If you are a citizen of the U S of A, it is assumed by the government that you are not capable of doing anything on your own and are always in need of laws, directives and orders to tell you how to live your life. Such is the dilemma a we all find ourselves in these days. Because of the virus threat we are all isolated, quarantined, sequestered and confined to home except for getting out to buy essentials like food, fuel and anything else we want to get at stores like Walmart, Target or Lowe’s. Apparently abortion clinics and liquor stores fall into the "essential" category, as they remain open for business.
After three or four months of this seclusion, most of us are tired of being cooped up like caged rats in a laboratory. We are no different. So we decided its time to venture out. Fly the coop. Make like a tree and leaf. After all, if the airlines are running and restaurants across the country are opening, it’s time to go somewhere out of our locked down county and get a haircut or something!
American Airlines was more than willing to accommodate us for a trip to the Midwest. So we flew. We took a 10 day vacation and flew into Northwest Arkansas. None of my friends wanted to take a road trip. Both of them were busy I guess.
Our flight was uneventful for the most part . We were required to wear masks all the time but there were no rules of social distancing on the planes.The stewardesses did not serve us the coveted pop and pretzels in flight but they did come around later with bags and pick up the trash.
We bought an extra seat on this trip for Toronto,my Gide Dog. This way he had lots of leg room to stretch out.
An interesting thing happened on the plane ride. A man and woman couple in the seats behind us gave our granddaughter, Rosie a note and $60 for her to give to me, who is sitting next to Rosie. The lady probably figured if I was blind, I was also deaf so she had to talk to our 12 year old. The note basically said ‘thank you for your service and we wanted to treat you to dinner in a restaurant’. I soon found out what the note said and accepted the $60, then turned around. I tried to give it back; that it was nnot necessary. They insisted so I did keep it . I thanked them for what they did and told them that I do appreciate it.
The whole experience seemed a little creepy because of the way it was handled. Debby was sitting across the aisle and saw the stranger talking to Rosie through the crack between the seats. Rosie sat by the window, I was on the aisle and Toronto’s empty chair was in the middle. The stranger sat behind us in the middle chair. She could have just as easily spoken to me through the other crack.
I noticed that stranger talking to Rosie and overheard her say, "...after we land." My first thought was her trying to lure my granddaughter into who knows what? Debby had the same thought and was standing in the aisle talking to Rosie. Every time they turned to look at the lady, she had her head back and her eyes closed. The stewardess cane and asked something was wrong. We said, "no". When Rosie produced the note and money to Debby, we grew less concerned but were still perplexed as to the way this lady handled everything. It was very odd.
Ron and Nancy Pinkerton, lifelong friends and world traveling companion, picked us up at the airport.
We rode in Ron’s quad cab pickup, massless and without taking our temperature.
On the way to the Pinkerton’s, we stopped off to eat dinner as we were hungry from not eating all day. Our destination was Cracker Barrel Old Country Store where we indulged in that old fried food for which they are so famous. My chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with white gravy and a side dish of okra went well with a big glass of real lemonade. We talked about the couple on the plane who gave us the money for this meal, albeit under strange circumstances, but that we appreciated it. It dawned on us that this was the same restaurant, where two years ago, a man paid for our meals for the same exact reason! I may have to come here more often!
Ron and I relaxed around the house on Saturday while the girls took themselves out to find pedicures , hair cutters and all that’s stuff.
On Sunday we had church services via YouTube as did most folks across the country. Robinson Avenue Church of Christ will have their first in-house service starting July 5th, since the pandemic began.
Sunday afternoon we drove over to Siloam springs to spend the afternoon with their daughter’s family. We had a BBQ and sat around the swimming pool watching the kids swim , all without masks or much social distancing. The food was great and so was the sitting around!
A little later Debby, Nancy, Rhonda and Steve took off to go look at some property. Debby and I have been toying with the idea of selling out in Oregon and coming back to God’s country in the Boston Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, where I grew up. It’s kind of like "roots". I do love this neck of the woods!
We had previously became aware of a 4-lot piece of property with a large, turn of the century, home and about 400 feet of creek frontage for sale. It was on the edge of town and looked very promising for two or three family units. The price was less than $200k and within walking distance to downtown Siloam Springs. We also learned that someone had put down money on the old place and it was no longer available. Debby and Nancy wanted to check it out anyway. They found out that there was a deep, steep drop down to the creek from the top, virtually inaccessible as we had envisioned to be. It was also across the road from the local Sanatation Department. That would not be good on a hot,breezy day. No wonder the paint was peeling on the old house! So, this one would be a resounding "NO" in our book!
On Monday there was much running around to do. Ron called out the backup barber and got us hair cutting appointments for one o’clock. We got ready and headed out to run a few errands before the appointment. Debby and Nancy were already out-and-about shoppping with Rosie. They were giving her pointers on how to shop. She is only 12 but they figure it’s never too early to learn. Nancy gave Rosie instructions and soon had her raising her right hand and vowing to "never pay full price" for anything sold in stores.
Our two haircuts took about an hour and a half. It was hard for granny to talk and cut hair at the same time...and she talked a lot! I didn’t realize mine was so bad! The lady who cut our hair was a grandma but did an okay job. I think I still wear the "hat wings" but with my vision, I don’t really notice. No one else has complained to me. For an hour and a half our granny barber never stopped talking about kids, husbands, permits and house remodels. Ron didn’t help natters any with all his questions! Apparently, I knew this lady since the early 80’s . I couldn’t place her name because I forgot and I didn’t recognize her face because I can’t see it. Besides, we’re both 45 years older!
On Tuesday, the girls were once again, out shopping. Ron and I took a small road trip and went up to Winslow, AR, at the top of a hill in the Boston Mountains. We wanted to check out a particular view called "Artist’s Point" and the Hummingbird store next door. Unfortunately the store was closed. This is one area that I would love to live in, although Ron says he wouldn’t like the winter ice and snow that tends to keep folks at home! I wouldn’t mind if my wood box was full and I had a warm fire burning in the stove.
We looked around at some of the other outlying areas and small communities for property. Many of them would be perfect. However, as my eyesight diminishes more and more, sidewalks are my friends! This area has no sidewalks except for downtown and some residential areas. No sidewalks means harder walking for me and Toronto. Walking the highways could be dangerous fir a blind guy and a distracted dog! !
On Tuesday we relaxed for the most part. Nancy was cooking up a big meal in the crock pot of roast beef and potatoes. We had invited my Niece, Tina and Rod, to come over for dinner and a visit. We had a great meal and a great visit! I always like to be around Tina. She is a crack up and a lot of fun. She was excited that we were looking for property and the possibility of moving there. They will be building themselves a new house soo . She invited us to live in her music room. I told her that a duplex design would be a good idea.
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