Entry for October 31, 2006

Tuesday was Gin’s birthday and she celebrated by getting part 1 of 3 dentist visits for a root canal, ouch. She took it all pretty well. We managed to go out for lunch and after work we relaxed at home with Caris, Patrick and Jessica. The pain medication started wearing off so it was best to hang around the house.

Speaking of birthdays, my Granddaddy Mike was born 100 years ago last Friday the 27th . It’s been over 12 years since he left us, but I still feel his charisma. I wish he could see all the things I have been able to see in the past 12 years. I believe he would have enjoyed walking through the factories that make cars, engines, tires, headlights, plastic bags, textiles, soup, copper wire, fiber optic wire, plastic forks, and fiberglass. Well maybe not fiberglass, that stuff really gets under your skin. I was reluctant to look outside of Norfolk for work while he was still alive. I knew that as long as he was around, that I would be there. I miss his laughter and love for family. He was the glue that kept us together.

Lately I have been (sort of) crusading to bring our family back together. Times are different and everyone has their own agenda that doesn’t allow much time for the extended family. It doesn’t help having everyone in different parts of the country. We all had to make decisions to improve our lives by finding better jobs, neighborhoods and social settings. Life is so fast paced that we may spend days, weeks, months or longer not thinking of the families we grew up with. I have thoughts all the time about my family. I wonder if we can get together and enjoy a day ot two each year. Right now I’m not sure it will happen at all. We have some walls that have been built up over the years between different ones. I still believe in forgive and forget. There are more important things in life than to be upset, mad, angry, disappointed at your own family. Look at the state of the world right now. We have road rage, wars, political mud slinging, vanity and greed that is tearing at the social fiber of families, communities and countries.

I didn’t do any work on the house last weekend. Gin and I shopped on Saturday. We went out for dinner with Patrick and Jessica, then played Aggravation Rummy and Blokus at their house. Patrick was the Rummy winner. Sunday Gin and I had lunch at Hanna Flanagan’s in Hendersonville (thanks Mom and Dad). We drove up and back through Lake Lure. The leaves were somewhat past their peak but still vibrant.

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