Tag Archives: Family Life

Let’s Eat! Part 8

4 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Recently, Fred and I celebrated our 63rd anniversary – quite a milestone.  As it happened, we were in Virginia, celebrating the high school graduation of our grand-twins, Connor and Hannah.  And so, while we were there, we made our own celebration.

Photo by Judy Wills

While we like to eat out quite often, this was to be a special meal.  We had a difficult time deciding just where we wanted to eat for our celebration.  We finally decided to eat at Berret’s Seafood Restaurant and Taphouse Grill in Merchant’s Square in Colonial Williamsburg.  We had never eaten there before, so this would really be a treat for us.

Photo credit by Google search and Berret’s website

We had a really nice meal there.  Here is a decoration we found at a window near our table.

Photo by Judy Wills

Since they knew it was our anniversary, just before we left the restaurant, they gave us a SMALL bottle of champagne with writing on the side. 

Photo by Judy Wills

Photo by Judy Wills

Nice gesture on their part.  Neither of us are champagne drinkers, but I tasted it when we got back to Janet and Tom’s house.  It was okay, if you like that kind of thing.  It was the thought that counted.

The last day we were in Virginia, Fred and I had a second meal at one of our favorite eateries in Williamsburg.  It is called Food for Thought – original name, hm? 

Photo by Judy Wills

We thoroughly eating there, and the inside decorations are quite unique.  There are “sayings” and thought-provoking comments from scholars and literary people lining the walls.  A most interesting place to eat and ponder…and the food is good, as well!

Photo by Judy Wills

When we returned home from that visit, on Saturday, we went to our favorite bbq eatery called 4Rivers.

Photo by Judy Wills

Since we eat there frequently, we have become fairly good friends – well perhaps very good acquaintances is a better word – with the servers, managers, and cooks there.  We get waves and smiles whenever we enter the eatery, and the managers come and have conversations with us.  We love it! 

Well, we had told one of the managers, Cara, when our anniversary was, and she planned this surprise there for us.  She said she was sweating bullets that day, just hoping we would go there to eat that Saturday, as usual.  And this is why: They had “reserved” part of a table just for us – in our usual spot to eat!

Photo by Judy Wills

They treated us to the meal (wouldn’t let us pay for it); walked us to the table; gave us a plaque telling about love and marriage, that every employee of this restaurant had signed on the back, and just celebrated with us.

Photo by Judy Wills

Every cook/cashier/server in the place wished us a “happy anniversary” with a smile.  They were aMAZing!  We were amazed and surprised.  This is customer service to the extreme.  But we loved it.  Oh, the memories.  And here is where we’ve hung the plaque in our house – so we can see it and think of those people and the effort they put into making a special time for us.   WOW!  

