Yep, sometimes our hang-up is the most obvious thing we are doing! When we begin to stuff a sack, it will bulge outward as it begins to become over stuffed. I guess we need to take a lesson from the “Bags” we are stuffing! You and I learned a great lesson in the USAF as we loaded our duffel bags for another duty station. We sometimes had to leave some articles behind as we just couldn’t fit them in the bag.

I am very happy that you and Jerilyn have adjusted so well to your new lifestyle.
I am a little bit jealous that you had a wise plan years ago to reserve your spot at this continuing -care facility
Great planning. I am not that forward thinking.
Stay well.

Hey TJ love your missive. Sounds like you’re trying to beat “The System” at the retirement center.
And I know if anybody can keep one up on them, you certainly can.
Good luck with your weight situation. I know how hard it is to resist the temptation of sweets.
I have a bag of Hershey Nuggets in my desk and have one or two every day. I figure if I’m sneaking them out and eating them the calories won’t count. LOL……

I feel the same Dad.

Recently my wife and I almost lost our home in Grizzly Flats, Ca. as fires raged all over. God spared our house and burned our neighbors’ homes. As my wife expressed her frustration about the situation, I told her that we did not decide whose house should burn and whose would not. That was a call far away from our hands.
I agree that it is a good idea to unplug once in a while and just let the earth go on as usual. We do not control the weather or a lot of other things. I am just happy that these things are in more capable hands than mine.
Keep looking up!

JoAnn my prayers are with you along with all the other catastrophes that have happened and the ones that are still happening. Just keep saying GOD brought me to it, HE WILL GET ME THROUGH IT…

Taylor, so glad that GOD has helped you get rid of the demons in your past.
Keep the FAITH and keep writing these great missives.

Hi JoAnn, letter writing is becoming a lost art. Younger generation can’t even write a thank you for birthday, Christmas, or even a wedding gift. Sometimes you never know if they received them.
I can remember see ads for pen pals when I was younger. As you said, it would be totally insane to give out the personal info like you did back then.
Also wanted you to know that I’m like others reading your missives. You give such vivid details it makes one think they’re right there with you.
Keep up the good work and stay safe and dry as Ida storm remnants may be headed your way.

Good job TJ. I can remember after I retired, catching myself heading to the shipyard. Ingrained or pre programmed.

Getting into our minds is the most dangerous place to be. Our heart is what God chose to use!
If we follow our heart as we follow the Word of God, that is a VERY SAFE place to be!

With all the technology, to have a pen pal would be almost a miracle. It is much easier to call or text!

We have both served our country in the armed forces, worked hard and raised our families, contributed to our community in many ways, ain’t it time for a rest? Our activities should include some reading, some walking, some mixing with neighbors, a little fixing things up around the house, and a LOT OF REST! Our bodies have earned it!

You guys have much longer than you think. Of course, your loving family will be there. I know I will!

I could not have expressed my feelings any better.

This makes me cry every time I read it. It is absolutely beautiful.

Siblings are the greatest Taylor.
You definitely have the knack for writing like your Grandmother and Great Grandfather.
Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading more of your missives.

Very nice JoAnn. If you ever get a chance, you should come to The Villages, Fl. This is truly a photographers paradise. Tommy visited us here but he didn’t get a chance to really see the beauty here.
Dale D.

Sometimes the camera will catch things that the eye cannot detect. This has been true as I have taken pictures for the newspapers that I write for. Relaxation is the key to good photographs!

Try to stay in touch with you friends as much as possible, Taylor. It’s really awkward trying to reconnect after drifting apart.

Hey TJ. Great missive.
I’m glad you and Jerilyn are transitioning into your new home. I think the older generations have a much easier time making new friends. Probably just the way our generations were brought up.
I remember when you and Jerilyn got together. I could tell then that she was making a positive influence on your life.
I for one have been happy that you were in my life. I feel blessed being in one of your “happy rooms”.
And I had a tear in my eye when you were talking to your mom and dad.
I will be doing that later this month when I’m in Kentucky visiting my older brother.

For the benefit of everyone else, Joanne, it would be nice to know, if indeed, the post office had truly tried to dupe you. If so, wouldn’t it be in order to get in touch with their boss and make a complaint? Just asking!

Someone once said, “to have friends, one must show themselves friendly!”
Works every time!

He Tommy, I am not far behind you. I will be 79 in July. I can only say one thing for sure: God has always blessed all my efforts to improve myself, spiritually and physically!
I am glad that you have had such a great life overall. Keep on moving as movement is what
greases the joints and keeps the muscles supple.

