Long Drive to Peach Park

 I still can't believe my Belle is driving, but it has gotten much much better since that first trip at Forest Oaks Elementary.   The backing up is still a very slow process, with lots of braking, and sometimes not backing out far enough, so that she almost runs into the mailbox when she puts it in drive and forgets to turn the wheel in the direction she was wanting to go...Belle, sorry I raised my voice as this day began, I just did not want to have to replace the mailbox.   But the elementary school has moved towards driving to and from church, and to and from school, and her first adventure on 280 the other day in Chelsea to Walmart.  But when Drivers Ed said she needed 250 miles to drive this semester, we were only sitting slightly over 100...thus is life trying to find time.   But finally a Saturday came with no other plans, and we decided to travel to Peach Park.

This was a drive of 40 miles, and it included a couple of speed traps, some round abouts, and her first entry into the Interstate.   And she did excellent, even though I could almost feel her tension moving down that entrance ramp onto the interstate.   But two exits later, we found the mecca of all fruit stands in Alabama...the one and only Peach Park.   We were not hungry when we arrived, but as soon as we smelled that BBQ after opening out door, both of our mouths started to water.   Belle introduced me to the BBQ loaded fries, which were pretty amazing, but combined with a little ice cream, my stomach was upset for the rest of the day.   

It was a drive day, but more importantly a perfect day with just me and my beautiful Belle chatting and laughing about life.   She also introduced me to the fresh pickles they had there, which were amazing.   Later, we sat outside and smiled at a cute little boy that was chasing birds around the patio then later chasing a squirrel.   We saw a guy that had the strangest and largest combover I have ever seen.   And we left with a strawberry pie for Magan.   Along with some fresh tomatoes and peaches.

The drive home was again just another 40 miles, that included Belle filling up with gas for the first time.   It also included two trucks COMPLETELY stopped on the side of 47 as we were getting closer to home.   Both me and Belle both thought they were on the side of the road, but she had to brake pretty quickly to avoid these people just out on the side of the road.   I have no idea what was going on.   Her return entry onto the Interstate was a little more hectic, as she learned that 50 is a little slow to enter, but another lesson learned.   So now she has topped 200 miles, and even after hitting her first pile of trash the other night coming home from church, continuing to improve.   I gotta make sure she doesn't get distracted with Sabrina Carpenter on the radio that she also introduced me to...get all of her electronic cables that make her 2005 pretend to be a new car into a nice and clean spot...and gotta get her some better high beams.   But enough about the car and driving...I loved my fun day with Belle, and she now has her first bumper sticker.   

AHG...New Place, Same Fun

So our AHG troop has a new sponsor church...and Magan has been working hard with the other leaders to make this happen over the Summer, so that the girls would not have to join another troop.  And everything worked out wonderful, even though it was at the last minute.   Troop 1720 has moved from the Double Oak Community Church in Mt. Laurel to the Double Oak Community Church at Chelsea Park.   A little closer, and lots more connections to the church, so it should be a good fit for many years.   Belle begins the year as one of the oldest in the troop in the Patriot Squad, and Ruby begins her very last year of Explorers.   

I am excited, as I will get to lead Ruby in two meetings to earn a badge this year.   And while sad there is no campout this Fall, I am happy that the girls will be returning to the USS Alabama for a Camp In the ship in October.   I guess my nights on the ship have ended, but glad these girls and their mom have some similar experiences.   I have already made my hotel reservation, so I will be down there with them.   Wait, I just found a local campground...but do I want to sleep outside by myself.   Hmmm...I guess I will look into that later.

I think the theme of the year is Priceless, and the girls all made an activity with a Pearl.   Magan put me in charge of paperwork, which I did complete and get the dues paid, but I forgot the high adventure paperwork...and all the folders that they gave me...so I guess I failed in this first meeting, but I made up for it letting the girls know that it was a BOGO day at 7 Brew Coffee.   So wins all around.   "An American Heritage Girl I will be, an American Heritage Girl, that's me!"   But I guess I have to wait till the spring to hear all my favorite AHG girl songs.   

Work Day with Granddaddy

Finally came the day, Belle and I had planned a long drive down to Peach Park to mark her longest drive yet, then we get the work day text.   And while I will admit, I was sad to not get my day with Belle on this day, we quickly moved it to the following weekend, and everyone climbed in the van to Cullman.   Both boys texted that they would be there, so that was another good reason to head up and see them.   And as long as the word "Fence" is not used associated with a Granddad workday, I think all were happy to come and help.   

John, Granddad, Sam and Davis had already started when we arrived, and I jumped into help.   I am really thankful for people like Granddad and Granny and John that see a task like this and say "we can do this" because I don't have that attitude on most projects.   But there was a vision, and layer by layer of this patio area, it started to work.   Even restarting on several sections a few times, it slowly started to take shape, and by the end, looked really good.   

I remember days like this when I was little where PawPaw and Kenny would come over to help build a shed.   And it is a workday, but being together with family is something so much more.   Everyone had a job, and everyone got busy with that job.   Those not laying down the floor were going to grab more stone.   Some were raking the gravel for the next layer of floor.   And my role, maybe just because I am lazy was on my knees moving from one piece of floor to the next.   My back and knees were killing me, but there is something about a mindless task that just fits me well.   

