Functional

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 16, 2016 in collaborating, Historical, Poetry

November 15, 2016, Prescott-

The longest week of November is nearly halfway gone.

I take one day at a time, on this gig,

so it does not phase me,

that this is the most quotidian segment

of a season that features a plethora

of holidays.

A colleague was unaware of some functional facts,

regarding our planet’s geography.

She is no longer so much in the dark.

It seems, in this day and age,

that some would prefer

the Dark Ages.

Thinking, and being functional,

were so much easier then,

or so they suppose.

A Cup O’ Kindness

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 29, 2016 in Historical, Inspiration, Striving

August 27, 2016, Prescott- Last Sunday, I spent some time with a World War II veteran, retired from the U.S.Army, as a colonel, who commanded a battalion on Utah Beach, during the D-Day invasion, in 1944. He was fading, when I saw him, so I knew it was a matter of time, before his departure from our midst.

That passing came this evening, and John A. Mortimer, “only 96”, found himself looking down upon many friends who will miss his presence. His widow, a native of Britain, called him her “Laddie”. Certainly, during his years of service to his country, including time in the Battle of the Bulge, when he pushed his unit into Germany, with General Patton’s blessing, he moved with the swagger of youth- and made it count for something.

John was still on active duty during the Korean War, but stayed stateside, to monitor the testing of atomic weapons. It was a decent turn of events, that he did not suffer any ill effects from those unfortunate days.

He served, at our American Legion Post, as a member of the Honour Guard, and was its flag presenter at funerals and memorial services, for several years. John was also the first person one saw, on Sunday mornings, when breakfast was being served, as he was the cashier. All that ended, about 1 1/2 years ago, when he became confined to the VA Hospital here in town, and to a wheelchair.

His wit, and keenness for Turner Classic Movies, remained, though, until a couple of weeks ago, when the Good Lord let him know that it was time to start packing up for the journey homeward. That journey became complete, around 9:30 this evening.

We, his comrades at the Post, will honour John on Labour Day- looking back on his extraordinary life, and taking a cup o’kindness, for his service, and all those long ago days.

Approaching

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 22, 2016 in American Legion, Historical, Poetry, Spiritual

August 21, 2016, Prescott-

The indomitable warrior is looking at his last.

He was lying in his last bed,

looking into two worlds, simultaneously.

I’ve seen this look before;

five years ago, in fact.

He could not speak, beyond a whisper,

but his message was loud and clear.

“Thank you, for not forgetting me.”

Then, came his salute,

followed by my own, in return.

In the end, when it comes,

he will have his wife’s love,

the admiration of his Legionnaires

and the small bottle of sand

from Utah Beach,

where he once commanded a battalion.

Too soon for Rest in Peace,

never too late for respect.

Tales of the 2016 Road: Long Nights’ Journeys Into Light

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 7, 2016 in children, Historical, Striving, Travel, Uncategorized

July 21-24, Flagstaff- One of the most surreal experiences of road travel is finding oneself among perfect strangers, in a night setting, when there is no light, either overhead or around. This happened to me, briefly, when I was driving between Port Jervis and Hershey, and twilight was fading, with no bright moon- and plenty of rain.

The Rocky Mountains, though, offer a far different scene, in the dark overhead. The majesty that exists, both day and night, in the place of 10,000-14,000 foot promontories, also imparts a sense of caution- whilst also bringing people together.

After three days spent at an informative, albeit de rigeur, Essential Oils Summer Summit, followed by a brief visit with my 90-year-old uncle, I headed south on I-25, certain that I would settle in, somewhere around Colorado Springs, and perhaps stop by to see an online friend, in that picturesque city. Along about Castle Rock, two things occurred: I got a message from said friend, asking that I “think of him, as I was passing through.” Translation- “I’m too busy, tomorrow.” The second thing was that a message appeared on a sign board: “Major accident on I-25, South, 18 miles north of Colorado Springs. Traffic will be slow.” No one in Castle Rock had any information, as to alternative routes to CS, and all places of accommodation were full,so I drove on, to Larkspur. There, in the pitch black, several people were pulled off, in and around Yogi Bear Campground- pretty much trying to figure out how long they could stay along the road, before someone came along to make them move. Another enterprising person was driving through the grass, between exits, essentially making a new “frontage road”.

