Weigel's to “Exxoff” to Weigel's within Life's Context (published 6-30-2019; updated 11-9-2022)

11/9/2022 Update

Early this morning on 11/9/2022, website analytics showed that this article was viewed once in the last 24 hours. Who viewed it? I don't know. I reread what I'd published on Sunday, 6/30/2019.

Today, I added this update, and I improved the grammar and style in the original article, which follows below. I wrote this article in a hurry. The topic was “life, such as it was,” from March to June 2019, in the context of eleven gasoline fill-ups.

Eleven Fill-Ups in the Context of Life

On Thursday, 3/28/2019, as had been known for a while, the Weigel’s in our “great metropolis” closed. The building would be razed, and a new, improved, and larger store would be built on the same property. I was driving home from “the Hadean realm” on an appropriately rainy day and saw the closed signs.

In late March, that meant that this Appalachian Irishman had to buy 100% gasoline at the Exxon, or “Exxoff” as I call it, which is across the road. Their sole 100% gasoline pump stands alone in a corner. I don't burn 10% sugared gasoline in my 2006 Frontier. I didn't use it in my dearly departed 1995 Nissan pickup.

At the “Exxoff,” you go in, state 100% gasoline fill-up, leave a credit card, fill up, return, and pay. For the following ten times, within the context of life, as noted, I enjoyed the dubious pleasure of filling up at the “Exxoff.” The dates are usually on Saturdays. My “bionic” right foot certainly did not like all the extra steps on the asphalt and concrete. Eleven fill-ups are listed. One was in Morristown.

(1) Saturday, 3/30/2019, first tank: After my solo hike at Norris Dam State Park, I filled up for the first time. My “bionic” right foot is not bothered as much by hiking in the woods on natural soil. Asphalt and concrete aggravate my foot harshly.

(2) Saturday, 4/6/2019, second tank: I got a haircut and shopped at the Tractor Supply. Afterward, I filled up my truck.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, 4/2/2019, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman had minor outpatient surgery to remove a “lump of fat,” as I call it. The next day, I took another day off from work to tend to Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, who was recovering well. Also, on that Wednesday, I had a tooth repatched. Back on 2/24/2012, a lower left front tooth was patched. That patch had popped off. After the dental visit, I hiked “My Mountain,” House Mountain, for the 158th time!

(3) Saturday, 4/13/2019, third tank: For other details, see the 4/13/2019 article, “4-13-2019: Papaw Ferrell's Birthday in 1880 & Ruger Replaced.” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was with me. Yes, I also filled up my truck with gasoline.

(4) The fourth tank was on 4/21/2019, Resurrection Sunday. The day is usually called Easter. The 4/21/2019 article, “Good Friday – Passover 4-19-2019,” describes our visit the day before with my youngest brother and his family.

In the afternoon on Resurrection Sunday, after my wife and I visited with her family, I went alone to buy gasoline. A very friendly female employee, about my age, was working the cash register. She tried to upsell me a corn dog. I declined politely. I had told my in-laws, before leaving, that I needed to “hunt me a corn dog.” I, however, did eat a bite before leaving their house.

The overly friendly female employee, on Resurrection Sunday of all days, tried to “upsell” herself! She stated, with a smile and a blink, “I can give you whatever you want!” That’s the first pass that any woman has made at me, since I acquired my “bionic body parts” in 2016! That was just funny! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, however, was not amused, once I told her!

Saturday, 4/27/2019, note: I filled up with 100% gasoline in west Morristown, after Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I enjoyed a fine visit with three good friends and one friend's father. By the way, that's also the day when a CD got stuck in my truck's CD player. Does anyone know how to get it out? I tried a few tricks that didn't work. I’ll pay good money for help! Yes, it’s still stuck!

(5) Sunday, 5/5/2019, fifth “Exxoff” tank: It was a rainy day, two days after a good friend's birthday. The 100% gasoline tank was not covered. I got wet filling up my truck in the rain.