Photo by Judy Wills

~~~~~~~~~~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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Let’s Eat-Part 6

14 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

While Fred and I were living in Fort Worth, one of my dad’s brothers married a lady who owned a dress shop. They both lived in Louisiana, near Shreveport.  They would drive to Dallas twice a year for her to view and purchase clothing for her dress shop.  She had really good taste in garments, as women from Shreveport would drive the 30 miles just to shop in her store.  In the times they came to Dallas, they would call us and invite us to have dinner with them one evening during their four-day stay.  While neither Fred nor I can remember exactly the name of the restaurant where we ate, we both suppose it was the restaurant in the hotel where they stayed.  The main reason I remember it, is because they introduced me to grilled pork chops!  I had always breaded and fried the pork chops I fixed for us, and the grilled ones were delicious!  I never fried them again!

Credit Pixabay

I know that Pizza Hut is well-known in the U.S.  And we have enjoyed eating at those eateries most of our life.  

Credit Google Search and Pizza Hut

When we moved to Florida (Kissimmee, actually), there was one Pizza Hut in town, and we frequented it often.  One day they put out a “barbeque” pizza.  We cautiously tried one slice of it – and found we LOVED the taste!  It was chicken with barbeque sauce on it – all on top of the regular tomato pizza sauce, cheese, etc.  So every time we went to Pizza Hut after that, we asked that they make us a barbeque pizza.  It was great!

There was also a Shoney’s eatery in Kissimmee, where we ate occasionally. 

Credit Google Search and Shoney’s website

 Shoney’s was known for their breakfast menu, and we enjoyed it.  However, when we tried some of their lunch/dinner offerings, we were less-than-impressed.  I didn’t know anyone could make a “bad” soup – but Shoney’s managed!  I don’t remember just what kind of soup I had ordered, but it came with about one-half inch of oil on the top!  Yuck!   So we limited our eatings at Shoney’s to their breakfast buffet.

We both enjoy seafood, and were pleased to find a really good seafood restaurant in Kissimmee, called Shells.  I’m not sure we tried everything on the menu, but I found something on the menu called “Godfather’s Shrimp” and I loved it!  It was what I ordered every time we ate there (which was usually after church of Sundays).  Fred found a great Mahi-Mahi Italiano that was his favorite.  Also at Shells, I found they had a wonderful coleslaw that had Mandarin Orange slices in it!  I’ve never had that before, and was pleased with the taste.  Amazing!  Unfortunately, Shells in Kissimmee is no longer – I think the ones in Central Florida are in Tampa, Brandon and St. Pete Beach – and that’s really too long a way to go for seafood.  Shucks!

Well, okay it’s a long way to go for seafood, but Fred and I travel over to Titusville every-other month for lunch with my brother Bill and his wife, DiVoran (about 45 minutes).  And our favorite place to eat is Dixie Crossroads

Credit photo Google Search and Dixie Crossroads website; Steve Hunsader

And it’s a seafood restaurant!  They have a house specialty that is unique.  They serve Rock Shrimp.  Now, Rock Shrimp used to be what Fred calls a “trash fish” – the shell is so hard that it was nearly impossible to get to the meat inside.  And then, someone made a tool that would cut the hard shell and open up the good meat inside.  It has a “lobster” feel and taste to me, and I thoroughly enjoy it every time we go there. Yummmm

~~~~~~~~~~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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What Do You Think About?

4 Jul

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

What do you think of when you think about celebrating the 4th of July?

Stars and stripes, red, white and blue?

Watermelon and fireworks?

I think about my mother’s birthday. I used to tease her that she was so special the whole country celebrated.

She loved her dog, Max

We live outside of town and the last few years our near neighbor has put on a fabulous fireworks display. They invite their family and friends to cookout and enjoy the show. We would go over and sit with them to watch the fireworks, but the last few years we just sit on our front steps and enjoy the show.

One year we decided to take our grandchildren to view the fireworks in town. It was too crowded at the fairgrounds where they were being set off, but we were able to watch from the McDonald’s parking lot. It was fun.

To answer my original question, what do I think about when celebrating the 4th of July, I think about family times, laughter and loving.

I also think about why the 4th of July is a special date, a day to celebrate our nation’s birthday. What courage and passion it must have taken to choose to separate from a powerful country.

However you celebrate today, make memories! Even burnt burgers or the dog grabbing the hotdogs will be a fun memory-one day.

Does anyone recognize this picture’s location?

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’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2024 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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Let’s Eat!-Part 3

30 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Still thinking of our/my time in Albuquerque, New Mexico, growing up, and the places where we liked to eat.  Of course we discovered McDonald’s and their 15 cent hamburgers (still love their french fries!).  

Credit Pixabay

There was an eatery on the corner of Central Avenue (main street of Albuquerque, U.S. Route 66) and San Mateo, called Bimbo’s.  As teenagers we used to go there a lot.  They had good burgers, but I also learned to love hot fudge sundae’s there!  Had my first one there, and did a repeat often.  I’m surprised I didn’t weigh a ton from all the french fries, burgers and hot fudge sundaes I ate! 

