The drive was lovely, all the way from the farm in Pennsylvania to Andrew and Christina's home in Mississippi. The journey took us right down The Shenandoah Valley on Highway 83 in Virginia, through part of Tennessee, then Alabama and finally on Highway 20 in Mississippi. Magnolia trees were all along the highway 20, from the state border to almost into Jackson. And the trees were all in bloom. What a sight. The trees were on both sides of the divided highway, as well as all along the median strip. It was quite a welcome to the state. There must have been five hundred magnolia trees. America was on the move. The highways were wonderful but crowded at least until we got to Knoxville, where we stayed the first night. From that point on, the traffic was light all the way. In fact I commented to Ken that this amount of traffic was how it was designed.
If you ever worry that this country is too crowded, just go on a trip on the interstate highway. The woods and the hills and the valleys and the farms are everywhere. There is so much land out in the country and it is all beautiful. Our system worked well. We stopped every two hours for a bathroom break and to switch drivers, and we ate every hour in the car. We ate hard boiled eggs, beef jerky, cooked hamburger patties, cheese crackers, grapes, cherries, cantaloupes cut up, breakfast bars and rice cakes. Plenty of bottles of water too. I can't imagine how many calories we consume in a day while driving but at least we eat a small amount each time so we never feel full. Our journey was much easier than we anticipated. We left the farm at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, stopped for the night just north of Knoxville, Tenn. and were at our destination at 1:30 on Sunday, today. I can see a car trip or two are in our future.
All the meat was still solidly frozen, so we are delighted to arrive and fill their freezer with good Angus beef. Every one here is happy to see us, and to see all the frozen meat.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
May 29, 2009. Bethesda, Md. Car Trip.
We have had many road trips, Ken and I. We travelled all over the continent, travelling in our Volkswagen bug and camping in our vintage tent. And we loved it. Now that we are old, we think twice about launching out on a car trip. Today, we begin a journey that will take us to Mississippi. Our desire to take good Angus beef to Andrew and Christina and the girls has overcome our reluctance to sit in the truck all day. First we drive to the farm, to pack up the hunting clothes Andrew wants, in addition to the cleaning materials not taken by the movers. Four coolers we hope will keep the meat frozen until we arrive , which will be Monday afternoon. Our supplies are all ready for the snacks we consume on the trip and we know the drill.
Our routine is to switch drivers every two hours and eat every two hours, only stopping for gas and bathroom breaks. Our day begins early and we stop well before dark. I am excited about this trip, because if we both enjoy the journey, Ken and I will sometime next year take a trip on Highway 281. So far, Ken keeps delaying. So wish me good luck that our old joints stay working and that our backs will straighten up, because that trip on 281 is going to be a long one!!.
Our routine is to switch drivers every two hours and eat every two hours, only stopping for gas and bathroom breaks. Our day begins early and we stop well before dark. I am excited about this trip, because if we both enjoy the journey, Ken and I will sometime next year take a trip on Highway 281. So far, Ken keeps delaying. So wish me good luck that our old joints stay working and that our backs will straighten up, because that trip on 281 is going to be a long one!!.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
May 28, 2009. Chevy Chase, Md. Mee See Phua.
Mee See died early this morning. He had been an agent with Long and Foster for well over twenty years, working out of the office on East West Highway with Ken Keene, then Carole Maclure as his Manager. When our offices merged, I got to know Mee See for the first time so for the past ten years, I have seen him every day. He was Chinese who had lived in Indonesia before coming to America for his PHD in Physics and Mathematics. He taught at The University of The District of Columbia, prior to becoming a full time real estate agent. Right up until he died he still taught one Algebra course each semester. He has three children, one at college who works for us on Saturday, and the other two 10 and 12 years old. He loved his children and his wife. He worked very hard as a real estate agent and he was a friend to many agents in the office.
As a Manager, I could always count on Mee See to be helpful. On three occasions, we asked him to switch his office and he always agreed before I even explained the purpose of the move. I promised never to move him again and he was happy about that. It is just recently that he was diagnosed with lymphoma and it was just last week that he contracted the infection that ultimately ended his life. He worked until the end. Suzanne was going to settlement for him and he called to ask her to pick him up at the Hospital so he could attend settlement and to do his job. She of course refused but called him to report on the successful settlement. Sadly, although they were to speak the next day, Mee See was taken to the Intensive Care Unit and no further conversations were possible. It seems unbelievable but it is true. We will miss him and his quiet, polite yet intense manner.
As a Manager, I could always count on Mee See to be helpful. On three occasions, we asked him to switch his office and he always agreed before I even explained the purpose of the move. I promised never to move him again and he was happy about that. It is just recently that he was diagnosed with lymphoma and it was just last week that he contracted the infection that ultimately ended his life. He worked until the end. Suzanne was going to settlement for him and he called to ask her to pick him up at the Hospital so he could attend settlement and to do his job. She of course refused but called him to report on the successful settlement. Sadly, although they were to speak the next day, Mee See was taken to the Intensive Care Unit and no further conversations were possible. It seems unbelievable but it is true. We will miss him and his quiet, polite yet intense manner.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
May 27, 2009. Chevy Chase, Md. Le Vieux Logis
We are determined to take our guests out for dinner. This is our new routine. Our friends are invited for dinner at the time selected by me, then when they arrive at our apartment, they come up and we chat for a while. Soon I announce that we are dining out, so we all drive over together in my car. I keep the restaurant a surprise. It doesn't take much to amuse me as you can tell. Tonight we dined at a lovely little French restaurant on Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. Fred and Phyllis had never eaten there but Ken and I have been there many times. This year is the 29Th anniversary, so they were celebrating. Three courses and wine for $29. The food was delicious. Then we came home for tea and conversation. I must say that it is a lovely way to entertain. No fuss and no muss.
