Tommy, I cannot remember Jesus ever saying “You will go to Heaven”, but in Luke Chapter 17:20-21, Jesus did say, The Kingdom comes not with observation (seeing with the eyes) because the Kingdom is within you! It is all a spiritual kingdom! I like your Iguana missive, it shows a good lesson in life!

Very good Tommy! Keep them coming.

Nice Wow’s! I remember cutting brush with a huge scythe before going into the Air Force for 50cents an hour. Had it not been for the man’s wife, he would not have even paid me. I believe that you and I were blessed to
have gone to the Air Force when we did.

This is a good one!

Awwwww!!! This is such a good post! So sweet and endearing.

FANTASTIC TJ. Keep up the good work.

It is amazing the simple things that make us happy as we grow older. My wife and I are content to just take a ride somewhere on Sundays, even it if means driving through KFC or a Taqueria along the way. We are isolated in the mountains of Eldorado County in Northern California. A short ride is a big deal when you’ve been isolated for awhile.

Very good. It was from the heart.

the greatest joy I have ever experienced in my life is “Amazing Grace” that God has shown me. It has lasted
for over fifty years.

Great!

WOW… Hershey’s chocolate is my all time favorite candy. My kids know how much I like that chocolate so they usually buy me one of those super giant Hershey bars for my birthday and/or Christmas. And like you JoAnn if I happen to walk down the candy aisle in the store, I have to grab a bag of Hershey’s candy even though my doctor tells me to stay away from sweets to avoid becoming diabetic.

Elsie Dee, your mother was the mainstay of Garden High School and at church. I always remember the square dancing she taught us in the gym………… everything from the Virginia Reel to Glow Little Glow Worm!
Mom was 69 when Dad died and she had never learned how to drive a car. Dad always drove her where she needed to go. She wanted to learn how to drive so Bill Henry and I both tried to teach her down in the school bottom. We gave up.
Then one day, she called me and said she had her driver’s license. How did you do that? Grace taught me how to drive. Your mother had enough patience to teach one of her best friends how to drive.

Good stories David. Brings back lots of memory for me, too. We lived by the Page. My grandfather was the fix it man in the mine shop at Page. Anything that broke or was damaged he fixed it. Both of our mothers taught elementary grades 4th & 5th until mother was moved to high school. They were life long friends. Like you the Garden Community Center/Methodist Church was very much a part of my life. I do believe every time the door was open for any event we were there. Loved the church, Sunday school (we had good teachers there, also) Girl Scouts and MYF was a lot of fun. And Church Camp was great!
Not that it really matters, but Rev. Beadles was a bit older than you remember. Both he and Mrs. Beadles were near 50 when they were moved to a church in TN. She was 43 when she had her first child. While attending college in Illinois Rev. Beadles drove a taxi cab in Chicago. So Buchanan county roads were no problem to him. Continue your writing and I look forward to reading your book.

Hi David, Nice writing!
I too lived in Buchanan County at Shortt Gap. I was raised similar to you on a hillside farm. I had nine brothers and sisters and we all attended Garden High School at one time or another. You probably graduated with my sister Ruthann. I graduated in 1960. Hope your book is a success! I write for www.spectatorron.com. Hope to be able to write a book sometime.

I remember those days so well. With us having to create our own entertainment we learned how to develop lasting friendships, although we didn’t realize it at the time. We roamed the mountains all the time “exploring” and no one had a watch. We just had a sense of time for being home for dinner (deep trouble if you missed dinner). We had many games in the coal camp with very liberal rules adjustments each time we played. Of course we had disagreements and “fallouts” that would last about an hour and then we gathered again to play a different game!
Lotsa memories, but I will spare you for the time being.
Brenda Whitley Klassen
PS. I still love playing games. At the time I have 3 different game groups going that I started.

Very well written. I remember the game ” Kicking the can down the road”. those were the days. Has the book been published?

Thanks for sharing your memories. Enjoyed reminiscing. Lived on Garden Creek across the creek from Edith Taylor. Dad was store manager/butcher for Island Creek.

