Laddie

When I was 7 or 8 years old, my Dad brought home a puppy. He was a yellow Mountain Cur, which he got from one of his fellow workers at the hardwood flooring mill. I was a huge Lassie fan at the time, but you can't name a male dog - Lassie (little did I know back then). Instead, we named him Laddie.

Laddie's first night at our house wasn't the greatest. He was missing his mother and litter mates. His howls echoed in the Oaks and Hickories of our yard and adjoining woods. The little dog house with the leather hinges on the door wasn't where he wanted to be. And Mom's NO DOGS IN THE HOUSE rule wasn't about to be broken. I talked to him through the rough cut lumber until he settled down and we both went to sleep. Dad picked me up and carried me back to bed.

Laddie was the best friend the only boy in the neighborhood could have. While sisters were doing their thing, Laddie and I kept all the squirrels and rabbits nervous. That first summer as we both grew up and in devotion to each other was the greatest. The next year, Dad went to work in the meat department of Lentz Cee Bee. Laddie was one lucky dog... Bones to chew on and "out of date" packaged meats as his evening meal. When Dad drove up, Laddie knew there was something special waiting for him.

Laddie had one bad habit - he loved to chase cars, especially those that headed west on the dirt road in front of the house. When he heard a car round the curve at the Charles Creek Cemetery, Laddie would make his way to the corner of the house. When the car was at our driveway, off he would sprint. He wore a path through the weeds and grass parallel to the road and then down the bank to the red clay and limestone gravel.

"Sic'em Laddie" was all I had to say to get him running into the Woods on the east side of the house. He wouldn't return until he found the tree where a squirrel had taken refuge. He took to his nature of hunting, even though we hunted with him only occasionally. Any wild animal was his prey and game.

Skunks are everywhere in Middle Tennessee. Drive very far at night and the unmistakable scent of an unhappy skunk will quickly fill the interior. The earlier 70's were also the time of a great Rabies epidemic. Skunks and foxes were the main carriers and news reports told of various domestic animals being attacked.

One afternoon, as I walked out of the back door, Laddie got between me and the tire swing that hung from the huge Oak by the clothes line. He wouldn't let me pass. As I moved to the right, a small black and white figure jumped out of the tall grass at the edge of the yard. It hissed and started toward us. Laddie grabbed it and slung it back out of the yard and gave chase. I could hear the yelps of pain as the sharp teeth tore into Laddie's flesh. I ran into the house and called Uncle James (Mom and Dad worked late on Friday evenings). He arrived in just a few minutes. His .22 rifle in hand, the told me to stay in the house and he followed the sounds down in the Clay Gullies. Moments later, two shots rang out. The skunk was no more and Laddie limped home behind Uncle James.

When Mom and Dad got home, Laddie was still licking his wounded legs. I told Dad how Laddie had protected me and kept me from walking right into the skunk's path. Dad said, "Son, you should be proud of Laddie. He did what he was suppose to do. But there is something I've got to do now." Dad explained that even though Laddie had his Rabies Shot, they weren't as effective as they are today and Laddie was suffering from injuries.

Dad retrieved the Mossburg from his closet and Laddie, even in his pain, jumped to his feet and was ready to hunt as Dad stepped on the back porch. They walked together to the Clay Gullies. A single shot ripped through the night and my heart.

Forty years later, I still fondly remember the smell of the yellow fuzz ball that rode home in the front seat of a Skyblue Chevy. I can wait to see ya at the Rainbow Bridge!

