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Long Ago and Far Away

2 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills.

Recently, Fred and I were just chatting, and something clicked in my mind, bringing up a memory.  I don’t remember the trigger, but the memory is quite clear.

The memory took in something from my high school days, and that brought up a memory from another part of our life.

And so, I got out the yearbook from my senior year in high school – at Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, my home town –  to look up the fellow in my memory.  WOW was that a walk down memory lane!  There were over 700 students in my senior class, so it wasn’t possible to know or be friends with all of them (and by-the-way – there were 3100 students in my high school, in just the final three grades of high school – sophomore, junior, and senior).  But quite a few were quite recognizable, and I had classes with some of them.  While I was mainly involved with the music program, some of the sports jocks were in my periphery.  

Highland High School – Albuquerque, New Mexico Credit Google Search

There was one guy who was in a lot of sports, which was a bit surprising, since he wasn’t much taller than I am.  We always called him by his last name – Taylor.

And that brings me to the main memory – Fred and I had been married over four years, when he joined the military (U.S. Air Force).

Credit Google Search

He had to go through the Officer Training School (OTS) as his “basic training” in San Antonio, Texas.  I elected to go with him and found a job with Civil Service at Kelly AFB.

1966 – Judy, my boss and a co-worker, at the beginning of “Zero Defects”

Kelly AFB, San Antonio, Texas

I had my own small apartment, and Fred was able to leave the base just one night each week.  All that to say that a National Guard unit from Albuquerque was going through the same OTS training the same time as Fred was. 

1966 – Fred receiving his certificate commissioning him as an Officer in the U.S. Air Force

Photo Credit – Charles Wills, Fred’s dad

1966 – After Fred’s graduation from OTS, Fred’s dad (full bird-Colonel) and me pinning the 2nd Lt. bars on his shoulders.

For some reason, I was with Fred at the same time this Guard unit was disembarking.  Perhaps I was just getting Fred out of the car and into the barracks, I just don’t remember.  However…standing there was a face from my past – my high school past no less!  And I yelled out  – “Hey Taylor” – because it was A. Taylor, that same sports jock, getting set up for OTS training!  He turned around, saw me, and with eyes as big as saucers said, “ohmygodlymygodohmygod!”  We both had a good laugh.  I don’t remember that we talked much – I’m not even sure that he remembered exactly who I was, but he remembered me from high school.

I have never attended any of my high school reunions, but my good friend from Albuquerque, Mary, has attended most of them.  We have talked some about the kids we went to school with, as she remembered them from those reunions.

There was another “sports jock” – B. Thompson – who lived not too far from me.  He was a real looker, and I’m sure a lot of the girls had a crush on him.  I probably did, too, but never got that close to him.  In any case, when I mentioned him, Mary said, “oh, he’s probably in jail by this time!”  So I guess he went off the rails somewhere along the line.

So how’s that for a memory, hmmmm?

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Random Memories of Virginia-Part 4

25 Jun

MEMORIES

RANDOM MEMORIES OF VIRGINIA – Part 4

8.   Driving out of Seaford and approaching U.S. 17 again, we saw many landmarks that were there when we lived there.

      Pop’s Drive-in. – a greasy-spoon diner that had been there longer that we had.  We learned just this trip that it has finally closed, just this month!  Wow!  

Credit Google Search

      The Red Barn gas station – right near Pop’s and where we would fill-up the car quite often.  It was fairly close to the Newport News Airport, so we would fill the gas tank on our rental car and drive to the airport with a full tank to turn the car in.  Still in business.

Credit Google Search

      Bill’s Seaford House – a favorite of ours for a long time.  The owner was a member of our church.  Wonderful seafood, and the restaurant was closed on Sundays.  Bill sold it to one of his managers, who essentially turned it into a bar.  Not sure it is still there even (just checked Google Search, and it is permanently closed).  