Granny got some Slim Pickens for lunch and there was really some slim pickings.   :)  Granny...sorry, but it did remind me of PawPaw going and getting the one family platter from Captain Ds to feed all of us down in Center Point.   Hahaha...but I would have just overate and been sick, so not complaining, just capturing so I can remember and laugh.   

Ruby was happy on this day to go up to Good Hope and see Aunt Katies new class.   I always love those sweet hugs from all those girls, but hearing little Ivey say "Unca Scott" is still pretty cute.   Ellie and Bella were super excited to share stories of school.   And I got a random big sweaty hug from little Andrew.   Maybe one day all these little ones will also have fond memories of these workdays, watching all the Uncles work, and Aunts..."sit and talk about old men".   

Judging by time and experience though, I assume there will be another workday in the future where all this is pulled up, and something else will go into this spot in the backyard....I wish we had a time lapse showing the transformation over the years of this backyard.   It would be crazy!  Just all a bunch of woods where we were working...for a little boy of 9, it was full of booby traps and trails.   The time lapse video would show a swing set, a pool, a porch around the pool, with a slow pause to see a rehearsal dinner where I prepared to marry the love of my life the next day, then a pool going away, and a patio to stretch to the horizon, then a new part of the house, new shed, horrible fence day, new fence, and finally a firepit.   And thru those scenes many many times every year a family grew from 6 to 10 to 22 and about to add another.   But I guess on this day, it was just another work day with Granddaddy.   

25 Year High School Reunion...or 26

Magan's 25 year class reunion came 1 year too late, only after others asked last summer if they were having one, and Magan did not even realize that had reached that milestone.   The class president lives in Florida, and probably never planned to ever have to plan these events anyway, so it typically falls to Magan.   She planned a couple of fun events, on the Friday night of the weekend, we had an evening with the kids of the families, and then on the Saturday night, just with the now 40 something old adults.  

So on Friday Night, we planned originally to meet at a local park, but it was a complete monsoon that evening...trapping us in the Jack's parking lot while we waited for the rain to stop.   Magan and Crystal made some quick plan changes, and notifications sent out to meet at the Cullman Bowling Alley, a place I have not been to since college days maybe.   Bowling was fun getting to meet some of the young kids of people we all grew up with.   

Some of my favorite moments from Friday night included Ruby rolling a strike with no gutter rails.   So excited jumping up and down.   Also Ruby letting the ball go and it rolling backwards (Wii Style) towards all the people.   And my favorite was looking down to see Anthony (Chubby) White's family bowling in the lane beside us.   The Cullman bowling scoreboards are old school, and while you can type your name in, it only shows the first letter of the name until it is your turn...and his kids initials all begin with a K.   So I took a picture of KKK playing in Cullman, AL.   Sent to my boss (black female) at work stating "Only in Cullman", to which she quickly replied "Looks like Ku is beating little Klan", which is very funny, and makes me happy to have people I work with that can smile at some horrible history we have sometimes.   I also saw Joey wearing a medical shirt and asked about his job, then was surprised to hear that he was into Medical Marijuana, also making energy drinks and gummies with the byproducts.   Wow, that was not what I was expecting.   

The next night, we met at Ethos with just the adults.   I am not the best mingler, but tried to do my best.   Magan had no problems, except for a headache that she kept forgetting to take advil for...we did have to go back to the car for it tho.   But while she said she was a little nervous, you could not tell, she was going from person to person, and seemed to know all about them as she has recently finished all of Facebook, and knows everything about every person that she has ever met.   

Stories on this night that made me laugh...A man that brought his kids to the bar with him, that was just a funny picture to me...Seeing Andy Wray and not recognizing him immediately, but figuring it out quickly.   Andy telling me he thought the waitress was one of Alan Scott's girls, then making everything awkward by hollaring at her as she went by our table "Hey, Who is your Daddy"?   "Alan Scott" was the quick reply as she quickly ran from the creeper old men.   Then Magan made it worse when she came back delivering a pizza, and Magan asked her to be in a picture with me.   Dear me...Later learning that Clint Pace managed a feed and seed place, and told me if I ever have any questions about grass, talk to Joey, questions about turf, give him a call (that is funny stuff)...One of other husbands there quickly asked before he at any of the cookies Magan had brought, "Did Joey bring these"?

I tried to be the good husband snapping some pictures to show Magan was here also.   Besides the medical marijuana salesman, I don't think anyone else really surprised me.   All the couples seemed just right for each other.   I did make a big mistake asking Ryan Robertson about his brother that had died of COVID, which Magan would have punched me if she heard me ask.   And finally the group moved outside playing some cornhole and enjoying some fresh air.   It was hear Andy Wray shared with me about arresting Justin Pace, then having Justin give him a 5 star arrest rating on facebook.   Andy also shared a story about arresting Jeff Lastname, and Jeff whispering to him "Hey...Hey Andy".   "Yeah, Jeff".   "You been working out?"   "Yeah"   "Looking Good".   So he don't have any of the hair I remember, but he definitely has the humor and good timing telling stories that I remember from Andy Wray.   

The night ended there for me and Magan, we had a long drive back to Chelsea that night, even after returning to Ethos a second time to get Magan's sweater she left.   There were others that went searching for glow worms.   And I will just leave it at that.   It reminded me of many high school adventures where some kids went out late at night searching for "glow worms", and thankfully, Magan and I just chose to go home on those nights.