Sherry's Birthday Wish to Me

• Listening to Chicago 8 tracks in the old blue car
• Just knowing you are out there when I need you on instant message, or knowing I need to call Amy if you are missing for 2 days
• Fighting over the album jacket on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, so we could both read the word as it played for the first time
• Red and blue high low shag carpet--yuk
• I will always be your Tiny Dancer; if you will be my Hercules
• Sitting in my driveway and saying a prayer together for Daddy
• Funeral for a Friend playing through the screen window as you refinish Granny’s dresser
• Throwing milk in your face because I was mad at you
• Naming newborn kitten found in the old washer--“Everything is beautiful” except Loudmouth
• Driving for 14 hours in one weekend, to see you turn 50
• 12 noon every Saturday---American Bandstand—“Oh Mandy”
• Swapping out Prater kids on Sunday afternoon till church that night
• Playing kick the can under the large street light in the church parking lot and watching out for bats
• Picking the red berries off my dress on the way home from church while eating the remaining “crackers” left in the communion trays
• Digging a hole to China and only finding a yellow electric cord running to the smoke house
• Holding my hand as they deliver to you the flag that covered Daddy’s casket
• Giving you credit for my first set of stitches, as you hit me in the head with a hoe as we dug for worms.
• Standing in the living room and yelling out the door as you turn the TV antenna until the “snow” went away.
• Alpha and Omega, first on, last off—0 dark thirty bus ride to school
• Lying in the floor at Granny’s as we watch the Brady Bunch—first run
• Following you to Mama’s grave site as you drove Daddy to the cemetery and see all the policemen standing at attention as we passed through each inter-section.
• Knowing that I have a loving, caring and wonderful sister-in-law that will always be there for me and my family.
• And finally be able to say, “You are old”….because you will always be 3 years older than me.

I love you.

25 Random Things

1. I’m two pints short of my 4 Gallon Donation pin from the American Red Cross. But I haven’t given blood since 2002.
2. Current inventory level is over 9000.
3. 14 airports, 16 flights, 5 airlines in two weeks - very tiring.
4. I have worked in the same industry for 27 plus years. Yet, it is different every day and definitely not boring.
5. I plan to NOT to use all my vacation days this year as a patient in the hospital. The summer of 2008 was not fun!
6. Deconstructing and rebuilding a barn that was over 100 years old is one of my greatest accomplishments. The Cabin by the Pond is complete as it stands, but we will continue to add features to make it more comfy.
7. I went face first down the slide into a mud puddle when I was in the second grade. I was pushed, I tell ya!!! I’m still called by the nickname – “Gingerbread Man” by Kevin.
8. I wish I still owned the 1972 Chevelle that I had in high school and college days.
9. I love to catch a 20/20 Rainbow Trout some day.
10. In less than two years, we have taken 22,175 photos with the Canon EOS 350D’s.
11. I walked through the phone booth scene as an extra in the movie “The Nights the Lights Went Out in Georgia”. Sadly, I ended up on the editing room floor.
12. Coffee, tea and ‘Cokes’ – I refuse to be caffeine free!
13. I spent three weeks working in Asia in November and December of 2005. My only regret is Sarah was not able to share the experience.
14. My fingerprints are now on file with the FBI’s Fingerprint Identification Records System (FIRS). They were scanned when I obtain my GFL (Georgia Firearm License).
15. Walking in the woods and fields with my Dad on Sunday afternoon are my fondest childhood memories.
16. Laddie positioned himself between me and a rabid skunk when I was 10 or 11 years old. That dog gave his life for mine. I still tear up when I think about it.
17. I miss my Mom and Dad so much. I still find myself wanting to pick up the phone to call them three years later.
18. I have manned the wheel of “Stars and Stripes” – the 1987 winner of the America’s Cup. When the captain told me I could take over the helm, I nearly tripped over my jaw that had dropped. Two hours of sailing the waters around Hilton Head – FUN!
19. I’m totally addicted to Stride™ Gum. In order of preference – Sweet Berry, Always Mandarin, Forever Fruit, Winterblue, Spearmint, Sweet Peppermint, Nonstop Mint and Sweet Cinnamon.
20. I’ve not had a professional haircut in nearly 10 years. Sarah does a better job with my head than any barber in the past.
21. My C3/C4 and L4/L5 are way too close to each other. Owie!
22. I love to cook. Asian, Mexican, Italian and of course Southern Cuisine (no that’s not an oxymoron).
23. Sarah is a gem. A ruby for sure. Proverbs 31:10-31
24. I’m amazed at the simple things: How a spider weaves her web. How long a dew drop can hang on the end of a pine needle. How an army of ants can march and wear a path in the sand with their many, tiny feet. The peace that is seen in the face of a sleeping infant.
25. My most important relationship is with my Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ. I’m not perfect, just forgiven!

Metro Monday

Friends sharing the warmth of a Friday evening fire!

Metro Monday

Millie and Metro make friends!

"But, we aren't cat people!!!"

Monday, we went to the local hardware/building supply store to get two sheets of plywood. Metro went with us. As we were paying for the plywood, the Store Mouser came to us to investigate us and Metro.

He rubbed up against Sarah on the leg, played with Metro on a stack of hardwood flooring and then followed us all around the store as we remembered we needed an air filter.

