5/15/2021, SATURDAY: FEARGHAIL CLAN CONTACT, “MASK OFF” CONTINUES, UNCLE BOBBY, & ARMED FORCES DAY (published 5-15-2021)

Introduction

Howdy, y'all! I hope that you are getting along okay. We're surviving well enough. I'm not feeling my oats today. I speculate that the reason is due either to my “bionic” endurance of another work week or to the office (Thursdays and Fridays) being an iceberg in the afternoon. It could be both. Thursday, I wore a regular short-sleeve shirt. I had icicles on my nose in the afternoon. Friday, I wore a T-shirt under a long-sleeve shirt. (I took off the long-sleeve shirt for my drive home.) I stayed warm enough inside the office. I do not know why the women need to have frost on their computer monitors. I may cut the cords to the AC unit, since they don't listen to my polite and vocal statements about the icicles on my nose. That's my excuse for not hiking House Mountain #179 today. The weather was good.

Let's delve into “life, such as it is,” by topic, shall we? I hope that you have a cup of coffee or lemonade with you while you read.

Fearghail Clan Contact

In my last article, I had speculated: “I wonder if my other first cousin will return my voice mail, from yesterday, to give me the phone number of my cousin, whose husband passed, on 5/7/2021.” Well, she did, on 5/10/2021, Monday! We talked about an hour and a half! She and I are about the same age. It was Fearghail clan catch up time! She gave me the number, which I thought that I had but did not, to our other, older cousin, whose husband had passed.

The next day, I called and talked with our other cousin. Her voice was crisp, clear, and intellectual. (That does not mean that my cousin, who is about my age, didn't have the same clarity of voice!) Our older cousin is doing well enough, after the unexpected loss of her husband. We talked almost thirty minutes. We would have talked longer, but she had company drop in.

The Marion Ferrell and Molly Gertrude Archer Ferrell branch of the Fearghail clan needs to have a reunion one of these days! I'll help plan it, if y'all want me to do so. We could have some fine, Irish conversation! We all, or most all of us, have the gift of the blarney!

“Mask Off” Continues

“Mask off” became official – on 4/27/2021, at 11:59 PM – in Tennessee. I wrote about it. My Tennessee state employer finally “caught the mask off wave!” On 4/13/2021, in some type of “Interweb” meeting, “mask off” became official with my employer. (I didn't join the “Interweb” meeting. I was too busy trying to work for a living, in the insanity of my job.)

Well, good! On Thursdays and Fridays, when I work at the office – doing the same job that I can do easier at home, on Mondays through Wednesdays – I don't have to have my mask on to go take a leak, and I don't have to get that morning temperature check.

I'm glad to see that my employer is coming around to some educated common sense – finally. My employer needs to acquire much more educated common sense soon. If not, I look forward to my retirement from this job, after having found another, better job! We will see.

Uncle Bobby

  

Robert Allen Wood (Uncle Bobby) is Mom's brother, whom I have never met – yet. He was born, on 5/14/1939. He passed away, on 1/18/1941. Mom (Betty Lou Wood Ferrell, 11/24/1932 - 12/27/2000) was age eight. Granny and Papaw Wood (Aby William Wood, 9/4/1901 - 3/14/1983, and Lula Frank Amos Wood, 6/16/1901 - 8/12/1991) were both age 39.

The Wood family had moved from the farm in Indiana to Morristown, Tennessee. (Mom was born in Indiana. Granny and Papaw Wood met in Morristown. They were married there. Granny and Papaw Wood had moved to Indiana, where Papaw's relatives lived, to set up farming.) Uncle Bobby became sick with pneumonia during the move. He passed on, due to pneumonia.

I wonder if anyone else remembered Uncle Bobby's birthday yesterday. I did. I look forward to meeting you, Uncle Bobby!

Armed Forces Day

Did y'all know that the third Saturday in May is annual Armed Forces Day? I've seen the little printed notation that came with my 2021 desk calendar. I noticed it a few days ago. A few website articles, which you can find, mentioned it, for 2021. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I haven't seen any mention of it on the various TV news shows yet.

Oh, well, the USSA continues on the fast pace toward “socialist Utopia.” My wife was able to gas up the car, on 5/13/2021. I gassed up my truck today. I had to use 87 octane gas with 10% corn in it. The station didn't have the 100% gas that my truck likes better. He's tough. He can take it. Do you remember the song, “Goin' on a Bear Hunt”? Sing “Goin' on a Gas Hunt” to the tune. It helps. Wait until food and utility shortages start. They will happen.

Conclusion

It's about supper time, so I'll “get off the phone,” for now. Y'all enjoy the weekend. I'm just glad that my “bionics” are getting a rest today and that no icicles are on my nose!

Let's eat supper!