Tales of the 2016 Road: Blessed the Family That Stays Together

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 20, 2016 in Family, Social, Striving, Travel

July 6, 2016, Oley, PA- I can’t drive through these parts, without a stop at Glick’s Greenhouse. It was getting near Dave’s birthday, and Beth was having the family over for dinner, so I got to be a part of the festivities. Besides, the accommodations are the best in the area.

The day started with a lovely breakfast at Bedford Diner, which has become an instant favourite of mine- first and foremost because of the exquisite breakfast sausage. The regulars and the waitresses bantering is always a delightful aspect of sitting at the counter, anywhere, and it certainly was there.

My only sightseeing of the day was at Leesport Farmers Market- one of the biggest in the Reading area. I picked up a few things for Beth, and enjoyed the bustling atmosphere. This event only happens on Wednesdays, but I am sure the pavilions see plenty of use for other purposes.

Leesport Farmers Market

I found my way to Oley, by the backroad, past the regional middle school, patting myself on the back for having done so. I did have to get reassurance from Beth, though, that I was on the right track, heading past the one-lane covered bridge, which I’ve shown in previous posts on the Greenhouse. We had a fine dinner, with a new addition, the Glicks’ youngest nephew has joined the brood, since I was last here, in 2013. After dinner conversation centered around the stuff of country life- yes, that includes guns, which I regard as tools for hunting and target shooting, as well as for personal safety in an unsafe environment. We all agreed that guns are not a means of showing off one’s power. Baling hay also held center stage.

No family photos, this time. It was a bit on the hot and sticky side. Some enjoyed the rubber swimming pool, as a result. The sunset, though, was vintage PA.

An Oley Valley sunset

As I said earlier, the room is fabulous, and I got a fine sleep. This proved to be fortuitously necessary, for what followed, the next day.

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.

Tales of the 2016 Road: A Heartland Independence Day

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 17, 2016 in Community, Personal Values, Social, Travel

July 4, 2016, Francesville, IN- I headed out of Rolla, MO, in the early morning drizzle. The hapless man who had been asking for sustenance, last night, was sitting outside his room, looking puzzled that I should be heading out so soon. I had one main destination for the day: The new Welcome Center of the Baha’i House of Worship, in Wilmette, IL- just north of Chicago. It would take most of the day to get there, so I was on the road by 8 A.M.

The Missouri countryside is always a pleasure, though while I rolled along I-44, towards St. Louis, it was striking how little traffic there was, headed eastward. It was also fairly easy to head northward, bypassing the downtown area. Determined to have my main meal in midday, I stopped around 11, at a Hibachi Grill, in Florissant, near the area that was so much in turmoil, in 2014. Florissant itself, though, is well-manicured and has a prosperous outer countenance. I hope the same for the surrounding communities, like Ferguson, while being well aware that a lot of hard work lies ahead, yet. There were only a few of us in Hibachi Grill, at that hour, while the food was plentiful and varied- with almost as many “American” dishes as Chinese.

Crossing the Mississippi, I knew it would be unlikely that I would see many, if any, of my Midwestern friends, today or tomorrow. One friend, whom I called, was ill. Others, I knew, had their holiday plans, so I did not contact them.

Chicagoland always has its traffic challenges, and today’s inbound traffic did not disappoint. As I expected, it took an hour to get from Bolingbrook, on the southern edge of the region, to Skokie, where I turned off the Kennedy Freeway. It was easy getting to a gas station, filling up the Nissan, and emptying myself, though there was a line for the latter- not surprising, considering that many of us had been on the freeway for, in some cases, three hours.

The Baha’i House of Worship always rises majestically through the trees, once one gets to the community of Wilmette, and close to Lake Michigan. I’m always comforted by the sight, and by being in the House. A particular bonus today, though, was the new Visitor Center. Here are some views of this fine addition to the complex.