I rejoined the crowd that was inching their way down I-25, and exited at the second Larkspur off ramp. There, we all formed a 2-mile-long queue, headed westward, taking 40 minutes to cover the five miles between I-25 and a county line road, which led, in turn, to the outskirts of Colorado Springs! The darkness of said detour also featured several families, pulling off to the side, and trying to make sense of things. It gave me an air of Armageddon, just a bit.

By this time, I just wanted to find a place for my head to hit a pillow. It was raining, and near midnight, so camping was out. Plaza Inn, a magnificent place, on the north side of CS, had rooms which were being renovated. The young lady staffing the front desk gave me such a room, for $ 100, instead of the normal $175. With a gargantuan hot breakfast buffet, in the morning, this was well worth it. She gets an A+, for entrepreneurship!

I actually felt refreshed, the next morning, so after the aforementioned breakfast blowout, which was excellent, I said farewell to Colorado Springs, being sure to offer a hefty tip to the housekeeping staff. The only things missing, in the “under renovation” room, were a microwave oven and a chair. I know how to sit on a King-sized bed.

I took a lovely drive, along US Highway 160, from Walsenburg to Tuba City Junction. In noted, wistfully, that one of my favourite road eateries, Peace of Art Cafe, in Del Norte, had closed, and had not been bought by anyone. This was a staple of my southern Colorado jaunts, over the past five years. My next two stops, in Mancos and Cortez, were also happy returns to familiar towns. I spent a bit of photo time in Mancos’ historic district, noting that a few homes there were also up for grabs. Here are a few photos, in case anyone wants to take a closer look at a home near the San Juan Mountains, and Mesa Verde National Park. Mancos has excellent soil and fairly plentiful water.

Historic home, Mancos, CO

Alice Ann’s, Mancos, CO

A jazz-themed porch, Mancos, CO

Zuma Natural Foods, Mancos, CO

Zuma isn’t for sale. It was just a nice place to pick up a lunch item for the next day, in case I didn’t get all the way to Prescott, on Sunday night. Dinner, was to be at Jack and Janelle’s, another of my favourite stops,in Cortez. There, I was greeted by Janelle, and a bubbly little girl, who waved hello, and shyly smiled, while I was waiting for a table. It’s sweet to be welcomed by someone who just picks up on good feelings. I left the darling child to her own subsequent mischief at the family’s table, and gratefully enjoyed a modest helping of grilled salmon and Caesar salad. Jack & Janelle will see me again.

The drive down through the Navajo Nation was relatively uneventful, until I reached Tuba City. All the lights in my old place of residence and livelihood (1981-86) were out, courtesy of a lightning strike to a transformer. The one major intersection was being monitored by a police car, its flashing lights the only indication that there was indeed an intersection. All three gas station/convenience stores, and both large hotels, were pitch black. I did not investigate further.

At Gray Mountain, some twenty-five miles southwest, on the road to Flagstaff, there were fifteen of us who stopped for gas, centering and potty breaks. Two children had been sent by their mother to buy a couple of items and tend to their business. I found myself reassuring the little girl that everything would be fine now, and Flagstaff was bound to be relatively safe. The scene outside was moderately chaotic, but we all got gas, the kids got their snacks and no one fell victim to Nature’s Call.

I made it to Americana Motel, my usual Flagstaff resting place, slept well and had nothing more serious than a WiFi outage, for the rest of my journey back to Home Base. The Hyundai Elantra’s first “Garython” was a good maiden ride.

Tales of the 2016 Road: Prairies Forever

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 6, 2016 in animal and plant life, Community, Historical, Travel

July 19-20, 2016, Hays, KS- Early alley-oop, on Wednesday morning, got me over to Country Cupboard, in Carterville, about five miles west of Marion. I wanted a simple breakfast, in a place favoured by locals- so there it was.

The conversation in the establishment was all about autistic children, and how they fare in the schools of southern Illinois. It seems a mixed bag. One mother found her child’s school to be minimally supportive. A grandmother expressed annoyance at how her grandchild was being received, day to day. This is an area which hosts a sizable public university. That, of course, in and of itself, does not guarantee equity in the treatment of special needs children. I read, just a few minutes ago, of a threat made against the parent of a special needs child, by a university professor in another state. Education does not guarantee either wisdom, or human decency. So, these ladies, and thousands like them, soldier on, fighting for their children- as only decent mothers can. We won’t concern ourselves with the indecent ones.

