Spring has Sprung

It's spring time again and the birds have returned, the temps are warmer and the pollen has "fogged" us.  Here in Eastern North Carolina, we have a Plethora of Long Leaf Pine Trees, aka The State Tree of NC. 

Today, I went to Waffle House with Dad to eat breakfast.  My car was covered with yellow pollen.  The sky looked like a foggy day, but it was a pollen storm.  When I left the Waffle House, whilst standing with Dad sharing our Goodbyes, I noticed pollen dancing on the air around us.  This made me feel sick as I suffer from severe allergies.  I drove home and didn't leave again.  Tomorrow, raIn and storms in the forecast to wash away the pollen, for the day.

The good thing about spring is gardening.   I'm ready to "play in the dirt.  Tomorrow I will spend some time figuring what to plant,  and securing the seeds and bedding plants.  I'm thinking a container garden whilst I'm living in two places.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, squash and zucchini at least. 

When spring rolls around, I think is the times my family taught me about gardening. Mom, Dad and I taught my sister about gardening, and Mom and I taught my sister how to can vegetables.  Good Southern training.

I also remember a day years ago, when I was a newbie at the telephone company.  I worked as low man on the totem pole, in the Repair Bureau.   I still lived at home, but was working my first real job out of college.  I received a call from a coworker.   We weren't close friends at all.  She told me "I want to work in my yard and do some repairs to my house and yard".  I was wondering if you would co-sign a loan for me at the Telco Credit Union"?  I was so shocked that a person unrelated to me would ask me to borrow money for them.   And trust me relatives don't get to sucker me like that either.  I must have alerted her to my shock, as she said..."Are you a member of the Telco credit Union?  I croaked out "no".  She said, "Oh ok".  I'll find someone else".  Now she worked there and had 10 years work experience but couldn't borrow the money on her own name???

I lied.  God forgive me, I lied.  I had an account at the Telco.  But my money is mine, and my credit is mine.  My credit is not given away.  This was 1988.  I'm still not over being asked.    Just say no! 

Country road travels 3/28/19

The ride into work is sometimes challenging.  This morning I'm riding in old Beulah (2003 Buick), and turn on to a winding and curvy country road.  I havent gone too far when 2 cats pass me, and the 3 car does a perfect 3 point turn, slowing me down.  It was a State Trooper and I'm always amazed at the driving skills Troopers have.  I cant see anything on the other side as he had just come out of a curve.  Lights on, he speeds off.

A come around the curve, slowly and notice another car in the oncoming lane.  He stops, the Trooper passes him and now the 2nd car (another Trooper) is lit up and pulls a perfect U.  Both cars are speeding away.

I finally get out of the curves to see both Troopers have pulled over a car.  I guess it sped past them both.  Or maybe they thought drug running

I passed them slowly on the left.  Then once clear, I went off to work, thankful they weren't after me.  Well, speeding maybe...but never drug running.

Cruise control is a friend.

Ginna Ann Diehl. - Enjoy Life

Ginna Ann Diehl (1959 - 2015) wrote this...it is very inspiring:

"LIFE IS SHORT. Do what you love and do it often. If you don't like something, change it. If you don't like your job, quit. If you don't have enough time, stop watching TV. If you are looking for the love of your life, stop. They will be waiting for you when you start doing the things you love. Stop over-analyzing. All emotions are beautiful. When you eat, appreciate every bite. LIFE IS SIMPLE. Open your mind, arms and heart to new things and people. We are united in our differences. Ask the next person you see what their passion is and share your inspiring dream with them. Travel often. Getting lost will help you find yourself. Some opportunities only come once; sieze them. Life is about the people you meet and the things you create with them... so go out and start creating. Live your dream and wear your passion. LIFE IS SHORT." <3

Written By Ginna Ann Diehl

Dodging a bullet - Hurricane Florence 2018

Hurricane Florence

I know without a doubt I and my neighbors dogged a bullet this month. 

I dont like hurricanes and I especially hate September hurricanes that start with the letter "F".  The reason being. Hurricane Floyd came through 9/15/1999 and the inland surge from the Tar river meeting the Rocky Mount dam, flooded my house on 9/16/1999.

