View From the Bottom

"Take Me Out to the Ball Park..."

2010-05-15T10:12:00.008-05:00

It's that time of year again. America's favorite past-time-Baseball. (I think the NASCAR) fans might argue that point. I have taken middle school kids to two different ball games, (one major league team, and one minor league team) in two different cities, all within one month. I haven't been to that many games since I was a kid. Can you guess which is the major leage stadium, and which is the minor league stadium?

In case you are having trouble deciding, the lower left picture is Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, and the middle photo is Pringle Stadium in Jackson, TN, home of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. I will admit that Turner Field is an impressive stadium, especially at night, as all of the colors of the field and stadium are enriched by the bright lights, there was some down side as well. We had a few fans nearby who might have had one two many. One of them was a fan for the opossing team (Philadelphia Phillies), who were rubing it in a bit since they were winning and evenatually won the game. Also, it took almost two hours to get back to our hotel, because of traffic and the continual road construction in Atlanta.

Quite a contrast to the game I went to in Jackson,TN. In all fairness, this was a day game, and most in attendence were kids. However, the enthusiam of the kids and the few adults there was just as intense as the fans in Atlanta, and I did not see one kid who had one two many, well, you get the idea. They even cheered for the "other" team when they made a good play, or hit. Why the difference and contrast in the fans I thought? I know, you are saying these are just kids glad to be out of school and just having fun. But, isn't that what baseball games are suppose to be about? It is a game after all.

I think there are several reasons for the contrast: We as adults take our sports way to serious, it is almost a religion to some, we have lost that child-like spirit when we go to sporting events, and we are continually looking for "heros". Unfortinualy, most of our heros in sports, music, movies, T.V., and others are not very good role models. After several generations of poor heros, we loose our sense of what a hero is suppose to look like and act like.

One final note, as you can see from the top photo, I didn't have any problem finding my bus in the parking lot at Pringle Park.

IS THERE A NURSE IN THE HOUSE?

2010-05-13T20:31:00.004-05:00

YES, there is a nurse in the house, and I think you can see from the photo, taken at her "pinning ceremony", she is a very happy girl. Bonnie and I are just as happy for her, and proud of what she has accomplished.

However, there is somewhat of a sad note to all this. She and her family will be moving west. We can certainly relate to Roger's recent blog: "My granddaughter is moving far away" We will miss "Jen" and "May", and the fun times we had when she and May would visit.

My prayer is that God will watch over and protect you and your family on your new journey.

Roughing It

2010-03-23T17:34:00.003-05:00

On the last night of my recent trip with the Boy Scouts they camped out at the Big Lagoon State park just west of Pensacola, FL. When I read the itinerary and learned that they would be camping out the last night of our trip, I was excited for the boys.

As a former scout, I have camped out hundreds of nights, in the Summer, Winter, Fall, and Spring. I camped out in all types of terrain and in many different states, and had wonderful experiences. I envisioned that I would let them out at the entrance to the park and they would hike in and set up their campsites. The way we used to do it.

Well, as you can see from the photo, I was wrong. Not only did they not hike in, they had a fresh water faucet close by, as well as an indoor bathroom, complete with hot shower facilities only a few yards away. It has been a few years since I camped out so maybe this is the new way of roughing it. In any case the boys had a good time and I enjoyed being with them and their leaders.

You may be asking, did I camp out with them? I will answer that question like I did when the scout leader and some of the dads invited me to join them for the night. I told them that I got all that out of my system years ago, and that my idea of roughing it was a Motel 6. I thanked them and said I would return in the morning to pick them up, and then headed for my motel.

"City of Five Flags"

2010-03-14T18:46:00.004-05:00

The last destination on my recent trip with the boy scouts was Pensacola, FL. Although I have been to Pensacola, I had no idea of the rich history this city and the surrounding area has played in our country's heritage. Pensacola is probably now best known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation", with Naval Air Station-Pensacola located there. N.A.S.-Pensacola is home of the Blue Angels, the Navy's precision flying team, and where the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard train their pilots. Although naval aviation is now the leading industry so to speak, this was not always so.

The title of this blog,"City of Five Flags", gives you a clue as to the rich heritage I mentioned. Pensacola was the first European settlement in the continental United States. It was settled in 1559, by the Spanish, and was explored as early as 1513, by the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon. What attracted the early explorers and settlers was the large protected bay from the Gulf of Mexico,and the large timber resources inland. The perfect ingredients for a good seaport. Pensacola Bay is 13 miles long and 3 miles wide, protected by a barrier island called Santa Rosa Island. It is thought that the name Pensacola came from a local tribe of Native Americans called the "Panzacola Tribe"

As a side note, I found it interesting that the name Florida was given by Ponce de Leon, which he proclaimed on April 2, 1513, which was six days after Easter. In Spanish this was translated "Flowery Easter". As you know, there is a wide beautiful variety of flowers and foliage throughout the state.

