APPROACHING THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS UPDATE (published 12-22-2019; updated 10-3-2022)

10/3/2022, Monday, note: today, I happened to check my website analytics. This 12/22/2019 article had a few views, in the last 24 hours. I wondered what I had written. This article still gets views, at times. Viewership spiked in August and September of 2020, for some reason. Until today, in 2022, this article had been viewed three times in February and three times in July. So, today, I updated my 12/22/2019 article for style, and I added the sections. I didn't change one word.

Introduction

 

Today, at sundown, is the beginning of Hanukkah, the Hebrew Festival of Lights. The Maccabean Revolt and the rededication of the second temple is a historical fact to research and read.

Life, Such as It Was, in Historical Heritage

12/14/19, Saturday: I took Molly "doggy," at 9:30 AM, for her annual physical exam, immunizations, and acquisition of more once-a-month pills (flea/tick and heartworm prevention). She is doing very well -- except for a minor yeast infection in both ears that we’d been trying to cure for a while. Her veterinarian doctor will cure it!

In the early afternoon, in on and off again rain, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman joined me, bravely, to “hunt” our first Christmas tree, since after her mother went Home, on 4/30/2017. We decorated it later, but here is the photo before decorations. This is one of the best Christmas trees that I’ve ever “hunted!” I always ask the tree if it wants to be our Christmas tree. The trees, over the years, always indicate “yes.” I then cut the trees, to take them home, as Christmas trees.

 

As a boy, I enjoyed “hunting” a Christmas tree in the fields and woods around our home, just off dead man’s curve, as it was called, on old Highway 11W. Later, in my teenage and young adult years, I always “hunted” Christmas trees to decorate our new homeplace. I often drove Dad’s old truck to the ancestral Ferrell homeplace, where part of the foundation to the home was still visible, to find a tree. The last tree, for many years, that I “hunted,” with Dad joining me, was for our Knoxville apartment, on Monday, 12/13/1999. (We had returned from Russia, on 9/30/1999.) Mom and Dad drove down to visit us that day. That was a fine memory! Of course, that was before Mom’s eventual journey Home, on 12/27/2000, which started on 12/28/1999. Mom was completely well on 12/13/1999.

Sunday, 12/15/19: I decided that the best thing that I could do for my “bionic” joints was to stay indoors, rest, and recover from the prior week, before another 12/16-20/19 work-a-day work-a-day world that I endured, once again.

Saturday, 12/21/19: I had my seventh, every-four-week, deep tissue massage, at 11 AM. Of course, I hauled trash before, and I got 100% gas for my new, ol’ truck afterward. That was enough for the “bionic” joints!

Well, at least Mrs. Appalachian Irishman is on her two-week Christmas (not “winter”) vacation from her teacher/vice-principal school job. I’m “burning” a few days (as I call it), on 12/23/2019, 1/2/2020, and 1/3/2020. Us long-suffering State employees get Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day off.

Conclusion

As we approach sundown, the following is a historical memory photo, from my “fun” days in 2016.

 

The black item is the brace that I wore on my right leg, to keep my knee immobilized. The boot is what I wore on my right foot, to also keep it immobilized. Those were “fun” days! I happened to be placing a drying rack under the bed, when I noticed these items. I thought, “why not have a little fun with a photo!”

Well, Merry Christmas, y’all, for the RIGHT and TRUE meaning of the reason for the season! The Word became flesh, dwelled among us, died as our atoning sacrifice, and rose again, to return one day (soon, I hope). The divine Scheme of Redemption was accomplished -- only to await the full accomplishment by the return of Christ and the conclusion of this temporal realm.

TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA: 12/7/2016, Homeplace Visit & Rolling Walker Gone! 12/7-8/2019, Two Hikes in Two Days! (published 12/13/2019; updated 10/3/2022)

10/3/2022, Monday: I updated the title, added the section titles, and added a few sentences, to explain the photographs. I didn't change any original words or sentences.

Introduction

Well, happy fear of the number 13, especially if it falls on a Friday, y’all!