Aw, you captured his essence well, Taylor!

Good writing!

Well this post made me cry. Love you.

Great writing, Tommy Joe! Thanks for jogging my memories and helping me appreciate my blessings. Take care and enjoy life!

You sure have a way with words JoAnn.
You must have had high grades in composition classes.

My grandson Andrew, had a Grandpa Jim Taylor. He passed away 3 years ago here in Virginia.
Andrew misses his Pawpaw very much. As you do also

Taylor I love this! You do indeed have the very best Daddy any daughter could ever wish for! I am so proud of and love your Dad so very much. Mamaw

Taylor,
I can see that you loved your Grandpa Hale very much. It is certainly nice to be loved and missed.

Thank you so much Dale! It means a lot to me that you enjoy my writings. ~JoAnn

I loved reading this. He was a great man who I was fortunate to cross paths with. I think about him often. He loved you guys very much and I don’t think he was ever happier than planning the “Chopped” events with you guys. He would show me his Snapchat videos with the biggest smile I had ever seen on him. I hold him in the highest of regards.

This is beautiful Sweetheart.

Taylor, this is SO beautiful! Its straight from your heart! I love you so much. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Hi Joanne,
That’s kinda funny for me as I had a downsizing sale today at our home in Grizzly Flat.
The bug must be biting us both!
Good reminder for us all!
Frank

Yes, Taylor,
That is what living is all about, decisions, decisions! I am sure you will always
make the best possible ones. When a person is raised right, decisions are much
easier.

Joanne, you undoubtedly had a wonderful relationship with your mom.
Have a wonderful evening!

JoAnn, I never get tired of reading your missives. Even though I’m not a soap opera fan I stilled enjoyed reading about the great bond you ladies have(and had). My son and daughter-in-law record them everyday and watch them at night in bed.

I will never smell skunk again without thinking of coffee brewing, and visa versa!!!!!!

Good mothers are patient and kind
Rising early to make food
For her husband and her offspring
She looks forward only for good!

If the times suddenly grow hard
She will help carry her brood through
Washing, ironing, and mending
Remaining a mother true-blue!

When one of her children’s away
She frets for their soon arrival
With prayers always under her breath,
She prays for her young’s survival!

If at night, she’ll sit by the door
Watching the old clock tick away
Who wouldn’t love someone like that?
As age turns her hair into gray!

Frank Shortt
Mother’s Day
5/9/2021

Very well written! I was told by my writing professor that we should always write about things that we know. You surely manifested that in this piece of writing.
Keep writing!
Frank

A great missive Taylor. You will continue making these changes through out your life.
And I’m sure that you won’t have any problem.

I kinda miss the spring time of the year. I use to see daffodils everywhere in Virginia(sometimes poking their pretty yellow heads through snow) and when I would see them, I knew spring was close by. Now after living in Florida for 7 years, I don’t think I have seen one. Just like the plentiful deer around the Hampton Roads area Especially on the golf courses, I haven’t seen but maybe one or two deer here in Florida. Alligators, that’s another story. See them almost daily.
Anyway, I hope you have a fantastic MOTHER’s DAY.

WOW… Very good Taylor. It’s easy to see that you and your mom have a great bond. Never let it come apart.
It’s also easy to see that the writers apple didn’t fall from that tree.
Keep up the good work.

Beautifully written Tay! I agree, you really do have the best Mama 💗. I love you the world full & am so proud you appreciate all your mother does for you. You are a wonderful daughter! I love you, Mamaw. xoxo

We will miss seeing you and Jerilyn walking around the neighborhood. I know my dog Lexie will really miss seeing Jeilyn. She always looked for her as we walked past your house. Hope all goes well with your next adventure in life and that you will enjoy living there

Best wishes to you and Jerilyn. What a blessing to have the opportunity to be safe and enjoy your life. So good to hear from you. Take care…Judy

JoAnn, that was soooo beautiful and I am so sorrrrrry that you lost your best friend.
Friends like that are hard to come by. I am fortunate enough to have several friends here in The Villages, Fl
that would do anything in the world for us. Including mine and Tommy’s old boss LZ Smith. We have been good friends since the mid 70’s. WOW now that I think about it, that is a lonnnng time. I just went over to his house this morning and we talked for a while. We play golf together at least 3 times a week.
I’m sure your friend and Angel Kathy is watching over you and you will have a joyous reunion when you cross over the “Rainbow Bridge”.