(6) Saturday, 5/11/2019, sixth tank: I conversed by phone with the father of the son, who mows the yard at the homeplace. They are in business together. We had a fine conversation! Afterward, I hauled off the trash and recycling, as usual, before filling up my truck's tank.

(7) Saturday, 5/18/2019, seventh tank: Two days before the fill-up, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I celebrated, within the context of routine workdays, our thirty-third wedding anniversary. Aside from getting gasoline on this day, we also shop-vacuumed the basement and tried to patch a leaking pipe in the basement.

(8) Saturday, 5/25/2019, eighth tank: Mrs. Appalachian Irishman was with me for this fill-up. She was hunting for the previously mentioned female flirt! The flirter wasn't there. Before the fill-up, we visited with a good neighbor and friend, who was hospitalized in the intensive care unit. We could only visit at a distance.

(9) Saturday, 6/1/2019, ninth tank: This was the first day of meteorological summer! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I visited our good neighbor and his wife. He was still hospitalized but in a regular room. Several days later, he was able to return home, fully recovered.

Afterward, we bought gasoline, and Mrs. Appalachian Irishman hunted for the flirter! The flirter was there, but Mrs. Appalachian Irishman didn’t see her! I saw her. I kept my mouth shut! It was just funny!

I still haven’t told my “long-suffering” wife. I don’t want her to go to jail for assaulting the flirter! If she has read this article, she hasn't yet made a comment!

Finally, we went to the IGA. I walked from the IGA to the nearby Dollar General Store to buy a new beard trimmer. My “bionic” right foot and knee took the pounding on the asphalt but “talked” to me later.

(10) Sunday, 6/9/2019, tenth tank: For a serious event, see today's article, “Life Changes – Hunt Down the SOB!” It involves my youngest brother and his family.

Today was also the eleventh and final 100% gasoline fill-up at the “Exxoff.” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I had visited her folks. The weather was cooler, so she stayed in the truck. The female flirter was there again! You should have come into the store with me, dear!

Conclusion

The brief article “6/15/2019 Gas Update!” mentions my first purchase of 100% gasoline at the new and improved Weigel's. Yesterday, Saturday, 6/29/2019, I filled up at the new store for the third time.

By the way, the female flirter doesn’t work at the new Weigel’s!

As another point of humor, my desk calendar tells me that tomorrow, July 1st, is Canada Day. Why is that on the calendar? What is Canada Day?

As a closing thought, I have planned a four-day “retirement,” or vacation time off from work, from July 4th through 7th. Let’s see what happens!

JUST FOR FUN (published 6-29-2019)

On this “it’s hot; it’s dang hot” late Saturday afternoon, you have found a just-for-fun article! Ain’t it great!

Today, I did the usual stuff: hauled off trash, got a haircut (a week early), got a good truck washing, shopped at Tractor Supply, got gas, etc. It was the usual mundane whatever.

In that mundane context, there were three points of humor. First, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I had the dubious “joy” of providing PRN doggy daycare for her sister's daughter. She has a “dogcat” named Pepper. Pepper, a female, is a small dog that acts more like a cat. That “dogcat” isn’t sleeping here overnight again! The only time she did was on March 22-23 this year. It was far too traumatic for Molly, our fine, good, and regular dog, and us!

Second, a good friend in Arkansas finally figured out that he should reply to my response to his last email. My response was barely over a year ago. He figured out the details. I won’t wait a year until I reply to him. It’s just funny! A year, as in a life, is just a blink of an eye anyway. No worries, my good friend!

Third, I sent an online message to a local radio show host, whom I do respect as a fellow Christian, regarding the name of his Sunday TV show. The name is “Anything is Possible.” For fun, I quibbled with him that the show should be named “Anything that is Possible is Possible,” since the logically impossible is not possible!

Oh, just do some research into the classic moral argument for the existence of the God of the Bible or into the atheist’s argument from the so-called problem of evil. The atheist's argument can be turned around on him and into an argument for the existence of the God of the Bible.

I would go into more theological and logical detail, but it’s about 5 PM. I’m hungry, and my sister-in-law just now arrived to pick up “dogcat!”

