November 21st Chronological Historical Notes: 1970: Papaw; 2015: Molly; 2016: Truck; 2020: House Mt. Hike #174 (published 11-22-2020)

Introduction

Yesterday, Saturday, 11/21/2020, at 5:23 PM, with a neighbor still mowing his yard at twilight, I started to write. I finished and published this article today. Yes, at the time yesterday, I was hungry. Supper was at 6 PM. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, who has “Corona Myopia Psychosis,” was working on it.

1970: Papaw Ferrell

Papaw Ferrell was born on 4/13/1880. He left this world on 11/21/1970, when I was ten. I remember him very well and have fine memories of Papaw Ferrell. He enjoyed the outdoors and the wilderness. I do not think that Granny Ferrell cared much for his extended time in the woods, hunting, trapping, and such. She put up with it, as Mrs. Appalachian Irishman does with me.

Papaw's full name was and still is Marion Ferrell. He did not have a middle name. My first and, of course, last name honored him. Marion spelled correctly is Merrion. In Gaelic, it means “brave man.” Ferrell is from the Irish Fearghail. In Gaelic, it means “man of valor.” My middle name, William, was and still is the middle name of my mother's father, Aby William Wood.

Hey, Papaw Ferrell, my 174th hike on House Mountain was in your honor. Men like us need, or needed, our time in the woods. It helps me defeat “Corona Myopia Psychosis,” as I call it. Eventually, I look forward to enjoying the heavenly wilderness with Papaw Ferrell. At one point during my hike, I felt his presence with me in spirit.

2015: Our Dog, Molly

On Saturday, 11/21/2015, the anniversary of Papaw Ferrell’s passing, I drove my 1995 Nissan pickup (the one that died on 3/29/2016, saving my life) to get and bring home our dog, Molly! The weather was perfect, cool enough for a sweatshirt, unlike yesterday, 11/21/2020.

Molly is a wonderful “old puppy,” as I call her. I have known several great dogs over the years. In chronological order, there was Bandit (aka Bandito), Blackie, Queenie, Festus, Wendy, and Buddy. Those six were connected to my roots in Rogersville.

In time, I might publish the latest photograph of Molly. She has a unique personality. Molly understands my English well enough. I understand her dog language fairly well. Molly always stays inside with us for a few hours each evening. Her bedroom is in the lower-level “condominium” (basement). She is a daytime, outside dog! Well, if it’s rainy or very cold, she has her “condominium,” which is heated and cooled. She has dog door access. Molly, for the last two evenings, wanted to go outside about three or four times to check out the other dogs that were barking around us. I went outside with her each time. She needed to “take a leak.” She also wanted me to “take a leak.” I did. It was dark. No one saw me except Molly, who granted me a respectful distance. Molly looks at me. I know what she is saying. I wish I could take her hiking with me. Alone with Molly, I could do fine on the hike up. The hike down with Molly on a leash might not yet work out too well. I have to be more of a “lame mountain goat” going down than going up. If Molly smelled something and started pulling the leash while going down, I might not be able to hold my balance and control.

I wonder if Papaw Ferrell, Bandit, Blackie, Queenie, Festus, Wendy, Buddy, Molly, and I will enjoy everlasting and joyful experiences in the heavenly woods together. I speculate by faith that heaven will have that type of opportunity, along with many, many others. There will be no leash in heaven, no leash, no leash up there. All good dogs go to heaven.

Hey, why don’t you join us in heavenly hiking! If I don’t see you hiking down here, I hope to see you hiking up there!

2016: 2006 Nissan Frontier

On Monday, 11/21/2016 (the anniversary of Papaw Ferrell’s passing), I drove our 2008 Honda Civic to the location where my soon-to-be new-to-me truck was for sale. My “bionic” joints were “talking” to me quite intensely that day. I remember. After the routine test drive, inspection, and dickering, I paid the deposit to hold my 2006 Nissan Frontier until we could get him.

Mom’s birthday anniversary (born 11/24/1932) was on Thanksgiving Day (11/24/2016) that year. The next day, on Friday, 11/25/2016, I drove our car with Mrs. Appalachian Irishman riding shotgun. We paid the balance for my 2006 Frontier. I drove him back to the “barn” (i.e., garage) after a side trip to visit my wife's folks.

My 2006 Frontier still likes to have his photograph taken. Read on! Yes, my truck is a male.

