MADELINE'S CHRISTMAS

Last week Carol, Emily and I went to see Madeline's Christmas, performed by the Roanoke Children's Theater. While we always enjoy performances by young people, this one starred one of our favorite little girls.

I met Chloe when she was about 2. I was introduced to her Mom in our church fellowship hall after Sunday morning Mass. After saying, "Hello" to Mary I dropped down on my knees and said, "Who is that hiding behind your leg?"

Mary said, "That's Chloe. But she's really shy so don't take it personally when......." before she could finish 
her sentence, Chloe had climbed into my lap and put her arms around my neck.  Mary's eyes were the size of saucers. The mutual friend who had introduced us said, "Oh Mary, that's what happens when little kids meet Tom. I don't know what they see in him but it's pretty universal."

I stood up with Chloe still Koala-ing me. Mary said, "That's amazing."

 I said, "Yes, I am really Blessed. Little kids love me. Fortunately, I love them too. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to get rich from it."

Mary reached out and patted Chloe on the head and said, "Look me in the eye and tell me you're not rich."

I said, "I've been saying that for years and you're the first person to call me on it. OK, 'Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to make any money from it.' Is that better?"

She replied, "That's better. Because I could see from the look on your face that you are Blessed with riches."

Nine years later and I still am amazed at how God has Blessed me with the love of little ones.

Chloe is now a wonderfully talented Thespian.

 God is good. Every Day.

Thanksgiving Day - now and in the past.

We had a wonderful, quiet Thanksgiving yesterday. Carol's sister and brother-in-law will come here on Friday so our "Thanksgiving Dinner" will be on Sunday.

After morning Mass, we decorated the tree. Then I fixed Emily's current favorite meal, or maybe second favorite after Pad Thai.  Scalloped potatoes and ham with lots of leftovers for when Bobbie and Bill arrive.

Later in the day, Carol and Andrew made lots of cookies.


We have so much to be thankful for this year. Material things as well as heartfelt and spiritual ones.

But the main reason for this post is to answer questions about a Facebook posting I made yesterday.

"Saw a little bit of Macy's Parade while eating breakfast after Mass.

What MEMORIES of being there many years ago with John and Gwen VanderLinde and their children, Robbie and Cindy VanderLinde Gidley.
Do you guys remember the special attention that "Special Cindy" received from all the clowns in the parade?"

Many years ago John and Gwen VanderLinde and their two kids, Robbie and Cindy, friends from our earliest Salem days met us in NYC for the Macy's Day Parade. Our day started cold and drizzling a winter mix. We left our hotel around 7am to get a good spot. Right in the middle of our pre-chosen block was a big theater marquee. HOORAY - we can set up our chairs here right up against the barriers and stay dry! Cookies and thermos of hot chocolate. This was going to be a good day in spite of the weather.

As the hours passed, we laughed about the police officers also standing under the marquee drinking coffee and eating donuts.  Half an hour before the parade the streets were 8 people deep all along the route. That was when one of New York's Finest told us we would have to move. This particular theater always reserved their sidewalk for residents of a group home from Westchester County. I became VERY upset. "WHY didn't you tell us an hour or two ago when there was front row space available on either side of the marquee? Do you see the very small children we have? Will you please ask the people who have been standing in the rain for an hour to move back so we can get front rows seats like we have now? We will STAY HERE until those special guests arrive. Maybe there will be room for us behind them."

It got colder. So cold that for the first time ever theater management opened their second story offices to their guests so they could see the parade from indoors. So we were able to stay dry and cold. Very cold. But very cold and dry is a lot better than very cold and wet ! God is good.

But wait, it gets better.

Cindy, John and Gwen's daughter was three or four. She had forgotten her mittens and her little fingers were freezing. Fortunately she had a hand me down coat that was too big so she could pull her hands up into her sleeves to stay warm. Of course she was in the very front, waving her at all the balloons and characters. we noticed that all the elves and clowns seemed to be paying really special attention to Cindy. They would come from the other side of the street to give her candy and little toys. Finally it dawned on us that they had been told about this "special location" under the marquee. And, just as they had been told, there was an adorable little girl with no hands right where they had been told to look !

As Mary Ann used to say, "There IS a God. And she has a sense of humor."