JoAnn, you’re a lady after my own heart. I remember going over to my mothers almost every Sunday along with my younger brother and sister and their children for a good country breakfast.
My mother made everything from scratch. Biscuits, gravy, syrup, pork tenderloin, bacon and some other delicious foods. In the summer we had fresh sliced tomatoes or fried green tomatoes.
She usually cooked for about 10 people and didn’t want any help and she thoroughly enjoyed it.
Now you have me drooling all over my keyboard with the only thing that resembles biscuits and gravy is Hardee’s.
I know, not even close to our mommas.
Thanks you sooooo much for all your wonderful missives.

That is beautiful Dad! I know they must have loved it.

Tommy, I think with all I have been through with this old brain, I am content to keep things just as God made them. We must remember Midas’s wish for gold that everything he touched would turn to gold and what happened to his young daughter. Thanks, I’ll keep this one.

Hey TJ. I think I’m inclined to think like you currently on a new brain. I’ve kinda grown accustomed to who I was and who I am now. But like you, I think it is coming in the future.
And I love it when you take our trips back down memory lane. Sure makes me think about my past.
Hopefully all goes well with the big move and once the pandemic passes you can start traveling again.
I’m hoping you will venture back down this way to Florida (where the weather is currently 76) and stop by for another visit.
Since Margie has macular degeneration now and is legally blind along with her other health issues, that traveling is in the forecast with us.
I sure would like to sit back with you and drink a beer and smoke a cigar. LOL

Hi JoAnn. I googled Lupus as I wasn’t that familiar with it. I learned a lot about it.
I’m sorry that you’re in a lot of pain.
It’s amazing how many doctors are borderline “quacks” and act like a lot of your pains and aches are in your head. You keep on hanging in there girl. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

As always I love your missives. Some times you bring tears to my eyes with lovely thoughts that you have never mentioned. You are a wonder all in its self. You have always been the best father, but I see how much you look back on life. You shouldn’t. You have always been a great man and father Rusty and I could have asked God to give us. You don’t have to look any further than that. Trust me. I was there. I couldn’t love you any more and I know Rusty would say the same. I’m pretty sure he’s sitting on my shoulder as I type this.

People have become complacent or just don’t give a hoot! Their mistake!

JoAnn, thank you! You hit the nail on the head. Like you, I can not understand how some people are so blind to the truth of this monstrous virus and choose to be so stubborn and so backward! Will they ever learn?

Joanne, I used to have to slop the hogs also. When I was raised in Buchanan County Virginia, We all had
jobs to do. I actually feel pity for the younger generation, as we go through this pandemic, that they are all bored to tears by having nothing to do but electronics! We were blessed back then. Hog killing time was a festive occasion at Grandpa Addison’s house. We children even had to help scrape the hogs before the men dressed them down. We did a lot of talk then with cousins, etc.

This is what we have been trying to do too,, to eat out is a chore as we have to use our car for the dining
room. This too will pass!
Just keep enjoying each other!
Frank

JoAnn, that was beautiful. You are always so descriptive right down to smallest details. Back in Kentucky we always had hogs also. I can only remember one time of us having a cow and it was for milking, not eating.
In the summertime we would have to weed the gardens and those weeds went into the hog pen.
they would always kill a hog after the first frost of the fall. And hardly anything went to waste from the hogs.
That was pretty festive for our families and the neighbors that helped out. Another festive event in the fall was making sorghum(molasses) out of sugar cane. We were excited when it was time to have the stir off.
Oh yes, and I can still picture the cupboard in the kitchen that held dishes and the big ben with flour and the hand cranking sifter.
WOWWWW, thank you so much for bringing back those wonderful memories for this old (73 on the 28th) man.

Great read Tommy Joe! All is well on Claytor Lake. Got the covid vaccine #1 2 weeks ago. No problem! Hope to get #2 in Feb. Had a friend request from WP and learned that he is cancer free after treatments. Plays golf 2-3 times a week. Tell Jolynn “hello”. Take care and be safe!

Yes, to a child, puppies are better than chickens! We used to hate going into the yard and “cutting our foot’ as we described stepping into the chicken droppings! Chickens sure played a major role in the way we got our protein.
Oh, well, ’nuff said!

Another great story JoAnn. Me being from the hills of Kentucky right across the border from Virginia, can very much relate to this story. My grandfather who owned a combination Texaco service station, grocery store, and restaurant always had people “dropping” off their unwanted pets in front of his business. I can remember all the great dogs that my cousins and I had. The wild feral cats did a great job of keeping the mice and rats away.
My older brother and several cousins still live there and they still get the unwanted pets. None are ever turned away and all well fed. My wife and I got a puppy from one of the litters and she was the best dog we have ever had.
Keep up the great missives JoAnn and TJ. Y’all are always bringing back soooo many great memories.