It was a horrible experience...from leaving the house to crossing the river (my yard, street) with Mom and my 6 year old daughter to being displaced for months....

Two weeks ago Hurricane Florence was speeding as a Cat 5 Hurricane toward the NC/SC coast.  It was to reach land around Wilmington NC.  It was projected the eye would travel over Raleigh NC.  This placed Rocky Mount on the NE side of the eye.  Lots of tornadoes to be expected.  The category was supposed to drop to a 1 as hit land.

A day or two before the storm hit, the projection was the storm would hit Wilmington and bobble southward, and stay there moving extremely slowly toward SC for over 24 hours.  This would cause the storm eye over Fayetteville, NC.  The storm would sit and spin for hours and hours, moving a few mph.  NC was destroyed, but the north east quadrant of NC was almost untouched.  If the original storm prediction, occurred, my house would be under water, and I would be looking for flood insurance money, and gone. 

Its weeks later, and I'm staying with Dad at the farmhouse.  I still have things stored up off the floor at my house.  Major cleanup required.

Adventures in Driving

I seem to have more than my fair share of 'close calls' and 'crazies' around me when driving.

I have 2 cars that are paid for and although my daughter thinks that they will have to catch on fire before I get rid of them, and buy something new..... well maybe she's right.  Why not drive what you have and spend a little money each year on the maintenance instead of spending hundreds each month on a car note.  I know I'll have to buy a new car someday (or new to me) but oh well..... for now, it's me the 2001 Mazda Protégé or the 2003 Buick Regal.

Recent crazy drivers....

1)  In August, I was driving home one afternoon.  I was on a rural country road that bypasses the small town to the south of my home.  There is this really sharp curve that if you're not paying attention, you can get in trouble.  I'm in the Mazda Protégé, I'm driving minding my own business and a truck is all at once in my lane coming straight at me in the curve.  I have my windows down as it's summer and AC is a hassle sometimes on old vehicles.  I am hitting the horn, and I'm then the truck (looked like a Ford F150) finally starts to move into his lane....in the curve.... but none the less, HERE IS HIS TRAILER ON THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LANE.  I start screaming...and hit the shoulder of the road.  High grass is raking the bottom of the car and thankfully nothing else is.  I slow down, and start to pull back over into my lane.  I start cussing a blue streak that would shame any sailor...and I'm still peeved off when I'm trying to order a sub from Subway.  It took everything I had that day, to NOT chase after that truck and give them a piece of my mind.  Road rage is not pretty.  But - I was alive, and I just kept going.

2) A week later, I'm working from home as I normally do on Fridays.  I go to pick my grandchild up from daycare.  I stop and get subs as shes usually hungry when I pick her up.

I am sitting behind a bus at the light.  I'm going straight, and the bus driver is turning left.  I notice in my rear view mirror the red head behind me who is obviously laying out someone on the phone urban style.  She has long tipped manicured nails flying, head and shoulders jerking, eyes rolling....its a sight.   Only thing missing was hand claps with every word (but she was holding her phone). I cant hear her but I can read lips and every word is clear.  Eff this and that you effing, b...this s and that.  I thought, now this is a distracted driver.

We both drive straight and before I can get my 2001 Mazda up to full speed, I notice her drift over the double yellow lines.  I thought "pay attention".  Cars are coming and she eases back in before the bridge over the river.  The bridge is 1/2 mile from the stop light.

The next stop light is a mile away.  I pull up to the light and stop as the first car.  "Red" pulls up to my right beside me.  I thought she was turning.  As soon as the last car came thru the intersection, she ran the light, .....the light turned green after she was under it.  Then she sped off.  As fast as she felt she "needed" to go, I was always 3 car lengths behind her.  So, I figured the "drift" over the double yellow lines was her trying to pass me, at a bridge, with oncoming traffic.  Crazy!!