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !

EMILY GRADUATES WITH HONORS !

Tuesday, June 10 was a BIG day here in Salem, VA. Our daughter graduated from Salem High School with an Honors Certificate recognizing her 3.5 GPA.  Carol and I are so proud of her.

Graduation was at 2PM in the Salem Civic Center. A little less than 300 graduates crossed the stage. We were sitting with Bobbie and Bill, Carol's sister and brother-in-law, and our friends Jim and Natalie Wade. Their daughter Courtney who is Em's BFF graduated also.  I think we were able to make enough noise to embarrass Emily and Courtney even though air horns were banned this year.

Bobbie and Bill

The party was at our house that evening.

 Jim had helped me get the rental tables and chairs early that morning. We have a big beautiful tree in our yard and had planned to be outside. Accuweather said 50% chance of thunderstorms. Weather.com said 90%. We decided to move inside. Fortunately we had 2 hours between the end of the ceremony and the start of the party. Carol described it as "the table dance." We moved the furniture out of the living room but there still wasn't room for the tables so we went back to Aztec Rental and traded for smaller ones.

 Gene and Froggie Yagow.
They were Emily's sponsors for Confirmation at Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church two years ago.

Jim Wade, who is Courtney's Dad with his Mom and Emily.

 OK guys, this really gets cool. Here are Gene and Froggie again. The couple sitting are Jim and Freda, friends from the Christian Motorcycle Association. Standing are Luella Crockett and her new beau, Patrick.

Here's the cool part. Luella and Patrick were students of Gene's at Community School during its first years. Luella and Patrick were 13. They had not seen Gene in over 40 years. A LOT of catching up was done.
  
Of course it never did rain. But with temperatures and humidity both in the 90's, moving inside was definitely the thing to do. Regular readers of my blog have heard this many times, but again I did exactly the right thing for totally wrong reasons.

It was a wonderful day of celebration and thanksgiving. I am so Blessed to have found this new family.

ROLLING THUNDER XXVII 2014

It's hard to believe it's been over a year and a half since I've posted anything.

It doesn't mean nothing has happened. Just two factors: Too busy doing to write about what we are doing AND given the opportunity, I'm a slug. Really. I put the "pro" in procrastinate.

Last summer was as wonderful as previous ones with our annual trip to N. Myrtle Beach and a couple of trips to Dollywood, Carowinds and the Smokies.

Then in December, Bobbie and Carol took the ultimate Disney Sister's trip. 5 days in DisneyLAND then 5 days in DisneyWORLD.

Emily and I decided not to stay home and pout, although there was some of that. We took a long weekend and went to Dollywood  for their Christmas Spectacular.

Later in December Carol, Emily, Andrew and I went back to Dollywood. The shows are all different from the regular season and they were delightful. The weather was a little cold and damp, but warm enough for the Roller Coasters to run so all was well.

A quiet Christmas. Carol got Strep Throat so Bobbie and Bill cancelled their visit. We continued our tradition of going to the Children's Mass at Our Lady of Nazareth, even though we don't have young enough children to "qualify" anymore.

I've gotten involved in KAIROS, an international prison ministry which I will blog about later.

The BIG news of 2014 is that Emily is graduating from Salem High School.

As an Honor Student with a 3.5 GPA !

She will be going to Virginia Western Community College and plans to earn a Surgical Technician's Certificate.

Carol went to visit Bobbie and Bill in Baltimore for the Memorial Day weekend.

Which left Emily and me home alone again. I had shown her some pictures of Rolling Thunder and one of them was of "The Saluting Marine." For 12 years Staff Sgt. Tim Chambers, USMC Ret. has been at each Rolling Thunder. He stands in the middle of the parade route in full Dress Blues, at attention saluting the bikers for the entire parade - FOR OVER FOUR HOURS.

Emily said she wanted to go ride just so she could see him "up close and live." I told her that we would TRY. I had never ridden there before, had no idea what was involved, where to go, when to get there, etc. etc. etc. She has learned that I am willing to do almost anything with her as long as she keeps her expectations VERY LOW. It has worked extremely well and this turned out to be another example of what an excellent plan it is.





At 07:00 we got off I-66 in Northern Virginia.
Topped off the bike and got onto the George
Washington Memorial Parkway.

