Turning the Page on 2013

It's no myth that "the older you get the faster time goes". I've heard it explained that it is because each week, month, year represents a smaller percentage of your life as you age and that makes sense. I also think in many cases it is because the older you get the more you try to jam into the remaining time you will be blessed with. This past year was certainly a busy one and one of the nice things about blogging or journaling is that I don't feel any pressing need to rehash what happened in 2013. I blogged my trips, I blogged my races and I blogged a lot about the day to day life on the ranch in California.

Obviously losing my Dad was a big thing this past year and then celebrating the first holidays, birthdays and so on with neither parent being here. In one sense though Dad's passing was a relief because he wanted to go ever since Mom did in 2011. That doesn't mean that he didn't fight hard in the end it just means that he was ready when it was time. We miss him and out of the blue things will happen to remind us of both him and Mom but we can share the memories and know that they are ok.

Speaking of "turning the page" I finished typing my 2013 reading list this morning and here are the books that I'm finishing off the year with:

I have read the Bible cover to cover every year since 2006. This year I decided to focus on just the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs and I will finish this one tomorrow. I read a Margolin novel earlier this year and enjoyed it, particularly the characters in his Amanda Jaffe series so I went to Google to get a list of all his novels in the series, found them at a used book store, bought them and read them. This is the most recent and I will finish it today. If you like legal thrillers then I recommend Margolin.

I'll also finish a good autobiography by Anne Audain today and I'm reading the book that I received from my Daughter and son-in-law for Christmas; it is an interesting story and will be the first book on my completed reading list for 2014.

By the numbers in 2013: 82 novels and 20 Non Fiction books. I guess I do read a lot.

Happy New Year. Good reading in 2014!

Merry Christmas from California - 2013!

It's hard to believe that this is my 3rd Christmas in California since moving here in December of 2011. My original reason for moving here was to help my sister with the care of my parents, she had been a one person health care system and after seeing what she went through during several visits it wasn't hard to decide to help when I was invited to move here from Colorado Springs, my home since 1985. This will be our first Christmas without either of our parents but that can't take away the memories of so many Christmases through the years. Here are some of pictures of our early Christmases.

And here is one that I have no memory of, my first Christmas in 1948, Wilmington, Massachusetts.

Through the years: My parents, the tree behind my Dad was actually his separate tree for the gifts he received from the people on his mail route. It was amazing how much he was given every year. My grandmother Anstey when she visited California for Christmas. My in-laws, Sam and Lois Stout, we spent a lot of Christmases with them when the kids were growing up.

Speaking of the kids, here are some pictures that I randomly chose for this blog, I will let them speak for themselves.

Now I think I'll get a run done! Here is a picture from a Christmas run in Lovington, New Mexico over 30 years ago.

I made the rug Santa hanging on the door. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Winter Running and Holiday Races

According to the calendar winter hasn't started and won't for a few days. I think people all over the country who are dealing with "winter" storms would disagree with the calendar. I know one thing, it is cold even in California. As a matter of fact, I know two things, I don't like running in the cold either. For most of my life I have said that I would rather run when it is cold than when it is hot, "because you can always put on more clothes but there are only so many that you can take off". It seems the older I get the less I feel that way now. I would rather run when it's hot and if it is too hot then just don't run. The reality is that for the most part it is never too cold to run because you really can dress for the conditions. So like everyone else I come to that decision point where I have to decide whether or not I want to run or whether I want to blame the weather for not running and then regret it later. As a matter of fact, as I sit here writing this I'm working on talking myself into running this morning.

California Ice

In spite of the weather and fighting a cold myself I have still managed to run a couple of races that were fundraisers for good causes. The first was the Jingle Bell Run in Merced and the second was the Spirit of Giving in Modesto. I actually went to the Merced race not knowing if I was actually going to run because I had a cold. Since it was not in my chest I knew I would be ok to run if I felt like it and fortunately the race had a noon start time. When I arrived I was given race bib #1 and I found out that it was the 1st running of the race, finally I didn't feel to bad so I decided to run. Even though it was cold, cloudy and somewhat windy it was a nice event and I would certainly consider going back again next year.

MERCED JINGLE BELL RUN

The irony in the pictures of the start and finish is how blue and clear the sky looks. By the time the race started the clouds had rolled back in and it was cold.

COLD!!!

MODESTO SPIRIT OF GIVING 5k

The Modesto race was even colder than the Merced race but I suppose cold races are to be expected in December even in "Sunny California". I enjoyed both races and they both supported good causes at a special time of year. 