Today, on the dreaded Friday, December 13, 2019, I took a day off from the bureaucratic, psychobabble, work-a-day world! I “enjoyed” the need to see my chiropractor at 10 AM. Then, at 11:30 AM, I “enjoyed” lunch at a local eatery with my work colleagues, who thought that the round trip, from work in a next-door county and back, was a great idea. (I, of course, did not, so I took a day off! I ate with them anyway.) Afterward, I got my every-four-week haircut, from my fine barber of many years.

Finally, in the still pouring rain, my ol' truck and I got in “the barn” for the rest of the day. So, here I “sot” writing to my “millions” of readers, once again!

12/7/2016: Homeplace Visit & Rolling Walker Gone!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 75th Anniversary, Pearl Harbor Day

Wednesday, 12/7/2016, was my first drive, in my new, ol' truck to the homeplace, since my acquisition of three “bionic” joints! I wrote about it, in my article of 12/8/2016, which includes the same photograph, as below. My new, ol' truck still had the dealer tag.

Also, on 12/7/2016, I gave back the rolling walker that a good neighbor, Stan, had loaned to me. I did NOT need it ANYMORE!

My 12/8/2016 article was despondent and pensive in nature. This article is not!

Saturday, 12/7/2019, House Mountain Hike #162!

Three years passed. I published 37 articles, between 12/8/2016 and this article today.

Saturday, 12/7/2019, was my House Mountain hike #162! (Hike #26 since “bionic” body parts.) Enjoy the photographs!

The above photograph is at the west bluff, looking southeast. I'd hiked up the ridge. I took off my shirt, so my sweat-soaked T-shirt, still on me, could dry.

 

The photograph, above, is is near the west bluff, heading back down. The view is southeast. A man has to stop to take a leak somewhere!

The above photograph is on the west trail, below the ridge line. I'm looking east and heading down.

My new, ol' truck still looks the same! He likes to have his photograph taken after these hikes!

Sunday, 12/8/2019, House Mountain Hike #163!

On the next day, Sunday afternoon, 12/8/2019, I hiked House Mountain again, for hike #163! Yes, two hikes in one weekend! The temperature was too warm both days, but both days were sunny. I had to get into the woods, since I still have power in my body! My spirit will always have the will. One of these days, I won’t have the power in my body, but not on that weekend! Enjoy the photographs!

The above photograph is on the west bluff, looking southwest. Again, I had to remove my outer shirt, to let my T-shirt dry, while still on me.

The above photograph does not do justice to the steep rocks that I must climb up and navigate down, on the trail below the ridge line. I’m going down here, looking east. Going up is easier, about the same as before “bionic” body parts. Going down is as a “lame mountain goat,” not the “mountain goat” that I was before “bionic” body parts.

The above photograph is a few steps farther down, looking eastward. It is more realistic of the challenge. Do you want to try to go down at this “gravity defying” spot? I do, every chance that I get!

My new, ol' truck told me to photograph the information board, instead of him, so I did. The left side, middle photograph, with the snow, is one that I’d taken years ago. I had been on the middle bluff, on the north side of the mountain. The photograph looks west.

A park official – years ago, when they were improving the parking area – had asked me to submit a few photographs. She picked the one that you see on the information board. My name is on the photograph. I touch it after every hike.

Of course, recently, some idiot(s) shot holes in the board and shot yellow paint balls on it. I’ll hunt them down myself and “educate” them if I can! I am sending this photograph to the State of Tennessee folks, to see if they can stop the idiot(s)! Leave my photograph and the information board alone! You got paint, on the protective plexiglass, over my photograph, but you didn’t put a hole in my photograph! Yes, my “Irish” is up on this one!

Conclusion

Good evening, y’all! I hope that your Friday the 13th was not too bad! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I survived.

This Friday the 13th (12/13/2019) was wet and rainy. My “bionics” endured the day. Writing this article, with memories of two hikes in two days, helped.

FIRST DAY OF WINTER WANDERINGS (published 12-1-2019)

Introduction

Well, howdy, y’all! The reason for the title will become evident later. Please keep reading!