By now you have guessed which was the first flag- Spain. The second flag to fly over Pensacola was France, followed by Great Britain, then Spain again. The Spanish finally ceded Florida to the United States in 1821 for some concessions in the Louisiana territory and five million dollars. We are up to four different flags, can you guess the 5th. For some reason I did not think of the 5th. flag until I was told about it by the park ranger at Fort Barrancas. The 5th. flag was that of the "Confederate States of America".

The first picture you see is that of Fort Barrancas, first built by Spain in 1698, and latter modified and added on by the United States in 1826. The name Barrancas gets it name for its' location on the bluffs (barrancas), overlooking the entrance to Pensacola Bay.

As many cities do, Pensacola has made a huge transition from it original founding to its' present-day status. Pensacola has gone from wooden sailing ships to modern jet fighters, and has a rich history equal to any in our great country. This a beautiful part of our country with the white sands and emerald waters of the gulf, and I look forward to going back soon.

Anchors Away

2010-03-09T18:33:00.004-06:00

My latest travels took me back to my home state of Alabama. This time to Mobile,Al, where the USS Alabama is permanently berthed in Battleship Park at the north end of Mobile Bay.

I took a boy scout troop on a two day trip to Mobile, Al and to Pensacola, FL. I have driven by this monument many times, but this was the first time to visit and go on board this great ship. The scouts and their leaders stayed on board the ship overnight and slept in the berths that the sailors actually slept in. You would really have to get along with your shipmate after seeing the sleeping quarters. The area you see in the picture is the forward sleeping area in the bow of the ship.

You don't realize how large this ship is until you get up close and personal so to speak. The picture of the two forward gun turrets give you some idea of the size of this ship. You don't have to worry about hurricanes affecting this ship, as the entire hull is encased in concrete below the water line.

After serving our country with distinction and honor in WW II, this great warship now rests at peace, and serves as a memorial to the sailors and marines who sailed on her.

View in the Rear-View Mirror

2010-03-02T18:01:00.010-06:00

How do you end a blog about your trip to Washington, D.C.? I must confess, it is difficult, it's like going to the Smithsonian Museum, you can go for months and months and never see it all. However, all good things must come to and end. I have included some of my favorite photos in this blog as I close this chapter.

From the top left is inside the Jefferson Memorial, with one of Jefferson's greatest statements. Next the Jefferson Memorial itself. Next, a little lighter side of Washington, the many park squirrels you encounter as you visit the various sites. There are concession stands near most of them, and this is where the squirrels hang out. They are very friendly and will practically eat out of your hand. Next, is a view of the dome of the Capital Building, which is quite breathtaking as you look up . The next photo is a view of the Pentagon Building, looking from the Air Force Memorial. The view you see is where the Pentagon was hit on 9/11. The next photo is the Lincoln Memorial and the final photo is the Washington Monument looking from the far end of the Mall. Each of these sites stir up different emotions as you dwell on their significance in our history. Rather than go into each one, I will let you find your own.

One final thought I must share with you concerns a comment that Lori made on my first blog on my visit to Washington. She said:"The beginning of our nation was sort of like a church plant, or church re-location.." Upon reflection Lori, I think you are right.

Our founders had it right as well. "All men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights......With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honour."

Dead Men Walking

2010-03-02T16:38:00.002-06:00

Of all the photos I took in Washington, I think this one has moved my spirit the most. What you are looking at is the reflection of the statues from the Korean War Memorial reflecting off the Vietnam War Memorial, known as "The Wall" It is fitting that these two war memorials are adjacent to each other, as the Vietnam War was the next war that we fought.

As I viewed this scene, I thought of the spirits of the Korean dead talking to the spirits of the Vietnam dead. I can't imagine what that conversation would sound like, but the first thoughts that came into my mind was the movie series "Band of Brothers". I was the right age, at the right time to have fought in Vietnam, but I never did. I didn't volunteer and I was never drafted. I had many friends who did go, some never came home, and some who did will never be the same. To paraphrase Tertullian,, the father of Latin Christianity- The blood of the soldiers is the seed of democracy.

"The Forgotten War"

2010-03-01T21:34:00.003-06:00

These are photos of the Korean War Memorial, often called the "Forgotten War". In fact, technically the war has never ended, it was halted and peace talks started in the mid 1950's. They are still going on today. It took many years for our government to recognize the "Korean Conflict" as it was called, to be in fact a full blown war.

