Skip to content

In Daddy’s Day – A Brief Introduction

Back in September, I was telling my parents how I found a little boy on the side of the road, and my Dad immediately said, “Well, your mother has lost you girls before.  More than once.”  There was more to that conversation, but I don’t really remember it, because I was pretty much focused on how I found a kid on the side of the road.  Apparently, I asked my Dad to write down some of those stories.  He did it, so I figure I must have, like numerous other things I’ve done in my life that I can’t remember.  (Only this turned out to be to my benefit.  I really should start paying more attention.)  Anyway, it was a delightful surprise for me, and I’m really excited to introduce to you my very first Guest Blogger – my Dad, Tom.

When our oldest daughter Michelle was over the other night, her mother and I began to recount, as old people do, stories of her and her sister’s misspent youth.  The particular story being rehashed was about the time, while on a Christmas shopping trip, her mother lost her younger sister, Rebecca, at the Regency Mall in Richmond.  After a lively discussion of all the pertinent facts and details, Michelle suggested that I write the story down and give it to her; whereupon her mother immediately objected.  She said that if I did, Michelle would put that stuff on the internet and that the whole world would have access to our closet and all the private stuff that’s in it.  Jacque further reasoned that it wouldn’t stop there, that there were other stories that could be told, of which many were true, and that she, herself, had a government job that she had worked very hard to get and that it had a security clearance that needed to be maintained if she were going to be allowed to keep that good job. continue reading…

Apple Trees and Waterfalls – Part Two

Crabtree Falls!

I feel compelled to let you know right off the bat that I didn’t make it to the top.  You see, I still have this cough…and…and…okay, I’m in terrible shape.  I got up to the first overlook without much trouble, but that’s not saying much.  By the next stop, I was out of breath and my heart was beating out of my chest.  Going into the hike, I didn’t think I would make it very far, but I did think it would be worth trying.  It was!  I got far enough to see a lot of falling water, which is what I wanted.  So I’m satisfied, with the view if not with myself.  And (you know me) I managed to take a ton of pictures, some of which turned out okay.

We’re in the woods, ya’ll! The George Washington National Forrest, to be exact.

continue reading…

Apple Trees and Waterfalls – Part One

I had a wonderful day last Saturday!  I spent it with my good friend, Vicki, her sister and their two nieces in the Shenandoah Valley, picking apples and climbing waterfalls.  Well, climbing a trail. But there were waterfalls!

One of the great things about where I live is the proximity to so many other wonderful places.  We’re an hour away from our nation’s capital, an hour away from the state capital, an hour and a half from the mountains and two hours from the beach.  If your notion of fun runs to roller coasters and water parks, King’s Dominion is a forty-minute drive, and Busch Gardens is two hours or so. I’d say that Fredericksburg is a day trip away from just about anything you’d want to do.

First stop – the apple orchard. I was too short to reach these, so my friend helped me out. The bottoms of the trees were well picked over, but there were some big beauties still hanging up top.

I have long wanted to experience the fun of picking my own apples.  That sounds silly now that I’ve written it out, but it’s true.  Another friend of mine used to go every fall with her family and she loved it.  It always sounded like so much fun, and a little exotic, in a country kind of way.  I imagined what you see on the television or in movies: tall trees with apple-laden branches stretching out across a bright blue sky, wooden ladders propped up against sturdy trunks, and apple baskets (you know the kind, with bright red handles) filled to the brim with delicious redness. continue reading…

Movie Quote Monday – North To Alaska

I wish that I was as forgiving and accepting as Angel:

Sam:  What I can’t stand is when people look down on others who aren’t doing them any harm.
Angel:  Oh Sam, you cannot change the world.  And it’s…it’s so nice here.  And that’s enough. continue reading…