An hour later we were parked in the North Pentagon parking lot. 


We had traveled 6 miles.





 But we didn't mind because there was a very good reason we averaged 6 mph. We were almost to the
parking lot when our line was pulled to the side so
the Nam Knights could ride past us. Certain
veteran's groups have priority reserved parking
and they lead off the parade.



















 We were in the fourth row from the last people allowed in the North lot.

Emily was still talking about "that Marine" and it looked like it was working out as hoped. All we had to do was hang out until around 14:00 or 15:00 when we hoped to be heading to DC as part of the parade.

There would be about 250,000 bikes leaving before us.





There is no way to get a picture from our location that adequately shows the number of bikes and bikers that were there. Emily was standing on the bike to take these. Check out some other web sites for panoramic pictures from the hills around the lot.











The first of the vets pulled out at precisely 12:00.
We started our engine at 14:00 and were on the
ramp leaving the parking lot at 14:10.






AGAIN, the Good Lord had put us right where we had to be to accomplish what we had wanted to do. Without us even knowing anything about how to do it.

 The six hour wait didn't exactly FLY by but we had a wonderful time talking with the people around us, eating vendor food, walking around and walking around and walking around looking at the bikes.

 Em's favorite.









 

NO HE DIDN'T SIT IN THERE THE WHOLE 6 HOURS !!!

But it is how he arrived and how he rode in the parade.

The owner put him in there occasionally so people could take pictures.

Rolling Thunder's idea of a "mister". It never got hot enough to need it but the kids enjoyed it all day.







 


 The people were friendly, sharing and incredibly patient. Too many examples to tell them all, but I will give you one example.

Early in the day, a lady was walking around giving away kickstand pads which are used when you park on grass or soft ground to keep your bike from falling. I said, "No thank you, we seldom park anywhere but pavement."  Much later in the morning, some more experienced folks told us that the parking area at the end of the parade was a big field. a BIG FIELD, within yards of the Mall? Who knew?

I told Em that I was going to go back and see if I could find that lady and get a pad. I walked for 30 minutes or so and never found her. I went back and told Em, "I hope the ground is hard in that field, I couldn't find her. She probably gave them all away and left." 

 We had talked with the couple next to us for a few minutes. It was their first time, too. Apparently she overheard my conversation with Em because about 20 minutes later she came back and said, "I found her and got two. Here, take this one." All day. Everybody. Just there to have a good time, make new friends and honor our veterans.

When we rode by "The Saluting Marine", Em was taking video. She didn't have time to switch her phone to still pictures but she saw him and she was happy. For the first time he had a disabled vet in a wheelchair sitting in front to him.

We finished the parade and parked the bike. We had no clue where we were. The parade went up Constitution Ave, crossed in front of the Capitol and came back down Independence Avenue. Then we just followed police directions to the parking area. I knew were we close to the Mall. I could see the Washington Monument in the distance but we did not know where any Rolling Thunder things were.

So I asked the first two guys we saw,
"Where is the vendor's area? My daughter has
some money burning a serious hole in her pocket."
They told us and then said that they were going there.
But first they were taking a slight detour to see the Marine.
 I'm sure many of the other people knew where he
 was, too. But I am also certain that MANY did not.
We were led to the right people and followed them to
the curb so Em could take this picture.

WOW.

That was "up close and live."

Emily was VERY HAPPY.


We did a lot of looking and a little shopping. Then we agreed we were tired and headed back to the bike.

 The parade was over and when we crossed Constitution I saw the Marine standing on the corner talking to some people. I said, "Em, would you like for me to take your picture with the Marine?" I think her heart stopped. I don't know how to spell the sound she made but I took it to be an affirmative answer.

We walked over. While we were waiting for others to finish talking to him, we talked with his Grandmother. His Mother was with him too but she was talking to some reporters so we didn't get to talk to her.

Em now has a spot in the middle of her back that will never get washed and no one is allowed to touch. I don't know the adequate word, but "happy" certainly doesn't cover it.


Those of you who have followed my Blog know how many times I have done EXACTLY  the right thing at PRECISELY the right time with NO IDEA why or how.

Just another case of that happening.

God really is Good.  All the Time.