Credit Google Search

9.   There were a couple of “bases” we remembered as we drove along the Colonial Parkway and Interstate 64.  They were – and I suppose still are – shrouded in mystery.  Camp Peary was one, and the rumor was that it was a CIA training ground.  It was said to be a “body farm.”  True?  According to Wikipedia, it is true. Wikipedia explains it quite well:

A body farm is a research facility where decomposition of humans and other animals can be studied in a variety of settings. The initial facility was conceived by anthropologist William M. Bass in 1981 at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Bass was interested in studying the decomposition of a human corpse from the time of death to the time of decay. The aim was to gain a better understanding of the decomposition process, permitting the development of techniques for extracting information such as the timing and circumstances of death from human remains. Body farm research is of particular interest in forensic anthropology and related disciplines, and has applications in the fields of law enforcement and forensic science. By placing the bodies outside to face the elements, researchers are able to get a better understanding of the decomposition process.

I find it fascinating that such a place exists.  Wikipedia also states that there are seven such body farms throughout the United States.  Amazing.

The other “shrouded in mystery” base was Cheatham Annex (pronounced  Cheat’ – um).  Turns out it isn’t a mystery at all!   Wikipedia states:   Cheatham Annex is a Naval Base, located near Williamsburg, Virginia on the York River approximately 35 miles northwest of Norfolk in the heart of the famous Jamestown–Williamsburg–Yorktown “Historic Triangle.” Although Cheatham Annex was not commissioned until June 1943, the land on which the base is located can claim the unique distinction of having been associated with every conflict involving the United States freedom and independence. The mission of Cheatham Annex includes supplying Atlantic Fleet ships and providing recreational opportunities to military and civilian personnel.

And:   The Navy Morale Welfare and Recreation (NMWR) runs a cabin and recreation facility on Cheatham Annex. Cheatham Annex (CAX).

CAX is home to the largest Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) Outdoor Recreation facility on the East Coast. Active duty, Reservists and military retirees and their dependents can take advantage of a wide range of facilities, including 54 cabins, 50 RV parking spots, 20 primitive campsites and more than 10 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. Along with fishing on two lakes and the York River, swimming pool and an 18-hole golf course, the MWR Outdoor Recreation is ideal for military families looking for a chance to relax. 

While that solves the mystery, Cheatham Annex was never even mentioned to us as a resort and recreation area for the military while we lived in Virginia.  Hmmmm…