THE CHALLENGE STATUS UPDATE (published 6-27-2019)

This is a brief follow-up to my 6/23/2019 article that mentioned “the challenge status”—my interaction with a local atheist group. Yesterday evening, Wednesday, 6/26/2019, the atheist show was again on a local television channel. Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, Molly, and I watched. Molly wasn’t very interested. Their usual and boring dribble started.

I almost changed the channel. Just in time, a guy called in! He asked about my 6/19/2019 call-in to the show and my debate challenge.

The caller questioned the two atheists, the older man, with whom I spoke on 6/23/2019, and the younger atheist. He wanted to know the status of my challenge to debate the existence of God.

I listened in glee as the older atheist squirmed and offered various dodges in his reply. It was grand to watch a caller wonder why the older atheist had not yet taken the next step! The caller was my “devil’s advocate!”

Well, as of this article, I have had no further response from the older atheist. I doubt that I will receive one. Who knows? If my “bionic” body can endure the asphalt and concrete, I may surprise the atheists at their local, weekly gathering spot in downtown Knoxville. It's a restaurant in the Old City.

My purpose will be to help the atheists move toward theism, and then to bring them to salvation in Christ by God’s grace.

Let’s see what happens! Stay tuned. If a debate is arranged, I will publish an update. Otherwise, please assume that my debate challenge was not taken up by the local atheist group.

The Challenge Status and Age “6” Birthday Surprise! (published 6-23-2019)

The Challenge Status

On Wednesday, 6/19/2019, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I were at home, after my “rich, full” workday and her final day of a two-day unpaid “training” during her summer vacation off from work.

We were relaxing with Molly (our “old puppy”) on the couch between us. Channel surfing found the usual local access channel. The atheist show was on, live this time!

Knowing me as I do, I had to call in again. It had been a few months since my last call-in. I cut to the chase. I offered to engage them in a public, formal debate, with details to be of mutual agreement. Off the air, I swapped email and phone numbers with the main atheist. To my surprise, he called at about 9 PM for a 20-minute conversation. He seemed interested. He stated that he would post feedback requests from his group on their websites (one on “Farcebook,” the other an actual site).

I expected to receive an email from the man or, at least, to see where he had posted his feedback requests on the websites. As of this entry on the evening of 6/23/2019, I have had no further contact with the gentleman, nor have I seen any website postings.

We’ll see what happens! I am willing to prove logically that the God of the Bible exists. The gentleman atheist is aware of this website.

Age “6” Birthday Surprise!

Two days ago, on Friday, 6/21/2019, the wife of a good friend, who is also a good friend, reached the age of “6.” Her birthday was one day after my oldest sister-in-law “drove to” the age (or speed limit) made popular by a Sammy Hagar song. Can you figure out which song?

Well, earlier today, we joined many others for a surprise age “6” birthday party for her! A fine time was had by all!

A person turns “6” only once in a lifetime! Celebrate! We did! Sorry, I didn't take any photographs.

159th Hike on House Mountain on Granny Wood's Birthday and Father's Day (published 6-16-2019)

My maternal grandmother, Lula Frank Amos Wood, was born on June 16, 1901. Today is the anniversary of her birth. It is also Father’s Day.

What else could I do on this Sunday afternoon? I hiked House Mountain for the 159th time! (This was my 23rd hike with my “bionic” joints.) Yesterday's first article hinted at what I might do today.

Please enjoy the following three photographs. Uncharacteristically, I didn’t photograph my 2006 Frontier. Leaving, I was pleasantly distracted by a young man from Alaska. He was using my passenger-side truck windows as a mirror to do whatever he was doing to prepare to hike. A nice young man, I enjoyed talking with him briefly. Alaska has winter. Russia has winter. I don’t recall exactly when we had a winter, a real winter, around here.

