10 Years

I have decided that I wanted to write some of the memories of mom down.  It’s been 10 years this month since I last wrote on my blog.  I didn’t really write it that long, but so glad those thoughts are still out there.  Looking back at them brings me happiness, it reminds me of what I was thinking then; along with some very good memories of my life in general.

I’m pretty sure nobody will ever see this blog since I’m not really advertising it.   Just a way for me to deal with the biggest loss in my life; the loss of my last living parent; my Beautiful mom.  Loosing dad was really tough, but Mom was there to help me through it.  I never considered what a loss that had to be for her too, she had already lost both her parents, and now her husband.

Looking back at the things I wrote all those years ago, I found a beautiful post where I talked about what was in my iPod at the time.   And how the song “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me” always made me think of my mom.   I read that I had written it in a card years before.  Funny to this day that song is one of my favorites and I was so glad to read that I had shared it with mom.   I found printed versions of my blog at mom’s house in her drawer.   I know she loved to read them as it was a part of her son. 

I think the saddest part of this healing, is knowing that I never gave mom grandchildren to remember her beyond me.  I’m OK with when I’m gone, memories fading of me.   But my mom was a special person, and if I live another 30-35 years then I will be the one taking some of the last memories of her with me.   There are a few cousins younger, and some of their kids that might have a few memories of her.

I hope by writing some of my memories of my mom, then when my memory starts fading, I can come back and read how I felt.  Some of the stories we shared together, and the memories we made.  If nothing else, I know I have been blessed beyond measure to have had both of my parents.  To be honest I have a great family unit even as broken as we might seem to the outside.    I also have some dear friends that help me carry the burdens life loads on our backs.   I consider myself one of the luckiest people on the planet.

Mom’s Lesson on Getting a Loan

With mom’s passing being a little over five months back she is still so on my mind.  There are so many stories, trips and lessons she taught me.   I think it’s time I write them down while they are still fresh in my mind.   At some point they will fade.  Having them written down hopefully I’ll still be able to look back on them and smile.

Around 1981 I was 17 and had already enjoyed almost 2 years with my first car that I paid cash for.  It was a little Maroon 1973 MG Midget.   I needed a new car and mom was going to take me and teach me how to get a loan.  

So, she packed me up and took me to Capitol Hill State Bank in Oklahoma City where she banked.   We filled out the paperwork, and then loan agent called us back.   He explained to her that he would have given her a loan for anything else, but he would not give her a loan for me to have a car.  His excuse was I was underage.  Mom had enough money in a CD to cover the loan, she was going to co-sign to start building my credit.  

Well this did not sit well with mom, so she proceeded to pull out her checkbook register and told him the dollar figure she wanted pulled out of her checking account (which was more than the loan she was asking for).   She then closed her account and put the money in her purse.  It was a Saturday morning so not all banks were open.  She took me to a Savings and Loan and she walked in and told them she wanted to know if they would let her co-sign for a loan for me to get a car.  They said they would.  She opened her purse, pulled out her money (way more than she should have been carrying) and opened a new account.    We got the loan; I got my car.

Mom took her CD when it came due and moved the money out of that bank.  She also had friends who had a business account at the bank.   She told them about this, and they moved much more money that we had out of that bank.    I know it was not our paltry money that made the bank go bankrupt, but a few years later they were out of business.  I would say it had more to do with the service they provided.

Mom always said she didn’t intend to teach me the lesson she taught me.  And she often wondered if she taught me the right lesson.  Funny years later I used that lesson with a credit union that did the same thing, didn’t want to loan me money to refinance my car (interest rates had dropped significantly, I wanted a shorter loan to pay off faster at a lower rate).   I took my lesson, pulled all but $5 out of savings, moved my money elsewhere.   Oh, and I got that loan at a lower rate by they way.   To this day I have my account with them with $5 in savings.   They mail me a statement every month (30 years later).   I hold a grudge better than mom did.    But I have given in and use their Visa Credit card, but I pay it off monthly, so I don’t have to pay them interest. 

Mom told me not too long before she died, I might want to give up that grudge.  I smiled and said no way, you taught me this.    

Gulf Oil Spill

Last week I was in Mobile Alabama. I took a quick trip out to Dauphin Island to see the Gulf Coast one last time before the oil was certain to come on shore. The news was reporting the oil was 30 miles off the coast of Alabama at that time. With the winds they said you could smell the oil (but my sense of smell did not pick up the scent). I was amazed to see so many off shore oil derricks from the island. They were everywhere I looked.

The sand on the coast is so beautiful and I knew if I wanted to see it that I needed to see it last week before the winds and tides changed. I watched on the news the other day and they said that oil has now hit this small island - but one of my posters said it hasn't. One can hope they can keep the oil off these beautiful beaches.