Well, folks, that’s the end of “Random Memories of Virginia.”  There may be more in the future, as Fred and I recall our times in Virginia.  Thanks for letting me ramble, and I hope you enjoyed the ride – we certainly did!

~~~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Father’s Day 2023

18 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Re-post I would like to re-post this from 2017 – It’s still relevant today

Another Father’s Day dawns this morning.  As someone recently said, it’s such a pity that in today’s world of TV and comedy, fathers are portrayed as clueless and laughable.  How are our boys and young men going to grow up to be the strong men of God that we want them to be, when that is their example?  I am so glad that my father, my brother, and my husband grew up in times when men were, indeed, strong men of God, and spiritual leaders in their household.

And how are our girls and young women going to grow up, thinking that all the boys/men in their lives are luckless creatures – only to be tolerated?  In watching the TV programs that are out there now – unfortunately including some of the current Disney programs – adults in general, and men in particular –  are portrayed as stupid and ignorant, while their teenagers – and younger – are the “smart” ones.  It just ain’t so, folks!

And since that was a rather depressing way to begin this post, let me get back to the men in my life who were strong believers in God and Jesus Christ, and were able to be strong, safe, places for me.

Let me tell you about my own father.

Mother, Father, Bill and me – 1952

I’ve written other posts about my father (June 16, 2013; June 15, 2014; September 28, 2014) and the influence he had in my life.  He was gone quite a bit – traveling around the state – but I always knew he loved me, and I looked up to him.

Daddy getting ready for one of his trips – 1959

He was, indeed, the spiritual leader in our household.   He always took us to church with him, and our family life revolved around church and our belief in God.

Daddy, me, Mother, Bill – 1956

Fred’s father – a second father to me after Fred and I married – was dedicated to God and His work in this world.

Charles Wills – Chaplain – 1951

Charles Wills – Base Chaplain, Tyndall AFB, FL – 1951-1955

He was a pastor for a while, but then most of his life was doing God’s work as a military chaplain.  And yet, with all that work, he was devoted to his family.  He, too, was the spiritual leader in his family.

Charles and Kitty Wills – 1950’s

Fred and I both look back on our lives, and are so grateful that each of our fathers-in-law treated us like their son or daughter.  I never felt out of place in Fred’s family, and Fred has said so many times that my father enjoyed him as if he were another son of his.  We were so blest to have that in our lives.

And because of that, Fred grew up in a household that showered him with love – family love and God’s love.  He grew to be a self-assured man that I am proud to call my husband.  He taught our girls what a true man – a gentleman – is like, and what they should expect from their spouses.

Fred, me, Karen and Janet – 1976

And my brother, Bill, grew up in a household that taught him how to be a true man of God, as well.  He gave his children God’s word, and the strength to be what God wants them to be. 

Bill, DiVoran, Billy, Charlene – 1985

Both of our girls have married men who are strong personalities, and are dedicated to the Lord.  We pray for each member of their families, as they begin to have families of their own.

Brian,Savannah, Forrest, and Karen

On our 50th wedding anniversary cruise to Bermuda May 2011

Hannah, Janet, Tom and Connor – October 2022

There is a scripture that helps with this:

Start children off on the way they should go,

and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6 

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Random Memories of Virginia-Part 3

11 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

6.    Every time we go to Virginia to visit, we always like to drive by our old house.

Photo Credit Judy Wills

We lived in that house nearly 13 years, and really loved it.  We notice changes that were made from when we lived there.  When we purchased the house, it had brown shutters (for looks only) on the windows.  After Fred found decay and critters in the shutters, he removed them. There are now forest green shutters on all the windows.  Looks nice, and we don’t have to care for them.  There were evergreen trees just beside the front door that are now gone, and only small shrubs are all across the front of the house now.

Credit Google Search and Zillow

When we lived there, someone before us had made a patio in the back of the house out of slate stones.  

Photo Credit Judy Wills

I could stretch a line across from a tree to the trellis there, and hang clothes and sheets on that line to dry.  I now saw that a deck had been built over that patio, that looked quite nice. But no hanging clothes there now!  They had also added a shed in the backyard.  We did have a nice, large backyard with lots of trees – almost 1/2 acre of land for the house and yard.