It is hard to choose a favorite memorial in Washington, but I will have to say, this my favorite. I can picture in my mind's eye, a group of soldiers on patrol in the deep snow's of Korea. I have known several men who fought in this war, my father-in-law for one, and all of them say it was the coldest place they had ever been.

This memorial in particular brings out the realities of war: young men afraid, cold and lonely in a foreign land, looking for the enemy. I think this is captured in this memorial. Most of us will never know the horrors and sacrifices that so many made for the freedoms that we now have.

As it is stated at this memorial: "Freedom is Not Free".

There is a uniqueness to this memorial not found in many. There are 19 statues representing a cross section of America and its' military. There are men of the Army, Marines, Navy and the Air Force, as well as 12 Caucasians, 3 African Americans, 2 Hispanics, 1 Oriental, 1 Native American Indian. The sculptor was Frank Gaylord of Barre, VT, and the memorial was dedicated on July 27, 1995.

This One's For You Kid

2010-03-01T18:37:00.004-06:00

Of all the photos I took in the Washington National Cathedral, this was one of the most interesting. I had to take this picture for my blogging mentor. This one's for you Roger. These are kneeling cushions hanging from the backs of chairs in one of the large side rooms of the Cathedral. I asked the guide the significance of the various names on the cushions and she said that when they added this prayer and study room, they asked the Smithsonian Museum what names of prominent Americans should they put on the kneeling cushions. This was one of them.

This is a photo of the pulpit and the large section behind it is where the choir and pipe organ is located. As I mentioned previously, the Cathedral has some beautiful art work and a lot of stained glass, and as previously noted, took many years to build, however, I found the atmosphere to be cold. Perhaps I just wasn't used to such a large ornate stone building, but in any case, I did not find this to be a place where I could find the presence of God. I admit that the problem may be me, but I felt that this grand structure was built more for the edification of man, than for the glorification of God.

"The Word was made flesh,and dwelt among us."

2010-02-24T19:01:00.004-06:00

The picture you see is the view of the Washington National Cathedral as you walk up from the underground parking area. It is one of the most impressive (structurally speaking) buildings in all of Washington, D.C. It was also the longest running construction projects in Washington history. Construction was started in 1907, and finally completed in 1990.

I found it interesting that the idea for this building actually started with George Washington. "On January 24, 1791, President George Washington commissioned Major Pierre L'Enfant to create a visionary plan for the nations capital. It was L'Enfant who first imagined "a great church for national purposes." Finally in 1893, after 102 years had passed, Congress granted a charter to the Protestant Episcopal Cathedral Foundation of the District of Columbia to establish a church and a place of higher learning in Washington. After land was purchased (one of the highest points in Washington), the cornerstone was laid on September 29, 1907. There was an inscription carved on the cornerstone which read: "The word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John 1:14

The building is very expansive and ornate from the catacombs in the basement area to the various rooms on the upper levels. There are many paintings and murals painted in great detail as well as massive stain glass windows, each telling a different story of man and of his relation to Christ. Although it is an Episcopal church they welcome people of all faiths to worship there as well as speak at various forums. There have been many famous people who have spoke from the pulpit and who are buried within the church. Many State Funerals have been held here, among those were Woodrow Wilson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Ronald Regan. Also, many of our nations presidents have spoke or attended church there. Among those were: Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, Gerald Ford, and George W. Bush. Such people as Queen Elizabeth II. and Helen Keller have attended services, and it was here that Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his last Sunday sermon from the Canterbury Pulpit.

I will show more pictures and give a few more interesting facts, as well as my thoughts about my visit on my next blog.

Return to the Future

2010-02-23T21:38:00.006-06:00

I just returned from taking a local high school band on a trip to Washington, D.C. It had been approximately 15 years since I had visited our nations capital, and I must admit that this visit was just as exciting , if not more so, than the first time. Let me say at the outset that if you have never visited Washington,D.C., you should.

I realize that the first thing most people think about when you mention our capital is the political turmoil that surrounds it, and the politicians that have created it. This has taken center stage and created a lot of disunity in our country, and I must admit that I have been swept up from time to time by all of this. It is so easy to draw a line in the political sands of our time, and dare anyone to cross it. I have my own views, and for the record, they lean more to the right than to the left, however this and several of my following blogs are not about my political views, or for that matter any ones political views. I want to look at our nations capital from a different view (see my first blog).

Washington is so much more than the political arena that you see on T.V. every night.
When you visit Washington, D.C. you can see the foundations that our country was built on and the rich heritage of our country.You can learn of our founders, and the people throughout our history that have made our country great, and you can see God's hand at work at every turn, if you open your eyes and your heart. You see God's name on many buildings and engraved on many statues and memorials throughout the city, as well as numerous documents that serve as statements to the world about our coountry.