And then there is Starbucks! LOL

My wife and I have a house in the Eldorado National Forest of the Sierras. We have plenty of pine trees. If you and Brandon don’t mind, come on over and help me rake! Just kidding of course, but to have a person help with all the raking and burning would be a welcome relief for this old senior citizen. Keep on writing, Joe Thomas!

Love the story JoAnn. I love the aroma of coffee also, but I get terrible indigestion if I drink it.
And I cannot drink caffeinated coffee nor can my wife. She drinks decaffeinated occasionally and I have a couple
of sips of hers. Keep up the good work.

Another great one TJ.

Wow, what a story. I remember meeting Lash LaRue in Harlan county Kentucky. In a little town called Cumberland Kentucky.

JoAnn.
That was a very beautiful missive. I’m in your corner on this one.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Dale D.

I am reminded of George Burns who on his 99th birthday was doing a show. He walked out and calmly said,
“I am happy to be here tonight, at my age I’m glad to be anywhere!” As we grow older, wouldn’t it be nice to
have at least one grandson to sit down with us and pick our brains for all the information stored there, computer style, I bet they would be surprised, as well as, ourselves! Edgar Guest wrote quite a bit of poetry and his books are still available online. I have a collection of his works. He was the ‘poet of the people’ back in the early 1900’s.
Most folks would think of his poems as being quite archaic today! I’m from the old school and still like some of the older stuff that used to make some sense!

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Please share the poem because this grandchild and your great grandchildren love getting words of wisdom from you. We also love learning about you no matter how many miles apart❤ I can honestly say in all of my years of life you are the kindest, loving, and most selfless person I know. PROUD you are my GRANDPA❤❤

Hi JoAnn,
Being from the hills of Kentucky just across the border from Virginia, I too have lots of memories from this missive. My mother used the Maytag wringer washer also.
Unlike you I had first hand experience of what those wringers would do to you. I was trying to help Momma do the laundry and was pushing some overalls thru the wringer and in goes my arm. It went in to my elbow and just spun while it was peeling skin off. My mother heard me screaming and came running out and popped the wringer open. I still have the scar on my arm as a reminder.
I also had the misadventure of stepping on a rusty nail. My mother put some kind of home made remedy on it but it got worse. To the small coal mining hospital I go. It got blood poisoning and part of the bone from my big toe had to be cut out. I spent 30 days in that hospital.
I can remember us having soupbeans, cornbread, green onions, fried taters and some type of pork almost every night.
Those were definitely the good ol days.
You and TJ keep up the fantastic stories.

Joanne, your article brought back many memories of washday at our house. Dad was a coal miner so you can imagine what a mess we had at washday. I usually had to skip school each Monday just to carry water for mom’s washtubs, and heat the water outside over piled up rocks (a makeshift fireplace) with wood that had to be stoked ever so often. It is a miracle I was able to keep up and graduate Garden High School, Oakwood, Va. Mountain life was a bit difficult when I grew up in Buchanan County, Va.

It seems there is always someone waiting for senior citizens to let go their property

Tommy….had the same experience last week. Walking the dog to the mailbox, a couple stopped me and ask to buy my house! Put him in touch with a realtor friend and he visited a couple of properties. The realtor relayed the message he was not interested in the properties visited since walking my property. It is good to know my property is saleable even though I am not ready to sell. Makes me think about it…Hope you and Jerilyn are well. Take care and be safe!

Joanne, I could almost see the fall colors as I read your missive. Have a wonderful evening!
Frank

Oh I love this so much.. I appreciate your alls attention, time, and love. I strive to be like you, Grandpa. I miss seeing Daddy and Grace together too.

Very good post Dad! I have never read The Velveteen Rabbit and I will now. Also, I believe the most powerful word in any language is LOVE. 🤗

Yes, Joanne,
Having been a reseller for many years, and for extra things my family needed, I can testify that there are many
bargains out there if anyone has a hankering to research them.
Halloween, well that’s another story. This was when the ‘good kids’ of our neighborhood got together at the old school bottom to do a little mischief! ‘Nuff said!

Joanne, Thank you for something positive at this time. We are all blessed that God is still on the Throne of Mercy and not judgment! He promised that He would not allow the destroyer to come near the dwelling of a believer!
Keep writing positive!
Frank

One IS a lonely number. Hearing the words, ‘I love you’ reminds you–you aren’t alone.