Kitty Fever had been transmitted and soon we had a full blown case.

Today at lunchtime, I headed to Wal*Mart for wild bird seed and toothbrushes (strange combo, I know). As I drove back to work, my path takes me pass the Humane Shelter. I turn in the drive and ask to see the kittens.

When I get back to work, I called home and told Sarah what I had done. "I was gonna ask you to go by there, if you had time!"

With the encouragement of a co-worker (Thanks, Amy), I called the Shelter and asked if they would extend their afternoon a few mintues beyond the normal 5 o'clock closing. "Sure, not a problem."

She meowed from the carry box the entire way home. I place her in my old backpack so I could trick/surprise Sarah. But the kitten was having no part of that. Again she screamed "MEOW" - announcing her presence!!!

Sarah started crying!

So let us introduce - Millie!

Metro isn't too sure 'bout this!

Metro really isn't sure 'bout this!!!

Oh, nom, nom, nom!

Laser pointer fun!

Millie Facts:

She was born at the shelter on the day the pack of dogs killed our chickens (October 13)

She has never touch the ground

Her mother was being adopted at the same time I was there to do the paper work for Millie

I've got one question: Why does it cost more for a cat to pee and poop than it does to eat?

Metro Monday

It is finally cold enough in South Georgia to make a fire in the fireplace. We have wood that is well seasoned, since we didn't have a fire at all last winter.

Metro seemed to enjoy the warmth more than we did. He "begged" for us to join him in front of the fireplace Friday and Saturday evening.

The return of Metro Monday

Run, Metro, Run!!!

Eureka!!!

Sarah and I haven't seen them since October. She said to herself, "I don't need to put my rings here, I will forget where I put them??"



But she did it anyway. And when it came time to put her wedding ring set on to go to church on Sunday morning - sure enough she forgot where they were.



Fast forward to yesterday - Sarah was rearranging nick-nacks, tables, lamps in the living room, dining room and kitchen. Undoubtedly, wherever it was she had place the rings, they fell out yesterday.

As we were finishing our cleaning and work in the late afternoon, I saw something glisten on the floor in front of the coffee table. My jaw got slack as I picked up the ten diamond jacket the had been astray for nearly four months. I ran to the back bedroom where Sarah was catching up on her emails.

We were encouraged!!! IF one of the rings is still in the house, surely the other one is also. We continued to straighten and finish up laundry. She stepped on the solitaire, just in front of the fireplace. She looked at me and started crying for joy. Me too!!!

Some things you just accept...

I wrote a very early morning email to an old friend:

Michael.

I was awakened this morning, about thirty minutes ago. I had been dreaming! A tall, youthful looking man looked me in the eyes and said, "Remember me?"

In my dream, I said, "I think so."

My mind raced... Who am I suppose to remember today. Then I fully woke up, walked to my laptop and Googled - Vietnam McMinnville Young.

Today and most likely about this time in Vietnam, marks 38 years since Tommy's death. Just wanted to let you know that he was not forgotten.

Thanks again for the kind words that you spoke of my parents when we talked
last year! -

This message was delivered to Michael at 1:11 AM

At 1:47 AM this was in my Inbox:

Bob,

How special our dreams are. I also have awoke tonight. First at a little after midnight then again @ 1:09 AM. Didn't know why but now I do.

Thank you Bob for remembering my brother and I. Stay in touch and keep dreaming.

An Old Friend,

Michael D. Young

MEMORIAL FOR

VETERANS DAY

11/12/2001

Thomas D. Young, known by us as Tommy, was born October 8, 1949 and was killed in action in the Quang Tri Province of Vietnam on December 15, 1970. He was the son of Tom and Ardith Young and he was my big brother. Tommy grew up in the Dibrell community and attended school at Dibrell from 1955 to 1967. Tommy was a "Wildcat" and played on the junior high and varsity basketball team as a guard.

Our father was a veteran of World War 2 and served our country in the United States Navy. He had experienced the horror of war and like any father, he was concerned for Tommy's safety and urged him to join the Navy during the Vietnam Conflict due to the fact that the Navy was playing a less active role in Vietnam. Tommy feared that if he joined the Navy and something had happened to him my father would blame himself so he therefore like so many other young men during those times waited to be drafted into the Army.