I headed northwest, then due west, passing through metro St. Louis, noting that the Mississippi and Missouri appear to be in good shape. I stopped , momentarily, at a Steak and Shake, in suburban St.Peter, and turned myself into a balloon with a delectable mint Oreo shake. The burger, sadly, was forgettable, but life goes on.

In Columbia, I surprised a couple of old friends, who had moved there from Prescott, a couple of years ago, to be near family.

The Fourcks, of Columbia, MO

We spent about two hours catching up on life events, and mutual friends, in the comfort of their living room and at a nearby Cracker Barrel. I bid farewell to Emil and Pam, as evening approached, and drove on through Missouri, stopping only to savour the preserved prairie, at a rest stop outside Boonville.

Tall grass prairie, Boonville, MO

It seems to me that the more prairie we keep around, the more the soil will remain rich and productive. Monoculture, under whatever guise it is implemented, will only add to our food security problems, in the long term.

I skirted around Kansas City, took the toll road to Topeka, then got back on the freeway, as far as Salina, before stopping for the night. Super 8 offered a decent breakfast, the next morning- and I got a relatively early start, reaching this western Kansas university town, just before noon.

Hays is another quintessential prairie town, in some ways a blast from the past, though people here seem as informed and contemporary in style, as anywhere else. There is a mixed view of Donald Trump, much as I found in the conservative communities in which I found myself, in southern Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia and the Southeast.

Construction-wise, people here rely on stone.

Ellis County Courthouse, Hays, KS

I was taken by the smoothed brick streets of downtown Hays. The mood was fairly quiet, but there were plenty of people out and about- just going on with life, despite the heat. It was 104 here, as I spent about twenty minutes poking about the north end of the city center.

This stone gem looks like a church, but is now a law office.

The law office that looks like a church has this as a cross street neighbour.

The Ten Commandments, St. Joseph’s Parish, Hays, KS

It occurred to me that there are a few, at the famous church back in Topeka, who could stand to learn a thing or two from the folks at St. Joseph’s Parish. Then again, there are many, liberal, conservative, and in-between, who could do the same.

Here are a few more scenes of St. Joseph’s Parish.

Social Service Center, St.Joseph’s Parish, Hays, KS

Church of St. Joseph, Hays, KS

Chapel grotto, St. Joseph’s Parish, Hays, KS

The above is surely a place of restoration, on a busy day.

This store is still active, in the days of WalMart. I find that reassuring.

Downtown Hays has a popular lunch counter, inside the stationery store. Northwestern Office Supply’s soda shoppe is the place to go for a full salad bar, freshly made (from scratch) soups and all the soda fountain treats one can imagine. I behaved, somewhat, opting for a Reuben with cole slaw, and iced tea. Had it not been so hot outside, soup would have been a magnificent thing.

There are other interesting towns in northwestern Kansas, such as Colby and Oakley, but I had this little agenda, of getting to the Denver area in time enough to skirt rush hour, so I say, “Another time.” Yes, those of my friends who travel in rarefied circles, there is value to visiting the Prairie. It has our roots.

Tales from the 2016 Road: Harrisonburg, of the Shenandoah

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 29, 2016 in Community, Historical, Travel

July 14, 2016, Harrisonburg, VA- The Spine of Virginia is replete with picturesque cities and towns, of various sizes, from sprawling Roanoke and bustling Charlottesville, to compact places like Dublin and Damascus. I decided to stop for lunch, and a stretch, in Harrisonburg, a city about the size of Prescott, and whose civic life is also centered on the area around its courthouse. Court Square, west of James Madison University, has a variety of eateries and clothing shops. I was drawn to Artful Dodger Coffeehouse and Cocktail Lounge. Being a teetotaler, I was a curiosity to the couple who tend bar and manage the place. I enjoyed my iced tea and tuna sandwich, regardless. Jaqie and Rob couldn’t have been nicer. It was pointed out to me that, if I stuck around until Friday night, I could get free Salsa Dance lessons. There but for fortune, go I, towards Florida, but maybe on my next pass.