Thanksgiving - 2013 #2 Turkey Trots & Thanksgiving Thoughts

While I enjoy Thanksgiving it is by no means my favorite holiday. Don't get me wrong I love the idea of "giving thanks" but if there is anything that I have learned the past few years it is that we should try to "give thanks" every day. For that reason I believe that while we may celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4th Thursday of November every year, we should celebrate what we have to be thankful for daily. No matter how bad a day may seem, if you look there will be something to bring some happiness to your day.

While preparing for blog entries the past couple of years I have spent a lot of time going through pictures and "stuff" that I have accumulated in 65 years. Needless to say all of this walking "down memory lane" has brought back a lot of memories and while all of them certainly aren't of good things or good times, the good far outweigh the bad. It is that realization that has helped to strengthen my resolve to try to focus on being thankful daily. Not always easy but worth the effort.

Obviously it is easier to be thankful if you are happy and while that is not always easy I found a great guideline for happiness in a recent book that I read; Mind Over Water - Lessons on Life From the Art of Rowing by Craig Lambert. He said:

"There are two ways to be happy. First, everyone's favorite route, Plan A: we can get what we want. Then there is Plan B: we can like what we have. Of the two, Plan B is by far the more important skill to master. First, it generates happiness right now, not in some hypothetical future when we "get what we want." Second, if we lack this skill, we won't be happy -- despite our imaginings -- even when we get what we want because then, that will be what we have. There is no future happiness."

The message that I choose to take from that quote is simply "be happy now". Am I naive enough to suggest that it is easy? Nope! But I am encouraged enough by my own experience to believe that it is possible. I hope that it is for those of you reading this as well.

THANKSGIVING - 1968

Donna, Me, John, Rob & Carol

Me & Mom

These pictures were taken on Thanksgiving weekend in 1968. While I was stationed in Memphis going to school my family moved from California to Fort Collins, Colorado. So when I got leave between my school assignment and my assignment to more school in VA 125 for A4 training in Lemoore I first flew to Colorado for Thanksgiving. Other than these pictures I really don't remember much about the trip. From there I flew back to California where I spent the remainder of my leave before reporting to Lemoore. (The pictures aren't great but they are after all almost 50 years old).

THANKSGIVING RACES

New Mexico - In the '80's

Awards were Turkeys, Chickens & Cornish Game Hens

Throughout the years I've run "Turkey Trots"  from time to time, this year was the first time that I did two of them the same Thanksgiving weekend. My first was the Turlock Turkey Trot and was a 2 mile race back at Donnelly Park. It was the 29th annual which would lead you to believe that they might have organization down. That was certainly not the case. Once again, no restrooms except one park restroom at the starting line, the other restroom in a different area of the park wasn't even open. Fortunately I went there expecting something like that and allowed myself enough time to drive to Walmart after warming up to use the restroom. I don't understand any race, particularly one hosting family races and bragging about an "all time record number of entries" not providing appropriate facilities. Oh well, it is what it is and it is over. 

What could possibly go wrong here with almost 300 competitors and hundreds of spectators and officials? :)

The prizes were for overall and age group were supposed to be turkeys, chickens, eggs and pumpkin pies, additionally they were going to have a raffle. As it turned out they dropped all of the runner tags from the kid's mile race so they couldn't determine places, because of that they apparently decided to not recognize award winners in the two mile race either and all of the awards went into the raffle. I hung around through the "raffle that wouldn't end" in hopes that they would post the official results for our race but, nope! We were told that the results would be placed on the city website. That was two weeks ago and still no results. Oh well, I still came away thankful that I have my health and that I'm still able to participate in events like this even if they are poorly organized and poorly run.

This is definitely an event that if I decide to run it again next year I will remember that the emphasis here has to be on the title, "fun run".

The second "Turkey Trot" that I ran was actually on Thanksgiving Day and was a 5K at Tuolumne Regional Park in Modesto. It was a beautiful late fall day and was run on what felt like a real cross country course. While there were many more runners at this event it was also much more well organized. 

My sister cooked an outstanding Thanksgiving meal that we all enjoyed and we watched a whole lot of NFL Football. It was a nice Thanksgiving and a good reminder of the many things that I continue to be grateful for. Health, family and friends quickly come to mind.

As I sit writing this a week after Thanksgiving, later than I planned, I am reminded to not take health for granted. I came down with a cold early this week and it has basically knocked me for a loop and has certainly brought my training to a screeching halt. I am supposed to run the first of two Christmas themed races on Saturday but that probably won't happen. It is also supposed to be cold and rainy that day!