Credit Pixabay

I asked Bill (my brother) if there were other eateries he liked that I haven’t mentioned.  Here is his response:

Judy,

The only restaurant I can think of that you haven’t already listed was a little Mom and Pop restaurant (Can’t remember the name ) I discovered, on fourth Street downtown, where I took DiVoran and my friend Bud for a celebration meal (can’t remember what occasion).  We had a T-bone steak (cooked to order) with two sides and iced tea for $1.00+4 cents tax each. I took DiVoran there a lot. I’ll let you know if I think of any other places.   Don’t forget the Fitzgerald‘s ice cream after church every Sunday night on Granny’s homemade cherry pie.

To elaborate on the “Granny’s homemade cherry pie” that Bill mentioned…either mother or Granny would make a cherry pie most Sunday afternoons.  Following church on Sunday evening, we would stop by Fitzgerald’s to pick up a pint of homemade vanilla ice cream to go on top of that cherry pie.  Man was that good!  We didn’t have microwave ovens then, so we didn’t warm up the pie – but it was still good with Fitzgerald’s ice cream on it!

The Mom and Pop that Bill mentioned – there are so many eateries along Fourth Street…and the possibility it isn’t in existence anymore…makes it impossible to find the place now.  And Fourth Street is one of the main North/South arteries in Albuquerque.  Central Avenue (U.S. Route 66) is East/West, with downtown being the main area, and Fourth Street the other direction.  

Not directly in Albuquerque, there was a steak house in Santa Fe where we went occasionally.  It was about 90 miles away, and on the interstate it didn’t take too long to travel (at 70 mph!).  Fred’s remembers it was called the “U and I Steakhouse.”   The steak would just about fill the plate, and along with that was a vegetable and Texas Toast and a drink.  All that for $1.50!  And the steak was so tender you could cut it with the fork!  No knife needed!