Tonight, Vinal Smith called to say that he tilled up our garden in Nova Scotia. In fact, Vinal and Betty are planting a garden in our place by the shore. In the Fall, they used sea weed to fertilize the soil and now they have prepared the land for planting. I am excited to have our own vegetables in our own garden. They have a small but productive garden in their own place so we suggested they may want to plant potatoes and corn and squash and pumpkins in our land. At first they were reluctant to use our land,but when they saw the fertile soil they too got excited. Betty hates weeds so maybe she will weed our fish pond area along with their vegetable garden. Ken has learned to tolerate weeds, but not Betty. She weeds her own garden every day. Now we look forward to their efforts this summer in Nova Scotia.
Tonight, Vinal Smith called to say that he tilled up our garden in Nova Scotia. In fact, Vinal and Betty are planting a garden in our place by the shore. In the Fall, they used sea weed to fertilize the soil and now they have prepared the land for planting. I am excited to have our own vegetables in our own garden. They have a small but productive garden in their own place so we suggested they may want to plant potatoes and corn and squash and pumpkins in our land. At first they were reluctant to use our land,but when they saw the fertile soil they too got excited. Betty hates weeds so maybe she will weed our fish pond area along with their vegetable garden. Ken has learned to tolerate weeds, but not Betty. She weeds her own garden every day. Now we look forward to their efforts this summer in Nova Scotia.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
May 26, 2009. Chevy Chase, Md. More Weekend.
Nothing is dramatic or extraordinary but the whole weekend was pleasant. Bud from Parry Sound sent us a great picture of the four of us when we were out on the boat on The Lake of Bays, so on Saturday morning, right after breakfast, we drove to Everett to see our framers, Karen and Rodney Barber. I have such confidence in them that I just leave the picture with them to choose the mats and the frames. They have better taste than me anyway and it certainly saves me time. Then we talk art with them. Rodney has had one of his paintings accepted into a juried show in Hagerstown so he was thrilled. You submit a disc with your work and the powers that be accept fifty pieces for the show. There were over 400 artists who submitted work, so he was very pleased indeed. Then after talking for thirty minutes, I decided to take one of his new pieces of art to Andrew and Christina as a house warming. My last words to Rodney was "keep painting regularly".
The Ditto's were up for the weekend so they invited us for dinner on Saturday evening. Now this is a real pleasure, as Diana is a wonderful cook. She not only likes to cook but also goes out of her way to try new recipes. It is always a joy to dine in their home. But this night was especially good. The dessert was home made ice cream sandwiches, with the top and bottom made by hand by Diana. They were out of this world. Saturday evening we all dined together again at our house, where we ate hamburgers and baked beans. Oranges for dessert. No way I can compete. It was sitting around the fire that gave the atmosphere and the charm.
The rest of the time we organized the stuff to take to Andrew and Christina, or we read. Sunday early afternoon we stopped by to see the Jay's, each separately. Tammy is now the pastry chef for Mike's new restaurant in Clearville. Now let me see. She has five children, she milks 300 cows morning and night, she sells her produce at the Farmer's Market in Cumberland, she cleans our two houses, and she cooks for all the men who are working with Alan and Bryan. My goodness those farm wives are busy. When we talked to her she was making thirty pies for the Memorial Day Dinner at the Legion, of course without charging. Life in the country is always a surprise and is always pleasant. But I love to come and go. I do not want to learn to bake pies.
The Ditto's were up for the weekend so they invited us for dinner on Saturday evening. Now this is a real pleasure, as Diana is a wonderful cook. She not only likes to cook but also goes out of her way to try new recipes. It is always a joy to dine in their home. But this night was especially good. The dessert was home made ice cream sandwiches, with the top and bottom made by hand by Diana. They were out of this world. Saturday evening we all dined together again at our house, where we ate hamburgers and baked beans. Oranges for dessert. No way I can compete. It was sitting around the fire that gave the atmosphere and the charm.
The rest of the time we organized the stuff to take to Andrew and Christina, or we read. Sunday early afternoon we stopped by to see the Jay's, each separately. Tammy is now the pastry chef for Mike's new restaurant in Clearville. Now let me see. She has five children, she milks 300 cows morning and night, she sells her produce at the Farmer's Market in Cumberland, she cleans our two houses, and she cooks for all the men who are working with Alan and Bryan. My goodness those farm wives are busy. When we talked to her she was making thirty pies for the Memorial Day Dinner at the Legion, of course without charging. Life in the country is always a surprise and is always pleasant. But I love to come and go. I do not want to learn to bake pies.
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