2020: 174th Hike on House Mountain

What else could I do? My haircut had to wait. Shopping at the Tractor Supply was put off. Yesterday, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had her every-two-month, high-dollar, two-hour “haircut” appointment (9-11 AM). The weather was nice enough. It was still too warm, but it was sunny with a few clouds indicating rain coming in a day. Yesterday, my 174th hike on House Mountain is now in my hiking log and memory!

The above photograph was taken after I had hiked up the west trail to the west bluff. The image looks east. The ridgeline is above. The white marker indicates 0.8 miles. (The distance is 0.9 miles from the base to the west bluff, not 0.8 miles. I know. The mountain did not shrink.) Do you see the “selfie” image of my head?

I’m glad that I hiked in a tee-shirt. I didn't need another layer. When will it turn cool?

At the west bluff, I enjoyed time alone or with a few other hikers, but not too many. My thoughts ran deep. I unloaded the “Corona Myopia Psychosis,” as I call it, that had been building up in me. I started hiking back down the same trail that I hiked up.

The above photograph is at a location on the trail just below the ridge. Do you see the seemingly petrified tree trunk jutting out to the right of my shadow? I call that tree trunk “Defiance.” I have seen it, unchanged, for many years. I always touch it. Years ago, it had grown from the base of the rock ledge above it and fallen. That was years before I started hiking House Mountain. The hike down at this spot takes caution. Three other locations farther down require the same carefulness.

What was that shadow standing to the left of my shadow with his arms by his side? Was that you, Papaw Ferrell?

Near the end of the hike down and out, I passed a group of three younger folks hiking up. Two wore face masks. One did not until he saw me coming down the trail, hiking maskless. He donned his mask quickly. As I passed him, I stated loudly, “I don’t have the Corony!” He said nothing. I hope he learned.

I had to “hike” an extra three tenths of a mile each way to the off-the-road location where I had to park my truck. Yes, the upper parking lot was full. My 2006 Frontier enjoyed our day, remembering Papaw Ferrell, the day Molly came to us, the day I first saw him, and today. By the way, I placed my 2021 tag renewal sticker (expiration in December) on my truck after the hike.

Conclusion

“What is Corona Myopia Psychosis?” you ask. Well, I’ll tell you.

“Corona Myopia Psychosis” is a state of mind that could include anxiety, frustration, depression, mood swings, anger, the inordinate use of colorful language, talking with yourself, an abundance of sarcastic humor, and so forth. We all have this psychosis to various degrees. Failure to admit it is a symptom. Lack of honesty about it is a symptom. Obsessing with the new cold virus is a symptom. Aren’t you tired of it? I am.

Mrs. Appalachian Irishman expresses her psychosis by withdrawing inwardly. I deal with my psychosis by using my glib Irish tongue, either verbally or in writing, such as now. My best cure for my own psychosis is found in hiking. My sarcastic humor helps on a daily basis. So does talking to myself, which includes the occasional use of colorful language that only the Lord and I hear. (He forgives me.)

This once-great nation may never return to the status it had before this new cold virus started. Of course, the media agenda that drives the racial tension still degrades this nation. The presidential election (vote early and often) propaganda may just drive this nation to its knees in time. If our nation can reach the socialist “Utopian” bottom, we might be able to return, after decades of pain and suffering, to a great nation status again. If so, it will be after I’ve already joined Papaw Ferrell and so many others in the heavenly realm.

Hey, Papaw and the dogs from my younger years (Bandit, Blackie, Queenie, Festus, Wendy, and Buddy), y’all wait on Molly and me! We will be hiking in heaven with you all in time!

The time on Sunday, 11/22/2020, is 5:58 PM as I type this sentence. I have already spoken with my two younger brothers by phone. I’m hungry. I will publish this after supper! Let’s eat!

“Wally-World Fun” on Saturday, 11/14/2020, in the Context of “Life, Such As It Is” (published 11/22/2020)

The Context of “Life, Such As It Is”

Early this Sunday morning, I started writing this article. (The nearby rooster finally stopped crowing.) Yesterday's 174th hike on House Mountain didn’t cause my “bionic” right foot to “talk to me” at all! For some reason, however, my left “bionic” shoulder is asking me, “What did you do to me yesterday?” Well, I put up with my right foot’s “conversation” every day. I’m used to it after a hike. My left shoulder started a new “conversation.” I may have jammed another rib. I’ll get past it. Just give me time or an unscheduled chiropractic appointment.

Last workweek (11/16–20/2020), my schedule started out as work from home Monday, Tuesday, and Friday but at the office Wednesday and Thursday.