We purchased this house in Seaford, Virginia in 1983.  Wikipedia states:   Seaford is an unincorporated community in York County, Virginia, United States, on the Virginia Peninsula. As of the 2010 Census, the Seaford postal area (ZIP Code 23696) had a population of 3,669.

And Wikipedia also states:  Seaford is mostly a rural area and includes Seaford Road and the roads attached to it. There are different neighborhoods within Seaford, some of these include Port Meyers, Sommerville, and Cheadle Loop. Seaford is located on multiple creeks including Chisman Creek and Back Creek, both of which lead out to the York River, which eventually takes you to the Chesapeake Bay. Most people in Seaford work in the surrounding areas such as, Newport News, Hampton, and Williamsburg.

We lived in the neighborhood off Cheadle Loop.

As we drove through Seaford, we reminisced about people we had known who lived in Seaford and what house they had lived in.  We remembered the first pastor of our church in Seaford when we arrived in 1983 – Jim Weston.  He was a single man at that time.  But he eventually married and he and his wife had children, and he built a house along the water in Seaford.  Literally built that house himself!  It was a bit of an odd-shaped building, but was more unique than weird!  The man who was Fred’s dentist at the time also lived in a house near the water in Seaford.  We wondered whether or not he was still there and living in the house that was his.  His children would be grown by this time.  He and his family came to our church.

7.   Driving around Seaford we noticed some new sub-communities within the small community of Seaford itself.  I can just hear the Seafordites now:  we don’t want Seaford to grow more!  We want it to be kept small!  (We heard these types of comments when we lived there)  Well cupcake, times change, and growth is inevitable.  And Seaford has to grow as well.

And that reminds me that, while we were living there, a Vietnamese family had purchased a house in Seaford and essentially turned it into a restaurant.  They served really good food in that little house, and we enjoyed eating there many times.  There was a local newspaper from Yorktown, called The Yorktown Crier, that published a story on this family and their eatery in Seaford.  That story increased their business so much that they moved from Seaford into Newport News – and the business failed.  We were sorry to see that happen to them.  We just wished they had stuck it out in Seaford, but they didn’t.

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Random Memories of Virginia-Part 2

4 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

2.    There is an area along my journey to work in Williamsburg that is called Lee Hall.  Wikipedia explains:

Lee Hall, located in the former Warwick County, was named for nearby Lee Hall Mansion which was built in 1859 as the home of Richard Decatur Lee, a prominent local farmer who was not directly related to the famous Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The mansion was used as headquarters for Confederate generals Joseph E. Johnston and John B. Magruder during the Peninsula Campaign of the American Civil War in 1862. 

Lee Hall Mansion

Credit Google Search and Lee Hall Website

I used to drive through Lee Hall often to get to U.S. 60 and on to Williamsburg.  But the funny thing about Lee Hall was that, if it was raining at my house  in Seaford as I started out – in winter at least – when I got to Lee Hall it was snowing!  And it was snowing all the way into Williamsburg!  I guess the elevation was just enough higher to make the rain turn to snow!  

Credit Google Search

3.   Also along the Colonial Parkway (as well as Jefferson Ave) is the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station.

Officer Housing on Yorktown Naval Weapons Station

Credit Google Search and YNWS website

It is an active Navy Base, and we occasionally would go there to shop at their facilities, as well as do some of our medical stuff there.  Most of our medical was done either at Langley AFB in Hampton, or Fort Eustis Army Base.  But we enjoyed the smaller, quieter pace of the Weapons Station.  If we happened to be driving along the Colonial Parkway, we could see where the original gate to the Weapons Station was…lovely brickwork. And further down the Parkway was a secondary gate – that was the one we usually used to enter the base.  However, following the events of 911/2001, this secondary gate was closed and barricaded, so that the only entrance was from Jefferson Ave (Virginia road 143).  By that time we had moved to Florida, and didn’t need to go to the Weapons Station.

4.   We used to drive the Fort Eustis Blvd to the Fort Eustis Army Base quite often.

Credit Google Search and Peter Hahn

We would go to that military post for shopping and occasionally some medical reasons.  As we drove along that road recently, we were reminded of a couple from our church in Seaford who moved into a retirement community that was built off Fort Eustis Blvd.  They were pillars of the church and we were sorry to see them leave this earth, but know they are with our Heavenly Father and are in no more pain.  Praise God!

