The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Weather warm enough to wear shorts




Hello everyone! The weather is unbelievable in the Ohio Valley area! It is warm enough to wear shorts if you have the legs for them. I really hope it stays this way for quite some time.

It was an exciting week for me. One I will remember for a long time. Now to share some long-awaited news I’ve wanted to share with you.

As I was on my way to Blackey Days, my daughter called me to invite me to go with her to her house in Destin, Fla. She said we would be leaving on Oct. 24, then come back Oct. 27. I declined the offer as she said we would be flying. Kay kept insisting while I kept resisting using every excuse I could think of. It was just the two of us.

With her talking to me, I gave in. To be honest I dreaded it so bad I only shared with a couple of people.

Monday rolled around so I packed a suitcase and drove to her house. My granddaughter Jodi’s friend drove us to the airport after crossing the Ohio River on the ferry. I hadn’t been on the ferry in many years, so that was very nice.

After we got to the airport I could feel knots in my stomach, but we had a wait, and while sitting and talking with Kay I begin to relax. Kay had us pre-checked in so we skipped through some things. When we finally got aboard the plane, it was packed. Now you have to remember this is the first time I’ve flown.

To cut through, it was not near as bad as I had pictured in my mind until the plane started to ascend to higher altitude and my heart did a little quiver. I took a deep breath and thought, “God, if it is my time.” The feeling quit and the rest of the plane ride was really great.

Southern Ohio

When we landed in Ft. Walton, Kay got a taxi, which was a limo to take us to her home in Destin. After arriving at her house Kay decided we should go get a bite to eat. You have to remember I have a limited amount I can eat.

I hope you aren’t drinking as this part is funny. Kay decided to drive their Jaguar, since it was easier to get out of their garage. The guy who details their cars put something on the leather seats, and even with a seat belt on I was sliding in the car.

Kay chose Panera Bread for us to eat as they have soup. As we were getting in the car to head back to Kay’s house she hit a wrong button and the steering wheel started going up and down and the seat back and forth while she was standing outside the car. She finally got it figured out to stop the commotion.

We pulled in her driveway and while we were getting out of the car the horn started blowing, lights flashing, and of all of things, the trunk popped up. Kay had hit another wrong button. Now this is after 10 p.m. in a ritzy gated community.

After we quit laughing so hard Kay finally got everything to stop. We sat in her living room and laughed liked we were drinking. It had been 13 years since I was at her place, so I chose the same bedroom as before.

Tuesday, we were on the road practically all day, going from one shop to another, sightseeing, stopping for a bite to eat.

Tuesday night, I got very sick and I started throwing up blood. I didn’t want to alarm Kay, and I finally fell asleep. I was sort of sick Wednesday but I managed to get out and go, so we stayed busy.

Wednesday afternoon, we went to Navarre Beach. It is a beautiful beach and we were going to hunt for shells. The wind was so bad I was afraid I would fall, so we skipped the shells.

Kay wanted to take me to eat at a nice place as long as they had something I could eat. We stopped at a place where they go when they are in Destin, and of all things, they had pork belly as an appetizer. Now readers, we don’t have pork belly fixed this way in the mountains!

It is cubes about an inch in diameter, and you get four pieces of it and four pieces of watermelon the same size. They also serve kale with pork belly cooked in it that are no bigger than bacon bits.

Kay later took me to an Italian restaurant. I hadn’t walked six steps when everything went dark on me. I knew I was passing out so I grabbed her arm, and as I was sinking to the floor I somehow grabbed a brick ledge and hung on for dear life.

My blood sugar had dropped, as it had been several hours since I had eaten. After we were seated I felt better and even ate a few bites of pasta.

We teased the greeter about older women falling at his feet. Thank God I managed not to fall, it was such a scary feeling. We finally got home and enjoyed more talking and laughing, and called it a night.

Thursday morning came early for me as usual. Since Kay’s house is so huge she couldn’t hear me moving around. I stripped the bed and washed the sheets before she woke up.

I sat on the screened-in porch drinking a cup of tea and it was so relaxing listening to the water fountain flowing. When Kay woke up, we talked for a while then got dressed and started another wonderful day.

We drove to Panama City Beach, with a few stops along the way. The scenery was so pretty. We didn’t go to the beach, we just rode around. My daughter Anna had a condo at Panama City Beech several years ago.

Time was catching up with us so we had to head back to Kay’s so I could get ready to head to the airport. I flew back by myself and wasn’t scared at all. The trip back was a little bumpy as there was turbulence.

My granddaughter Jodi Gray met me at CVG to bring me home. Jodi picked up her dad’s Lincoln at the airport, as he and two other guys flew in as I was leaving Florida.

Now I want you know I have been in high cotton, as I’ve ridden in a limo, a Jaguar, a Lincoln, and a fairly new Toyota, but now I am back in my little red Cavalier.

Friday morning, I had someplace important to go, and as I was going out of my driveway I was trying to adjust my cushion. Somehow my car drifted over the embankment in my yard and I stood my car on its nose.

The right rear wheel was on the bank, with the left tire not close to the ground and front bumper in the dirt.

I couldn’t call a tow truck until it got daylight, and to be honest I was so upset I couldn’t even think of a number to call. Meantime I called a friend to take me to Kay’s house to get my van, as I had left it there Monday.

I found I was blocked in after Vickie left, but I finally got hold of someone to move a car so I could get home

When I got home Kay called me, asking me to send her pictures of my car. Her husband sent his mechanic to pull me out. I didn’t think it was possible, but he told me what to do and he had me back in the drive in a short time. It sort of squished my front bumper, but when the day got warm, it straightened out.

As I said earlier I’ve had one exciting week.

Sunday evening, I met my daughter Angie and my sidekick Bennie Wiederhold at the Veterans Park across the road from Angie. Bennie loves to play basketball, and he actually made a couple of shots while I was there.

Happy anniversary to Les and Pat Wagner on Nov. 3. I hope it is a good one for you two.

Happy birthday to my youngest daughter, Anna Nottingham, on Nov. 3. Anna and Les and Pat share this date.

Happy birthday to Shirley Wells’s daughter Loretta on Nov. 3. Anna and Loretta are the same age, as they were born same month, year and date.

Oct. 29 was Shirley Wells’s birthday. I miss her so much.

Oma Hatton, thanks for mentioning me in your column. You are right, I do go lots of places when I can barely walk. I can’t give up, because if I do I’m done for.

Ricky Caudill finally got a vehicle so he doesn’t have to depend on anyone. I am so glad for Ricky.

Ricky and Bryce Caudill enjoyed a delicious home cooked meal at Mike and Marcia Caudill’s.

Later Ricky, Mike and Marcia attended a Halloween Spook event at Calvary Campus. Shawn Stamper and Jack Adams were playing music.

Congratulations to Beechwood Marching Band. Two of my granddaughters, Jessica and Katelyn Nottingham, are in Beechwood Marching Band. They were in completion in Louisville, and Beechwood came in first place.

Johnny and Ann Calihan are doing all right, and I finally talked to Ann.

Doyle and Betty Ison are trying to get ready for winter.

Well, I am worn out so until next time.



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