Well, at 6:11 AM on Wednesday, just after I did my usual stretches in bed before getting up and taking my morning “outhouse” water extraction, the office manager called our landline. My wife, who leaves for work about 6:30 AM, answered the phone. I was splashing water (from the sink, mind you) on my face. It seems that one or two coworkers (one who works from home daily and the other, with whom I alternate in the home or office work schedule insanity) had internet trouble at home. One or both would be working at the office. I could work from home. Well, that was good! I won that time, at least.

Later, on the same Wednesday, I had the offer to work the rest of the week from home. I took up the offer. The difference is, for this Thanksgiving (Monday through Wednesday only) short workweek, I work at the office all three days instead of on Wednesday only, as had been the arrangement. I had to balance my work from home all five days last week to work at the office for the three workdays this week. It is all according to the insane schedule, apparently.

I figured that reading the above paragraph would make your head spin! It’s the mad, mad, new cold virus, work-from-home, or at-the-office schedule insanity that has gone wild!

On Monday, 11/16/2020, my wife and I had our usual every-four-week chiropractic adjustments. Our chiropractor is the associate partner of the chiropractor who owns the business. The owner was at work. It was good to see him. (His wife is the office secretary.) He is holding his own, despite his known-to-us health challenge. Our ongoing prayers are with him.

Of course, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman still braves the new cold virus world by driving back and forth to her vice principal/teacher job. My “used to be favorite” sister-in-law still “bravely” teaches online from home.

On Tuesday, 11/17/2020, my youngest brother texted me regarding their oldest daughter in high school. She plays on the high school girls' basketball team. The first game of the season was at 4:30 PM that day. The next day, my youngest brother texted me to say that the team won by one point! My articles from 2/9/2020 and 3/15/2020 were about the success of the Bulls Gap Middle School Lady Bulldogs. Our niece was a starter. The year 2020 started out as a good year. Of course, Corona Myopia, as I call it, was just getting started at the time. I am glad that my high school freshman year (1974) was not encapsulated by a new cold virus. I regret that our niece’s freshman year is.

Yesterday, 11/21/2020, in the late evening, my wife’s youngest sister drove in from Nashville to stay with my in-laws, who live three miles away. I speculate that my wife will be granted permission by the “mask mafia” to visit her family in person for a few days at least. I was right! At the 2:57 PM time of this writing, my wife hasn’t been gone that long ago to visit there today! I knew it.

I wonder how many still go to church in person. For many, church is either home church or virtual church. The context, of course, is Corona Myopia. We are in a home church mode. Church, on many Sunday afternoons for me, is held in the woods.

“Wally-World Fun” on Saturday, 11/14/2020

Whew! At least we got past the above life context as an extended introduction. Now, let’s get to the “Wally-World Fun!”

I don’t care to shop at “Wally-World.” Feel free to make my opinion your own. The last time that I shopped at a “Wally-World” (in Halls) was on 9/9/2017 to buy the stepper that I don’t really need now. (Anyone want a free stepper? My wife used to use it for exercise, but she stopped.)

In 2011, my wife and I bought new Samsung cell phones for about $90 each. That was before “semi-intelligent” (or so-called “smart”) phones came along. Mine still works fine and takes good photographs. Hers had been showing the “white screen of death,” as I call it. Bravely, therefore, we endured a two-hour “Wally-World” experience on Saturday, 11/14/2020. The location was the one near the former East Towne Mall, or Knox Center Mall, which will become the new whatever it becomes eventually.

The following is a photograph of my phone that still works great.

I had already done the online research and had a phone conversation with the in-store Straight Talk (Verizon) representative, who, by the way, enjoyed my Irish wit. The parking lot and store were packed. I located a safe enough parking spot, about a quarter mile walk from the entrance. As we entered, I stated my usual, “Mask off; mask on, as a no longer free man in a once free and great nation.” Most shoppers and all employees wore masks. A few shoppers did not. Everyone, including me, was touching and adjusting their masks.

The Straight Talk (Verizon) representative in the store was delayed, trying to get the Straight Talk technician by phone to set up my wife’s new phone correctly. Needing to get outside to breathe without a mask on, I took a break outside. A mask strap came loose. I stood outside and, using my pocketknife to poke a new hole, I accomplished a country boy improvised strap reattachment, talking with myself in my best hillbilly all the time. I hope the folks passing by were amused.

After almost an hour, the representative had my wife’s new phone set up most of the way. The next photograph is of her new LG Flip cell phone. No, it is not a “semi-intelligent” phone. I won’t own one. The “guvrmint” and whoever else likes to track how long it takes you in the bathroom, etc., even if you shut off the tracking feature. I have seen the television documentaries and read legitimate articles. Also, I don’t want a bulky, large-screen phone!