I hope that whoever you are and wherever you are reading this that you have a lot to be thankful for, not just during the Thanksgiving holiday season but always. 

Thanksgiving 2013 - #1 "Thanksgiving 1970 U.S.S. America"

One of the more unique Thanksgiving experiences of my life took place in 1970 as a result of my time spent on the USS America. While returning from Vietnam to the America's homeport of Norfolk, Virginia we cross the International Dateline on Thanksgiving Day. The result was that we actually had Thanksgiving twice. I am including a copy of the menu from both days so you can see that it was pretty special. Trust me, while shipboard food was actually pretty good, it was nothing like what we were offered on our Thanksgiving menus.

While sorting pictures from the America cruise I decided to choose some others to use in this blog rather than do a separate blog on the cruise. The America cruise was my second to Vietnam and took place in 1970. After our A4 squadron VA 23 decommissioned in Lemoore, California some of us were reassigned to another training squadron in Lemoore, VA 122 where we were trained on a new aircraft, new for us, the A7. I was assigned to VA 122 for 17 weeks from April to July 1970 and then I was assigned to VA 147 an A7 squadron stationed at Lemoore but already stationed aboard the America.

The America had left Norfolk, Virginia for a "world cruise" in April and I arrived on board with other members of VA 147 on July 14th. We flew from Travis AFB in California to Clark AFB in the Philippines and then were transported to Subic Bay in the Philippines where we joined the America. While on this cruise we visited Subic Bay, Manila, Hong Kong, Yokosuka, Japan from where we were able to travel to Tokyo, Sydney, Australia and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Of course we spent the majority of the time at sea and the majority of that sea duty in the Tonkin Gulf for Vietnam combat support.

Two other interesting things that took place on this cruise was our crossing of the equator where those of us who had never done so before, "Pollywogs" were initiated into the "Royal Order of Sheelbacks" by the "Shellbacks". It was an unreal, bizarre experience, somewhat like an overblown fraternity initiation. There was so much grease and garbage involved in the day's initiation that out Squadron Commander even put out a letter with instructions on how we should shower. That took place on the 15th of November on our way to Australia. Additionally on that portion of our cruise we had another unique experience; the ship was stopped and we were allowed to jump from the hangar deck and swim in the ocean while Marine sharpshooters circled us in boats watching for sharks.

Here are some additional pictures from the America cruise:

Flight Deck

Flight Deck

Top Left - Curt & Me Top Right - Grimey
Bottom Left - Randy from home, Me & Curt
Bottom Right - Don't get sick, the Navy has other plans!

Catching Up - Day Trip, Race & One More Veterans Day Entry

I wanted to sit down and catch up on a few things that I have been taking pictures of for the purpose of blogging about them. It is amazing how fast I find myself several events or ideas behind if I keep saying, "I'll write it tomorrow". Rather than stressing about getting it done I just faced the fact that we all know that "Tomorrow Never Comes" so I just had to come to the realization that it was fine to just wait until I really wanted to make the time to do it. The reality is that if it is important enough to me to do it then it will get done. With that said, here are a few things that have been going on.

APPLE HILL

There are similar places all over the country to Apple Hill. I have been hearing about it on the news for weeks and my sister told me that she had taken my parents there in the past. So we decided to do a day trip and it was definitely a trip worth taking. It is one of those trips that you really want to take if you enjoy the Fall season; orchards, vineyards, wineries, restaurants and breweries, what's not to like. 

I think one thing that made it so much fun is that we had no agenda; I have really learned to love doing day trips or even longer trips that don't have to be so planned that they are spoiled if you happen to miss something that you had planned. 

The trip was a kickoff for my sister Donna's birthday week.

Donna & I

This past weekend I did a half marathon in Clarksburg, California. I've mentioned before how much I enjoy going to races where I can see new places and Clarksburg was no exception. It is a beautiful area in the Delta region southwest of Sacramento, just west of the river. The course ran along miles and miles of vineyards and was beautiful. It helped that the weather was perfect.

While going through pictures looking for some of my Dad for Veteran's Day I found some as well as some pictures from my time at Aviation Fire Control Technician "A" School near Memphis, Tennessee. I was stationed there after boot camp and before I was sent to my duty station in Lemoore, California. So here are some final pictures for Veteran's Day 2013.

MEMPHIS - NAVAL AIR TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER

These pictures are of Ted, one of the five of us that enlisted together and one of three of us sent to Memphis for training and Pete, who we met and became close friends with in boot camp. The other pictures are some of us who graduated from AQ "A" School.