For those who have never seen the offshore derricks I have included pictures. And just so you know what the beaches look like I’ll put a few of those pictures up too.

Things I See On The Road

I thought this was cute when I went though baggage claim at the Sacremento, CA airport.

What a nice start…

Well it’s been a while since I have written anything on the blog. I doubt anyone is reading it anymore – I know I wouldn’t after this long a hiatus.

This has been a busy week for me. I started off driving to Savannah on Sunday and working there for two days then drove home Tuesday night. Today I am traveling to the west coast on the scenic route. I am on my flight right now from Myrtle Beach to LaGuardia airport – the first of three flights today.

It’s really strange what a business traveler will do to keep the price down and get where they are going on a preferred airline. It was cheaper to fly to New York then back south and then west. And funny enough it’s only taking about 2 hours longer.

The airplane I’m on today seats 90 and there are only 21 passengers and I’m the only person in the first class cabin. I hope the rest of the flights are like this you don’t have to fight to put your bags in the overhead bins.

This week I saw (or should I say noticed) the first honeysuckles blooming along the side of the road. And the first Magnolia Tree in bloom. It’s hard to believe it’s already May and almost Mothers Day again. I got the card in the mail just under the wire this week to get to mom in time. This year I found the funniest card to send her. It had a little kid with crayons and drawings on every piece of furniture, wall, floor and door. The mom was standing in the door with this look of defeat on her face. The caption above the kid was “Someday we will look back on this and laugh”. For some reason this struck me as so funny. So I wrote on the inside “So can we laugh yet?” Mom will surely get a kick out of that.

I get to meet up with some friends out in the San Francisco area on Friday night before I head home on Saturday. Then next week it’s off to Wilmington, NC on Monday and back to Savannah on Wednesday night. Good thing I enjoy my frequent flyer miles and motel points right.

Hope everyone is doing well…

Yes, Yes, Yes... SPRING!

Well anyone who knows me knows how happy I was to take these pictures today in Mobile, Alabama!

I went to Bellingrath Gardens for a few hours when I got here today. I have not been there in 20-25 years. I'll write more about it later this week. For now you just get a few pretty pictures.

A Stranger in Savannah

I bet you all thought I fell off the planet. I am still out here kickkin’ on the road. I am in Savannah again this week.

I really enjoy my drives down here from Myrtle Beach. I left Monday morning at about 5 AM with the big old full moon in the clear skies. These trips take me about 5 hours to drive so there is plenty of time to myself to think and listen to music.

I was really starting to get bummed out about winter lasting so long. I was thinking to myself how I really needed to see trees with leaves on them. Sure enough about an hour later I was in Charleston and some of the Redbuds have started blooming. That means spring is not that far off for those of us that live way up north in South Carolina. Those few little trees made my day.

Today President Obama was in town here. He spoke at a building about a block away from where I am staying. I really expected the traffic to be a zoo due to the presidential motorcades. Much to my surprise the roads were empty since they cancelled classes at the school. The drive home was not bad either.

I did see a lot of Secret Service folks around the hospital today though.

I’ll try not to go months between posts. I just need to post a picture here or there. Hope everyone is doing well out there.

Receivin

Sometimes you just see things that crack you up on the road. I know this sign was not designed this way but it was too funny.

Need I Say More?

You ever have one of those days?

Sights from the Road

Last week I went to Orlando. A co-worker of mine went with me to Sea World and Epcot. It was a nice trip and we get to repeat it next week.

This week I took a quick trip south to Savannah. I took the picture below on the trip. It's about 45 miles south of Charleston, SC. Sometimes there are pictures that just jump out at you - this was one of them.

Orlando Warning - Gas Prices - Suncoast Energys

This week my travels took me to Orlando, FL. I was really excited to get out of the cold weather and to get out and do a few things. What I did not expect was the gouging at a gas station "Suncoast Energys" next to the Hertz Car Rental lot.

If you go to the Orlando area you need to be aware that the gas prices at Suncaost Energys across the street from Hertz is $2 higher than gas stations about a mile down the street.

So if you are ever in Orlando just be careful to watch the fuel prices around the airport. I found the statistics above at the following web-site: http://www.orlandogasprices.com/

Sights from Savannah

Too lazy to write... But I'm back in Savannah and here are a few pictures I took today on my walk around town.

The picture above is one of the many squares in town. The fountain was pretty with the moss and live oaks all around it.

The picture above was the moss in the trees in one of the squares with the sun going down behind it.

This statue is of John wesley the founder of Methodism.

I saw this boat coming in on the Savannah River. I loved the colors.

The bridge across the Savannah River is huge. To really appreciate it you have to see a ship go under it.

I'm not sure what the building above is. But the gold leaf on the roof was beautiful in the sunlight.