The LG phone cost us about $30 only. How much did you pay for your latest “semi-intelligent” phone?

With a shopping cart ready, we next shopped for a few household items and groceries. At 3:06 PM, I used my cell phone to call the “Wally World” number. Nine checkout locations were available. Three were open. I suggested, in my Irish manner, that opening a few more checkout lanes would help. We checked out and arrived back home.

Yes, as we left “Wally World,” I spoke loudly, “Mask on; mask off, as a free man again, in a once free and great nation!”

At 5:10 PM, I had managed to set up my wife’s new LG phone the rest of the way. Once again, I won. Modern technology lost.

The weather was warm, but it would have been a good day to hike. I should have hiked in the woods instead of around “Wally World.” My right foot and knee took the pounding on all that concrete and tile much better than I thought. I was glad to get off all those hard surfaces, since my right footstep still feels different. Day by day, the footstep gets closer to normal very slowly.

Devil's Nose Hiking Record, 2/16/2002 to 11/29/2013, So Far (published 11-15-2020)

11/29/2013 photograph, by M. Fearghail, standing on the east bluff on Devil's Nose, looking southeast. The image is also included in the 1/1/2024 article.

 

Introduction

On Thursday, 11/12/2020, a reader from Louisiana, with whom I became acquainted, emailed me. He wanted to know about my hikes on Devil’s Nose. Several years ago, he hiked Devil's Nose, with a group, on Thanksgiving Day. The gentleman seems to be a fine feller! He inspired me to publish this article about my hikes on Devil’s Nose, each within the context of life at the time.

The following is a redaction of my Sunday, 11/15/2020, email reply to the gentleman from Louisiana. I edited it for style and added additional remarks. His personal information is removed.

I hope, by reading this article, that you are inspired to go hiking! A day in the woods adds a day to your life!

11/15/2020 Email Reply

Thank you for your 11/12/2020 email, and thank you for your interest in my website journal. I’m glad to “meet” you in this manner!

I haven’t been brave enough to hike Devil’s Nose, since my last hike “up the Nose” on Friday, 11/29/2013. (The 1/1/2014 article is about that hike and includes 12 photographs.) I don’t have plans to “hike the Nose” this year, unless they change. The 8/26/2016 article, “I’m Still Alive – Why?,” explains why I haven’t hiked Devil’s Nose in a while.

I grew up in Hawkins County. During elementary and high school years, a friend, with whom I still keep in touch, had an uncle, who owned property at the southwest base of Devil’s Nose. My friend, another friend, the younger brothers of two of us, and I hiked Devil’s Nose an uncountable number of times, from the late 1960s until the late 1970s. I have many memories of those hikes!

Eventually, I educated myself formally and got married. My wife and I lived in Missouri (1986–1994), then in Russia (1994–1999). We returned to northeast Tennessee in late 1999. Since then, my public journal and commentary have included several details about life. (A search by “Mom” will find several key articles.)

On 4/23/2000, I started keeping a hiking log. My hikes on Devil’s Nose, since that date, total the following ten (so far):

(1) 02/16/2002, Saturday, with two of my three younger brothers and my youngest brother’s wife.

(2) 11/30/2002, Saturday, with the same family members, as on 2/16/2002. We “hiked the Nose” twice in the same year! We had to skip 2003 for various reasons.

(3) 11/26/2004, Friday, with my youngest brother and his wife. I took two photographs.

(4) 11/25/2005, Friday, with my youngest brother only. I have one photograph.

(5) 11/24/2006, Friday, with my youngest brother. The hike was dedicated to our mother, who was born on 11/24/1932. Mom “went to see Jesus” on 12/27/2000. I took 23 photographs.

(6) 11/23/2007, Friday, by myself. No one else could hike with me. My notes from that hike: first time to hike alone. 11 AM - 3:40 PM. 50 minutes to hike up to the west bluff. It took 45 minutes to hike across the ridge. 45 minutes at the east bluff. 45 minutes back to the west bluff. 35 minutes to hike down and out. A little white and black dog followed me. The weather was partly cloudy, breezy, and in the 40s. I took eight photographs. An additional note: on 1/25/2008, Dad joined Mom. This marked the last hike that Dad saw me leave the homeplace to hike and return after the hike.