3) Same day as Red (#2) , After picking up my grandchild, I'm returning home and driving thru a 45 mph zone (after just leaving the town's 35 mph zone).  A jeep passes me on double yellow line while traffic is heading straight for her.  I had to hit the breaks to allow her entry.   I know we have places to go at 5pm on Friday, but slow your role "roll" folks.   

Passing on double yellow lines is a big pet peeve for me anyway..  

4)  In 2017, I was driving down Hwy 97 on the way home.  Now the thing about Hwy 97 is, it's about 40 or 50 miles to Raleigh NC headed west.  And there are maybe 10 miles on the whole dang road that doesn't have double yellow lines.  It's fall and it's dark.  I driving and a full sized truck pulls onto the highway  (oncoming lane), drifts into my lane and half that damn truck is in my lane and I am headed for the shoulder of the road.... when all at once I see the reflectors of a bicyclist (country road) to my right.  I had absolutely no where to go.  I just hit the breaks.  I was driving the Mazda and sometimes the horn just doesn't work well when you hit it. (Design flaw? - maybe).  With me stopped, the truck realizes and pulls back into their lane before hitting me head on.  I am shaking with fear and screaming (I'm not a screamer so this really freaks me out).  I'm screaming stop looking at your 'effin' phone and drive dammit!!  I was only 1/2 a mile from home.  I pull into my neighborhood, go in my house, let the dog out, and step out on the deck.  I sit in one of the chairs and I freaking LOST IT.  Tears.... from that close call.  My Mazda on the front grill of that full sized truck would have looked like a southern mosquito.  I would  have been squashed like a bug.

5) When I was in college, I dated a guy who was from Currituck County.  I remember driving a big land yacht (Delta 88 8 cylinder) during college and if he was at home and I was off work, I would go to the beach.  Usually he would drive me, but he was already home for the summer.  I was behind slow traffic on a rural road (and it was almost all rural roads between our houses).  While behind the slow traffic, I passed a truck with a boat....and it was dark....and I passed this coming into a curve.  But by the grace of GOD...I didn't hit anyone or anyone hit me.  It scared me half to death.  I try not to think about it too much.  I was blessed and GOD was looking after me, cause I was the FOOL that night.  I managed to keep driving, but was shaking my head most of the trip thinking how close I came to killing myself driving full speed passing someone in a left hand blind curve.

Allen Barbour "Doc" Varnell

Allen Barber "Doc" Varnell was born June 24th, 1928 to Oscar Bolden and Rosa Annie Webb Varnell.

Doc Varnell was child #11 of 15 children. Oscar was married to Ida Corbett Varnell in 1910, and Ida died after having 9 children, 7 that survived birth. Baby #6 was named Nettie and she died at 6 months. Oscar married Rosa Annie Webb in 1925 and Doc was their 2nd child.

Doc got his nickname as the Doctor who delivered him was Dr. Allen Barber.
I've heard that Papa Oscar Bolden Varnell helped deliver many of his children with both Ida and Rosa. For some reason Dr. Barbour was available to help with Doc. :)

Doc never married, nor had any children that we are aware of. He lived with his parents and took care of them until their deaths. (Oscar 1959) and Rosa (1988).

*I always shared my birthday with Uncle Doc as I was born on June 25th. I know his favorite was coconut cake.  As soon as I would wish him a happy birthday, he would ask if I had brought him a coconut cake, his favorite.

Stories as told by his brother Paul.
1) Doc liked to drink (as well as a lot of his brothers). Paul rode on the roller coaster at Norfolk which was known to be dangerous and deadly.  This nearly scared the wits out of him.

Several people had died and he struggled to stay in the seat. This was the 1950s and before the safety harnesses. Paul left the ride shaken and didnt care to ride it ever again.

Paul saw Uncle Doc standing there drunk as a 'hootie owl' with his hands in his pockets trying to get together enough coins to buy a ticket to this monster roller coaster.  Barely able to stand, swaying to and fro, due to drinking all day.

Paul just looked at him, put his hand on his shoulder and said "No Doc, You don't want to get on this roller coaster".  

Thankfully Doc didn't.