5.   A fun connection with Fort Eustis Blvd is along U.S. 17 and Fort Eustis Blvd.  A McDonald’s eatery was built right on that corner while we were living in VA.  Nothing noteworthy about that, except they had a huge picture-window right on U.S. 17.  And right in front of that window – INSIDE the eatery – they placed a Ford ThunderBird convertible! 

Credit Pixabay

 Amazing!  Right there in the picture window!  It was an eye-catcher, for sure!  Unfortunately, I assume either they needed more eating space, or someone really had a hankering for that T-Bird, because it is no longer in the window.  Shucks!

We also found it interesting that there are now four eateries on that corner of U.S. 17 and Fort Eustis Blvd – the McDonald’s mentioned above, Bojangles, Wendy’s, and Arby’s.  No shortage of places to eat there!  Just whatever your taste buds need that day!

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Memorial Day 2023

28 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Memorial Day is upon us again.  Another day of celebrating…picnics in the park with hot dogs and hamburgers and friends and family…sales…sales…sales.  It’s all here.

Fred and I had an experience today (Friday) just as we finished our lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse.  Heading to the car, a gentleman stopped us, he leaned toward Fred and said, “Thank you….for keeping our country safe.”  Fred replied with his usual, “It was an honor to serve.”  And he means that.  The gentleman then asked some things about the Air Force and airplanes in general, so they talked together for a few minutes.

I am always so touched and proud when these kinds of things happen – and they seem to be happening more and more often – people just thanking Fred for his service.

How do they know he was in the military?  Well, since his hair is “thinning” a bit on top (sorry Honey), he usually wears a hat – this hat in particular

So is he advertising that he is a military man?  Perhaps, but it could also be in his stature.  His bearing is that of a military person.

All that to say that, while we are touched by those who give him this honor, that’s NOT what Memorial Day is all about.  Memorial Day is about those who never came home – those who willingly gave their lives so this country can be free as it is.

Here are some facebook entries that have touched me.  Perhaps they will touch you and give you something to think about this weekend:

Someone recently said, that when a military person is “thanked” for their service, the service member should respond with:   Thank you for being worth it.

Are we still a country that was or is WORTH the death of those who go to war for us?

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Random Memories of Virginia

21 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

RANDOM MEMORIES OF VIRGINIA

Fred and I recently made a trip to Williamsburg, Virginia, to visit our daughter, Janet and her family.  We had lived in that part of Virginia for nearly 13 years before we moved to Florida, where we now live.  It’s always nice to get back to Virginia, since we spent so much time there.  It is actually the place we lived the longest, continually, since we married, over 61 years ago, so it holds a special place in our hearts.

Credit Google search and Wikipedia Sign along Interstate 64

On our first day there, since the twins were in school, Tom was working from home, and Janet was at her job in Richmond, we decided to take a ride and see places we had been/lived.  As we were driving down the Colonial Parkway from Colonial Williamsburg, we began to reminisce about things Virginia.  Therefore, I would like to present my readers with some random memories of Virginia.

Credit Google Search

1.   Driving the Colonial Parkway brought thoughts of how much we enjoy that drive – in all seasons.  Spring brings new-green leaves on all the trees and some flowers – the redbuds, and especially the Dogwood blossoms.

Credit Google Search

Summer is lush foliage all through the drive.

Credit Google Search

Fall has the gorgeous fall colors on the trees – golds, yellows, oranges, reds.  Beautiful. 

Credit Google Search and RVing with Rex

Winter is beautiful in its own way – snow on the trees and shrubs.

Credit Google Search

Not so nice is the snow/ice on the roadway.  The Parkway is made up of aggregate, and the ice on it isn’t very comfortable.

While unmarked, one can readily see the three lanes of the Parkway, as they were laid.  There are frequent signs for “Do Not Pass” along the way, especially when the road turns and the way ahead is not easy to see.

The Parkway has a 45 mph speed limit, which can be frustrating if one is in a hurry!  However, it is an easy thing to set the cruise-control for 45 mph and just let George (the cruise control driver) do the driving.  The Parkway is heavily patrolled, so it pays to pay attention to the speed limit.

I worked in the Colonial Williamsburg area at one time, and had a certain way I liked to drive to work.  From our house in Seaford, down Denbigh Blvd, to U.S. 60 or Warwick Blvd to Williamsburg.  However one of those mornings, I was nearly involved in a fatal accident.  Coming around a curve in the road, the car coming toward me slipped onto the dirt and gravel  – probably losing control of her car – and rammed/slammed into the front of the pickup truck in front of me.  By the time we stopped and I got out, the driver from the truck said the driver of the car was dead.  Turns out, she was just 18 years old, and on her way to her college class.  I was so upset by the entire thing, that I found I couldn’t take that route to work for many months – I kept seeing the accident in my mind.  So I started driving the Colonial Parkway – set my cruise-control to 45 mph and just rode until I reached the Colonial area.  It was a great way to get to work, and the reminder of the accident diminished in my mind.  Time heals.

