Friday, August 31, 2012




     We spent the night in Stafford, Virginia with Debby's cousin and her family.   Lisa and John are two of  the kindest people we know. It is wonderful getting to spend  time with them as we travel.
     We were up early this morning getting ready to spend the day in DC, our nations' Capitol. After downing a cup of Lisa's French pressed coffee, we drove a short distance up the road and caught a morning commuter train to DC. It was great not having to deal with DC rush hour traffic and trying to find parking places around the Mall.
     We pulled into Union Station around 9:00 and began walking.  Ron and Nancy had secured our place in the Capitol's guided tour so we had to be there at 10:00 for that. Time enough to indulge at Starbucks!  So we did!
View of DC from Clock Tower.  Beautiful gardens on building tops!
  Our first stop was to view the U.S.Constitution, The Bill of Rights and the 800 year old Magna Carta in the Archives building. After that a visit to the OLD POST OFFICE and a trip up to see DC from the Clock Tower. Yea!!  No waiting!!   

There were so many places to see!  I doubt if we spent a month there that we would see it all!  But one thing we DIDN'T expect to see we're people from within our own friendship circle of Metro Church of Christ in OREGON!  It was that Cathy &Terry Gilmore couple from LaPine!  We met for lunch, swapped stories and then went our separate ways.
Terry & Cathy, Flat Stanley, Debby & Mike
  
     I had been to The Wall before.  Seeing the thousands of names etched onto the black Granite is a moving experience. The names enscribed are listed in order of dead or missing. There are only a few names on each end; but the closer to center you get, the greater the number becomes, thus the taller the Granite slabs are.
Remembering MICHAEL R CONNER
   I spent some time looking at the name of MICHAEL RAY CONNER, a friend, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who died when his EC-47 was shot down in May 1970. He was a little younger than me.  We were stationed together in Germany; went through survival school together and ran around together in Texas.  He left behind a young wife and a baby son whom they named Michael, after his father.



 Hard times for families left empty when their sons and husbands die on battlefields. Also hard on old timers who go back to The Wall and remember their friends.
Ron, Nancy, Debby, Mike ready to begin!

Thursday, August 23, 2012


August 17, 2012.  Beginning our road trip today.

DAY 1........Portland, OR to Burley, ID
DAY 2........Burley, ID to Denver, CO
DAY 3 & 4........Denver, CO to Collinsville, OK
     My Mother passed away August 12.  The funeral service was Monday, August 20 in Collinsville, OK. We had to move our trip up a few days in order to make it to Oklahoma for the funeral.  It was a wonderful gathering of friends and family to celebrate the life of a nearly 93 year old Mother, Grandmother and friend to many.  The church in Owasso prepared a luncheon for our family.  There were around 40 of us kids and about that many friends come.  We ended with a graveside service where she was buried next to Dad, who passed away in 1976.
DAY 5.......Collinsville, OK to Springdale, AR.
DAY 6.......Springdale, AR to Branson, MO
     We are spending a few days with Debby's Mom.  I went to the eye doctor this morning to have some pictures taken of my Macular.  I am having a little trouble, either with my new glasses, or my left eye.  We are trying to figure it out.  We did a little shopping today.  I worked on Mom's Ice Machine.  Hope it works better now.  She fed me home made chile and pasta va zule.  If she keeps this up I may stay longer!

We have been having fun getting things together and fine-tuning our packing.  Our Toyota Sienna is a great road vehicle.  We have ample room; its very comfortable to ride in.  Debby slipped into one of the back recliner chairs and watched a movie on the 16" screen as we headed towards Denver.  I haven't tried that yet but my time is coming.

In Springdale, Arkansas we had a little fun with Flat Stanley at Chic Fil A.  Too bad we don't have one in Portland; the food is very good and the Lemonade is made fresh!  Their Peach Shakes are to die for!  Their business is really BOOMING for some reason.  Hmmmmmm.......

We will be heading back to Springdale Sunday afternoon to pick up Nancy & Ron and head for Nashville.
                                                            Mike