Entrance to Visitor Center, Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette

Symbols of faith, Visitor Center, Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette, IL

Mini-fountains, Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette, IL

Main Display Hall, Visitor Center, Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette, IL

Garden outside Visitor Center, Baha’i House of Worship, Wilmette, IL

More Good News for modern man

I knew it would be way over budget, for me to stay in the Chicago area tonight, and the traffic in the morning would be horrific, besides, so after a serene and uplifting hour in the House of Worship, I headed eastward. Traffic going out of the city was minimal, but I saw an astounding scene unfolding, across the median, on I-94: Traffic coming from Indiana was at a standstill, for fifteen miles- clear to the Valparaiso turnoff. It was too late to even think of calling a young friend in Portage, IN, so I headed south on county and state roads, into the rolling farmland and self-sufficient small towns that lie between Chicago and Indianapolis.

Fireworks programs, in many parts of the country, are organized by cities and towns. Here in the heartland, as we saw yesterday in Missouri, families set off their own, with the adults carefully monitoring their younger charges. In Francesville, where I stopped and got a sandwich and some pretzels, for supper, the display was just starting. I sat and watched, as a few fathers were giving their families and neighbours a visual treat, in a field on the south end of town.

Fireworks over Francesville, IN

In all the years that I have experienced Independence Day celebrations, none have been more hearfelt, or more enjoyable, than this time of nibbling chicken salad, whilst watching competing displays from adjoining farm fields, in this solid little town, in central Indiana.

I would go on to Logansport, and spend the night in Manor Motel. I did get the feeling, though, that I would always be welcome in Francesville, and other little towns along the way. The heartland is a very warm place.

Tales from the 2016 Road: Christmas in July

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 16, 2016 in children, Family, Personal Values, Travel

July 3, 2016, Avilla, MO- There was a span of 38 years, since I last saw Lisa, one of my younger cousins. In our family, last has never been least. Each member of the brood has an essential place. Lisa followed in the footsteps of her mother, who served as a WAVE during World War II, by becoming a member of the Women’s Army Corps, for several years. When that was finished, she became a teacher, like her father. She’s still a teacher- and a farm wife, in this little slice of heaven, in southwest Missouri, between Joplin and Springfield.

I was invited to join their family’s Christmas in July celebration, with attendant fireworks. People in the Midwest set off their own fireworks, as befits a farm culture. There was a marvelous spread, to get things started, and as we recalled from our childhood days, such gatherings involve sitting around ad spinning yarns, as well as discussing the topics of the day, in a civil fashion.

It was a lovely day and evening, so here are a few scenes from down on the farm, in Avilla.

The farm property at Avilla

Lisa and family were busy, setting up the festivities.

Here are some scenes of the gang sitting around, and of the fireworks.

Grandkids getting ready for the display.

Solving the world’s ills

Fire away!

Sky lit up!

Light show!

We then exchanged gifts, in White Elephant fashion.So went a fine re-connection with a bright and loving member of my extended family, which is now extended even further, with her husband, kids and grandkids.

Tales from the 2016 Road: The Other Half Gives

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 13, 2016 in Community, Hiking and Nature, Historical, Social, Travel

July 3, 2016, Ponca City- I spent about forty minutes visiting this spacious northern Oklahoma town’s three major landmarks, all associated with the oil magnate, E.W. Marland, and his family.

Prior to arriving here, I stopped at the roadside memorial to Chief Joseph, logistics chief of the Nez Perce, in the mid-Nineteenth Century. The captive Nez Perce, native to Idaho, had been brought here, to Tonkawa, in 1877, and made to remain there, until 1884. They were allowed to return to Idaho, then, and given the choice of becoming Christian and staying in Idaho, or retaining their old ways, and being moved to Colville, Washington. Chief Joseph and his band chose the latter. Below, is the photo of the memorial to him.

Memorial to Chief Joseph, Tonkawa, OK

Ponca City, in Osage country, has among the earliest ties to the petroleum industry in Oklahoma. It is, nonetheless, among the state’s most spacious and well-appointed communities. Here is a look at downtown.

Grand Avenue, Ponca City

City Hall is also strikingly modern.

