Tag Archives: Family Life

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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My Favorite Breakfast-Part 2

21 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

As I grew older, I finally came around to enjoy what my folks liked for their breakfast.  By then, their taste had changed to scrambled eggs, bacon or ham, and toast with coffee. Of course, I was still drinking milk with my breakfast and didn’t pick up the taste for coffee until much later in life.  This breakfast usually supercharged me for most of the morning but made me sleepy during my late-afternoon classes at school.

Photo Credit: https://www.juddscatering.com/breakfast.html

After leaving home for a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy (at shore stations and onboard several ships), my breakfast usually consisted of scrambled eggs (powdered), sausage patties (from canned war surplus, some dated 1943), home fried potatoes, and milk (powdered).   The alternative was commonly known as ‘SOS’ (anyone associated with the military will know what that acronym stands for).  Neither one of the above-mentioned breakfasts is the most appetizing breakfast, but since I didn’t have much of a choice and I didn’t want to starve, I learned to tolerate them.  Your guess is as good as mine about some of the items shown in the photo below.  I believe I recognize the eggs and maybe one of those gray blobs is beef-gravy (?) and the toast, but  the other, you got me.  

Photo Credit: navy-tales-life-and-food-aboard-an-aircraft-carrier/

After my tour with the Navy was done, and during my college years my wife, DiVoran and I were living on a very tight budget and my breakfast consisted mainly of a stop at “Randy’s Big Donut” for three or four freshly baked French donuts ($.10 each back then) and a half-pint carton of milk.  I usually didn’t have time to eat the donuts there in the donut shop, so I mostly ended up eating them on my way to class once I got to school.  

Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/randys+big+donut

That was a quick and easy breakfast for me at that time because that was about all I could afford on my meager part-time job. The chocolate covered French donuts were my favorite.  Many of my breakfast choices changed for the better once I landed that full-time job and my schooling shifted to evening classes.

Photo Credit: https://www.google.com/search?q=french+donuts

After finishing college, our family moved to Florida where I worked at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on NASA’s Manned Space Programs for many years.  My breakfast during those hectic years reverted back to my childhood, usually consisting of cold cereal, with milk, and maybe coffee, if I got up early enough and had the time for any breakfast at all before heading off to work. 

Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/breakfast/cereal/coffee

My sister, Judy, tells me that she and her husband, Fred, now enjoy scrambled eggs with Canadian bacon, buttered toast, and hot English Breakfast Tea for breakfast.  That sounds a lot like a left-over family tradition from their college days when Fred lived with our folks for a year before he and Judy got married.  She tells me that when they were stationed in Germany, with the U.S. Air Force, they enjoyed Sara Lee Pecan Coffee Cake and hot English Breakfast tea.  After moving back to the U.S. their favorite changed to Sara Lee Butter Flavored Streusel Coffee Cakes with their hot tea.

Photo Credit: https://images.yahoo.com/sara+lee+coffee+cake+butter+streusel

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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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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My Favorite Breakfast-Part 1

14 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

What is your favorite breakfast? To keep healthy, my daily breakfast is a mix of 3 or 4 cut-up strawberries, ¼-cup of blueberries, 1/8th-cup of chopped walnuts, 1-cup of plain yogurt sweetened with Swerve, into which I stir in two packets of (Immnicol) Glutathione power.  This is not the most delightful tasting combination, but health wise, my health coordinator wife, DiVoran, tells me it’s the best I can do for my own particular body needs right now.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

For pure pleasure, when I go out to eat, my favorite breakfast is two eggs (over medium), a couple of pork sausage links (maple flavored), the bacon is optional (only if it come with the order), hash-brown potatoes (grilled to a golden brown), and a steaming cup of hot Earl Grey tea.  I can take my wife, DiVoran, out to one of our favorite restaurants for this delightful meal or I can order the same thing at most any restaurant of my choosing on one of my road trips (I know I fudged on the eggs in the photo).

Photo Credit: https://nextdoor.com/bob-evans/

DiVoran tells me her favorite breakfast is two poached eggs with one (thin) slice of buttered Sourdough toast, and homemade jellies, when it is available.  She is a coffee drinker and a cup of her favorite home-made brew (half full caffeinated & half decaffeinated) is always a part of her breakfast.  Of course, she is also an avid reader, so, some sort of daily devotional is an important part of her breakfast time.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I remember my mother and dad‘s favorite breakfast was pecan waffles with a strip of bacon grilled into the waffle.  As I grew older, I learned to enjoy pecan waffles, but I never developed the taste for the bacon in them. Of course, their alternate to the pecan waffles was scrambled eggs, with Canadian bacon and fresh baked bread and butter with Granny’s homemade peach preserves.  I got in on that type of delicious breakfast once-in-a-while as I grew older and wanted something other than cold cereal and milk.

Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/Waffle+with+bacon+inside

As youngsters, my little sister, Judy, and I began most of our days with cold cereal with milk.  As we grew older, we became Aunt Jemima pancake lovers, with lots of butter and maple syrup.  After our mother had used all of the pancake batter for our pancakes, we were allowed (under her supervision) to make tiny ‘one-drop’ or ‘two-drop’ sized pancakes, in the big cast iron skillet. Sometimes there was enough batter left to make a small ‘heart-shaped’ pancake, which we were thrilled to create.

Photo Credit: https://yahoo.com/search/images;_pancake-clipart

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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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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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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The Remote Control

7 May

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

The remote control has come a long way.  We usually take it for granted in these days – I wouldn’t even THINK of having to get up from my comfy chair to go and change the channel on the TV!  Outrageous!  And yet, I remember when that was the norm.

I remember when my family got our first TV when I was a child in Albuquerque.  Such a novelty!  And there were only three channels available.  It was only on during the day, and ended each day with a single picture on the screen, and the National Anthem being played/sung.

I remember on New Year’s Day, when all the college bowl games were being played – my Dad had one game on the big TV, another game on a small TV on top of the big TV – another game on the radio in one bedroom, and another game on the radio in another bedroom.  He would bounce back and forth among all those rooms trying to keep track of all the games.  Used to drive my Mother crazy!

But all of those TV’s had a manual remote – in other words, someone had to get up and change the channel manually.

1956 – Judy in our living room with the new TV – no remote control

Okay…fast forward a few years.  Fred and I married and moved to Fort Worth, Texas for him to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  One of our first purchases was a black-and-white TV set.  It wasn’t much, but we enjoyed it.  We took it with us when we moved to San Antonio, Texas for Fred to attend the U.S. Air Force Officer Training School (OTS).  We had it with us in San Jose, California while Fred attended San Jose State College (now University) to get his meteorology training.  But we must have sold it there, because we didn’t have any TV with us during the three years we were in Wiesbaden, West Germany.

Upon arriving back in the U.S., Fred’s parents gave us their old black-and-white TV, as they had purchased a new color TV for themselves.  It only had a manual remote, and Karen (only four years old at this time) would go and turn the remote – to the correct channel I might add – before we even turned on the machine!  How did she DO that???  It never failed that she had the correct channel.  And in northern Maine, on a U.S. Air Force Base, we had only just a few channels to choose from.  Amazing.  She’s a genius!!

When we moved to San Antonio, Texas, we purchased a new TV for ourselves – and it was in COLOR!  WOW!  What a difference that made – even the weather was better in color!  It was in a lovely wood console – but held only the TV – no radio…no turntable…no storage space contained therein.  Still – it only had a manual channel-change knob.  It was a great piece of furniture, and we carried it with us to Tyndall AFB, Florida, to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and then to Heidelberg, West Germany.  

1979-1980 – The TV console in our unit at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas

After we lived in Virginia for a while, we purchased a more up-do-date TV for our family room, and moved that TV console upstairs to our bedroom.  We finally sold it – or donated it – before we moved to Florida.  

And that’s where our remote controls came into being.  And we couldn’t live without them now – sometime we even have one in each hand!

What a progression.  And all this was prompted by a picture on FaceBook of an old-fashioned TV dial.

Credit FaceBook

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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I Created New Age Categories.

5 May

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

It’s been a few months now since I became a septuagenarian. I am not really sure how it happened. And don’t get me started on how my children are now the age I was as they began to leave the nest. Except for some aches, pains and less mobile joints, none of my friends feel as old as a septuagenarian must surely feel. 

Image by ❄️♡💛♡❄️ Julita ❄️♡💛♡❄️ from Pixabay

The word elderly is often used to describe septuagenarians. I have to dispute the description. We are not elderly. I am adding new categories, sub-elderly and uber-elderly. I would say this could be applied to those over 85 years of age. Although, I know some who defy the elderly image.

So, if according to my scale, 70 is sub-elderly and 85 is uber-elderly, then somewhere around 77 years of age would be elderly. I am certain I will reassess this conclusion in a few short years.

I have enjoyed keeping up with advances in technology but I am sure that one day I will decide to step off the train and park my brain somewhere. I do hope to hang on until teleportation becomes the mode of transportation.

https://ggwash.org/view/76340/would-you-rather-teleport-to-work-if-you-walk-or-bike-maybe-not

I am in a quandary about AI. It can do fascinating things. I bet if I asked, it could tell me the perfect Father’s Day gift for my husband. Imagine never having to decide on a perfect gift! One could type in the recipients name and it would produce an answer.