The above is my usual photograph at the west bluff. My trusty canteen is in the shot. I hiked up to the bluff in 33 minutes. Before acquiring my “bionic” joints (left shoulder, right knee, and right foot), taking 25 minutes to hike up that trail on a warm day would be acceptable. My usual time, with surgically installed metal in three joints, is now about 30 minutes. The heat and the frequent need to wipe off “gallons” of sweat from my forehead slowed me down a little.

The above image is from the upper-middle bluff, looking west. I have taken and included similar photographs before in previous articles. A good breeze cooled me off. This view was for you, Granny Wood!

Previously, I had hiked up the west trail, hiked across the ridge heading east, and reached the upper-middle bluff. I decided to hike back across and down the same trails.

Back near the west bluff, I took the above photograph close to the west bluff. The view looks southwest this time. In the image, the west bluff is the large outcropping in the distance. That was where I photographed my canteen before.

My 159th hike on House Mountain this afternoon was in honor of Granny Wood, Papaw Wood, Papaw Ferrell, my father, and my father-in-law.

6/15/2019 GAS UPDATE!

My one brain cell had a concussion, on 3/29/2016. That’s my excuse, at least, for writing this article!

The biggest news today is that the Weigel's Store in our thriving “metropolis” has been open since Wednesday! The old store was demolished, and a new, bigger, better store is now open.

I bought 100% gas for my new ol' truck today, for the first time since the old store closed and was replaced!

The across the way “Exxoff” won’t get anymore purchases of their 100% gas! The pump stands alone and is hard to get to. It’s progress for our little “metropolis!” (I found the photo, from their website, taken on 6/4/2019, while work was still in progress.)

 

6/15/2019 Update: Life, “Such As It Is,” in Family Heritage

Monday, 6/10/2019

Mrs. Appalachian Irishman is the eldest of three sisters. On this date, my middle sister-in-law found Sun Drop in 12-ounce cans in 24-can sleeves at “Food Crappy!” They have “value every day,” according to their too-frequent commercials. The local IGA had been stocking them but quit despite my complaint. Okay, “Food Crappy” is the place to buy Sun Drop sodas again! I drink a Sun Drop about every other week. I now have two 24-can sleeves of Sun Drop soda! That should last me several months.

Tuesday, 6/11/2019

My paternal grandmother, Granny Ferrell, passed on to the next life on this date in 1971. This was six months and 21 days after her husband, Papaw Ferrell, passed away on 11/21/1970. I remembered.

Wednesday, 6/12/2019

The eldest daughter of my youngest brother and his wife became a teenager at age 13! They, all four, including their younger daughter, celebrated for a few days at the beach! That was good. They needed some family-time fun! By the way, the SOB is still not yet found. The 6/9/2019 article has the full story about the wreck.

I am the oldest of four brothers. Also on this day, my brother, closest to me in age, sustained an injury at home. He lived through it. As of this entry, he is still hospitalized, but he may be discharged to home tomorrow for Father’s Day. That will be good. I am thankful that he didn't have a more serious injury.

Sunday, 6/16/2019 (Tomorrow)

My maternal grandmother, Granny Wood, was born on 6/16/1901. One could not have had a better grandmother! On 8/12/1991, she joined Papaw Wood, who preceded her on 3/14/1983. I conducted Granny Wood's funeral and graveside services. Papaw Wood was born on 9/4/1901. I remember the family jokes about Papaw marrying an older woman! My mother and father were married on 9/3/1959, one day before Papaw turned 58.

Three years ago, on 6/16/2016, I took my first steps (3 only), using a rolling walker, after recovering well enough to do so. The “multi-trauma” injuries that I sustained were on Tuesday, 3/29/2016.

Last year, on 6/16/2018, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I purchased mulch and other items at a nearby mega store. I enjoyed using my slowly recovering right foot, right knee, and left shoulder to move and carry the mulch!

Tomorrow, June 16, 2019, is Father’s Day and the anniversary of Granny Wood's birth. If I have power in my body, you will see what I do tomorrow, with photographs included!