Very good JoAnn.
I play golf every day and every day before I leave to play, I kiss my wife and tell her I LOVE YOU. And every night before we go to bed we kiss and tell each other I LOVE YOU.. We’ve only been married for 12 years but the “HONEYMOON” is not yet for us two love birds.

Yes, Joanne, We sometimes forget the small amenities of life. To say ‘I love you’ covers a multitude of difficulties of the past! Let all disagreements go by telling the other person, “I LOVE YOU”! Great thought, Joanne!

I’m so glad you wrote about this! I would borrow that radio from him and follow him around too when outside! Also, I remember him dedicating songs to mamaw on the radio!! I told Evan about it. Aw, it warms my heart.

Yes, Joanne, we would all like to go back and hear our Father’s voice again. I guess this is why we have music to remind us that there was a past, and hopefully, there will be a future!

Ah, Orange Juice! Filled with Vitamin C, Calcium, etc.(whatever is added at the processor) Yes, our first Frigidaire solved a lot of problems, especially at milking time! It is a good thing to never dwell on what we can get in the way of sickness, but instead, dwell on the One who can heal us of that sickness. Medicine cannot heal, only God can heal! Medicine only assists nature to remove the antibodies so that the blood stream can do its job!

JoAnn, I thoroughly enjoy your writings. Although, I am a generation older than you so many things that you reference brings back memories of days long passed. Tommy Joe and I grew up together and have stayed in contact all these years. I love dearly and look forward to his missives as well. You two, please, keep up the good writings for us oldies to enjoy.

I really enjoyed reading this missive.

They were a lot like that for us too! I still am happy that cell phones weren’t a thing and I never had one until I was 18, and even then used it rarely. I am thankful for my cell phone now, but I’m glad I was able to grow up without one. Good post

Great missive!

Another great read TJ. I love the hot weather. I’m out playing golf in it every day.
I usually play about 5 to 7 hours a day. I have my golf cart but still get a lot of walking in.
Take care. Stay safe and healthy.

Joanne, You must have been pretty well-to-do when you went to school. Most of us used an old lard bucket or a plain paper sack (called a poke then) and if we had mayonnaise and tomatoes in our lunches, these inevitably leaked through and ruined the sandwiches our mothers so delicately packed! Because our lunches went into the cloak room behind the stove at school, if we had sandwiches with cheese, it was always hardened around the edges and only the center of the sandwich was edible. Ah, such misery!

As you so aptly put it; It is amazing how much better our place looks since the pandemic. It is also amazing how much smaller the weeds have become as we cut them before they get a chance to reveal their specie.
Actually, I can’t imagine anyone having too much time on their hands these days. For some reason, hot or cold, I am busy from daylight (around 6am) until I get into bed at night! If anyone should tell me they have time on their hands, I can tell them ways to prevent that.
Thanks, Tommy, keep on writing!

I really enjoyed reading Simple Things, JoAnn. It brought back
so many memories of my childhood. It definitely was a simpler time of life.

That’s so sad about the walnut trees!

We grew up in New York. Although Westchester County was largely a bedroom commute to New York City.
As children , myself, mother, Grandmother, Aunt and cousin would frequent thrift stores in White Plains, N.Y.
Always remember how a bargain was a thrill to find. Even second-hand ice skates were given at Christmas.
Cousins and myself used those skates at Opperman’s Pond, Pleasantville, N.Y. Such fun. They finally were thrown away after several winters of skating. Our feet grew and we broke right out of the front of skates.
Good memories

Your article got me to thinking! What is the purpose of MY life? I would have to say that God put us here to manifest Him. I guess, for the past 50, or more, years, I have been doing that! Oftentimes, I did not know I was doing it! BTW, are the Keen Mountain Boys the ones from Buchanan County led by Remus Keene?I went to school with them.

Fantastic JoAnn. Me being from the coal mining hills of Kentucky can really relate to to all of your style of clothes shopping. I can remember my mother going to “rummage sales” or “rag sales” and picking out a few clothes for us. They may have been hand me downs from somebody but, they were great for us getting new(to us) items. I can remember wearing our jeans so much that they eventually became “high water” pants after several washings.
Thank you so much for your vivid posts.
Stay safe and stay Healthy…

Very good as usual TJ.
Ain’t life great being a hillbilly. I think from my life growing up in the mountains of Kentucky has given me a greater perspective on life.
Keep up the good work.
All is well in sunny Florida. I’m still getting to play golf every day.

You are the most “enlightened” gpa I personally know. 🙂