Here are some scenes both inside and outside of Dodger:

The ethic of Artful Dodger, Harrisonburg, VA

Party Time, Harrisonburg, VA

Once I parked my car, I passed by the town’s Welcome Center, on the way to lunch.

Harrisonburg Welcome Center

Inside Artful Dodger, Jaqie and Rob were chatting with the regulars- about something going on Friday night, and I busied myself with the accouterments of the house, whilst waiting for my meal.

The sun shines within; Artful Dodger Coffeehouse, Harrisonburg

After a good forty-five minutes out of the heat, I set out for a brief exploration of Court Square.

Rockingham County Court House, Harrisonburg, VA

Fountains, in Court House Plaza, Harrisonburg

Small garden, Court House Plaza, Harrisonburg

Panels, Court House, Harrisonburg, VA

Unnamed building, southeast corner of Court Square, Harrisonburg, VA

I will regard this little town as another link in the chain of homes I seem to be building, whilst continuing to connect with friends and family. it is always about expanding the network.

NEXT: The Road Back to Florida

Tales from the 2016 Road: West Virginia’s “Pot Handle”

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 28, 2016 in Historical, impediments, Travel

July 13-14, 2016, Martinsburg- My processing and purchase of a 2013 Hyundai Elantra became final at 12:30 PM. I gathered my stuff at Days Inn, went over to Sugar Hill Auto and transferred everything from the Altima, paid up, said goodbye to the Old Trouper and went for lunch at Blue Colony Diner. It was time to head south.

Blue Colony Diner, Newtown, CT

The very Russian waitress was rather brusque, and hurried, something to which I’m not accustomed. The Reuben was nicely prepared, though, so I made do.

Southward became a bit of a slog, at first. An enormous pile-up, involving three tractor-trailers and eight cars, had taken place on I-84, between Newburgh and Middletown. I stayed in queue, until the State Police ushered us all off, at Exit 5-A. I went south when most everyone else headed north. The road from Goshen to Middletown was relatively empty,and I was back on I-84, in less than an hour. I was in Pennsylvania, a short time later, stopping at a Rest Area in Mountaintop, where my eldest brother and his family once lived, and enjoying the other half of my Reuben.

There was a second pile-up, near Hershey, but it was on the eastbound I-78. I took the westbound, to I-81, near Chambersburg. Then, it was a short hop, through a narrow stretch of Maryland, to Martinsburg,WV.

After a very restful sleep, followed by continental breakfast, it was time to spend a bit of time taking in Martinsburg’s downtown. There are several Federal Period structures here, as there are across both West Virginia and Virginia.

First Presbyterian Church, Martinsburg, WV

Berkeley County Courthouse, Martinsburg, WV

Martinsburg Arts Centre

The center of town is marked by a landscaped little square.

Central Square, Martinsburg, WV

The house built by General Adam Stephen, founder of Martinsburg, is preserved on the city’s southeast side. General Stephen’s residence was built of native limestone.

Adam Stephen House, Martinsburg

Root Cellar and Spring House, Adam Stephen House, Martinsburg

Native Limestone, Adam Stephen House, Martinsburg

The brick house next door was built by Philip Showers, in 1874, and housed railroad workers and their families. It is called the Triple Brick House, and was divided into three dwellings. Today, Triple Brick House serves as Martinsburg’s Historical Museum.

Triple Brick House, Martinsburg

This city was a Western outpost of Revolutionary forces during the War for Independence, and has had a key role in subsequent conflicts, from the War of 1812 to the “War on Drugs”, of the Reagan Era. It is now home to major offices of the Department of Homeland Security. Yet, on this quiet morning, it was a place of restfulness and reflection. There is much in the “Pothandle” of eastern West Virginia to explore and enjoy, so I will come through here again. It was time, however, to get as far south as possible by this evening.

NEXT: Harrisonburg of the Shenandoah

Tales of the 2016 Road: My Eastern Anchor

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 26, 2016 in Family, Historical, Personal goals, Personal Values, Striving

July 8-9, 2016, Saugus- I’ve mentioned before about this town of 40,000 people having been the springboard for the American steel industry, as it was the site of the first fully-operating Ironworks in British North America.