I don’t remember many other places where we went to eat in Albuquerque that I haven’t mentioned.  Those were the days where we ate at home more than eating out.  Not enough money, Mother’s homemade meals were the best (Daddy was a hunter, so we ate a lot of venison meals – steaks, roasts, chili, etc.), bbq at home, etc.  

~~~~~~~~~~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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Exploring Close to Home

20 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

We enjoyed a beautiful spring here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The weather was a perfect mix of coolish evenings with daytime highs in the 60s and 70s. On my husbands good days we lazed on our porch, drinking coffee, watching the birds at the feeders and talking about nothing.

Our daughter who lives in Florida drove up last Wednesday to spend a week with us. She brought our grand dog Ollie with her.

The days flew by and before we knew it Monday was here, she planned to leave on Tuesday and we hadn’t gone on a single nature drive or had a picnic. That simply would not do.

In May we purchased a Georgia State Park pass so that we could explore closer to home than the GSMP. We decided on an impromptu drive to the Tallulah Gorge State Park complete with a picnic.

I have a very nice picnic cloth but is is rather large and bulky. I wanted quick and compact. I keep several Dollar store plastic table clothes in my picnic supply bag. I snagged one.

Instead of packing a large picnic bag, I chose the small, plastic bag I use to carry snacks and tucked the cloth into it.

Lastly, I put together individual plastic containers filled with meats and cheese and put them into a small cooler. We always have our water bottles with us. And we were out the door!!

At the park, we were surprised how many people were at the visitor center. The cool spring weather had deserted us and the day was a warm 82 degrees. This park has multiple waterfalls that can be reached by a 2 mile loop hike. Sounds easy, right? Except those two miles include around 2,000 stairs.

My husband and I ventured to the first waterfall before the stairs began. At the stairs, signs were posted warning that people who are not in good physical condition should not proceed. We didn’t go any further but our daughter did.

After our picnic we decided to drive further south to revisit Toccoa Falls, located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College. I think the last time we were there was in the 1980s. It was a very short walk from the Welcome center.

There is something about spending time in nature, that seems to reset one’s soul. Maybe it has to do with how immense nature and mountains are or the mark of our Father God imprinted on it.

Our daughter decided to stay an extra day. It was a girl’s day, we watched Hallmark movies, ate ice cream and I am not sure if we had supper.

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’m a general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  

My 2023 goal is continue to use my love of photographs and words to be an encourager on social media.

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Hope in Humility

29 Mar

Guest Post

Rebekah Lyn

Reblogged from Rebekah Lyn’s Kitchen

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday, and today is the start of Holy Week. Only a few days passed before the same people who sang “Hosanna in the highest!” changed their cries to “Crucify Him!” What a difference! Yet, if we look at Jesus himself, He didn’t stop loving those around Him. He didn’t stop teaching and healing. With His disciples, He spoke plainly of His impending death and resurrection, yet even then they didn’t understand.

One notable difference, though, came in His response to the vendors and money changers in the Temple. They’d been there every other time Jesus had visited, but this time he turned over their tables and called them out for the conniving robbers they were. This wasn’t the first time Jesus had seen these vendors in the Temple courts, yet this time He rebuked them. Mark 11:18 says, “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at His teaching.”

As I thought about this post, pondering why this visit to the Temple was different, I realized this act of condemning those profiting off the tradition of blood sacrifice, the same tradition God Himself first began by slaying animals to provide coverings for Adam and Eve after they first sinned, foreshadowed the events to come.

The religious leaders, up to this point, have been skeptical. They’ve attempted to trip Jesus up in His teaching, and I’m sure there were some looking for ways to get rid of Him long before this event in the Temple. Despite the parables Jesus spoke in, I have a feeling they recognized when Jesus was referring to them negatively. Some may have felt shame and conviction, but most felt their power threatened.

Finally, on the first day of Passover, Jesus dined alone with His disciples. The meal had already started and yet Jesus stood up, wrapped a towel around His waist, and began to wash the feet of the disciples. This was an act performed whenever someone entered a home. If the owner was wealthy, a servant would perform this task. As you can imagine, feet got pretty dirty walking along dusty roads, dodging piles of animal droppings.