Life Changes: Hunt Down the SOB! (published 6-9-2019)

Introduction

I didn’t mention these “life, such as it was,” backlogged items before. On the Sunday afternoon of 5/19/2019, the “long-suffering” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, her two sisters, our niece, and I ate dinner (or lunch, as Yankees call it) at “O’Chuck’s.” It was a late celebration of our thirty-third wedding anniversary, which was three days prior, which was a workday for us.

Just after we left the house for our anniversary dinner, a fine neighbor, a man, age 70, and in good shape, had a major heart attack without prior symptoms! He lived, thankfully, and returned home from the hospital on 6/2/2019, without surgery or permanent heart damage! He’s still around! Thanks, Lord, for sparing our good neighbor!

On Monday, 5/27/2019, Memorial Day, I called a fine Hawkins County neighbor, also age 70. He’s facing an upcoming surgery on 6/17/2019, which should correct his problem. May it be so, dear Lord!

Later on Memorial Day, I called my youngest brother. He was sickly. The next Saturday, 6/1/2019, I called him again. He was still recovering from what had become double pneumonia, with a 101.9-degree fever! My brother has been enduring missed work and doctor appointments, but he is getting better. Please help him recover fully, Lord!

HUNT DOWN THE SOB!

The next day, at 9:48 AM, I published the 6/2/2019 article. Later that same day, I learned that, while my youngest brother was still recovering at home from double pneumonia, his wife and their two daughters were hit, while almost back home from running errands!

As my sister-in-law and nieces were nearing home, a SOB (not a swell ol' boy), a tall, thin, white, short-haired male (not a man), driving a white Ford POS (piece of stuff), was in their northbound lane at an “S” curve. The SOB hit them head-on! Airbags deployed. Thankfully, the three family members sustained only minor injuries from the airbag deployment.

 

6/2/2019 photograph by my sister-in-law of the white Ford POS, after the SOB hit their blue vehicle, in which my family were riding.

The SOB got out of the Ford POS and took off running on foot to escape justice. He has not been found yet! Hopefully, the highway patrol is still searching for him. The car that he was driving belonged to someone else.

The Morristown Citizens Tribune newspaper and the WCYB Bristol, Virginia, television station published articles on their websites. See “THP searching for hit-and-run driver in Saint Clair.” Citizen Tribune, Staff, 6/3/2019, and “Hawkins County Emergency Crews ask for help identifying driver involved in crash.” News5 WCYB (Bristol, VA), by Kristen Quon, 6/2/2019.

As of this date, The Rogersville Review has not yet published an article about the wreck. Way to go, hometown newspaper!

This article is my online means of getting out the word! Look for the SOB as described above! If you see him, please call the highway patrol or 911!

The SOB should be in jail! I have no forgiveness. The Good Lord has no forgiveness. The SOB could be forgiven by all, if he would man up, turn himself in, ask for forgiveness, pay his fines, and serve his time in jail! He may have gotten away with his hit-and-run, literally running off on foot, if law enforcement can't find him. He will not be able to hide from God at the final judgment!

Conclusion

Okay, I’m done. Good evening, y'all. Life, such as it is, rolls onward.

I had to get this off my chest by writing about it. Yes, I am righteously indignant. Righteous indignation is not a sin.

Dear God, I'm sorry for using “SOB” and “POS” in this article! Please forgive me. Thank you for forgiving me.

6-2-2019: from the USA to Russia to Fiji

This is another article that I'd written yesterday. I'm publishing it today.

I think the year was 1998. The “long-suffering” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I were in our 5-year (1994 – 1999) mission work in Russia. While in the USA, for an annual Christmas-time furlough, we met the new preacher for the Rogersville Church of Christ, his wife, and their daughter. Their college-age daughter took an interest in serving as a mission intern with us. The next summer, other college students and she joined our team as mission interns. A young man and she “dell in fove,” as Archie Campbell would say, during their time with us in Russia. Well, the two married. They did a bit more mission work in Russia, but they ended up as missionaries in Fiji, where they, with their four sons, serve today.

