Aftermath Blog

Peyton turns seven today.  I can’t believe how quickly she has grown up.  I still remember taking her to the library for the first time.  She has been ice fishing, bow hunting, and goes to daddy-daughter dances. She’s in the first grade with a vocabulary well beyond her years.  She’s becoming proficient on the computer and loves her American Girl doll.  In short she is all girl but sometimes half tomboy.  She loves grandpa’s pool and her BBF is her cousin Sarah.  Peyton is a unique and loving child with a sense of humor and demeanor that matches her parents.  Happy Birthday Peyton!  We love and miss you.  Look for your birthday presents in the mail.

I’ve started a new site for our amusement.  I’m calling it “Family Trivia“.  I’m going to post a new question almost daily regarding our family’s history, stories, anecdotes, events, and maybe a little folklore.  Check the site daily and leave your answer or best guess in the comments section on the trivia site. I’ll post the correct answer at the end of the day.  Be the first to post the correct answer for bragging rights. I’ll leave a link to the site in the side bar on the right or you can bookmark it.

154 was my draft number.  My draft status was 1-A.  I was married and I did not want to be drafted and go to Vietnam so I enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard.  As it turned out I would not have been drafted but I couldn’t take the chance.  As part of my training I spent six months on active duty training in Ft. Knox, Kentucky and Ft. Polk, Louisiana. My active duty time was during the months of November through April. It was the first time I was away from home by myself.  Being in the southern part of the country during the winter was a new phenomenon.  I remember those days and the weather clearly.  The sights, sounds and smells remain with me.  Often times, during the winter, when I am experiencing a mild day, I get a feeling of déjà vu reminding me of those days training in the south.  When I first experienced them it took me awhile to realize what I was remembering.  Being in the NC for these winter months I get that déjà vu feeling quite frequently especially in the morning.  I must be remembering those torturous PT sessions or morning runs.  The higher the emotion tied to an event the more likely you are to remember it.  There must have been a lot of emotion tied to those days for things like temperatures and the smells of a new clear day to trigger memories over 40 years old. Having those feelings frequently as of late gives impetus to Yogi Berra’s misspoken quip, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”

On such a beautiful day (high near 70) we just had to get outside for some fresh air and sunshine.  Went for a walk in the stroller and then Nolan did a little walking himself.  Here are some more quick shots.

We’ve been here a month.  That is the longest time Jo & I have been away from home either individually or collectively. I spent about three weeks in England and Jo use to spend two to three weeks in Florida with her mom and grandma.  The longest we’ve ever been away from the homestead together was when Nolan was born.

• Thankful for good neighbors watching over the homestead and for Kevin & Renee for checking on the place for us too.
• Enjoy feeling the sun on our faces and the blue skies.  Not missing the Michigan gray.
• Loving our time with Nolan.  He’s walking more and more each day.
• Getting our fair share of the local cuisine. Trying the chilli at most eateries looking for the best that is offered.
• Learning the neighborhood.  Jo knows her way around better than I do.  It seems she knows where ALL the stores are located.
• Been to Rachelle & Josh’s church twice since we’ve been here. Upon our second visit we were greeted with, “Welcome back.”
• Keeping up with the local news back home through e-editions.  Same old, same old it seems.
• Miss watching the Red Wings having a good season but we’ll be home in time for the play-offs.  Speaking of sports, ‘how bout dem Tigers’?  Got to love a big spending owner.
• Thinking about planning some day trips on the days we don’t have Nolan.  Josh’s parents suggested a trip to Wilmington, NC.  Might just try that. It would be nice to see the ocean again.
• Watching more day time TV here than at home.  Very interesting.  Glad I have my Kindle.

What to do on a rainy day? Play with my new train set!  Grandma & grandpa finally got around to getting Nolan his Christmas present.  Setting it up involved a lot work on our hands and knees and laughing at our ability, or inability, to decipher the directions.  Mission accomplished after Rachelle helped us with the track layout.  Click here for a few more pictures.

I didn’t have any recent pictures of Renee smiling so I thought I’d post one that would make her smile. Here’s a toast to the birthday girl.  “May your day be filled with joy and happiness.”  I still remember standing in the kitchen at 4:00 am waiting for Grandma D to come and watch Robyn while I took mom to the hospital.  You were born at 7:47 am.  You were named after a girl (Renee Cox) who lived down the street from Grandma W.   We really liked the name as it was unusual at the time and it started with an “R”.  Your middle name came from my best friend’s mother who had recently passed away. (That’s your history lesson for the day.)  Thanks for being a great middle child, an awesome mom, and a loving daughter.