Writing, reading and running. Three things that I did a lot of while stationed at Memphis when I wasn't in class. While stationed at Memphis we used to have to march to class, lunch, etc. One of the advantages of being on the track team was that we were given a pass exempting us from marching. Nice!

These pictures are of times that Pete and I spent with Rob, another of the five and his wife Jenny who was also a friend of mine in high school. Jenny and I ran on a relay time together at a coed all school track meet. It was great having them stationed at Memphis and living in base housing because it gave us a chance to get away from the barracks and Rob had a car so we could get around when we had liberty.

Our barracks and our chow hall, nothing fancy. Pete, Ted and me at the Memphis Zoo. We would go to Memphis when we got a chance and since we had very little money we went to the zoo, the movies, where we actually watched Gone With The Wind in a huge old theater, we visited the place where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and several other tourist areas. It was good to get away from the constant structure of school and military duty. 

I'm sure there will be future posts about my time in the military experience. While readers may find some (all) of it boring, I find it somewhat therapeutic. 

So I'm caught up for now through mid-November!

Veteran's Day - 2013 #2 U.S.S. Oriskany

I mentioned before that it had been difficult to talk about my time in the Navy and that the difficulty was created by several sources; some of the sources were my own mixed feelings about duty vs. Vietnam War, the way that the majority of Vietnam Veterans were treated for many years, even decades, and honestly just the fact that I wasn't sure how I felt about so much of that time in my life.

I've also said before in this blog that I want to document and share some of my past so that my children and grandchildren can know me better. When I was helping take care of my Dad the last years of his life I found myself wanting to know more about his life and a lot he either didn't remember or wasn't sure of. I can see how as we age we all get that way so some of these blog entries are made simply to record the past so that I don't have to worry about being able to share in the future.

I enlisted in the Navy in 1968 and left for bootcamp on February 6th. I was in bootcamp until April and then after "boot leave" I traveled to Millington, TN just outside of Memphis where I received training as an Aviation Fire Control Technician. I was there for several months and was then assigned to VA 23; Attack Squadron 23 stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station in Lemoore, CA. where I received training specific to the fire control systems on the A4 aircraft.

On April 14, 1969 we embarked from Oakland, California on the USS Oriskany, CVA 34, a very old aircraft carrier. We were headed for what was called a WestPac tour. I love the word tour as if this was a vacation. On this "tour" we stopped in Hawaii on the way to Subic Bay in the Philippines where we prepared for our first deployment in the Tonkin Gulf to provide air support in Vietnam.

I am attaching just a few of the pictures that depict life on the ship. Anyone who has ever seen an aircraft carrier, particularly one of the newer ones has probably been impressed by the size and rightfully so, they are big. The reality though is that when you are living aboard one for months at a time they become very small very fast.

The center picture is one taken when I was going through a hatch to get to my sleeping quarters. When we first got aboard part of our squadron had to sleep below decks because there wasn't enough room in the squadron area. It was noisy and claustrophobic. The other pictures top left and clockwise are of my bunk area when I moved into the squadron berthing area, sleeping on the floor of the shop where I worked rather than sleep way below decks, working on an A4 on the flight deck during stand down and working on some of the electronics in the avionics shop.

A lot of time was spent in the Avionics Shop. As you can see from previous pictures there wasn't room to "hangout" in the berthing area and if flight operations were going on we certainly couldn't "hangout" on the flight deck. Despite the size of the ship once aboard my life was pretty much confined to a very small world. Shop, bunk area, chow hall and hangar deck or flight deck if we had to work on an aircraft. Sometimes we could spend time on deck just to get some fresh air as long as flight ops weren't taking place. (And no, I'm not smoking in the top left picture, I'm chewing on a pen cap).

Chow Hall

We did get to visit some other ports when we were on our cruise.

Clockwise from top left, Japan, at a floating restaurant in the Kowloon District of Hong Kong with Joe and Smitty, Hong Kong and with Joe on Corregidor, Smitty must have taken the picture. The three of us did a lot of sightseeing when we were in port.

I tried to run when I could, this picture was taken at a ball field in Subic Bay, I actually had to do most of my running on the flight deck between air ops. Smitty, Joe and I playing miniature golf in Subic.

I mentioned earlier about trying to talk with my Dad about his life and his military service is one thing that I wish I knew more about. I can certainly understand not remembering a lot and not wanting to remember some but I'm grateful that I have these pictures and others to serve as reminders of some of those times.

HOMECOMING - November 17, 1969