On 5/18/2019, her husband Jason emailed several, including us, that his father-in-law had passed on to a better world. After a few emails back and forth, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman called his wife, whose father had died. I also talked with this now fine Christian adult, wife, mother, and missionary. Just over two decades have passed. Connection by email has been in place, on and off, all these years. It was good to reconnect by phone, while she is still in the USA. Soon, she is heading back to Fiji to rejoin her family.

At some point, may it be soon, Lord, there will be no sorrow, loss, or separation. Won’t that be grand?

6-1-2019: LIFE, SUCH AS IT IS, UPDATE

The first of June is the official start of summer; although, it’s been hot, dang hot, since May 19th. I follow the meteorological beginning of summer, on June first.

The above photograph was taken on 5/5/2019, by my youngest brother's wife. New flowers are on Mom and Dad’s tombstone. That's good.

The above image includes the oldest daughter of my youngest brother and his wife. This was an outstanding ladies middle school basketball team! Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I are proud of you, dear niece! Great job!

The above photograph is in the master bathroom. The black Timex travel alarm clock is on the right. On 5/28/2019, I replaced the triple-A battery, to keep it running. It had been so long, since I changed the batteries, that I momentarily forgot how to change them. I thought that I needed a new travel alarm clock, but I figured out how to replace the batteries. The alarm clock still works! Timex takes a lickin’ but keeps on tickin’, just like me!

Two other items are portable radios. I switch between news-talk and classic rock stations, while cleaning up in the morning. The decorative items are Mrs. Appalachian Irishman’s beach sand, shell, and scented candle, which I allow in the master's bathroom.

I took the final photograph, above, on Thursday, 5/30/2019. It's an example of many fly killin's that I’ve done over the decades! That fly is a goner! I remember, over a decade ago, having a fly killin’ contest with my youngest brother. We were at the homeplace. I killed 22 flies in one day! I think that was the record!

We go through life the best that we can. I’m still here. My permanent and much better home awaits me. “Git ‘r done!”

Good Friday and the beginning of Passover on Friday, 4-19-2019 (published 4-21-2019)

Good Friday was two days ago. As happens at times, Good Friday was also the first day of Passover. See my 4/13/2019 article.

The weather on Good Friday was rainy and windy. In wisdom, I did not go to the homeplace to fire live rounds and target shoot.

Instead, yesterday, Saturday, the “long-suffering” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman and I drove to the home of my youngest brother and family in Hawkins County. The four ladies, my wife, Doug's wife, and their two daughters, engaged in women folk doings.

Doug and I, in his new-to-him Nissan Frontier, went to the homeplace. The weather was cloudy, windy, and occasionally rainy. It was not as bad as on Good Friday. We placed upright Granny Wood’s grapevine support that had fallen a few months ago. The grapevine is still living. Doug planted flowers in the flowerbed near the front porch in memory of Granny Wood and our mother.

Afterward, as a light rain began to fall, we both did a little target shooting! That morning, I had predicted that rain would fall as we started to shoot. I shot my new, replacement Ruger LCP for the first time. We only fired a few rounds, but we shot well. I shot better than I thought that I would, especially after my over three-year “sabbatical” from target shooting!

Unfortunately, I forget to take any photographs. The images are in my mind. It was a fine day.

I have checked off two more goals. I replaced my Ruger LCP and gone target shooting again! A next goal is to be able to run as I once did, before having the surgically installed metal in my left shoulder, right knee, and right foot. Lord willing, by my sheer determination, I will do that one day!

4-13-2019: Papaw Ferrell's Birthday in 1880 & Ruger Replaced Today!

 Ruger Replaced on Papaw Ferrell's Birthday B-Day, by M. Fearghail, 4/13/2019, at 2:54 PM.

On Tuesday, 4/13/1880, my paternal grandfather, Marion Ferrell, was born. I wear his first name with honor, knowing the Irish meaning. The Gaelic is Merrion, meaning “brave man.”

Today, Saturday, 4/13/2019, I—his grandson, the first son of his youngest son, who was my father, Earl Ferrell—purchased a Ruger 380 pocket pistol. The “long-suffering” Mrs. Appalachian Irishman went with me. The purchase was to replace the Ruger that I bought on 7/28/2012.