I tried it!

Here is an example: I asked Chat GPT: What is the perfect birthday gift for author Rebekah Lyn? Within seconds I had suggestions!

As an AI language model, I cannot know for sure what would be the perfect birthday gift for Rebekah Lyn. However, I can suggest some general ideas that might help inspire you:

  1. Books: As an author, Rebekah Lyn might appreciate receiving books as a gift. You could consider getting her a new release or a classic novel that she hasn’t read yet, or even a signed copy of a book by one of her favorite authors.
  2. Writing tools: If Rebekah Lyn is someone who enjoys writing by hand, you could consider getting her a nice notebook or journal, or a set of high-quality pens or pencils. If she prefers writing on a computer, you could consider a subscription to a writing software or a new keyboard.
  3. Personalized items: Personalized gifts can be a great way to show someone you care. You could consider getting a customized coffee mug or a t-shirt with her favorite quote or saying on it.
  4. Gift card: If you’re not sure what to get Rebekah Lyn, a gift card to a bookstore, writing supply store, or even a local restaurant or spa could be a great option. This way she can choose something that she really wants or needs.
  5. Experience: You could also consider giving her an experience, such as a writing workshop, a trip to a literary festival, or a book signing event with one of her favorite authors.

Ultimately, the best gift will depend on Rebekah Lyn’s personal tastes and interests, so try to think about what she might really enjoy and appreciate.

Not bad suggestions at all! I do think AI must be carefully managed.

I may be classified as a septuagenarian but I am definitely sub-elderly.

In my 70 years of life I have known joy and sorrow, people have disappointed me and I have disappointed people. Cultural values have changed drastically. I remember talking with my daughter during her teen years as she struggled to find her value standard. I told her something like values and morals change with the times but the Word of God is constant. Make it your go to when you are confused.

I have long loved this verse. It puts life into perspective for me;

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
Isaiah 40:8

I'm a winner

After my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2022 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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High-Speed Fiber Optic Installation-Part 5

26 Apr

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

After the Christmas holidays, I was finally able to reach the contact person at the claims office.  This time she said they still didn’t have all the necessary information, and would I please send the photos and the estimate again.  I verified the email address and sent the information they requested again.  I was beginning to wonder if this was a ploy to keep from having to pay me, or just how many times I was going to have to repeat this process before they finally received the email information, I was sending them.

Image Credit: https://images.search.yahoo. customer-service/clipart.  

About two weeks later, with no other word from the contact person, I was surprised to receive a check in the mail for the estimated damage claim amount.  Wow!  I guess they finally did receive my information and someone actually followed thru with my claim.  Will wonders never cease?  I didn’t waste any time contacting the drywall contractor and setting up an appointment to have the damaged area repaired.  That only took a couple of days to schedule, and the repair was completed without any additional problems.  

Image Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/ceiling+repair

Upon completion of the repair, I mentioned that it didn’t look like the new portion of drywall was covered adequately, but was told that it would all look fine when the plaster dried.  I really didn’t think it had enough plaster on it, but I didn’t say anymore because hey, who am I to question the guy that does this kind of work every day.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

It’s a week later and really, does that look like there is enough plaster on the new piece of drywall to cover it adequately?  I was originally told that the new plaster might not match the original plaster, and I was ready for that, but the plaster on the replacement drywall just isn’t thick enough to cover the new drywall.  So now I have to get the drywall guy back out here to finish the job the way it was supposed to have been done the first time.  Bummer!

Image credit: yahoo.com/frustrated+man+clipart

I called the drywall guy and it’s hard for me to believe what he told me.  He said that it’s not that there isn’t enough paster, but that the new plaster and wallboard have to be painted in order to keep the paster from drying out and crumbling.  Not knowing anything about smooth  or skip trowel ceiling finishes, I was not aware that they had to be painted.  Well, whatever; he is coming by to take a look at the repair and do whatever needs to be done to finish the job to my satisfaction.  We’ll see how that goes.

Image Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/ceiling+repair

Well, as expected, the drywall guy never showed up, even after I called him several times.  I had the same kind of problem with sub-contractors back in the 1980s when I was building houses with my father-in-law.  The last 5% of any job is getting the “finish” contractor to do his part.  I ended up many times doing most of that “finish” work myself, when possible, just to meet the scheduled closing date.  So, I (not too happily) painted the repair area myself.  OK, so I caved.  I know I should have insisted on the drywall guy doing it, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of a tiny little bit of paint.  Besides, I had already had enough trouble with this project and just wanted to see it done.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Well, finally the job is done, and we love the new system.  However, this whole project has been what I call getting connected to a new high-speed fiber optic system THE HARD WAY!  What do you think? 

—–The End—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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