That title leaves it wide open.  I’ll try to keep it on those three things and in order.

If you don’t have your turkey plucked (or thawed) you probably should get that started.  My turkey is thawing and I have knocked the dust off the fryer and inventoried my list of supplies. Dava and Rick volunteered to host our group for Thanksgiving.  We accepted the invitation.  My only responsibility is to get the turkey fried and make it across town in time for dinner.  I think I can do that.

I am thankful the nine of us will be together for the holiday.  Those two empty chairs will probably always be visible but I think it gets a little easier with time.

I hope the holiday is kind to you and yours.  If you travel, please be safe.

The last time I was here I thought I had managed to tuck the memories of November ’08 away.  I guess I’m not as tough as I thought. I haven’t had a good week, I see no reason to share details (you’ve heard it all before) but I guess the anniversary of the third week of November ’08 will always be a little difficult for me.

I think one of the most asked questions in America is:  Do you remember where you were when you heard President Kennedy had been assassinated? I think anyone born before 1955 can probably answer the question.

I was in Army basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, sitting in a classroom learning about The Uniform code of Military Justice or something. A sergeant interrupted our instructor and broke the news.  We initially thought it part of the harassment or training.  The next few days were extremely hectic, we didn’t have access to newspapers and very limited TV, and that whole military thing was new to us and kind of scary.

I have my thoughts on what really happened (doesn’t everyone).  I also feel very strongly that Viet Nam would have been a different kind of conflict if it even reached the conflict level, had Lee Harvey Oswald not made it to Dallas that day.  President Kennedy was comfortable enough with the world situation, in August ’63, he quit drafting married men; that is why I was at Fort Polk about two years ahead of schedule.  I know we had a few advisory troops in Nam in ’63 but if escalation would have been anticipated the draft would not have been altered.  That is strictly my opinion based on “Patten Logic”.

I think that is enough, maybe too much, on holidays and memories. Moving on to winter projects.

Winter days and nights have always been my least favorite time; last year was the first winter I have lived alone.  I wasn’t prepared for the loneliness I experienced.  I did some genealogy research, wrote a lot of blog posts and spent way too much time bouncing around the Internet.

I would like to introduce you to this winter’s project.

An Old Man’s Toy

I need that great big hammer.

Someone hit that with a . . . Oh Yeah

It doesn’t have a name yet; oh I’ve already called it a few things but I don’t think those are suitable to share.

I have always had a little bit of a car habit and had been pondering getting maybe a fifties or sixties something to play with.  I have also always found the jeep to be a little intriguing.  I drove my company commander around in one for a little while about fifty years ago. I decided I needed, wanted is probably a better choice of words, a Jeep.

I shopped on craigslist among other places. I found a couple the ad said needed a little TLC; the ad should have said, major project or maybe you can save it.  This one was advertised as ready to go; it should have said, needs a lot of TLC.  I am looking forward to spending some time with it this winter and see how much of that TLC stuff I can take care of.  The thing is really fun to drive; I just hope I can stay out of it long enough to take care of a few problems.

It is a ’93 and has some of the things you would expect with any 20-year-old vehicle and that it is a jeep adds a whole nother list of things it needs.  It really is in pretty good shape, just a lot of little things, like brakes, windshield wipers heater and the list goes on.

Last week when I was crying about being sick I mentioned doing one kind of stupid thing.  The Jeep was involved in that incident.  I bought it about 50 miles from home.  It had the Bikini top on and the full top was missing a few parts.  I drove it home on a cool rainy day with the Bikini top, a little like driving a convertible with the top down.

One unexpected benefit; I have always driven too fast.  Believe me that won’t be a problem in this thing.

I don’t really expect it to be good to me but I think it will be good for me.  I think it will spend the spring, summer and fall at the lake and by next winter it will need a bunch more TLC.

I hope your Thanksgiving is good.  I could use a little prayer to help me through mine.

Please consider a donation to your comfort level to the cancer research organization of your choice.

Good Night and God Bless.

Dave