After the wreck, on Tuesday, 3/29/2016, the Tennessee Highway Patrol held that first pistol—which was found and secured from the cab of my totaled 1995 Nissan pickup—for safekeeping at their Knoxville location. An 18-year-old, uninsured female failed to yield to my right of way and almost killed me on that day.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol called me a few times to remind me that my old Ruger LCP 380 was at their Knoxville location, for me to pick up at any time that I could do so, up to a year. After a year, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said that they would have to destroy my old Ruger, if I couldn't come get it.

In early March 2017, a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer called me and stated that they would be glad to hold my old Ruger for over a year, if I wished to call them before 3/29/2017 to make the proper arrangements. I thanked the very kind and understanding officer for her time. I never called to extend the pickup, due to all the “fun” in life at the time. I assumed that the Tennessee Highway Patrol destroyed my old Ruger. Later, however, I was pleased to learn that my old Ruger was being used as a backup weapon for an officer.

The last time that I “pulled a trigger” was on Good Friday, 3/25/2016. I was at the homeplace. Steve, a lifelong friend; Monnie, a neighbor; and I did some target shooting. We had a great day!

Good Friday is coming in six days on 4/19/2019. What do you think that I plan to do for the first time since Good Friday in 2016?

Enjoy the previous photograph of today's purchase on Papaw Ferrell's birthday!

156th Hike on House Mountain on Saint Patrick's Day: 7 Humans and 3 Dogs! (published 3-21-2019; updated 7-21-2022)

Introduction

Well, well, my last article was on 6/14/2017. My, how time goes by! Here I sit, plunking away again finally, on 3/21/2019. Earlier today, my “long-suffering” wife had a medical appointment. It was for a minor problem that was thankfully resolved. Today, we both have a day off from work. That is good! It gives me time to write.

The 6/14/2017 article was about my 138th hike on House Mountain on Mother's Day, 5/14/2017. As of Sunday, March 17, 2019, St. Patrick’s Day, I have hiked House Mountain 156 times. That hike was also my 20th so far with my surgically installed “bionics” (i.e., metal pins and screws in my left shoulder, right knee, and right foot)!

I had to pause writing for a few minutes. At about 3:30 PM, my wife came back from visiting her folks, who live about 3.5 miles away. I'm back now!

156th Hike on House Mountain

The two photographs below are from my 156th hike on House Mountain on Sunday, 3/17/2019, St. Patrick’s Day! This was the first time that I have had six humans and three dogs hike with me! The seven total humans were my youngest brother, his wife, and their two daughters; our niece; my wife; and me. The three dogs were Molly (our “old puppy”), my brother’s dog, and our niece’s dog. Enjoy the photographs!

By the way, life rolls on, day by day!

Dear Lord, let me die soon and easily to go home! My “bionic” joints are aggravating me too much!

What, Lord? Not yet?

Okay. Whatever.

I continue to endure my ongoing recovery. Hiking helps.

The photograph below is near the west bluff. Five humans, including me, and two dogs made it that far! My wife, our niece, and our niece’s dog turned back at the first of the six switchbacks on the hike up. By the way, a goat was standing on the rock bluff when we were below and near it on the hike up. My youngest brother, in manful form, chased off the “dangerous” goat!

I took the photograph below at the parking lot—after the complete hike by five humans and two dogs! I see two Nissan Frontier trucks! Mine is the 2006, behind Molly and the information sign. My youngest brother’s is the 2017 on the left side with the tailgate showing.

Conclusion

We “rock ‘n roll” through life by God’s grace if he cares! Well, he does care. Sadly, God's providence allows bad things to happen to good people.

If the uninsured chicklet had been a few seconds faster or slower on 3/29/2016, she would not have hit my 1995 Nissan pickup and me. Providence allowed the event.

I get mad at times. I think, “God, if you care, why didn't you prevent the uninsured chicklet from killing my truck and almost killing me? A few seconds earlier or later would have helped!”