Tommy, I enjoyed all your articles. Your “Jonas Salk” mention brought back a lot of memories of that polio epidemic. We could not get near the creek, or drink from any mountain stream. Our mothers did a big job back then keeping us safe from harm

Hey TJ, very uplifting WOW.
Thanks

Hi Tommy, I am positive that the Christian of the year is the one who is Christlike! We can only be that if He lives in us. In St. John 14 He told us that He would. This is what He meant when He said that if He was mistreated, we would be mistreated. If He was treated well, we would be treated well. Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever! Great job on the lawn mower!

Hear, hear! Good post! And of course we don’t think of you as a relic..just a lovely grandpa full of wisdom.

I just finished a texting bout with my only granddaughter. Her final act was to send me a kitten with hearts all around it. This is living!
Tommy, as long as we are in the flesh, we will do things to displease others. We all have a conscience, whether we use it or not, and it will guide us to repent of our weaknesses!

Great article Mr. Tommy. I think I’m the one consuming most of your leftover chocolate. I admit, it is my worst addiction. Keep on writing this great stuff.

Yes we all have an appt.in Samarra, question is, are we ready for it

Tommy your latest blog, Samarra. So important
a message for those of us in our 70’s.
I can envision Jerilyn in her garden, thanks to your words. She was always
sweet. You missed your calling. A way of
with words. The western part of this state,seeps thru in your choice expressions. Keep hunkering down both
of you.

Btw, you can make phone calls with the Apple watch. Also, I have blue eyes but I don’t think I was included in your three smart people lol!

I was given an Apple watch for Christmas by a Chinese brother. I am not adapting to it easily as I probably do not have the patience. So there she sits!
Covid9 has us isolated in our home in Eldorado County, Ca. watch for the next issue of Spectatorron for the story. My eyes are a mixture of blue, green, hazel, etc. I must be the smartest man you ever met 🙂 Watch out for the Green-eyed monster!

Two thumbs up TJ.

Yes, Tommy, T.V. has taken the place of a lot of important things, the main one I can think of is reading the Bible. At this time I don’t believe it would hurt us to spend more time with the Word of God!

Very nice article, Tommy.

Another great read TJ.
I can relate to the doggy stories. My wife wouldn’t hesitate to spend $1000, $5000 even $10000 on our fur babies if she thought it would bring them comfort.
I’ve even grilled fillets for us and had to grill one for them as well.

Tommy, I enjoyed your WOW’s, especially the one about the refrigerator. I too have experienced those times! It sure is hard getting up off the floor sometimes!

TJ, you’re just fantastic with your stories.
I remember in the late 60s working down in
the shipyard as a pipefitter helper takting the salt tablets that were by most of the water stations. Now I try to avoid salt as much as possible.
And you and your wife have a fantastic daily routine. I doubt if I can name 20 presidents, much less all of them and in order.
Keep up the great work.
Dale D.

Do you know what “juice it up a little” means or where it comes from?

Good post. I don’t know much about football either. However, I was pulling for the Chiefs also. I did like their “costumes” but I was on their side because their last super bowl win was 50 years ago…Go CHIEFS….

My favorite Robert Frost poem is “Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening” because of its simplicity of structure and the nostalgia it brings. I am not sure if grammar has gotten better or worse, but I have decided, “There ain’t such a word as ain’t, but I’m not gonna quit saying ain’t!” Mom also delayed our misery by saying “Wait ’til your dad gets home!” Phew!

This post was very funny!

Very good TJ..

I was on the bandwagon about how young girls overexposed their bodies many years ago. It was proven by a college professor, and I believe he was a psychologist, that the upswing in rapes, assaults, etc. was due to the fact that too much body was being shown. If not, why all the assaults and harrassment going on? As you so aptly put it, young men are not as careful about those things as us old dudes. Nature in the raw is seldom mild!

Another fantastic blog TJ.

Tommy, Just think of all the good that Mrs. Wooldridge, Mrs. Simpson, Mr. Brown, and others did for Garden High School. We were fortunate to have Mrs. Simpson as our English/Literature teacher, Mrs Wooldridge as our music teacher, and Mr. Brown in math. I had Mr. Williams in history and all I heard about was sports!:) I sometimes think that Mr. Quillen put a lot of teachers in the wrong spots, such as Mrs. Wooldridge in art class. Oh well, we made it through HIgh School, the USAF, and now almost through our lives and we still look back to our teachers as inspiration.

Very good TJ. You always paint a vivid picture. Makes me feel like I was right there enjoying nature.

