Wednesday April 13 2016  I WISH I KNEW…

Update to those of my readers who have inquired about how I am doing: today I am doing quite a bit better.  I was actually hungry this morning for the first time since Sunday’s dinner.  I ate a small breakfast and soon felt a little energy returning.  I looked a lot better too!  I still have moments when I must recollect myself because I am a lot weaker than I was before the food poisoning occurred.  Perhaps it is good to have an occasional reminder that I am not invincible.

We left Sandra and Scott’s house a few minutes past 2:00 p.m. with plans to be at Carole and David’s home by 6:00 p. m. for dinner.  We are currently traveling North on Highway 77 and will cross the Virginia state line on this leg of our journey.  After we left our last location we drove quite a few miles through the back country roads of North Carolina passing through little towns.  Along the way there were so many interesting views hiding around the next corner.  There were old houses, former business structures, farms, and falling down barns.  Dave was driving due to my weakened state so I had opportunity to do a lot of gawking.  As I passed the changing scenery my curious mind wanted to know more about the people and the history of the buildings.  I WISH I KNEW the story behind each one.

As we drove on the back roads the speed was slow enough that I could take in more details of what we passed.  I want to share a few of the sights we experienced.  The first situation that intrigued me was when I spied a boy who was approximately 15 to 17 years of age.  An older model car had been parked off the left side of the two lane road, facing oncoming traffic.  It was a big old dirty car from the late 80’s or early 90’s.  The young man’s backside was leaning against the grillwork, feet crossed at the ankles, arms crossed in front of his chest, dressed in silky tectured athletic shorts which came to just below the knees.  Big sneakers were on his big feet.  His face was set in a Jimmy Dean, tough dude look, his hair shaved close on the sidewalls and left long on top.  His black hair, contrasting against his pale face, spilled toward the left side of his face.  He had sunglasses on and his face was turned as if he were peering into my eyes as Dave drove past.  He was quite a gigantic guy and appeared to be at least 75 to 100 pounds overweight.  He looked quite angry and sullen from what I glimpsed in my 5 to 10 second impression.  My first thought was that he really wanted to be seen, and needed to be noticed.  He wanted to BE SOMEBODY.  My opinion was that he is searching for his identity as to where he fits in.  My second assumption (all total speculation on my part), was that he may have been angry about something that had just occurred inside the run down, shack-like house, that was the backdrop for the old automobile.  I WISH I KNEW.

Just a mile or two down the road we came to a left curve in the road and on the right was a very small, what looked like a former house dwelling, sitting very close to the highway.  It reminds me of the little shack where my mother once took me to when I was about 10 years old so she could show me where I was born.  Perhaps my sister can feed me back a comment regarding this comparison and make comment as to whether or not I if I have the correct recollection.  She was almost 9 years old when I was born so she may remember what it looked like.

My mind again wonders back to the history of this little dwelling and who built it and lived there.  What was its main purpose?  What were the people like?  What were their circumstances?  And I wondered how in the world was it still standing?  I also wondered, how long it has been vacated.  I WISH I KNEW.

As the highway’s winding roads led us higher up the mountain I could look down below me and see a small valley between the road and the opposing hills.  Very close to the road there was an old barn in total disrepair and demise.  About two thirds of the cross boards of the roof were exposed and two thirds of the roof had fallen in.  From my high advantage point I could look down into the barn’s interior and see the floor littered with the fallen, decaying roof.  It was like looking at the skeleton of what must have one day been someone’s pride and joy.  The end structures were still in place but a bit of the long wall had also lost enough boards to see the skeleton emerging.  The exterior of the old building was all dark and weatherworn and looked so sad.  I wondered when it was built and who might have built it.  It looked as if it did not want to give up its hold on existence, but was losing the battle one day at a time.  Its story will never be known to me but..I WISH I KNEW.

As the road became steeper and more winding, all passing lanes disappeared.  In front of us was a car with an antsy driver who tailgated the truck it was following.  The driver continued to look for a place to pass.  Finally it did make it around the truck, IN A NO PASSING ZONE, and we all survived his stupidity.  Then I wanted Dave to get closer to the truck so I could get a better look at its cargo.  It was carrying hundreds of live, white chickens, packed tightly into wire cages stacked ten cages high and five wide.  It was a long 18 wheeler.  I could see the chickens trying to move as they vied for space.  It was difficult for me to view such a spectacle knowing that the animals were alive and probably suffering.   Now don’t misinterpret and think that I don’t each chicken meat, because I actually do.  I remember my extended family ringing the necks of chickens, plucking their feathers, and eating them for dinner.  It was probably very frightening for the chicken, but it was quick.  It just saddened me to see the conditions these chickens had to go through to be transported.  I wondered where those chickens were headed.  I expect they were going to market to be readied for the pot.  THIS IS SOMETHING I DON’T WISH TO KNOW.