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Perfume…Cologne…Whatever…

14 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Seems like I have always worn some kind of fragrance.  When I was growing up, it was most likely something from Avon – but I don’t remember just which one.  Occasionally I would wear something that my Mother had, or her sister, my Aunt Jessie had.  They had exotic fragrances that appealed to me.  

Not a very clear picture – but the glass shelves on the right held Jessie’s perfume bottles

I remember one time, when my brother Bill returned from one of his Navy assignments, that he brought back a HUGE bottle of Tabu for Mother.  I’m not sure she ever even opened the bottle, and it sat on her dresser from that time on.  I mean, that thing was enormous!  

Vintage Tabu – photo credit Google Search

Among her collection of perfumes, Jessie had a fragrance called Shalimar.  I really liked that one!  But it was definitely a PERFUME, not a cologne, so it was worn sparingly so as not to be over-powering, not only to the wearer, but to those standing nearby.  

Photo Credit – Google Search and Wikipedia

There was a time that I found a fragrance that I really liked – a true perfume – called Je Reviens by Worth out of Paris.  The liquid was actually blue.

Credit Google Search and Worth website

 I was told that, if it had been “watered down” the liquid turned yellow/gold.  So I could always tell if it was the true stuff or not.

Credit Google Search and Worth website

I still have some of that, but when I tried it one time recently, it didn’t appeal to me, so I washed it off.  I guess my body chemistry had changed.

And then there was a time when I wore something called Niki de Saint Ralle, by Jacqueline Cochran, Inc.  It’s a rather “potent” perfume, and that didn’t last too long.  Again, I still have a bottle of it, but haven’t worn it in many years.

Photo by Judy Wills

My very favorite fragrance to wear is Estēe by Estee Lauder.

Photo by Judy Wills

There is a bit of a story behind that.  We had been stationed in Wiesbaden, West Germany from 1967 to 1970.  During that time, our Karen was born.  Now, since we like to travel through Europe, we thought it might be a bit difficult to travel with a newborn or toddler.  So we found a lovely couple in our church there who took care of her while we traveled.

One of those trips we made was to England.  During that time, we took a bus tour to Warwick Castle.  There was a lady on the bus that smelled absolutely delicious!  And so I actually had the nerve to ask her what fragrance she was wearing.  She said it was Estēe by Estee Lauder, and what she had on was a “solid” cologne.  Something you rub on rather than squirt on.  When we returned to Germany, I checked in the Base Exchange, but they didn’t carry that fragrance.  So when we returned Stateside and went to our next base – Loring AFB, Maine – I checked the BX there, and they had it.  I snapped up a bottle, and have been wearing it off-and-on ever since.  

I told my Aunt Jessie about wearing Estee Lauder, and she gave me another of their fragrances – Youth Dew.  Well, that particular fragrance makes me gag!  If I’m in a group of people and smell something disgusting, it only takes me a short while to realize that someone in that group is wearing Youth Dew. (Actually, I’m thinking, what IS that awful smell?) After Jessie gave me Youth Dew,  I traded it in for my Estēe and was MUCH happier!

A few years ago, my best friend gave me a different fragrance as a gift, and I wore it for many years, as it is a light fragrance, and sweet.  It is Japanese Cherry Blossom put out by Bath and Body Works.

Photo by Judy Wills

However, recently I have gone back to Estēe, and am happy to be wearing it again.

Can you smell it from here??

And before I leave this, I must tell you about the fragrance that my Fred wears.  It is called Devin, and we both love it.  He is nearly out of his current bottle, and we are sorry about that, because we are unable to find it anywhere anymore.  It makes him smell sooooo gooood!  I love to sniff him!

Photo by Judy Wills

Did you have a favorite scent?

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Breathsavers ®

30 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

In previous musings, I have written about a family I knew growing up, who lived in Deming, New Mexico (please see my post of January 15, 2023).  I mentioned that the family had one child – a daughter – who became fast friends with me.  We are still very good friends, even though we live so far apart.

Ruth Anne and me on the Ferris wheel – NM State Fair 1955

Ruth Anne at the NM State Fair 1955