Ponca City Hall

There are two homes, built by E.W. Marland, which feature prominently in Ponca City’s civic life. Marland’s Grand Home, built by him in 1916, now serves as the city’s cultural center and Indian Museum.

Veranda, Marland’s Grand House, Ponca City

Full view of Marland’s Great House, Ponca City

Original Marland Oil Company Flag Staff, Ponca City

Ernest Whitworth Marland had a sincere respect for the sacrifices made by women, on the prairie, and had this statue built, in their honour.

Pioneer Woman Statue, Ponca City

The Marland Mansion, where the family lived after 1916, is the centerpiece of a city park, and is maintained in the spirit of the early 20th Century. I toured the grounds, as the interior is not open on Sundays.

The Marland children, George and Lydie, are honoured with statues, at the northern and eastern ends of the property, respectively.

George Marland

Lydie Marland

The mansion itself was built in grand, European style. Ernest was a generous man, and did not spare himself or his family of that largesse.

Marland Mansion, Ponca City

There is a wealth of flora on the grounds.

Rhododendron bush, Marland Mansion, Ponca City

There is an extensive walking trail around the grounds, which I did not have time to explore, given my invitation to a Fourth of July gathering, east of Joplin.

The pond, though, lends a serenity, and a wildness, to this most epicurean of parks.

Pond, Marland Mansion grounds

The park is a refreshing place for Poncans to gather, so in my view, E.W.’s largesse has had a good long-term effect. Now, as long as we keep moving towards cleaner energy….

NEXT UP: Christmas in July

Tales from the 2016 Road: Da Vinci’s Coffee and A Welcoming Sun Room

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 11, 2016 in Family, Matters of Faith, Social, Travel

July 2, 2016, Enid- John Glaze and I have visited one another, back and forth, for about five years now- both online and in person. My latest stop in Enid found John going about his usual business: Mowing lawns, working out ideas about improving the back part of his house, and visiting with the Saturday morning crowd at da Vinci’s Coffee House, not far from his house.

John tended to the yards, front and back, first thing this morning, before the heat set in. I remained on the screened porch, for the time being.

Life on East Meadowbrook, Enid, OK

Back yard, East Meadowbrook, Enid

John is justifiably proud of the garden spot.

Master landscaper, Enid, OK

He also showed me a couple of ceramic tiles, sent him by a mutual friend.

Lizard Tile

Sun Dial Tile

We went to Grand Avenue Cafe, Enid’s oldest restaurant, for a fine breakfast. Then, it was off to da Vinci Coffee House, for an hour or so, enjoying rich java and home made pastries, brought by a couple of the fine ladies who help comprise the Saturday morning gathering. The young couple who own this establishment were on hand to greet everyone, with a handshake and a hug, for regular and visitor, alike. We were regaled by the stories of a well-traveled local resident, who had been everywhere I mentioned, except Alaska. I

After da Vinci, John brought me over to an antique emporium, where I picked up just the right coral serving dish to gift my cousin, whom I would visit the following day, in southwest Missouri. We also went to a Catholic thrift store, where I was happy to visit the Chapel of St. Ann.

Chapel of St. Ann, Enid, OK

I didn’t have as many photos of this solid town, in Oklahoma’s northwest, as I might have. It all was part of being unobtrusive, and being a polite visitor. Being in John’s company is always a pleasure, though.

NEXT UP: Chief Joseph’s Memorial and Ponca City

Interruption

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 11, 2016 in Assistance, Inner Struggles, Personal Values, Spiritual, Striving

July 10, 2016, Newtown, CT- In my subsequent posts, I will be doing a bit of time-reversal, focusing on stories of my journey, from last week. Today, though, I found myself in the predicament of having to put my Nissan in the shop, here in this town that is associated with tragedy. The engine was smoking, the radiator might have sprung a leak or two, and the coolant overflow tank definitely needs replacing. I will deal with these things. It may take two or three days, but I will handle it.

