Leaving Christmas

Well, I've had a wonderful time here in Christmas. I've made a bunch of wonderful new friends. Most of them have headed North already but we've exchanged email addresses and I'm sure we'll cross paths again.

And God keeps putting Blessings in front of me that even I can't miss. I was having a little pity party when I arrived back in Sanford after my wonderful 10 days with my friends in VA. I was really missing them. "Here I am, all alone again. Nobody loves me. etc etc."

While waiting for my luggage I heard, "Tom! What are you doing here?" It was John and Tina Renick with their daughter, Anna. She is one of my favorite little girls from the Church nursery. They were making their first trip to Disney. So I left the Sanford Terminal at 10:30 on a Wednesday night with a GREAT BIG HUG from one of the sweetest little girls in the world.

While I was in VA, Sandra, my WhirlyGirl friend from Denmark stayed in the Airstream. She was between apartments and even though the security here is good, I was happy having someone stay in it while I was gone. So it was a win-win situation.

Many of my new friends fit Mary Ann's phrase that "Tom, you're walking proof that God is kind because He's allowed you to meet so many truly sick people. You'd have been very lonely if He hadn't smiled on you in this way."

The old guys I have coffee with in the morning definitely noticed Sandra. Well, she is 26, blond and beautiful so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

But when I returned my "friends" said, "Please just sit here for a while, we've called the police and they're on the way."

I said, "C'mon guys, aside from the fact that I wasn't even here, she's over 18. What are the charges?"

They said, "Assault with a dead weapon."

Badaboom.



In the last post I promised pictures of the beach in Melbourne that I visited on the Saturday I was there.

Here's looking North















And South.





I didn't know those three people but they obviously didn't get the email that said, "This is Tom's beach today."







Sandra was not pleased that I wanted to take her picture, unposed, no make up, just not prepared. But she humored me anyway. And because humoring me is one of her most endearing traits, I thought it would be totally appropriate to put in this picture with that look I've come to know and love. We had a good-by brunch at Paneras today. I probably won't see her again until the Helicopter Convention in Houston next February. And even that depends on where in the world she finds work. She's about to finish her Helicopter Instrument Instructor's rating. Although she has a job offer in CA, she's hoping to find something here in the East. And when her student visa expires this summer, maybe Denmark, or Greenland, or India. She's been such a good friend for the short time I've been here in Christmas. It's really nice to stay in touch with the aviation world, even from the sidelines. She certainly fits the description of WhirlyGirl that I've been telling many of you about for years. VERY smart, focused and driven. And supremely - but quietly - self confident.

I will miss her.







My next stop is Mystic Springs Cove Airstream Park, north of Pensacola. If I stick with my goal of staying off Interstates, here's the route -

Map 4/19/07

It's not on the Gulf, but on the Escambia River and my Airstream friends say it's as beautiful as their website shows

Mystic Springs Cove

For my last night in this part of FL, I drove to Orlando to watch my friend, "FiddinJessy" perform outside the Arena where the Magic are playing their last regular season game. She put on a great show, as always. And THIS time she actually DID introduce me to her parents.

"This is the guy that played Bass with me at Cypress Gardens. He lives in an Airstream."

I said, "I'm Jessy's oldest fan."

She said, "No. You're not. My Grandpa is. Well, yeah, I'm PRETTY SURE he's older than you."

Ouch.

Please refer to Mary Ann's quote about "sick friends". I had it coming, though. Although she's a natural blond, she's currently a gorgeous redhead. And I had made a couple of comments about "those blond roots being really strong." in reference to a couple of silly mistakes she'd made.

Again, I don't know when our paths will cross again, but I hope that someday very soon I'll be able to say, "I knew Jessy before she was famous."

If a webpage means anything, she's on her way.

FiddlinJessy

And those of you who know me well will appreciate how much I love her.

I actually bought a T-shirt and CD from her.

At REGULAR PRICES ! Could there be stronger proof??

Until next time.

Please remember the Hokies in your prayers.

Melbourne to Christmas and on to Roanoke, VA

The delay in this post is because the screen on my laptop died last week. I got a great deal on a new Toshiba but the transfer of my old data to a DVD wasn't much help because the CD/DVD drive on the new computer doesn't work. Or, as Jeff said, "So, Dad. You got a great price on a fantastic laptop - that doesn't work." Well, yeah, kinda. I took it to the shop on the way to the airport.

Since all my pictures are on that DVD I can't get to them. I really wanted to put them on here with this post, so I procrastinated - everything was going to fixed "tomorrow". Well, now I'm told Toshiba is out of the drives so it'll be after Apr 27 before I have a complete computer.

Then Dennis Ober - OBIE the clown sent me an email that said,

"Tom, Are you still in BED??? Your Blog says you are since March 23...wake up .... Smell the sewer dump, or something!!! GET UP>>>>> GET UP>>>> GET UP>>>>> OBIE "

OK OK - It's good to be missed.

The week in Melbourne was delightful. This is the perfect time to be in FL. Warm days, cool nights, no humidity, no mosquitoes - a FL I had never experienced before.

I went on another ride with the bikers from the park. This time we took back roads down to Vero Beach and came back up A1A to Melbourne. Lunch was at a well known diner that has a "Senior Appreciation Day" on Tuesdays. Our fearless leader had called ahead and reserved a room because there were 26 of us. One of the waitresses said, "When they told us a group of seniors, we expected walkers and wheelchairs. You guys look young." I said, "Some of us should have walkers, but we haven't figured out how to carry them on our motorcycles." A little while later she came back in with a really surprised look on her face and said, "I thought you were kidding about the motorcycles."

I went to the beach on Saturday. I thought it would be crowded on the weekend but it was the only day I could go. I walked 1/2 hour and then 1/2 hour back and saw maybe 50 people total. Like I said, this is a Florida that's new to me. Delightful. Pictures later.

I had another wonderful visit with my cousins before I came back to Christmas. Pictures - you know.

Unlike the saga of the trip down, the trip back really did take 45 minutes. I spent a quiet few days in Christmas, then on Apr 2 I flew Allegiant Air to Roanoke.


I've been busy visiting with friends, eating out WAY too much and catching up on local news.
It's wonderful to be back EXCEPT - remember that beautiful sunrise picture from Melbourne?

Well here's this morning's sunrise in Roanoke.


YES, that's SNOW.

Easter Egg hunts may be a challenge this year.

I'm ready to return to warm FL. But I'll stay here through next Wed. Our church combines all Easter Sunday Masses into one BIG celebration at the Salem Civic Center. I'm very glad that my personal obligations required me to return to Roanoke this week so I can be here for this very special service.

I hope you all have a Blessed Easter.