Easin' Along

Our plan was to leave Knoxville for Florida on January 13. We made those plans before we learned that our granddaughter, Bennett, was scheduled to play in a soccer tournament beginning on the 13th in Cumming, Georgia, near Atlanta. I researched and found a campground about 12 miles from the soccer complex with space available. I made a reservation and moved up our departure by two days. It’s a good thing I did.

As Helen, Mortimer, and I drove away, the residents of Knoxville learned that they were the target of a sizable snowstorm followed by some bitterly cold temperatures. The forecast called for up to five inches of snow…they got nine. An ice storm arrived later in the week, and the temperature plunged to two degrees below zero. Knoxvillians were shut in, and schools closed for the week. The picture above was sent to me by our neighbor. Knoxville has not received that much snow in decades.

We arrived in Cumming as temperatures hovered in the low 30s. Bennett’s tournament began on Saturday morning. They lost the first game, but we arrived too late to see them play. We made it to Sunday’s game with Mortimer in tow. Bennett’s team played hard and well, but their opponent was better that day and won the match.

The next game started at 9 am on Monday in 34-degree weather. It’s hard to imagine playing in shorts and t-shirts in cold temperatures, but these girls are tough and didn’t seem to mind. Our youngest granddaughter came prepared and wrapped herself in a blanket on the sideline. Bennett played a great game, as did her teammates, and won 3-2.

Helen and I hurried back to the campground after the game, hooked up Dora, and placed Mortimer in the back seat for a five-hour drive to Charleston to spend three more days with the family. It is always difficult to say goodbye to our granddaughters, but after a breakfast of pancakes and bacon, we exchanged long hugs and headed south. Next stop—Jacksonville, Florida.

Jacksonville weather was lousy when we pulled into Pelican Roost Campground inside the Mayport Naval Air Station gates. We were assigned a waterfront campground with a fabulous view from our front window, but there was little to see. Nevertheless, better weather was on the way, and we were blessed with clear skies and 70-degree temperatures the next day. Our view improved considerably.

We took advantage of the delightful conditions with a walk on the beach, a bike ride for Helen, and a trip to Safe Harbor Seafood, where we bought fresh shrimp and a large Grouper filet for dinner.

Mortimer took a nap.

We’ll spend a week in Jacksonville, then drive to Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle, where fresh oysters abound. Altogether, we will spend about six weeks on this trip, which includes six campgrounds. We’re excited about our winter break and sincerely hope you’ll Ease Along with us. Enjoy the rest of the month, and we hope you stay in touch.

December isn’t usually my favorite month. Don’t misunderstand—I love the Christmas season and the blending of faith, family, friends, food, and fun, but when everything is all piled together, there is little time left to sit back and absorb each element. Nevertheless, Helen, Mortimer, and I had a delightful month, and I want to share as much of it as possible within my usual target of 800 words (or less).

The Christmas season kicks off for us with the annual Christmas Concert performed by our church’s gifted and dedicated choir.  The brilliant Andrew Skoog, Professor of Voice at the University of Tennessee, directs our choir. Andrew loves leading our choir and fills a few of the seats each year with several of his prize scholarship students, and they add a layer of rich voices unequaled by few church choirs anywhere in our city. Andrew also includes members of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in the Concert, and the music produced is seasonably supreme.

Another tradition our church honors is the annual trip to the Rose’s Creek Community in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, carrying gifts for families living there.  Individual congregation members volunteer to support a family that otherwise might not have a Christmas without our help.  For the past few years, I have led the convoy of ten or more vehicles over the mountain filled with wrapped gifts for Rose’s Creek. It is always a joy for me to take part.

The next event in our holiday lineup is the Meatloaf dinner Helen and I prepare for a group of former neighbors.  We think this year’s gathering is the thirteenth time we have hosted the party; it is always a highlight for us.  Helen goes all out to decorate the house and the dinner table while I have the honor of preparing my gourmet meatloaf recipe. Before we sit down for the meal, we have a White Elephant drawing for gifts, which is always a hilarious occasion.

We live in a neighborhood of about 80 homes. Our neighbors are delightful and creative people working hard to keep us all connected. Every year, we have a neighborhood Christmas party in our clubhouse. Neighbors bring potluck dishes and appetizers to accompany BYOB drinks. I don’t have a headcount, but I think this year’s attendance was the largest I can remember.

For the past two years, a generous person has also hosted a party for the fourteen residents on our street. Bill Williams, a top-rated former news anchor for one of the local television stations and a close friend of our hostess, played the piano for us this year.  Bill played a selection of Christmas songs while everyone joined in the singing.  All had a good time.

Helen and I are blessed to have extended family living in Knoxville, and it was our turn to host family get-togethers. One gathering included my mother, brother, Jim, and his family for an afternoon of family fun and food.  Jim’s daughter-in-law, Jennifer, prepared turkey and ham sliders that were perfect for the occasion.  Helen and I served White Bean, Chicken Chili, and Chicken Noodle Soup.  It was so good to see my Mom celebrate with all of us.  Mom turned 95 this year and is doing exceptionally well.