Jesus doing this for His disciples is a beautiful picture of love. One that particularly resonates with me because, as a child, I loved washing my grandmother’s feet, cutting her toenails, and bandaging her corns. I didn’t recognize the symbolism of it then, but as I’ve grown deeper in my relationship with Christ, I can imagine the compassion He felt for those men who had followed Him for three years. He had forged deep relationships with them and loved them deeply. He had created them, yet He humbled himself to serve them in a personal way. He even washed the feet of Judas, knowing this man would betray Him within hours.

Jesus chose to be born of humble parents, in the lowest circumstances, the polar opposite of what He deserved as the Almighty King. Through his three years of ministry, those closest to Him were of the working class and looked down upon by many. He walked from place to place rather than riding in an expensive carriage or on the shoulders of slaves. Despite all this, thousands flocked to listen to Him, to understand His message, and to receive His healing.

It was this humbleness, though, that kept many from believing, including the religious leaders who should have known the prophecies about the coming Messiah. With their knowledge of the Torah, they either failed to see or failed to accept that Jesus fulfilled every one of those prophecies.

If you aren’t a follower of Christ, spend time this week considering your life. Are you willing to accept this is the best you will have? When you die, you will not cease to exist, but spend an eternity in darkness and fire. All it takes to change that outcome is a change of heart, a shift in perspective that allows you to see Jesus for the conqueror He was. He entered the Earth humbly, but He lived blameless, the only perfect life. Yet He gave up His life willingly as a sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. Not only did He die for us, He rose again in victory. Come back next week for more of that story.

Don’t forget to check out the resources page I am developing with content I have found encouraging, has taken me deeper in my walk with God, and generally builds my hope.

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Memories of My Mother-Repost

17 Mar

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Last week, I did a repost of my big brother, since it was his birthday.  Well guess what – today marks my Mother’s birthday – just one week after my brother’s!  She would have been 111 years old today.  She died when she was 80 years old.  But I would like to repost what I wrote about her some years ago.  We bloggers wrote a “Mother’s Day Collage” one year, and this is what I wrote about her.  I would also like to include what my brother Bill, wrote about her that day.

Here are my thoughts:

How do I describe my Mother?  She was so unique in all her ways.

One of the most unique things is that she met, fell in love with, and married a man who was 20 years older than herself.  And yet, the marriage was one that I hoped to emulate with my marriage.  She created a loving and secure home for her husband and her children.  She was heart-broken when her husband died.

She loved to sing and to play the piano.  She had a great alto voice.  She had a good ear and would just go and sit down at the piano and begin playing.  I’m still frustrated that I can’t remember the names of the songs/hymns she played.  My brother and I tried to remember them, and have them played at her funeral, but neither of us could remember.

She was a good cook.  She made a pot roast that would just melt in your mouth.  And that’s something I’ve never been able to duplicate.  I never learned her technique.  My Dad used to tease her by saying “this meat is no good – it just falls off the bone!”  She made the best cherry pie.  She made home-made peach jam from the peaches in our back yard.

One time, as she and I were sitting in the living room watching TV, we heard a terrible sound!  We both ran to the kitchen – only to find that the pressure cooker had “blown” out the pressure valve and pinto beans were all over the ceiling!  What a mess!

Although I suspect she would have loved to be a stay-at-home mom, she worked as an accountant at Kirtland AFB, to make money for “extra” things in our life.  She bought a new piano for our house. 

But one of the best things about her working there, was that she would find young military personnel – usually men – who were away from home and homesick, and bring them to church with us on a Sunday, then home to Sunday dinner.  She kept in contact with many of them throughout her time there.  One time she broke her ankle and couldn’t climb the steps to her office upstairs.  The officials were so insistent that she not “retire” that they placed a desk and lamp under the stairway just for her.  They really liked her work.

When my Dad retired and money was tight, Mother bought a Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, trained for the job, and set to work.  She had a really good, strong work ethic.

Oh my………so many more memories, but these fill my heart and mind.

I miss her still.

And here are Bill’s thoughts about her:

Thank You Mother

My mother was such a great influence and inspiration in my life.  She taught me that God loved me and wanted to guide me every step of my life, if I would only ask Him.  She taught me to be a gentleman in every area of my life.  She taught me to learn all the details and to never take anything for granted.  She taught me to always give the other person the benefit of the doubt, and to do to others as I would have them do to me.  She taught me to be observant, to work hard and to be patient with others, and to always be kind and loving.  She taught by example and there was never any question about her love, acceptance and forgiveness toward others and me.

