As our family as usual gathered on Christmas I felt this special event seems to come faster as I grow older. When Florine and I were young we grew up and left home for the Air Force, today, as grandparents, Florine and I are home folks. We just had our annual Christmas gathering with our daughter Amy and her family. To us as with millions of Americans, it is a day of fellowship, much talking, good food, and gift swapping. We photo scenes and place them in a family album.
Like a pack rat, I value everything and collect photos and data of Christmas and special occasions. I cherish such memories, especially as I grow older and realize time here grows shorter. Christmas is more than just another “holiday!” It is in fact a reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ, who is both Lord and Savior! Christmas is His birthday on earth.
In the past I traveled much in my life. I entered the Air Force during the Korean War and served 22 years. Assignments covered much of the United States and I had three overseas tours. I met Florine at Truett McConnell College and married her soon after entering service. We lived a life of movement and endured a year’s separation when I was in Korea and Vietnam. Florine joined me while at Clark Air Base on Luzon Island. In time we had one child, Amy, who was born in an Army Hospital while we lived in Denver, Colorado. I retired in August 1971 and we decided to settle in Habersham County, Ga., a location half way between Florine’s folks in Banks County and mine in Rabun County. We became members of Hollywood Baptist Church. These years were a rewarding period of our lives.
I have recorded 14 periods of my life, called “Trails of Life” in binders. The last one is called “Later Georgia Trails.” Since August 1971, home has been in Georgia. Having grown up on western novels and history, in the Air Force I served in places like Texas, Iowa, Colorado and Illinois. In civilian life I’ve traveled west on 14 occasions and have a thick folder entitled “On Western Trails.” I even wrote western poetry! Most of my life I have read histories and western fiction stories of the American West. From a boy I grew up longing to explore the west and indeed our nation.
To sum up, I feel privileged and blessed to be an American, to have served in uniform for the United States and lived, traveled, camped, fished and hunted in large sections of our grand republic.
Almost daily I walk nearby trails and work out in gyms. I love to see sunrises and hear birds sing!