You can find Andy and friends and family on at various times daily…Louise

Fantastic JoAnn. I grew up in Harlan County Kentucky (A short way from Johnson City) and remember those times as well.
You can listen to lots of Christmas songs on Pandora on an Iphone. And I have it Bluetoothed to my stereo in my golf cart.
I miss the snow a little but love being able to play golf year round(mostly in shorts) in Florida.
MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Awwww….great story.

The greatest asset that we Americans have lost is RESPECT! Especially on the highways and byways. It seems that no one has time to wait for their fellow human being, always in a hurry, always frantic. Does everyone wait for the last minute to go to school or work? I sometimes find myself feeling rushed, anxious, and feel like I have to be at my destination yesterday! All we can do at these times is to sit relaxed, take a deep breath, and let the rest of the world go by! Nice reflection, Joann

Another great one TJ. Prayers for your wife and family.

Fantastic read TJ. Congrats on the new PC.

Tommy, although we are now senior citizens, it behooves us to concentrate more on living than to focus on the ultimate end. It is for certain that our Creator has a purpose for each of our lives and we will, without fail, carry out that purpose!

My mother used to say, “If you can’t read–you can’t learn well–or at all.” I was reading library books when my parents put me in the first grade at school–one month after my 5th birthday. Been reading ever since–never stopped–never will.

The greatest boquet of flowers we can receive is from our Heavenly Father in the form of one of His promises being fulfilled. Looks like you have a very thoughtful and loving daughter. God used her to touch your heart with the flowers.

WOWWW TJ, you and JoAnn truly amaze me with your life experience stories. I was back in the hills of Kentucky a couple of weeks ago and like you, I imagine seeing the places we used to play. Climbing trees, swinging on grapevines and yes catching crawdads to go fishing with.
Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the trip back in time. I too remember foldly some of the families I visited as a child.

Tommy, your little articles raise a few questions that can only be answered by the individual themselves. I guess we all handle problems differently, but seem to come out with the same solutions. Life is interesting!

Nice Poem and thought!

JoAnn.
You really got me with that. I felt your loss. And it touched a fear deep down of losing someone we love.
Susan is away for just a few days at a retreat, but the house is so quiet. I think that opened me up to
receive the full impact of your poem. Thank you for sharing. And may the Great Architect comfort
you.
Harris

The only problem to a shorter work week is if your job is also your passion and you WANT to do it all the time 🙂

Aw! This makes me miss papaw so much!

Tommy, a few years ago I had a fatal heart attack. I was gone until God sent relief by a young Chinese Cardiologist and administered
N.G. straight into the main artery of my heart which was completely clogged. I had often wondered why God saved me, but a few days later I received an email from a young lady that I had been having Bible study with her and her husband. She told me, “If you have ever wondered why God brought you back, it was for me!” I stopped wondering then! Keep writing!

Another great article TJ.

Aw, what a wonderful post!

Cracker Barrel! We finally got one in the neighborhood of about an hour in Sacramento. We went to it and found out that they use the same recipes as the one in Kingsport, Tennessee! Felt like old times as that is where my mom always wanted to go when we would visit her after she moved to Tenn.
You bring a lot of memories, Tommy!

My daughter-in-law (launches rockets to manned space stations) once told me the earth spins (at my Bedford latitude) at a rate of 825 mph. Without considering all the variables, makes me wonder why I haven’t been slung into space.

Wow Tommy!
You must have been raised in the same neck of the woods that I was. I went into the Air Force in 1950 at a whopping 121 pounds. When I left basic training I believe I weighed 138. It is amazing how regimentation will round a fellow out! As far as your getting help from a stranger. I recently had a computer problem and a friend recommeded a friend of his. He also came to my home and would not let me pay him for his services. He made my computer better and much faster. We took he and his girlfriend to dinner that week! His girlfriend said she fell in love with my wife and I. How does it get any better?

TJ, i think you are a GREAT SPEAKER and a GREAT WRITER…

Am I 59,001? Your articles are well written, informative, and sometimes comical. Just one thing I might add: Salvation is individual! When the final judgment takes place, God will not look at the brand that is upon us, but will look at the blood tag in our ear! Same thing happens when pure bred cattle are put upon a reservation where only ‘purity’ counts! Hope this does not shock you.
Have a nice trip to our old county!
Frank

Very good and informative TJ. Keep up the good work.