I also mentioned that when I was old enough, I would ride the bus to Deming by myself (a four hour bus ride) and spend a few weeks in the summer with Ruth Anne and her family.  And the next summer she would come to Albuquerque and spend a few weeks with us.

1956 – Ruth Anne and me in Albuquerque at our house

All that to say that one year I developed bronchitis, and was still coughing away when I went to Deming.  Now one of the most fun things about being with Ruth Anne and her family, was that we would go swimming at the local pool.  That particular summer, Ruth Anne’s mother told me that, as long as I was coughing so much, I couldn’t go swimming.  I had to learn to control that cough!  So I set out to do just that!

1955 – Deming, New Mexico – Ruth Anne, her dad, a friend, and me

But what I learned most about controlling the cough, was when I was trying to sleep.  I learned to cover my mouth with the pillow and cough into the pillow!  Muffle the sound, as it were.  It must have worked, because I remember we DID go swimming!

And as an adult, I have found, through the years, that I still have times when trying to sleep, I still have the need to cough…whether from a cold or whatever.  And since I sleep in the same bed as my husband, and don’t want to wake him up unnecessarily, I still face-plant into the pillow and cough.  Sometimes that just isn’t quite enough to quench the cough, and I used to have a cough drop near at hand.

Credit – Pixabay

 But now I’ve taken to having a roll of BreathSavers® on the night-stand near my bed and pop one of them into my mouth.  It is a smaller tablet than a cough drop, and doesn’t “furr” my tongue the way the cough drop did.  And it seems to do the trick in getting me to stop coughing.

Photo credit – Judy Wills

I had to do that just this morning [as I am writing this], and it reminded me of that time of my life when I had to try to control my cough. 

I used to just suck on BreathSavers® because liked them, and at one point gave a 5-pack of them to our grandchildren for Christmas – just one of their gifts from us.  They enjoyed them and asked for them whenever they were with us. 

Good memories!

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Let’s Play a Game-Make it Up

23 Apr

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Re-blog from July 2019

I have some quirky habits – well, I suppose most people do.  But for some reason, when we are stopped at a traffic light, I look at the cars around us – specifically their license tags – and try to make up words for them.

I think I started doing that with our own license tags, just so I could remember them if or when I would need to give that information to someone, such as the DMV or at a hotel where we stayed.

For instance, one of our tags in Virginia was QRI-727.  What would you make of that?  Well, my thought was:  query (or question)? Is that a 727 airplane?

We had one tag here in Florida that was UNH-935.  Since we attended (and Fred graduated from) the University of New Mexico, thus UNM, that was fairly easy: University of New Hampshire-935.  Get the picture?  I just wish Fred had asked the clerk to pull one that had UNM on it! 

Okay, let’s do a test-run.  See what you can make out of the following (that I made up):

            Y25-JVP

and     Y75-KPD

For the first one, I would have said:   Year25-John Victor Patrick

And the second one:   Year75-Kissimmee Police Department

            (That one was easy, since I have two friends who work at the KPD)

Then there are the vanity plates.  I have a lot of fun with them.  There was a married couple we knew in Texas who had Mopsy on her car, and Popsy on his.

And then I saw one vanity plate with just one word on it:   ytteb    I had a difficult time figuring that one out – until I spelled it backwards.  I’m assuming the driver’s name is: Betty.

We had one Air Force license tag that said AGPOP.

Really easy to remember.  Unfortunately, Florida law says that military plates have to be changed out every 10 years.  I can’t imagine who made up that law.  All it does is create more paperwork for some government agency, that is totally unnecessary.  But that’s the government for you.

Below are some sample license plates from Florida’s License plate designs

I guess the one that really inspired me to do this word search, was while we were living in Virginia.  I was stopped behind a car whose license plate had the words:  I SOIF.  That one had me baffled.  Soif?  Soif?  What in the world is soif?  Then, as I began looking at the back window decals – and the bumper stickers – of the car, I realized that I was looking at all kinds of surfboards!  Okay…now I get it – I SOIF means I SURF.  The guy in the car was a surfer.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

So….has this inspired you to take a new look at license plates and try to figure out words?  It’s a fun thing to do, and Fred gets quite tickled at some of the ones I come up with.  Give it a try.  You just might like it – and it helps pass the time when traveling.

[Added April 23, 2023:  in seeing license tags from other states, I realize that a lot of states have more than the 3-n-3 numbers/letters that Florida has.  But it still might be fun to try to make something of the tags you see.]

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

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