I missed a point in my most recent post regarding 11/21/2019, the anniversary of Papaw Ferrell’s passing in 1970. On Monday, 11/21/2016, I arranged the purchase of my new-to-me 2006 Nissan Frontier. On Friday, 11/25/2016—the day after Thanksgiving and my mother's birthday in 1932—Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I bought my truck. I liked the timing of it.

Wanderings (“Life, Such As It Was”)

Thanksgiving, Thursday, 11/28/2019: My youngest brother, his wife, and their two daughters came down here for Thanksgiving dinner. They arrived a couple of hours before we ate at noon. (Noon, by the way, is the scriptural time to eat Thanksgiving dinner. Grace extends to 1 PM, but not later!) We had a fine time together! They left a little after 3 PM. Then, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I drove, separately again as usual, to her paternal aunt’s home for the Beckner-Gordon Thanksgiving supper. (If it’s Thanksgiving supper, the scriptural mealtime is 6 PM. Grace allows 5 or 7 PM.) We sat down to eat at 5 PM. I left a bit earlier to get home, feed Molly (our “old puppy”) her supper, and get her inside for the evening. We had a good time. By the way, I helped “cat-dog” act like a real dog out in the yard for a while! Thanksgiving would have been the best day for hiking. My “bionic” body, however, did not feel its oats. I didn't hike.

Friday, 11/29/2019: On this cloudy day, I drove to the homeplace for the first visit since last summer. I did what I needed to do. After about two hours, I drove home by way of Main Street. Now, that was a great day! My youngest brother was burning leaves in his yard, so we missed each other. At about 7 PM, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and Molly were both fast asleep on the couch. My wife was worn out from the holiday cooking and activities. Molly was just worn out. So, what did I do? Enjoy the photograph below!

Saturday, 11/30/2019: Granny Ferrell was born on this day in 1982. The overnight rain ended by early morning. The next rain came at 2:30 PM. It continued for the rest of the day and into the night. Before the afternoon rain, I did the usual hauling off of trash and getting gas for my truck.

At the trash dumpster, I was behind a Vietnam veteran and his granddaughter. I got out, walked up to him, looked him in the eye, shook his hand, and said, “Thank you!” The veteran replied, “You're welcome.” Afterward, we man-hugged each other. A tear welled up in my eyes as I walked back to my truck.

Afterward, I joined Mrs. Appalachian Irishman for a visit with her folks, five cats, and one “cat-dog.” (Don’t ask! It’s usually three cats and the “cat-dog.”) Being who I am, I had to place a Band-Aid on my “favorite” sister-in-law’s car. It had sustained an injury on 11/18/2019. The photograph is below!

After I arrived home, being hungry, I opened and ate a can of Vienna sausages! I had three cans. Now, I’m down to only two. Give me a couple of years, and I may finish off the other two cans!

Sunday, December 1: The rain ended, and the sun came out. The wind started blowing. Today is the first day of meteorological winter! Meteorologists say that astronomical winter begins on 12/21/2019. That is the winter solstice, not the first day of winter!

Well, my next-to-youngest brother was supposed to have arrived here 37 minutes ago, as I type this sentence. I guess I will stop writing for now to call him and find out why he’s not here yet. He’s probably on “Ferrell time,” you see.

Conclusion

On this first day of winter, I decided to wander around by writing this article. Today's weather was not conducive for wandering around in the woods.

Tomorrow resumes the regular workweek. Perhaps, I will be able to hike House Mountain for the 162nd time on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. Pearl Harbor Day, 12/7/2016, was the first time, since the 3/29/2016 wreck that almost killed me, that I drove up to the homeplace in my new-to-me truck. I must endure another workweek first before I can take that hike. The wreck, by the way, was due to an 18-year-old, uninsured female, who failed to yield to my right-of-way.

For now, I’m 10-10 on the side! Having conversed with my next-to-youngest brother by phone, I understood that he would arrive later this afternoon and have supper with us.