Allow Me to Reminisce if You Will....

Today I spent the morning at my home of 36 months when I was but a lad....Marietta College. Since my major was Geology I spent a good bit of time in this building (before the corny dinosauer pictures were painted on it!) I walked the campus reliving memories of education, fun, frolic, intramural athletics and of course a few dates before coming to my senses and marrying the girl back home. Here then is a brief walk down memory lane....


  

"The Pit"

The Student Union where I hung out listening to the latest Beatle songs and honed my ping pong skills against all challengers.

  

Horrible Memory...

The building in which I nearly failed Chemistry. After pulling an allnighter before the final exam I dozed off and woke up with 10 minutes to go in the class period. I dressed, ran across campus and through these front doors to throw myself at the mercy of Dr. Housman. He had me come home with him and take the final at his kitchen table. I later taught High School Chemistry!


  

Pioneers Reign as National Champs Again

The 2006 Division III NCAA Baseball Champions

  

The Exact Spot

The dark spot on the brick sidewalk in front of the library is where, from a group of students huddled around a transistor radio I heard the words, "President Kennedy has been shot!"


  

Pat's Secret Garden Banana Tree(s)

This little (soon to be over 10' tall!) tropical plant is a nonedible but winter hardy banana tree. It add's to the Mexican ambiance of Pat's Secret Garden. After purchasing it we found two more younger versions like it at the Dawes spring plant sale and planted them nearby. We have just discovered that the big tree has a developing offshoot tree bringing to a total of 4 10' tropical trees in a 3' circle! This soon then could become a tropical forest!
Keep watching for developments!

  

Yes....That's "Lil's Pine!"

For those closely following this blog, (both of you) you may recognize this pine as the one given to us by Daddy's Lantanna Road, Tennessee neighbor, Lil. It now occupies a prominent place in the Botanical Gardens.

  

MY WONDERFULLY INTELLIGENT DAUGHTER! DID I MENTION BEAUTIFUL?

OH YEAH? TWO CAN PLAY AT THIS GAME : )

Just Me....

  

Settled In

Finally....here they are....in their apartment....in North Newark. After years of being in Florida and Tennessee, Daddy and Evelyn are in the Goosepond Retirement Village. They have easy access to the restaurants, Wal-Mart and other shops of North 21st street. The World War II pilot trainer and B & O Engineer is back in his home town!

  

THE BIG MOVE

This past week Bill and Pat's life adventure took us with Claudia, Pat's sister, and David, Pat's brother, to Crossvile Tennesse to move Pat's Dad and Evelyn's STUFF....and there was a LOT of STUFF....To Newark. We filled a 26 foot truck full, an SUV and David's trailor with all their worldly possessions.

  

Watch Your Step....

Before sale the house needed a front deck. David built the deck and powerwashed the house while we loaded goods.

  

Claudia Helps Nail

  

Final Touches

  

One Last Visit

While in Crossville Daddy maintained a storage unit that had a few items stored in it. Once a month he would make his way into the office to make a payment to a lady he affectionately called "Mrs. America." There is some speculation among family members that the storage unit was maintained just to perpetuate these visits. We had to stop by and pay one last bill and visit.


  

Final Tribute

To have something of permanence to remind us of the "Lantana Experience" I asked Lil, Daddy's neighbor and care assistant, for a pine tree from her woods next to Daddy's property to be relocated and made a part of Bill's Botanical Garden. Here she helps christen the tree which will be called "The Lil Pine" with water from one of the thousands of items of household goods that were a part of the "Great Move North."


  

Ahhh...Retirement Fishing

Finally after a very hectic May, the chance to do a little retirement fishing! My sister and her husband Jay are "professional fishermen!" ...Yes, they actually earn money prizes for the fish they catch! They asked me to join them and guess who caught the most fish....You got it....YOURS TRULY! Here is a fish that Jay and I pulled out that is just a sample. Well...what I mean is that Jay did the actual catching part and I walked up and down the bank encouraging and instructing him until he was able to land this cat!
.....I continue my role as "teacher."

  

OK...So maybe these were more the size I caught!

  

Wednesday at the Park

 
 
  

Exploring...

  

Climbing Mount Trashmore

Virginia Beach has created a large park on a recycled landfill called Mt Trashmore. It may not sound appealing but it was a lot of fun!

  

It's Been a While....

I have forgotten the many facets and joys of toilet training....

  

Ducks at the Park

  

Time Out to Cuddle

  

Peace at the End of a Long Day

This is what things look like at the end of a day at the windy beach....I draw baby sitting duty while Pat and Meg work on repainting the girls new bedroom. Pat puts in long hours of tedious work on the project. She continues to amaze me as a combination of Mother Theresa, Page Davis and George Steinbrenner! Megan is the interior designer and works diligently with her Mother on the project. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!