2010 Closeout-Looking Back

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The Veteran at Our House-U.S. Navy 1955-1959

That would be my husband, Dad to our four children and Pop to our eight Grands.

We are blessed that he is still with us. Our children & Grandchildren all have an example to be proud of and to learn from if they choose.

Our oldest son had enlisted in the U.S. Navy and would have been proud to serve were it not for a health issue. He wanted to follow in his Dad's steps. Our second son served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years and retired with the rank of Chief. I love those military photos of him and also of his Dad. One of my favorites of our youngest son was taken when he served in the Army National Guard.

The U.S.Veteran at our house is a man who doesn't have to be told to stand when the American flag goes by or is raised. He doesn't have to be reminded to stand at attention when the National Anthem is played. He cannot hold back the emotion watching a homecoming of our service people. He is disturbed when he sees our flag flying 24-7 without attention and left to become frayed, ragged and deteriorate in the weather. He always notices when his country's flag is not handled properly.

The Veteran at our house served first in the U.S. National Guard while in high school then during what we call in between years-after WWII and before Vietnam but not actually in the Korean Conflict- 1955-1959 active duty in the U.S. Navy, aboard the Bennington and the Forrestal then two additional years in inactive reserve. He is no less the proud American Veteran than those who served in WWII.

The Veteran at our house is old fashioned.
He would never wear the flag as clothing on his body.
He doesn't really talk about being patriotic. He is.
The Veteran at our house is a proud, patriotic U.S. Veteran - Proud to be an American!
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That's The Spot-In the Picture Below

Yes, that's the spot where Ted's car was parked [ with old shoes and tin cans attached ] in front of the church where we were married June 21, 1959. The nice sign was not there but the tree was.

I would happily post a picture of the Lane that inspired the blog title 'down the lane', but so much has changed. Sad! When we go back this fall I will check it out and see if I can come up with a good picture for you. No matter what changes we still have those mental snap shots in time..

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Birth-Days-We Have To Have Them Don't We?

Here' it comes, ready or not! I refer to the day of my birth- [birthday].

Years ago as I anticipated turning 30 I thought all the talk of being "over the hill" at 30 was absolute Nonesense!

It Was.

As I approached 40 I waited for some emotional upheaval. It didn't happen. At 40 I was at a great place, somewhat like the top of a mountain - able to "see" all the way down [the years past and behind me] or anticipate [with joy] what is ahead on the other side.

I cannot recall being singularly impressed one way or another with "50". At that time life was too interesting and busy to be concerned with getting older.

I do have a little jewel for you concerning turning 60. At some point in the year after marking 6 decades on earth it slipped up on me..not a WOW moment but more like an Ahhhhhhhh, Ok, I see.

Shall I explain my quirky little revelation?
Ok since you [didn't] ask: "Turning 30 wasn't remarkable and forty was a bit of a let down b/c I felt good about myself. At forty I heard "You're a young forty".

Then at fifty it was "But you are a Young 50" I guess I felt it was my due to be considered a "young whatever" age. <>

Here it comes..."After 6o it dawned on me softly, quietly but clearly one day...after 60 you cannot be a Young Anything, Anymore..You are old.

Well.. I am.

Girls it's the mirrors! I avoid the mirrors & I am great!
I don't feel 20 or 30..but then, who wants to be?

Not me!

If you agree mirrors can totally ruin your day..let's not even talk about videos. OOOOmy OMY those videos. they show you pictures of people you don't even recognize [YOURSELF ]

Now we know why it's so important to have that peace and contentment and joy that comes from our Lord. Just think what we would be like growing old
without HIM showing through us!

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Changes

Getting old is so full of changes. Almost 3 years ago as we were in transition from southeast Texas back "home to Alabama" I shared this thought with my husband [while we were house hunting]. I said "you know it's just too much, it's not fair..getting old, fat, and adjusting to these cell phones. . too many changes all at once."

Now I find myself in another "first'..a blog on the Internet. I can talk and write all the time. Ask my friends and family. The words are there. The thoughts are there. It's learning to maneuver this Blog thing that is a challenge. We all have friends who are more knowledgeable and we know they love us but have you ever tried to get one of those computer geniuses to stop for half an hour and explain something on your computer for you. Hey, it's not going to happen. So one just plods along, choosing options and running into dead ends, giving up and coming back to try again and wonder of wonders ..you make a choice that works.

So the moral of that little whining story is..don't give up, keep trying,huh?