He reported for duty on April 30, 1969 at Fort Campbell Kentucky where he received Basic Training. Tommy had a natural ability of being able to fix anything and this gift prompted the Army to send him to Fort Eustis Virginia. It was there he learned how to repair helicopters. After training, he was sent to Fort Stewart Georgia to implement his newly aquired skill.
During the Vietnam War, it was customary that the "minimum" tour of duty in Vietnam was 12 months, so when Tommy had less than twelve months remaining in the service, he along with our family was hoping he would be one of the lucky ones and finish his tour of duty here in the states, but as fate would have it this would not occur.

With only eight months remaining of his two-year tour he received orders to report to Vietnam as a Crew Chief on a Helicopter.

Tommy arrived in Vietnam on September 31, 1970 and was assigned to the famed 101st Airborne Division (the "Screaming Eagles"), which was based at Camp Eagle located just a few miles from the DMZ zone. He was very proud of being assigned to such a famous unit as the 101st, which gained their fame during World War II in Europe. The recent series being shown on HBO called "The Band of Brothers" features Company E of the 101st Airborne Division and Tommy always said that they had the coolest looking arm patch, which depicted the Screaming Eagle. Tommy was assigned as the unit commander's Crew Chief. This, he felt, provided a certain amount of safety due to the fact the commander, Major Jack Clark, was an experienced pilot. Like Tommy, Major Clark was from Tennessee, he being raised in Knoxville. In Tommy's letters home he often referred to the Major as the "Old Man".

A Crew Chief is charged with the responsibility of making sure the helicopter is flight ready and acts as a backup Door Gunner in the unfortunate event that the primary Door Gunner is injured or killed. Door Gunners were extremely vulnerable to enemy fire and their occupation had a very high casualty and loss factor in the Vietnam War. Helicopters were primarily used for reconnaissance missions and transporting troops into and out of front line offenses. During the brief time Tommy was in Vietnam he would fly over 36 of these dangerous missions. In one letter we received he would write "It rained all day today. I have grown to look forward to rainy days because on those days we don't fly".

It was on the morning of December 15, 1970 Tommy was flying a reconnaissance mission with Major Clark and the door gunner, Sergeant Gene Reyes. Flying along with Tommy's helicopter, which was referred to as a ship, was a Cobra Gun Ship to provide additional support in the event enemy forces were encountered. Tommy's ship encountered 51-caliber anti-aircraft fire and was struck in numerous places. A fire developed onboard but due to Major Clark's expert flying capability in maneuvering the helicopter the fire was extinguished. It was during this process that the onboard cargo became un-strapped and was causing the ship to become unstable due to the weight shifting. The door gunner, Sergeant Reyes, told Tommy to strap down the cargo and when Tommy left his seat, he was struck by one 51 caliber round which entered his body in the lower back and exited the side of his head. There was no doubt that Tommy died instantly. However, Sergeant Reyes, the door gunner, administered first aid during the flight back to Camp Eagle where Tommy was pronounced dead on arrival at the base Hospital. He was only 21 years old when he died.

Tommy had never been away from home during Christmas and had written in one letter how he wished he could be home with our family to celebrate the holidays. My parents had his body brought to our family home where many friends and family mourned his passing.

A short time later I received a phone call from Sergeant Reyes's wife. She said that her husband was distraught and somehow felt responsible for Tommy's death and had attempted to take his own life. He had been placed in an Army Hospital for treatment and was soon released from active duty. In 1998, more than 27 years after Tommy's death, I contacted the Reyes family to better understand the details of that tragic day but was informed that Sergeant Reyes had led a tormented life and had committed suicide in 1995. He too had become a victim of the Vietnam War.

Tommy was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with 6 oak leaf clusters, the Purple Heart and numerous other awards presented by the Vietnamese Government for his supreme sacrifice.

Over the years many of Tommy's friends have stopped by our family home after they had visited the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. and presented my mother with a pencil sketch of Tommy's name traced from the wall. These kind acts were very comforting to my mother and I. Honoring Tommy today is another event which I will always cherish.

Thank You

And you think gets hot where you live!

December temperature in South Georgia???

Thanks again, Dad!!

I just finished an evening of firearm cleaning...

2 pistols

3 rifles

2 shotguns.

Included in these, was my Dad's Mossberg 20 gauge that was bought for him in 1957, shortly after I arrived in this world.

He gave it to me Christmas of 2005. Dad passed away January 23. 2006.