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 Brightline Train Trip-Part 4

13 Mar

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

New Years Day (1/1/2024 Continued)

After we had boarded the train and found our seats, we discovered that the Brightline train is being used by a lot of people as a commuter train for the stations between Miami and West Palm Beach.  There was a large passenger exchange at our station, as well as at the Boca Raton and West Palm Beach stations.

Photo Credit: https://www.istockphoto.com/people-waiting-for-train/

By the time we got to the Melbourne area, the sun was setting, and it was hard to see outside with the reflection of the lights in the train car.  I did notice, however, that the train whistle was not sounding as often heading north in the dark as the one did heading south in the daylight.  That seemed a little scary to me, when I thought of the many vehicles that have been hit by these trains since they started traveling this route at these higher speeds.

Photo Credit: https://www.fox35orlando.com/brightline/crash

The speed was slower heading north (Average 76 mph) thru the more congested areas, and we were able to see a few things we recognized.  We were able to see the big Cocoa water tower, and the SR-528 overpass as we turned west and passed under the highway.  Once the train was on the straight-away, parallelling SR-528, the train’s speed increased to about 125 mph (not much to see along this stretch) and before we knew it, we were pulling into the Orlando Airport Terminal “C” Brightline Station and the end of our New Year’s Day train trip.

Photo Credit: https://www.rail-tech.com/brightlines-orlando-station/  

Billy walked me to the Wally Park shuttle pickup area where we said our goodbyes.  I called for a shuttle pickup and Billy found his car and headed home.  It wasn’t long before the Wally Park shuttle pulled up.  The shuttle driver had other passengers to pick up at the different airlines, so it took almost 20-minutes for him to deliver me to my car at the Wally Park parking area.  I had forgotten to write down my parking “Row” and parking “Slot” so it took him a while to find the right “Row” and “Slot” and my car (How could I have forgotten to do that?).

Photo Credit: https://www.google.com/search=Wally/Park/Shuttle

Once we found my car, it was a familiar route home to Titusville via south on SR-436 and east on SR-528 approximately 35 miles.  This route runs right along a portion of the same Brightline Train track we had just been on.  By the time I arrived home, DiVoran had prepared a great “Welcome Home” supper for me and had it waiting.  She and that home-cooked supper were a welcome site after this long day with Billy to Fort Lauderdale and return on the Brightline High-Speed train.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

That brings to a close the adventures of “My Brightline Train Trip” with my son, Billy, on New Year’s Day of 2024.  I would have to say that this was a very interesting once–in-a-lifetime experience that I enjoyed sharing with my son, and am looking forward to doing it again (with Billy) once Brightline has finished the Orlando to Tampa leg of their system.  In the meantime, I think I will continue to do my trips to the south Florida area by car (Road Trips).  Thanks for joining me for this short one-day Brightline train trip.  It’s been fun!  See you next time.

Image Credit: https://www.dreamstime.com/illustration/goodbye/

—–The End—–

ill 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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My Big Brother

10 Mar

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

Repost

Today is a special day in my family’s life – it is my big brother’s (Bill Lites) 86th birthday!  In honor of him, I would like to repost this that I wrote about him in 2013:

There’s a lot I don’t remember about growing up in New Mexico.  I remember my best girlfriend (down the street….through the neighbors yard….down the alley to her back yard) and some of the good times we had.  She now lives just an hour-and-a-half away from me, and we see each other occasionally.  She tells me that she probably wouldn’t be a believer today if it weren’t for my parents picking her up every Sunday morning to take her to church with us.  I have no memory of her in our car.  I remember her at the church and at the functions we did together.  But not picking her up.  Very selective brain I have, don’t I?

Photo credit – Google search

I do remember that Bill and I used to fight like the proverbial cats and dogs.  Nearly drove our mother to distraction sometimes.  I’m sure he didn’t care to have his bratty little sister trying to tag along very often.

Of course, all that changed when he grew into the age that – all of a sudden, GIRLS were a VERY interesting phenomenon to him!  He would ask me what I knew or had heard about that particular girl.  And what about this particular girl – what do I know or have heard about her.  I really don’t remember many of his “girlfriends” until DiVoran came along.  But that’s another story unto itself.

Thanksgiving 1956 – Bill and DiVoran – photo credit Jessie King