We also enjoyed the company of Helen’s extended family for our traditional meal of Seafood Gumbo. Helen’s sister, Cammy, her husband, kids, and grandkids joined in the event along with the family of Helen’s late brother. Cammy prepared the Gumbo, and there was no bite left at the end of the evening. Yum!

On a slightly sad note, our children and grandchildren couldn’t be with us this year. It’s understandable—I wouldn’t ask anyone to fly over Christmas, including our California kids.  We saw our Charleston family recently, so all is fine. We opened gifts on FaceTime and will be with everyone again on our upcoming road trip.

It was Mortimer’s first Christmas with his new family (us), and he took it all in with his usual laid-back demeanor.  I was surprised he did not attack the Christmas tree or any of the few gifts underneath, but he gave them little notice. He got a few toys to chew on and a new squeeze bottle of Easy Cheese in his stocking.  He turned two in October, and we’ve decided to keep him.

I’m nearing my word quota, and I’ve shared most of the month by now.  Our Christmas Season ended as it began—in church for the Candlelight Service, which is always inspirational and beautiful.

Helen and I wish every one of our readers a prosperous, safe, and healthy 2024.  We ask you to remember the families of our fallen heroes, our elderly, and the needs of those less fortunate.  We’ll be on the road by mid-January, and we hope you’ll be with us.  We remain blessed, grateful…and Easin’ Along.

Wow! December has barely begun, and I miss November already. November is always a wonderful mix of family, food, and fun for Helen and me. For six years, we have started the month with two weeks of beachside camping in Edisto Beach State Park, about an hour south of Charleston, SC. Our son, Collin, and his family live in Charleston, and being close allows us to be with them before, during, and after our time in Edisto.

Our trip begins when we park Dora, our fifth-wheel trailer, in Collin’s driveway and open the mother-in-law’s suite.  Several years ago, Collin installed a 50-amp outlet beside his garage door to provide electricity for us during our visits.  The water connection is nearby, and once I have the antenna for Dish TV connected, we’re ready for family fun with minimal disruption to Collin’s household. It’s an excellent setup for us.

After a two-day visit, we drove to Edisto and were greeted with perfect weather. The temperatures hovered in the low 70s, with a light breeze coming in from the south. We have enjoyed good weather almost every year since we began this tradition—the exception was two years ago when cold, windy weather arrived early, and we spent much time around the campfire.

The popularity of this campground means that reservations for some of the better campsites can be difficult to obtain. Thirteen months out, to the day, I stay up until midnight to submit a request for a choice site for the following year’s visit, and I am usually successful. Our location for this year was lovely, overlooking the marsh. The sunsets were beautiful, and there were always waterbirds and songbirds in our view.

We spent our days walking the beach, looking for shells and shark teeth, and taking Mortimer for long walks at low tide. Mortimer seemed to enjoy the visit as much as we did. During our second week, Sandy and Tina, long-time friends from Knoxville, visited during their vacation at Kiawah Island. The remainder of our stay involved nothing more than pure relaxation, and it ended all too quickly.

We returned to Charleston for three days after our beach trip to spend time with our granddaughters and cheer them on during the James Island Invitational Soccer Tournament. Both girls play on competitive teams, and this tournament brought teams from throughout the south to compete for the championship.

Cason, our youngest, plays goalie for her team and plays well.  I’m always impressed with her leadership and toughness.  She does an excellent job of directing her teammates in front of her and blocking soccer balls headed her way.  Unfortunately, the breaks did not go well for her team during the Saturday games, and they suffered two close losses. Cason was frustrated and angry, but a big win in the Sunday match erased some of the sting.

Our thirteen-year-old, Bennett, is an outstanding soccer player who plays on a team with an impressive championship record.  Most of the girls on her team have played together since age seven and know each other’s playing strengths well. Ultimately, Bennett’s team fought hard and came away with another championship against some stiff competition.  I enjoyed watching soccer as much as I enjoyed our time at the beach.

Thanksgiving with my family is always special. We’re blessed that my mother, at age 95 and going strong, is still around to celebrate with us. My brother, Jim, opened his lovely home to us, and his daughters came home from Washington, DC, and Southern California to join us. Emily, his oldest daughter, brought home a friend who fit right in and did more than her share of kitchen duty. A highlight at the dessert table was some Cocoa Crispy Turkey legs.

Our children did not make it home this year, but we enjoyed our time with our nieces and nephews. Including my Mom and my niece, there are three Helens among us, and I made sure to get a picture of them before we broke up. With the passing of each year, I continue to thank the Almighty for the blessing of a wonderful and loving family, both near and far.

Although I continue to say we’re just Easin’ Along, November blew by in much the same way all months seem to at this point in our lives. Thankfully, we have the time and the health to enjoy them. Nevertheless, I’m still wondering—where did November go? It was delightful.