RETURN TO UTS

In his other life, Ken was the Grounds Manager at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. As a matter of interest, the Seminary Richmond Campus was established in 1898, more than 100 years ago.

Today, after we finished with the doctor’s appointment, we drove by the Seminary just for the heck of it. It was fun to remember “those days”!!

Here is Watts Hall, the main administration building and the building most associated with UTS.



The Gargoyle on Watts Hall keeps close watch over the Seminary.



Here is the new Library. The building was not quite finished when Ken was working there.

This building is a dorm for the students. Our really good friend, Millie, ran the Mail Room in this building. She and Ken used to laugh about getting each other in the closet during “those days”!! Millie has now retired to the country with her husband, BJ.

Notice the “Quad” with the buildings on three of the four sides. This was so lush and green when Ken was in charge of the grounds. Ken said, “Look at all those trees I planted! I planted those, and those, and those and …” I used to bring a picnic and make Ken eat lunch with me in the Quad. He hated it!!

Here is Ken standing in front of the Chapel where we were MARRIED almost thirty years ago by a Seminary professor.

And the inside of the Chapel where we were pronounced Man and Wife!

These are the tennis courts with the Physical Plant in the background (that is where Ken worked). Believe it or not, we played tennis on these courts against the wife of the Seminary President and her guest, Patricia Cornwell!! Yes, that’s right! The Patricia Cornwell, the bestselling crime writer (although she was not so well known in “those days”!!

And here is Mike. Mike worked with Ken for about twenty years before Ken retired. He said he was like a little kid following Ken all around the Seminary, absorbing the knowledge of the Master; following him to the dump, and sometimes even to the liquor store!!

Mike is so funny! Every time we see him he tells a tale on my son, Barry, who worked at UTS a summer or two. Mike would start, “How’s Barry? Then he would start laughing until he had tears in his eyes. That Barry Hee Hee I’ll never forget Ha Ha Barry comes into the shop one day and says Ha Ha Ha I was a Good Samaritan today! I helped a blind lady back her car out of the cul de sac. Ha Ha Ha Ha Why do you think she was blind, Barry? Well because, she had those push buttons on her dash instead of a gear shift! Ha Ha Ha Well, Barry. If she was blind, do you think she would be driving??!! Ha Ha Ha

KNEE REPLACEMENT IN KEN’S FUTURE!!

Ken went to see OUR orthopedic doctor to make arrangements for knee replacement surgery. Things are moving a little faster than expected.

Surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, at St. Mary’s Hospital.

We had hoped he could recuperate at TT Chesapeake Bay, but they have changed their policy about extended stay. They are no longer renting a month or two. We are still hoping we can get a waiver because of the surgery.

We will keep you advised.

THE T T SLIDE

While in Florida I learned a new line dance – “The TT Slide”. (TT for Thousand Trails.)

On Saturday night (after our Bar-B-Q), our friend Brad was DJ at the Saturday night dance. I had told him about the new dance, that I would like to teach it, and I needed a song with a good strong beat. He suggested “Hick Town.”

I taught the dance and everybody had a great time dancing it. In fact, they LOVED it!! Thanks, Brad, for your help.

“CELEBRATION OF LIFE” FOR WILLIE

If you have ever been to the Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay Preserve, you were probably greeted by Willie at the Ranger Station. He always had a friendly smile and greeted visitors in such a way that he made us glad we came.

We would frequently see Willie driving the grounds in his pick-up truck -- always ready to help.

Willie died of cancer earlier this year. We were all devastated to hear the sad news.

The Staff organized a “Celebration of Life” for Willie that was held on Saturday, April 4. The Manager, Terri, presented a program of poignant memories with slides of Willie growing up, Willie with his family and Willie at work at the campground. The Staff reminisced with funny tales of Willie at work, done to the tune of “Chicken Fries” with appropriate actions. The program concluded with personal stories by the members of their encounters with Willie. We all toasted Willie with a taste of Pepsi, his favorite drink, followed by a delicious feast put out by the Staff.

A perfect way to Celebrate the Life of Willie, a friend to us all. We will miss you, Willie

WE’RE BACK!! BAR-B-Q ON SATURDAY

We returned to Thousand Trails Chesapeake Bay on Tuesday, March 31. On the way down from Richmond, we stopped at a Food Lion where I found a couple of picnic shoulders on special. That sparked an idea!! I suggested to Ken that we have a Bar-B-Q on Saturday afternoon, sort of a “we’re back” social, and invite some of our friends. I never realized that we have sooooo many friends here at Chesapeake Bay. I had to buy a third picnic shoulder!!

Ken prepared his famous North Carolina style Bar-B-Q and coleslaw. Everyone brought a side dish or dessert to share. There were almost thirty of us and we had a grand old time!!

Candid Camera!!

Men will be boys!! Wayne is telling a joke: something about playing Wii Tennis with a gorgeous, shapely, sexy woman; and something about when you do play with such a woman you should never take the Wii control with you when you go to the bathroom; and something about what shows up on the TV screen in the other room if you do!!! You can just imagine!!

Here’s Faye telling Delores and JoAnne about something – I can’t imagine what it could be, but I’m certain it’s not as interesting as Wayne’s tale!!

Hope we can do this again real soon!!!

AVASCULAR NECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL HEAD

NOT!!!

Back in February I wrote in our Blog that, following an MRI, the orthopedic doctor in Sebring, FL said I had AVASCULAR NECROSIS OF THE FEMORAL HEAD, and the only way to treat it was total hip replacement. He gave me a cortisone shot in the butt and that really seemed to help for awhile.

When we came back home to Richmond, I went to see our orthopedic doctor on March 30th. Dr. McGlynn (using the same MRI) said that my case of A/N was very minor, and my symptoms did not support that diagnosis. My pain would have been in the groin area, mine was in my butt. THANK GOD!! I did not want a hip replacement!!

Dr. McGlynn sent me to see a back specialist who said I had some arthritis in the joint where my spine joins my pelvic bone (or something like that). He's going to give me a shot in that joint, but it could not be scheduled until April 20th. In addition, he wants me to have physical therapy twice a week for two to three months.

Will keep you advised!!