Dad called me just before Mom passed away, October 20, 2005. He asked me for my SS# and he didn't really give me a reason why he need it. But I knew it was for a good reason. Shortly thereafter he broke his right wrist.

I plan to do some shooting with my son-in-law over the Thanksgiving weekend - therefore the marathon cleaning session. I took the butt-plate off of the stock just to be sure everything was clean. As I removed the butt-plate, I noticed something in the wood.

I put on my reading glasses - two sets of 9 digit numbers.

One is my Social Security number. A quick check of my Dad's DD-214 (I put a copy in the back of Funeral Flag case), confirmed the other set of numbers was my Dad's Social. In the grain of this 50+ year old wood is preserved our Social Security numbers, engraved most likely with his Case XX pocket knife. This, for sure, would been one of the last time he "wrote".

Thanks again, Dad!!

Dessert Contest

It's that time of year again...



Wow, what a sugar rush!!!

I was feeling not the best yesterday and only had Townhouse crackers and pimento cheese with cranberry juice for supper last night. So this morning's sugar - judging of Desserts for the Thanksgiving Dinner hit me right between the eyes.

Results of the judging will be posted this afternoon after the awards are presented!

And the entries are:

Black Midnight Pilgrim Turkey Cupcakes

Canied Apple Pie Cheesecake

Third Place

5 Way Chocolate Cake

Banana Sour Cream Cake


Apple Pecan Cobbler

Coconut Praline Pie

Second Place

Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Crisp

First Place

Raspberry Swril Cheese Cake

Japanese Fruit Pie

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Metro Monday

Metro has a couple of sweaters and jackets for cold weather wear. He recently acquired a new military style jacket that a Daschund had outgrown it. Saturday's weather was chilly and the afternoon sunshine made for a glow that accented Metro's hair perfectly.

And Saturday night, Sarah put on his "pajamas". Again, so he could be warm.

Through a glass refracting...

This afternoon, I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. As I stood there with glass in hand I notice the sun dancing through the sugar shaker that was used this morning for our coffee.

I sat the glass of water in the sunbeam.

A jelly glass

A bottle of hand soap

The steam of a dessert dish

The base of the dessert glass

But you offered me a discount!!!

Two emergency room visits this summer...

Fifty dollar co-pay per emergency room visit...

Waiting for the insurance company to make payment to the hospital...

Making sure the EOB is correct...

Getting the actual bills from the hospital...

Writing the check for the $100 balance, this week and mailing it on Tuesday...

Getting a call for the "outside" billing office yesterday afternoon: "If you pay your balance now, we can offer you a 50% discount..." This message is left on our answering machine. So I call back the number on the caller id. I say that I would like to take advantage of the offer. And then I tell the phone drone that I have already made a payment.

"Oh!?!?" She doesn't know how to handle the situation. She will check with her supervisor and the billing office and make the promise to call me back.

SHE DOESN'T!!!

I called back and got another phone drone. She, too, tries to offer me the discount. Then she bring up my account. "Oh, it now shows a $0 balance. I can't offer you a discount on a $0 balance."

Will I be calling the hospital Monday morning??? I've already complained about the lack of care from the Emergency Room doctors. Those docters were "fired" as the result of my and others complaints. And at that time was told the CEO would "get back with you". He hadn't.

So this time I start with the money guy -
Chief Financial Officer Michael Hester (478) 448-4050 mailto:mhester@dodgecountyhospital.com


Then -
CEO Kevin L. Bierschenk (478) 448-4066 kbierschenk@dodgecountyhospital.com

And then -
Administrative Assistant Esther Daugherty (478) 448-4067 mailto:estherdaugherty@dodgecountyhospital.com


Fifty bucks is fifty bucks!!!

I knows me some Puppies!

Click on the pup above to take the quiz!!??

Veterans' Day 2008

On behalf of the President of the United States, a grateful nation and the United States Army please accept this flag as a token of our appreciation for your Father's honorable and faithful service.

God bless you and this family, and God bless the United States of America.

Metro Monday

Wishing for a fish!

Metro loves being at the dock. As we were sitting on the benches and talking with family and friend, Metro was staring at the water. And if we have rod and reel, he will hang his toenails over the edge of the cypress boards, anxiously waiting for a brim to wiggle out of the water.

Coronary Catheterization

Total of 7 blockages, ranging from 20 to 50%. They (more exact I) will be treating with medicines, more healthy diet and exercise...