For me, it was also a springboard. Though I was nowhere near as polished or as strong as the iron that came out of Saugus Ironworks, I have thrived, because of what I learned here.

My mother grew up on a small farm, north, northwest of the Ironworks site. When she was a child, there was no National Historical Park, such as exists today. The place was unearthed in the early 1950’s, when lower Lynnhurst was being prepared for a housing scheme. The town leaders were wise enough to see to its unearthing, and preservation- a chance to get some of the Boston-Salem-Gloucester tourism traffic. This led to Route 1 becoming one of the roads designated “The Great White Way”, for all the neon that reminded visitors of New York’s Broadway, as restaurants sprang up from the Revere line to Peabody, 8 miles further north. Yet, I digress.

Mom was the main reason for my visit here. I would still have spent time with my amazing brother, a legally-blind sailor and bon vivant. Mom, though, is still a force of nature, in late octogenaresis. She is actually feeling and doing better than when I saw her in December. She has always been about independence. She let me know where I need to work on myself, and it’s true that I have slacked off a bit, exercise-wise. Choosing to spend most of the past several days driving, and not getting out and walking much- except for Bushkill Falls, is a habit I tend to embrace when going cross-country. Habits can be broken, though.

I, like most people, want to feel my mother’s approval. She has held the bar relatively high, all these years, but not out of spitefulness or malice. Had I not been encouraged, at times cajoled, I would not be standing here today as a man of 34 years’ sobriety, or as one who puts the good of the whole above my own comfort. She is my anchor, on the East.

So, I spent a fair amount of time just being present, watching the same reassuring TV films we saw last December- a fact she found amusing- “Why can’t Lifetime be more ambitious than to recycle the same canned stories, over and over?” When it came time for me to go back on the road, she was a bit somber-but life for Lila Mae Boivin will go on- and she’s determined it will have quality. There is no finer example, even for a man in late middle age, than someone who embraces the place in life, at which she finds herself.

Her last words to me were “Drive safely”. These words proved prescient.

NEXT: The demise of Nissan Altima.

Tales of the 2016 Road: Hoosiers Are Creative

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 19, 2016 in Historical, Inspiration, Social, Striving, Travel

July 5, 2016, Bedford, PA- I started the day, determined to give the Altima a bit more TLC-so I headed to Kokomo, one of the first automotive industry centers in the U.S., for a stop at the Advance Auto Center. Just beforehand, I spotted the Seiberling Mansion, off to the west side of this still innovative city.

Seiberling Mansion, Kokomo, IN

It was closed, of course, being very early in the morning. I had much to do, though, so exterior views sufficed. In the front, there was a bit of information about Mr. Monroe Seiberling, one of the energy industry’s first entrepreneurs.

Information about Seiberling Mansion

Closely associated with Mr. Seiberling was Elwood P. Haynes, who promoted the gasoline engine, and invented products from stainless steel to the first mass-produced automobile model. Elwood was a true Renaissance man, even though much of what he ushered in has run its course, due to so many recent advances in technology. Nonetheless, here he is, in front of Seiberling Mansion.

One of Kokomo’s Renaissance men

I left the historic district of Kokomo, in search of Advance, got what I wanted for the car, then took care of breakfast, at a Kokomo institution: The Waffle House (not to be confused with the pleasant chain of restaurants that is found nationwide.) The Waffle House has a full complement of regulars, and portions large enough to suffice someone like me for an entire day. After picking up a charging cord for my Android phone, at Target, to replace one I had left behind in Rolla, I headed towards Indianapolis.

A young friend, who had moved here from Kentucky, several months ago, contacted me and we set aside a couple of hours, for a Starbucks conversation. We talked at length of the education system, special needs populations and the level of care offered by government. She’s working hard, and I let it be known that I am proud of her efforts. The little man to her right, below, is also a wonder. He is intently into his Minecraft- and I admire that focus.

Friends in Indianapolis

I look forward to visiting with them again, with husband and father present, as well, next time.

With rush hour approaching, I am headed towards I-70, through Ohio and as far into Pennsylvania as my energy level and prudence allow. Indiana has provided me with a fair measure of re-assurance and homespun wisdom.