Thanks, Tommy!
None of us take time to be truly thankful for all our blessings. As we grow older, I am sure that God winks his eye as we seem to forget things more readily. Do you ever forget to return thanks to God before you eat, then later, after you have eaten, do so? This happens to me sometimes!

So many lives touched by this terrible plague of addiction. What amazes me is that addiction takes on many faces!
As you said, Only God knows!

Nice accolade to all the Uncle Jimmy’s of Country Music. Well said.

Wow!!! Learned something NEW again about you and Mamaw and Aunt Jeanie!! I love you!!

I loved reading so much detail about Aunt Mary that I didn’t know. I’m so sorry for your heart and how it is feeling right now. You have a special place in many hearts including mines. I love you BIG Grandpa!!

I’m in tears. Absolutely beautifully written. Completely touched my heart. I want to paint this and put it on my wall to see every day. I love you so much. You are very talented.

Beautiful!

Much love and prayers your way for Mary’s passing.

Always a pleasure reading your words, Tommy. Miss you two, and hope we can get down that way this summer to say hey.

So sorry about Mary. I lost a very dear friend, Jerry, on the 21st of March, and haven’t been able to get through the sadness yet. He had a rough journey for the last decade, but he was a fighter. Trust he is in a better place now.

JoAnn, Back in the hills of Kentucky, we called those mushrooms “dry land fish”..
Talk about bringing back some memories.
Lots of yours and Tommy’s post do just that and you make it so visually that it seems we’re almost there with you.
Keep up the fantastic work.

Henry Van Dyke, now there is a ‘Blast from the Past’ I have collected his works in first edition for quite a while not knowing that anyone else even knew who he was. My favorite, ‘The lost Boy’ was illustrated by N.C. Wyeth the famous illustrator. I’m sure that Mary Ann will be missed by all who knew her. She used to come home with my sister when they were in High School.

This hunting of Morel Mushrooms was almost a ritual with my brothers and brother-in-law around the Shortt Gap area of Virginia.
Each spring they would get out their little mushroom sacks and gather at one place or the other and proceed to the hills and hollows. They were called ‘Dry Land Fish’ in our area, probably for the same reason you mentioned. I had not heard them called Wood’s fish before. Have a wonderful day!

A modern Psalm. Trust all is well and that you will keep on writing!

Sorry about your friend TJ. Another very good read.
Dale D.

Thanks for including my article in your blog. I pray that it will be a blessing to someone.
I just recently had a friend who’s cancer returned. It is my firm belief that God allows adversity to cause us to draw closer to the throne of grace. Let’s agree to pray for my friend, Victor, whenever we should think of this.
Thank you!

Another fantastic read TJ. You and Jo Ann are really fantastic writers.
Hopefully while you are in Cuba you can pick up some great cigars. Stay warm and safe.
That dratted groundhog better not see his shadow tomorrow.

An old man once said, “We all have to be what we have to be and do what we have to do!”
Sound like predestination? It works!

Often felt sadly about Page just disappearing from the earth–just as if it never existed.

I have now officially quit wondering when the Cowboys will win another Super Bowl. I don’t think they will ever win another one as long as Jerry Jones is running things.
Enjoyed your blog! I have trouble remembering I have two ears and only one mouth!

Seems strange, but I know for sure that God has a way of doing things to alleviate pain and suffering! These things
happen in, sometimes, very mysterious ways.

Tommy, the greatest place of happiness is inside each of us. You have the ability to make others smile because you have happiness inside your heart ready to dispense at the drop of a hat. Yours must be a great household!

Very good TJ.
Thanks,
Dale D

Loved this Dad! Keep smiling! ❤️

All is well! The One who heals all wounds, and knows what is best for all of us, is still on the Throne of Mercy!

TJ, very good. Keep drinking that wine and smoking your cigars.
Hope you and your families have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

FANTASTIC story JoAnn. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you

Just a thought came into my mind as I read the article about Santa Claus. When you told your daughter there was not a Santa Claus, did she ask you if there was a Jesus? We sometimes have to reap what we sow! Our fairy tales can sometimes come back to haunt us.
Have a happy Holiday Season!

Just about the way I remember our fruit cakes.

May your blood pressure stabilize to normal!
May you love and get love in return!
May the Virginians of our county prosper,
and may all hatred and violence burn!

Really enjoyed reading , good humor.