I have a couple of pictures that still make me chuckle every time I see them.  We were both a couple of cut-ups in our day, and these pictures prove it.  Weren’t we cute?  I came upon these pictures many years ago, and had them blown up and sent them to Bill as a Christmas present one year.  I think I heard him laughing all the way from Florida to Virginia!

1949 – Albuquerque, New Mexico – photo credit Agnes Lites

1949 – Albuquerque, New Mexico – photo credit Agnes Lites

I have a couple of pictures taken at Bill’s 10th birthday party – and once again, I wormed my way into the festivities.  Looks like none of the boys were paying any attention to me.  But then, what 10-year-old boy pays attention to a 6-year-old girl?  Some of these boys were neighborhood friends, some were school friends, and some were church friends.  And Bill still keeps in touch with some of these boys.  Those life-time friendships are treasured.

March 10, 1948 – Albuquerque, New Mexico – Daddy inside the front porch – photo credit Agnes Lites

March 10, 1948 – Albuquerque, New Mexico – photo credit Agnes Lites

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BIG BROTHER!  I LOVE YOU!!

From your (formerly) bratty little sister

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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2023 Road Trip-Part 20

7 Feb

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 20 – August 3

: After breakfast this morning, I got my things together and met Billy, who was already waiting for me in the lobby of the motel.  I had wanted to visit a couple of museums in St. Petersburg today, but Billy told me he needed to be home by the early afternoon, so, we would have to save those museum visits for another trip.  I asked him if he had had his breakfast and was ready to start today’s activities, and he said, “Yes, let’s get going.”  We headed east on SR-688, across the Howard Frankland Bridge (SR-60), to pick up I-4 (east) for 25 miles to visit the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum in Plant City, FL.  This museum is housed in the original 1909 Union Station Depot building and displays antique railroad artifacts and memorabilia.  Museum visitors can view passing trains up-close from the museum’s Viewing Platform located adjacent to the museum.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Now we continued east 25 miles on I-4 to visit the Fantasy of Flight Museum located in Polk City, FL.  This amazing aviation museum has 50+ beautifully restored civilian and WWII military aircraft that all fly.  The owner of this museum, Kermit Weeks, has restored most of these aircraft over the years and flys one of them every day that the museum is open.  After landing, he will sit on the wing and tell his visitors the complete history of that particular aircraft.  Some of his tour guides are dressed in vintage costumes as ‘Rosie the Riveter’ and ‘Gracy the Wing Walker.’  Best looking tour guides I’ve seen at any museum.

     Photo Credit: https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/fantasy+of+flight+museum/  

Continuing east another 30 miles on I-4 we wanted to visit the Warbird Air Museum located in Kissimmee, FL. but when we arrived at the address, adjacent to the Kissimmee Municipal Airport, we discovered the museum had been closed and all the aircraft moved to somewhere in South Carolina.  That was quite a surprise!  So, since it was almost noon, and we were in Kissimmee, I asked Billy if he would like to have lunch at the Columbia Spanish Restaurant.  DiVoran and I had enjoyed lunch at the Columbia Restaurant (located at the St. Petersburg Pier) back while we were on vacation there, and really liked their food.  I had their Pork Chops with black beans & rice and plantains, and Billy had Ropa Viejas with Spanish rice and plantains.  It was excellent!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

After that delicious dining experience, we took our ‘Take Out Bags full of leftovers and continued north on I-4 thru downtown Orlando traffic (not bad at this time of day) for about an hour to deliver Billy home in Orange City.  Lisa was glad to see us and told us about her trip back from Atlanta.  After a bathroom break, I headed east on SR-46 the last 55 miles of my 2023 Road Trip to my home in Titusville, FL.  The first thing DiVoran said was, “Where did you get that beautiful red van?”  I hadn’t told her about my troubles, because I was afraid she would worry about me.  After helping me unload the van, she cooked me the first home-cooked meal I’d had in almost three weeks.  Yummm!

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Of course, I had to tell her the whole van breakdown story, and when I was through, she said, “You know I have always wanted a red car, but I never expected to get one this way.”  We laughed about that, and I told her I thought I had earned the ‘Old Things R New’ (our blog website) ‘Most Adventurous’ award for this trip, and that I didn’t think I would ever plan another trip this long again.  It was just too long.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

This brings to a close the narrative of my 2023 Road Trip.  I hope you have enjoyed reading about my adventures (most of them) as much as I have enjoyed remembering (most of them) and writing about them.  Join me again next time as I explore new areas of our wonderful country and visit new historical places and museums.  Keep your eyes on the road and drive safely.

Photo Credit: https://www.clipartmax.com/cartoon-driver-waving/

—–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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