God allows bad things to happen to good people in this temporal realm. He knows that good folks, saved by his grace, will have everlasting joy in heaven. I continue to endure with that thought in mind. Hiking helps—especially with family on St. Patrick's Day!

5-14-2017: Mother's Day and 138th Hike on House Mountain (published 6-14-2017; updated 7-21-2022)

7/21/2022 addendum: Please first enjoy the following four photographs and the brief comments below each. The meat and potatoes of my remarks follow the photographs. This was the only article that I published in 2017.

 

The above view was from the west bluff, looking southeast. I was standing on the rock outcropping.

 

The above image was also at the west bluff. Facing northeast, the bluff was behind me. The rock that I touch to mark my time is to the left of my trusty ball cap and canteen.

 

 The above is a view from the upper middle bluff, looking northeast.

 

  

My faithful 2006 Nissan Frontier was awaiting my return after the hike.

The hike was a month ago on Sunday afternoon, Mother’s Day, 5/14/2017. That day also marked Uncle Bobby’s birthday in 1939. I haven’t met him yet. Uncle Bobby, my mother's younger brother, Robert Allen Wood (5/14/1939–1/18/1941), died in infancy.

Alone, I hiked up the west trail to the west bluff in 37 minutes. Getting over and through a few downed trees in one low area slowed me down by a few minutes. Still yet, I hiked up faster than I thought, with my still damaged right foot and knee. My usual time on a hot day is 25 or 26 minutes.

By coincidence or providence, I started the hike up at 12:27 PM. On Wednesday, 12/27/2000, my mother died. I also thought about my mother-in-law, who passed away recently on Sunday, 4/30/2017. Finally, my first cousin, Retha, was on my mind. She passed away on Thursday, 4/27/2017, three days before my mother-in-law.

This 138th hike was my first hike all the way up to the ridge (of course, and across and back down) since my 136th hike on Saturday, 3/26/2016. Three days later, on Tuesday, 3/29/2016, I almost got to be with my mother, my father, my Savior, and so many others, when the uninsured chicklet failed to yield to my right of way. I hiked only the loop trails at the base on Thursday, 12/22/2016, my 137th hike, which was my first hike since 3/26/2016.

Every step I take hurts; I take steps. This 138th hike was in memory and honor of my mother, Uncle Bobby, my mother-in-law, and my first cousin Retha. Of course, it was also for me. Now that I know that I can hike up “my mountain,” even if I am a “lame mountain goat,” by God’s grace and my own strong will, I will keep hiking!

House Mountain Hike #137 Earlier Today (published 12/22/2016; updated 10/3/2022)

Monday, 10/3/2022, addendum: I added the section titles without changing the original wording.

House Mountain Hike #136 on March 26

My 136th hike on House Mountain was on Saturday, March 26, 2016. Two coworkers and I hiked up the west trail to the west bluff. Continuing to the east bluff, we hiked down and out on the east trail. I took one photograph. We hiked from 9:24 AM to 1:30 PM. The notes are in my hiking record.

That was three days before my world changed for the worse. An uninsured chicklet failed to yield to my right of way on Tuesday, the 29th. The 12/8/2016 article mentions that infamous day in my life.

House Mt. Hike #137, the first “bionic” hike, on December 22

Earlier today, instead of my 150th hike, which it would have been by my estimate, I hiked House Mountain for the 137th time. This was my first hike on “my mountain,” since my near-death accident.

I hiked alone on the two loop trails at the base of the mountain. According to the signs, one trail is 0.2 miles. The other is 0.35 miles. I hiked on uneven paths, down and up some sections, and over a few fallen trees.

A man has to start somewhere. I cannot yet “mountain goat” up the side of the mountain, but I have taken my first hike. My surgically repaired right knee and foot, which is still swollen and scabbed, took the pounding well enough.

I rejoice that I could take this little hike on “my mountain!” Of course, the rocky bluffs above are calling me. How much longer before I answer? Give me time. Today, the weather was sweatshirt-warm and sunny, a little too warm for this time of year. Enjoy the five photographs below.