(7) 11/28/2009, Saturday, with my youngest brother. My notes from that hike: 10:45 AM – 4:15 PM. It took one hour to hike up the west trail and one hour to hike across the ridge. One and a half hours at the east bluff. It took one hour to hike the ridge back to the west bluff. We took 45 minutes to hike back down and out. A black dog followed us. The weather was sunny and in the 60s. I took nine photographs. This hike is mentioned in the 12/12/2009 article and includes two photographs.

(8) 11/27/2010, Saturday, with my youngest brother. My notes from that hike: 10:15 AM – 3:45 PM. It took one and a half hours to hike up to the west bluff and one and a quarter hours across the ridge. We were an hour and a half at the east bluff. We took an hour to hike back to the west bluff and forty-five minutes to hike down and out. The weather went from sunny to cloudy and back to sunny. The temperature was in the low 40s. I took 21 photographs. The 11/28/2010 article is about this hike. It includes 10 of the 21 photographs that I took.

(9) 11/25/2011, Friday, with my youngest brother. My notes from that hike: 10:15 AM – 4:00 PM. We took an hour and a half to hike up to the west bluff. It took an hour to hike east on the ridge. We enjoyed an hour and a half at the east bluff. It took an hour to hike back west on the ridge. Hiking down and out took 45 minutes. The weather was clear, warm, and in the 60s. I have 21 total photographs.

(10) 11/29/2013, Friday, with my youngest brother. My notes from that hike: This was my tenth hike on Devil's Nose that is recorded in my hiking log. 11 AM – 4:30 PM. I didn't record the time that it took to hike up, across, back, and down. The weather was clear and about 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Snow was still on the north slope and on the ridge. I photographed bobcat tracks! On the east bluff, we met a former son-in-law of a first cousin, his daughter, and others! (Using ropes, they had hiked up the steeper east trail.) I took 12 photographs. The 1/1/2014 article is about this hike and includes all the photographs.

Thank you again, my newly found hiking friend and distant neighbor, for your email. I will publish a section of this email, without your name mentioned, on my website. Thank you for inspiring me to write another article on hiking!

I trust that you have accepted the Good Lord’s salvation and are living accordingly. This world is a training ground for our everlasting Home. Can you imagine hiking in heaven? I can! Will it not be great? If we don’t meet here, I’ll enjoy a heavenly hike with you eventually!

Kindest regards, in Him,

Marion W. Ferrell

PS: On my website, I write under my pen name, Merrion Fearghail. From Gaelic, Merrion means “brave man,” and Fearghail, my ancestral clan from County Longford, means “man of valor.”

Conclusion

I hope that this article inspires you to hike! As I've said many times, a day in the woods adds a day to your life!

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Election Day, 11/4/2020, in the Context of Veterans Day, 11/11/2020 (published 11/11/2020)

Well, this is the second article on Veterans Day. The first article today was about my hike on House Mountain last Sunday afternoon.

This entry combines two topics. The first one is about the recent election. The second is about Veterans Day.

Election Day, 11/4/2020

Election Day, 2020, including the months leading up to the day, the day itself, and the aftermath, was an indication that this once-great nation is now a banana republic. I used to watch the 24-hour “fair and balanced” station for an hour or so in the evenings. I don’t follow the political minutiae, as some do. My good friend, Jim C., keeps me updated by his emails.

To my understanding, the “vote early and often” gang must have done well. Apparently, the puppet-string socialist, Biden, has won. Trump and his allies might be able to force a valid recount. The dirty tricksters, however, seem to have won it for the Puppet. Of course, the Puppet, unless he is mentally enhanced by whatever medicine he takes, does not know for which office he ran, in what state he is, and so forth. Eventually, his vice president could become president, if he resigns or is declared unfit for office.

Yesterday, I had a brief phone conversation with our niece, the daughter of my wife’s sister, on her birthday. One of my remarks was that I would keep doing my best in this “mad, mad, new world, in which we live.” It wasn’t my usual sarcastic humor. I was and am serious.

I will continue to stand as a free man in a once-great-and-free nation. As my father said for many years before he passed, “This country is about gone, boys.” Dad was right. I am right. Dad stood. I stand.

Okay, that’s enough of “poly-ticks!” Let's fast-forward seven days to today’s date, Veterans Day.

Veterans Day, 11/11/2020

I wish that this once-great nation would act right and live up to the sacrifices of so many veterans, many gone and many still living. Veterans love this nation. So many in this nation do not.

In the name of freedom, veterans, I thank you for your service to this nation! You are still proud and tall in your honor and by our honor to you on this day and every day.

It’s just after 5 PM. I have just enough time before supper to call my veteran brother and my veteran friend “Gator.”