I learned many new things and visited some old and new places that stirred up old, as well as new feelings. In my next several blogs I will share some of them with you.

Stand Up

2010-02-03T18:32:00.006-06:00

Recently I have been challenged and convicted by a statement that Brit Hume, a journalist for Fox News Channel, made concerning Tiger Woods. Most of the world knows about Tiger Wood's secret life style and how this has caused his marriage and golfing carereer to come crashing down. The thing that has convicted me the most is that as far as I know, Mr. Hune is the only nationally known figure to call what Tiger did a sin, and that what he (Tiger Woods) needs most of all is Jesus.

I don't know of any person in sports or otherwise, that is so recognized, and yes even idolized, around the world as was Tiger Woods. He was a superstar in his profession, had a beautiful wife and family, and appeared to have it all. I must confess that I was a big fan of Tiger Woods. Yet, all this came crumbling down when it came to light that he was leading a double life of sin. He has since been scorned, talked about, dropped out of golf, and has been humilated around the world. He has virtually dropped out of sight.

I can't presume to know what Tiger Woods is thinking, but if I had to guess, I would say that he is looking for someone to forgive him, someone to love him, and someone to help him bring his life back to some simblance of order. His chosen religion of Budisim doesn't offer any of those things, nor for that matter does any other religion. As Brit Hume stated, the only religion and the only one who can offer these things is Jesus Christ. I believe, as do many others, that if Tiger Woods would truely repent of his sins and accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, he could have the forgiveness and love that he so desperately needs now.

I applaud Brit Hume and his willingness to stand up for his convictions and not be afraid of what the world will say. He is a man willing to do what I think Jesus would have done. We need more Brit Humes'.

HAPPY_?___ YEAR

2010-01-01T17:47:00.004-06:00

As I was drinking my coffee this morning, it dawned on me (no pun intended), that we are now in a new year. First, let me say, I have much to be thankful for and have been truly blessed by God this past year, and look forward to what He will do with me this year.

With that said, it occurred to me why do we always say "Happy New Year" when we greet others. It has almost become a ritual.
As I stared out the window, I tried to find something new. As hard as I looked, I could see nothing new. My old truck looked the same. In fact, everything I looked at was the same as yesterday. I looked around the house, everything looked the same as well. Maybe I should start saying "Happy another year", instead of "happy new year". It occured to me, maybe I am looking at the wrong things. Perhaps, I should begin looking at myself. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that was where I needed to start.

No, I don't mean the physical things, like I need to loose weight, eat better food, exercize more, get some new clothes, etc.(I might want to reconsider the loosing weight thing) What I mean is, my spiritual side, the thoughts of my heart. That is where the battle rages.

The picture you see is of an old house high up on Beech Mountain, NC. As we used to say in the appraisal profession, its' useful life is zero. How proud the new owners must have been when this old house was first built. It was new. It represented a new beginning, possibly with a new family. Now that would have truly been a "happy new year", for someone. But now, those memories have faded away, and all that could be done now is to tear the old house down, and begin anew.

As I drank my second cup of coffee, I silently prayed to God, that my life this new year would not be like that old house, with a useful life of zero. O it's true He had to begin anew with me some time ago, in fact, I am still a work in progress, as we all are. I would hope that my life is now like those who first built that old house- a new beginning.

So, as we go forth into 2010, let me wish you a happy another year., and that God will use you for a new beginning.

The Wonder of It All

2009-12-13T20:08:00.003-06:00

Have you ever wondered why we are so captivated by a sunrise, or sunset over the ocean, or a panoramic view from a mountain top. It seems as though time stands still, and our minds are taken captive by beautiful thoughts. To put it another way, we are at peace, and the storms of this world fades away. We savor the moment and do not want it to end. Even though I don't get enough of these moments, I have come to realize they are there if we only take the time to see them. God gives us the same advice He gave Job, "...stop and consider God's wonders." The Psalmist gives us the same advice when he wrote: "Be still and know that I am God."
I think that this is the key to why we are so captivated by scenic views. We can take the focus off of ourselves and focus on the One who created it all, and with this comes the peace we so long for. O the wonder of it all.