In the meantime, I will be in a hotel room, in nearby Bethel. This will give me plenty of time to read and write. I will reflect on the fact that, just three days ago, a mechanic at a Nissan dealership, in a town about 50 miles from here, replaced the front exhaust pipe, which he said was clogged, with no mention of a radiator problem, or an oil leak. I will converse with one of my closest friends, about whatever cash flow system can be set up, to streamline the payment part of this whole process. I will write about the things I’ve seen and people whose company I have enjoyed, up to this point. I will catch up on my reading.

All the while, I will reflect on the lives of the 26 people who paid the ultimate sacrifice, four years ago, this December. I might lose a car, and have to get another one, but it is a machine. Most of those who died at Sandy Hook Elementary were just starting out in life. Being actually killed was the furthest thing from their minds. That is no longer the case, for many children and their loving adults- both familial and pedagogical. They look over their shoulders, literally and figuratively, every day.

Ironically, I was going to stop at Sandy Hook, and pay my respects, after gassing up at the Mobil station, in Newtown. The consensus, while I was waiting for the tow truck, was that Nissan wasn’t going anywhere. I, on the other hand, will go where this turn of events takes us; Me, the car or its replacement, and any who appear in the meantime.

Tales from the 2016 Road: Back to the Texas Panhandle

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 8, 2016 in Hiking and Nature, Social, Travel

July 1, 2016, Amarillo- Any road trip that involves I-40 will entail a stop in Amarillo- at least as long as Texas Tidbits is around to spin a yarn or two. Wes has been a friend for about ten years now, since I started reading his recollections of his town as it was, in the heyday of Route 66.

Southwest 6th Street, below Georgia Avenue, is a pleasing remnant of that time, and may as well be called Amarillo’s Fun Zone. It reminds me of the North Side, in Fort Worth, or old downtown Nashville.

Southwest 6th Street, Amarillo

The Goldenlight Cafe and Cantina is a good place for old men and young ladies to see each other as human beings, in search of an appreciative listening ear and reassuring arm around the shoulder- so I’m told. The folks who were here today seem to get along well, and the photo board shows many more, of people who have befriended one another, over the years. Wes has taken to this place, and its regulars, since Blue Front became a more upscale establishment. Oysters for breakfast don’t quite cut it, in the Amarillo he calls home. We each had our choice of hamburger, and shared a “small” basket of fries. (Remember, this is Texas.)

Interior of Goldenlight Cafe and Cantina, Amarillo

Wes was a bit more pensive than usual.

Wes, in the Goldenlight

After lunch, I drove Wes over to another of his favourite haunts, the Dragon Bar. It’s a small neighbourhood joint, close to I-27. Wes pointed out a mural, across the street. He said it was designed by an attorney who organized the Freedom Project, which focused on getting innocent people released from prison, a while back.

Street mural, 15th Street, Amarillo

Wes was tired, after a fashion. So, bidding him farewell, I headed towards Oklahoma, but via the upper Panhandle, stopping by Lake Meredith, a popular local boating site, west of Borger.

Lake Meredith, TX

The wild prairie, east of Lake Meredith, TX

There is much else worth exploring and photographing, in the rough remnants of glaciated North Texas. It was getting on in the day, though, and Enid, OK was still ahead.

NEXT UP: Da Vinci, Plant in the Window and Art Deco

Tales from the 2016 Road: The Long Walk of 1864

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on July 8, 2016 in Historical, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

Entrance to Fort Sumner National Monument,NM

July 1, 2016, Fort Sumner, NM- There are several places in the United States, that every citizen should see, if for no other reason than to know that unity is a delicate thing. Fort Sumner, a place of captivity for thousands of people, in the 1860’s, is such a place.

I have known, and worked with, Navajo (Dineh) and Hopi people, for several years. The Dineh, along with the Mescalero Apache (Indeh) people, were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands, in 1864, by one of the most unfortunate edicts of President Lincoln, who had a blind spot, where Native Americans were concerned. He never stopped being an Indian fighter.

