Back to the Mountain

Every year around the end of August I try to make the trip back to the Mountain. The mountain is located near Mena Arkansas and is the home of Queen Wilhelmina State Park. From the time I was 10 years old, and we moved to Cove Arkansas, which is located about 15 miles south of Mena. I have always been intrigued by the lure of this mountain. Of course the over two hundred hot rods and classic cars that are there at the end of August does not hurt either.

I can remember when I was young my Dad would load us all up in the VW bus we had, and we would take out on trips through all the back roads up and down the mountains. I was always drawn back to Rich Mountain where the State Park is now located. The lodge started back in 1898 as a resort for the Queen of the Netherlands. It has decayed, burnt, and been rebuilt to the current lodge. You can learn more about this State Park by going to http://www.queenwilhelmina.com/history/default.aspx

The trip up the mountain was fun this year as Casey (my niece's son) and I drove up in the 1955 T-Bird. Just to drive around in this old classic will take you back in time.

I look forward to the trips back to Arkansas. It is a time to remember the good times, and sometime the not so good times. We all need a rock to draw us back into our history, and remind us of where we have been, and who was with us when we were there. My rock is a mountain in Arkansas called Rich Mountain.

Fallen Hero

Last week I was able to participate in two PGR missions for a Paris native Fallen Hero. Sgt. Hoskins was only 24 years old when he was killed in Afghanistan by an IED. Sgt. Hoskins was brought back home on Thursday of last week. The Patriot Guard helped with the escort of this hero from the airport to the funeral home. There were 168 motorcycles in this escort and it was a very moving experience. The part that was the most moving was to see how our small town of about 25,000 had an estimated 10,000 people show up along the 6 mile route to the funeral home.

The funeral for Sgt. Hoskins was on Saturday and it was just as moving. At the cemetery there were full military honors and a local flying group performed a fly over with smoke trails from a formation of three military bird dog planes. I am very thankful for these young heroes who maintain our freedoms we enjoy each and every day. I am also thankful to live in a small town that knows how to show the proper respect for this honorable service man.

I have been to several PGR missions and I enjoy having the ability to show my respect to those who have given their all for our freedom. I do believe with out a doubt this escort last week was the most moving, and had the largest community support I have ever seen.

Nancy News

Well how things can change in a couple of weeks. On the 11th of July I blogged about going to Nancy and Ray's house and having a good visit with them. I talked about all of the things she was doing to get ready for Kai who will be here soon from China. After our visit Nancy called me one day and with a very excited voice told me "she is pregnant". That was not supposed to be able to happen. They had been told by the Doctors that there was no way she was going to get pregnant. Now we have number 13 and number 14 grand babies on the way.

This is such a wonderful blessing, and I know that Nancy will be a good mother to Kai and the new little one due in March. Maw and I look forward to having these wonderful small spirits within a 3 hour drive from Happy Road.

Tour de Paris

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to help with the Tour de Paris here in Paris, TX. There were 800 cyclists that raced in the 15K, 40K, 70K, and 100K races. To help with the event were 450 volunteers. I was one of the volunteers with the local amateur radio club, and we provided communications through out the course. My station was near the end of the race at a road crossing. We were lucky at our location and had no events to report, and all went well. At another location there was a crash that caused several riders to be transported to the hospital. I believe the injuries included broken collar bones, and a possible concussion.

I was so impressed when the lead group of the 100K race went by me. After 70 miles of racing this lead group was around 20 cyclists, and were in perfect tempo at a very fast rate. It was as if a car had just passed with a pronounced swoosh.

When I was setting up my shade, generator, fan, boom box, radios, and getting ready for the long day I was assisted by the missionaries who came by before starting their day of teaching.

I enjoyed this day and I think it is a great opportunity for the community of Paris Texas.

Kids come to visit

Well this weekend we had the M's come to visit from McKinney. Mitchell is going to EFY in San Antonio this week. EFY is a very spiritual training event for young people in our church. We are so proud of Mitchell and the decisions he is making. He is getting to be such a tall, handsome young man. This is a picture of Mitchell taking his bag out to the car and Mason trying to go with him. Mason really loves his big brother.

We had dinner on Saturday with everyone and our Church Missionaries who are working in our area as part of their 2 year mission. Then I dropped off the Missionaries and we went over to Karol's house and the kids got to try and wear out the swimming pool.

On Sunday we had a good day at Church and then a bunch of the kids and grandkids came to the house for lunch. The Missionaries got another meal because Shelly was to suppose to have them over for lunch today, but she is getting remodeling done on their house. So Maw agreed to help out and it was a great meal with Taco Salad.

I really enjoy it when our kids and grandkids come to visit on Happy road.

Visit with Nancy and Ray

On Wednesday of this week we took a trip to visit Nancy in Mustang OK. Nancy and Ray are doing well, and we are so proud of them. It was great to see all of the new pictures of Kai and look at the websites which show him in China. Nancy will be such a good mother. She is all ready getting anxious about getting this little boy in her arms, and letting him know how much he is loved. I think I even overheard discussions from Ray on when they can start the process on the next baby. It is such a blessing to be a parent. For Nancy and Ray it is a special blessing to take a special spirit from halfway across the world and provide such wonderful care for him. This type of care may not be available in China.

To see Nancy tear up was very touching when she was talking about having a conversation with one of the workers in the foster home where Kai is located. She wants to know everything about her new son, and is even searching the Internet to see if she might be able to find a video of him, and maybe hear him.

From our visit this week there is no doubt Kai will be very loved and taken care of when he gets to his new home in Mustang OK. Nancy has almost finished one quilt for Kai, and has his room planned out to every detail.

I look forward to a trip from Happy Road to Mustang in the near future to meet a new grandson, and watch a great daughter at work.

40 Year Reunion

Wow, were has the last 40 years gone. This weekend I went to my 40 year high school reunion. It was a lot of fun to see most of the 22 class members I graduated from high school with. I got to see some classmates that I have not seen since we graduated. It was fun to see how some had changed so much (like me), and some looked just like they did when they were in high school.

In the picture to the left are Mike, Steve, and Dudley. Mike is one that I had not seen since high school. Mike lives up around Fayetteville, AR and plays in a band. He played in a band when he was in high school. He now still plays with his brother Andy, but his bass player is his son. Steve and I got caught fighting one time in front of the Ag building and the teacher made us stand in front of the class and hug for the entire hour. That will leave a memory.

This is Betty and Margie. Margie was always the smartest one in school.

We had class members come 1300 miles to be at the reunion, and there are some that have never been to a reunion and live less than 150 miles away. I guess I am too nostalgic, but I really enjoy going to these, and I am looking forward to the next reunion in five years.