Quilt Barns

2009-12-13T19:30:00.002-06:00

While living in the "High Country", Bonnie and I had the opportunity to do one of our favorite things, that is to travel around the area and take pictures of old barns. Much to our surprise, we found that many of the barns in the area had various quilt patterns painted on them. In fact, there was several "quilt barn trails" you could follow and see these old barns. Upon inquiry, I found that the art department at Applicain State University in association with the local high school art department, and various local artist came up with the idea to dresss up these old barns. People submitted request and what patterns they wanted and the idea came to fruition. Some of the patterns are old family favorites, or a pattern that was special in some way to the people who owned the barns. We spent a day driving throughout Ashe and Watauga counties in North Carolina, and we only saw a small portion of the barns. It was a great day, we saw some beautiful secenery and meet some interesting people. The picture you see, is just a sample of the many barns, and different quilt patterns that we saw. It was a great way to spend the day.

Old Man and the Mountain

2009-12-08T17:44:00.004-06:00

The man you see in the picture is Ted Hicks, son of Ray Hicks, who was considered the last of the old time story tellers. The other picture is the view from his back porch. I had the pleasure of meeting Ted when we lived in the "High Country" near Boone, NC. As some of you know I worked for AppalCart, which was the public transportation system for Watauga County, NC. On my frequent trips to pick up Ted and carry him to the doctors, he fascinated me with the old stories his dad taught him over the years before he died, stories of the mountain people who lived in this region and the old time "Jack Tales".He spoke with that old mountain brogue which took me some time to understand, but when I finally mastered the language, I was even more fascinated with the stories. Ted lives with his mother in the house you see, which is high up on Beach Mountain. They heat and cook with wood, and only got indoor plumbing a few years ago. Life on these mountains is tough, and the winters are even harder.

As I got to know Ted and his family, I fell in love with them and their simplistic life style, and most of all the tenderness of their hearts. They would do almost anything to help you if they could. If you are ever in the area, give Ted a call (he's in the phone book), he would like nothing better than to invite you up on the mountain and spin some tales for you.

Beauty and the Beast

2009-12-01T19:03:00.005-06:00

On my recent trip to Kentucky, one of our stops was in the beautiful bluegrass region of central Kentucky at the Shaker Village, near Harrodsburg, KY. The picture is of the main road in the village.
The Shakers, which was an offshoot of the Quaker religion, came to America in the late 1700's, and reached its' peak between 1830-1850. The village community at Harrodsburg was one of many established in America. To my way of thinking, the Shakers were good people. They acchieved self-sufficiency in very successful communial villages. They invented many useful things, one being the clothspen. They were hard working, morally good people, but their way of life was doomed from the beginning. They were celibate, and were ridgely segerated by sex. The only way they could add to their number, was by people who wanted to join their sect. Their fate was sealed. Somehow, they failed to understand God's command ".....be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it...." Genesis 1:28 As I drove away, I could not help but think of this beautiful place that God created, and what a waste. All that is left is a museum to their heritage. The Beast won that battle.

Really at the Bottom

2009-11-29T09:24:00.003-06:00

Recently on one of my trips (as a tour bus driver), I had the opportunity to take a group of middle schoolers to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. The picture is of the main entrance. Mammoth Cave is not only the longest cave in the world, but has been used by humans for thousands of years, as researchers and explorers have learned. One of the interesting things I learned was that the cave was used as a hospital in the 1800's. It was a hospital for people with "consumption", or what we have come to learn is tuberculosis. It was thought at the time that the cool, moist air and the consistant temperature of the cave would help cure this disease. As we now know, those are the worst conditions you could be in, as they helpled promote the spread of the disease in the body. A warm dry, low humidity, is what is needed to help arrest this dreaded disease.
There were countless hundreds, if not thousands of people who died in this hospital, and many others were exposed and died, as tours were given daily in the cave as they went right by the rooms set up as a hospital. Thankfully the hospital was shut down after years when it was realized that no one was getting well.

A New View

2009-11-29T07:45:00.005-06:00

Welcome to my first post as a Blogger. I have no idea what to say, but I will give it a try. As you might have noticed from my profile, I am not a 20's someone, or even a 40's someone, but a 60's someone. It just occured to me, are 60's someones supposed to be blogging? You might be wondering about the title of my Blog: "View from the bottom". Many years ago, when I was a 20's someone, I had a big S on my shirt, could leap tall buildings with a single bound, and bullets bounced off my chest, in other words I was at the Top looking down. There was nothing I thought I couldn't do. My view of life was, needless to say, narrowly focused. However, as time has passed, I have discovered that my view of life has changed dramatically. Age and experience have caused me to look at a much wider view of life, not only mine, but others as well. So, now rather than looking down, I look up more. (Take from that what you will.) -thus the title of my blog.

This is certainaly something new for me, and I must give credit to my brother-in-law for talking me into creating a blog. He is the true writer in the family, and as he has given me encouragement. I hope that any comments I might say, may be an encouragement to those who may read it