The people endured the harsh life of captives, very similar to what the Japanese internees endured in the camps of World War II. The difference was that the Dineh and Indeh people built the camps, including the quarters of their overseers. Many died of disease and starvation, in this squalid place.

The people were released in 1868, on orders from President Andrew Johnson, who had no real axe to grind with the Navajos or Apaches. They walked homeward, and the Navajo wept, when they spotted one of their sacred mountains, Mount Taylor, east of Albuquerque.

Here are some of the sights that presented themselves to me, during my visit here, this morning. The first shows the pyramid-like structure that houses the museum displays and theater, that tells the story of the Long Walk. The ranger initially interpreted my foregoing the film, as a sign of disinterest in the actual events. A conversation, afterward, corrected that misconstruance.

Monument Headquarters, Fort Sumner, NM

The second photo shows the area, as it might have appeared when the captives first arrived in Bosque Redondo, as the woods were called back then. The Commemoration Stone, first brought here by Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah, in 1994.

Nature Trail, Fort Sumner, NM

Commemoration Stone, Fort Sumner, AZ

The descendants of both Navajo and Mescalero Apache internees, and many others from various tribes, bring items of dedication to this memorial site.

Memorial Site, Fort Sumner, NM

Barracks for US Army troops, Fort Sumner National Monument, NM

The above is an example of the structures which captives were forced to build, for the housing of their overseers.

Below is a flock of Churro Sheep, raised by Navajos and now viewed as an heirloom breed, for the quality of their wool and meat.

Churro Sheep, Fort Sumner National Monument, NM

This visit, which I had planned for quite some time, was a sobering reminder of just how far we have come, and a caution of how far we can fall backwards, in our inter-human connections. Like Manzanar, and Berga, Germany, it is a place that the smug and self-assured would do well to see, as a wake-up call.

NEXT UP: Return to Amarillo’s Happy Southwest 6th Street.

People of Value

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on June 30, 2016 in collaborating, Community, Personal Values, Social, Striving

June 30, 2016, Prescott- I will leave here, in a few short minutes, to visit with several friends and family members, scattered as we all are, across the Great Plains, Midwest, Northeast and South.

Earlier today, though, I stopped by the town of Yarnell, so horribly hit, three years ago, by the fire which took the lives of 19 brave souls and upended countless others. I was not there for the formal ceremony, which will be addressed by an old friend and co-worker, himself grandfather to one of the men who died that day. My extended spiritual energy will need to suffice, but at 4:42 PM, wherever I am on the road, I will stop and observe silence, at the very time the lives of the Granite Mountain Hot Shots were snuffed out.

Future site of Yarnell Hill Memorial Park

This brings me to the wider concept of value. Recent discussions, in various forums, have raised the matter of how much do the lives and livelihoods of men matter, anymore. I have been in the situation of feeling devalued, and know several men who feel likewise. It is not hard to find such people. All one need do is go to a busy street corner, and notice the person holding a plea-ridden sign.

Of course, homelessness is a far more complex issue than I will address in this particular post. My wife, son and I were homeless, for a few months in 1992. We worked our way out of it, and managed to keep a roof over our heads- which I still do. No, I am concerned right at this moment, with placing value on the persons and souls of the human male- every bit as much as I do with our precious, much-loved female companions on this earthly plane.

I will address this topic in more depth, but for now: Let each human being realize that his/her dreams, and what they have to offer, matter just as much as anyone else’s. We do nothing to make the Earth a better place, by excluding anyone, of either gender, or of any given category of humanity, from their rightful place in the mix. Advancing one group, at the expense of another, is short-sighted, and has always contributed to strife, in the long-run. There is room, to spare, for both men and women to work, contrary to the ongoing myth of scarcity.

	Sagittarian Seeker on Widowhood
	slmret on Widowhood
	Sagittarian Seeker on Widowhood
	Sagittarian Seeker on Recaptured
	slmret on Widowhood

A Sagittarian Seeker

Sharing a life of inner and outer journeys

Tales from the 2016 Road: Christmas in July

Interruption

Tales from the 2016 Road: The Long Walk of 1864

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: