE POINT IS that I was able to enjoy the above.  There are many who cannot and others who will not.  

Some are hindered by blindness and deafness.  Others simply refuse to take the time to enjoy the sights and sounds that are all around them.  

Others are "shut in" and thus "shut out" of sights and sounds that most of us take for granted.

For those of us who have a choice, let us choose to enjoy each day with its own sights and sounds.  Let us never take for granted the blessings of seeing and hearing.

Even the screams of a child can remind us of when we had children of our own.  Children who may have been noisy from time to time, but children who now enjoy this island as much as we do.

Here's a few photos to enhance the words above.