As we traveled north it’s as if we were going backward with spring.  Everything was so lush in Florida and South Carolina and even in parts of North Carolina.  Today as and as we traveled north the mountains became scare of greenery.  However, there were trees with purple blooms lining the sides of the mountains enticing spring to come forth.  Everything state has been so gorgeous.

As we were driving along, I read something on the back, side window, of a van.  I was able to get a picture of it as we passed the vehicle.  Here is what was printed in decal lettering:

“In Loving Memory of

My Daddy and Pappa

David “Crockett” Moore

3/17/48 to 12/4/01”

That is something I have never seen done before.  I WISH I KNEW MORE OF THE STORY.

We are almost at our location and we will arrived ON TIME!

WEEKS OF SPRINGS

By Kathleen Martens

April 13, 2016

Spring comes but once a year

But it seems to take it’s time

When you travel northward

Crossing into different climes.

Start in the South where sun is warm,

Meandering northward through the states,

And you will find weeks of spring

Is what will be your fate.

Thank You God for protecting us from two possible accidents today.

Thank You for the beautiful spring we enjoyed while on our travels.

Thank You that we still have spring to look forward to when we arrive home.

Thank You Lord for a beautiful place to sleep tonight.

Thank you for socks that have toes.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU

Tuesday April 12 216 WHAT AN ODYSSY

The last few days have been quite interesting to say the least. Visions of Poetry had a guest blogger yesterday for the very first time. I think he did an excellent job. If you read it you will know that my husband was like my knight in shining armor by coming to my rescue by writing my blog.

Sunday evening I ate some chicken that I believe was left off the ice for a bit too long. As soon as I ate it I could tell that it did not sit well within the confines of my stomach. I was sick most of Sunday night and by Monday morning I was in full bloom food poisoning. I have experienced that only one other time in my life and I recognized the symptoms immediately. At first I felt fortunate that I did not experience all the experiences that can foist itself upon the pain ravaged body. I just hadn’t waited quite long enough. Before all was said and done I experienced every symptom possible…except death. I won’t go into the gory details but I will say that I was not able to function, except in the bathroom.

Dave and I stayed at an Airbnb Sunday night. It was awesome. It had a beautiful bedroom, a great bathroom (thank goodness), and an excellent host. Nate was 26 years old and the General Manager of a Target Store. His place was impeccable and he was master to one of the most delightful black retrievers, Bella. We planned to leave bright and early on Monday morning but I could not go anywhere. I have not experienced such pain in a long while. It was pretty bad!

This morning I was a bit steadier and we decided to make a break for it. We had already stayed an extra night at the Airbnb.

We had planned to spend part of the day in Charleston SC. enjoying the sights. I knew I would not be able to get up so early and expend as much energy as I would need to last the full day if I went in to Charleston. When I ate a bite of yogurt and was able to hold it down we decided to head to Columbia SC and take a tour of the State Capitol building. It was so worth it. Capitol building tours are always so interesting to me and we try to see as many capitols as we can when in close proximity.

It was interesting to hear the history of how the Capitol building was built and how long it took to complete. The building was started in 1853 and through was not completed until 1903. If you are interested in reading about its history click on this website: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/Explore/history.shtml

It is too lengthy for me to read completely to fill you in on all that happened during the course of its building.

From Columbia SC we drove up to Taylorsville NC to visit our friends. The is the place we planned to stay last night as well. This morning at 5:54 a.m. Sandra received a phone call from the county sheriff. Sandra’s mother had fallen and called life alert and they needed Sandra to meet them there so they could get into her 80 year old mother’s house. They arrived first and since there was a front window unlocked they were able to gain access through the window. Sandra’s mother had fallen and received a serious head gash and had lost a lot of blood. To make a long story short, her mother has been stitched up, her arm in a sling due to breaking her clavicle and is now safely in a rehab center. Needless to say it has been a difficult day for Sandra.

Sandra and Scott are friends we met 38 years ago when we were both pregnant. No matter how long the time between our visits, we just pick up as if we were together yesterday. That’s the good thing about certain friends. And Sandra is that friend. Sandra returned home after we arrived. We all went out to dinner (at a Mexican Restaurant). I had a few bites of fresh avocado and two sips of chicken broth and I have been paying for it ever since.

It is late, I forgot to write my blog in the car, and Sandra hasn’t stopped talking to me all evening so I haven’t written much. Honest, it really was HER doing the talking! Don’t believe everything Dave may write in a poem. I did think it was a great poem however.

WHAT GOOD FRIENDS ARE FOR
By Kathleen Martens
April 12, 2016

It’s polite to listen
When others talk
And Sandra likes
To do it a lot.

Perhaps that’s why
I am so sweet
And listen to all
Her little mouth tweets.

But my blog
Will be cut short
So that I too
Can give retort

So goodnight friends.
Lord, today I am so thankful that I am on the road to recovery.
Thank you God for your protection through this day.
Thank You God for all the wonderful dogs I have met on this trip

GOD BLESS YOU!