2) Doc would pull a drunk back in the day. during the 1970s, He and Grandma lived at Little Easonburg, NC (Hwy 64 between Rocky Mount and Nashville). The small 6 room house they lived in had a living room, and a bedroom to the right, a kitchen off the living room and a 2nd bedroom to the right. and a small porch on the back of the house, with doorways from the kitchen and the hallway to the bathroom and the 3rd bedroom. You could walk from the 1st bedroom thru Bedroom 2, and 3; and then turn left to a small hallway to the only bathroom. If you went straight at the bathroom, you went out the door to the back porch.

Doc had pulled a drunk which would usually last about 2 weeks. My sister and I had walked quietly to the bathroom and tried not to wake him. He did awake. He called out to my sister and she said "what?? He then said "I can't find my left foot", "Do you know where it is?"  
I can still smell the cheap wine that he like to drink.

3) My cousin Mark stated that Doc would send him to one of the country stores at the crossroads and Mark would purchase "corn liquor' for him. Mark being all of 9 or so at the time.

4) Doc was a carpenter and a painter by trade. He and Grandma didn't believe in using banks. They saved their money in small metal boxes and lived frugally. Doc was a very good painter.  In the 1970s, painters pants became popular for girls to wear.  I had a pair.  This trend shot the price up and he wasn't pleased.

5) Doc loved to fish.  Most of his adult life, he would go down to the river and fish all night.  It would be "black as pitch" dark on that river, but that didn't stop him.  He loved going to the beach to fish.  He bought an old school bus and made his own fishing camper.  He made his own furniture.  He loved that bus.  He kept his boat under the shelter out back but towed the boat behind that bus.

Doc used to come visit me I'm Rocky Mount after fishing all day at the river and then show me his catch.  Ie always say, let me know when you're going.  I love to fish and would join you.  I think he enjoyed fishing alone, as he would day he would but didnt.  I was a newlywed so I guess he thought I wouldnt want to go. 

) Doc was diagnosed with cancer in 2004.  After his treatments, we brought him an air conditioner and put it in the window.  It was so hot.  He had a stove that had a tiny gas leak and I knew he struggled with the cancer treatments....  He left this wild of his own hand.  Dad found him.  I received a phone call from my cousin Teresa who liver beside him.  She said well "Doc killed himself"  I was crying so hard I couldn't talk.  Gregg had to take over.  When I finally calmed down, I was weird about Dad.  Dad was Docs caretaker during his illness.  I offered to go be there with Dad but wa told Police not allowing anyone in or anyone out.   I always carried my heart in my sleeve with Dad.

I was asked by the preacher to write some memories about Doc as the preacher knew AUnt Nell and her family but not Doc. Teresa also submitted memories.  Hers was about how DOc was always there for her and her kids and how they saw him as a grandfather.  He was there when they got off the bus and they had a close relationship with him.  

Paraphrasing what I wrote.  

My memories of Uncle Doc includes visiting with him and Grandma and many other family members on Sundays when I was younger. There was always good conversation and sometimes disagreements but it never got our of hand.  Doc was a painter and he painted most of our family homes at one time or another.  I remember dolling g hin around at Little Easonburg where he would check out his boat and later the old school bus that he remade with homemade furniture. He would use that bus as his RV and travel to go fishing to the river or Swans Quarter, or the beach.  I remembered his favorite cake was coconut and since our burthdaya wee come I'd being him one sometimes when it was his birthday. 

My (Charlotte) most recent memory was going to check on him after his cancer treatments and make sure he wasn't dehydrated.  I checked and he was good.  While we were just chatting he told me something that I will never forget.  He said I miss Joe Clyde.  He has been gone for so very long and I truly miss him.  He said Charlotte I have dreams of him often.  I'm at Walmart or a store somewhere out in public and I see him with his back to me.  I walk up and touch him and he turns around and it's not Joe.  He says I've had the dream many times, always with the same ending.  Then he said Recently I had the dream again but I was in a place so beautiful that I cant even describe it.  It was nothing like Id ever seen before.  Again, I saw Joe Clyde and I walked up to him and said "Joe, Joe I have missed you so much" and he turned to face me and it WAS Joe.  Not the sick frail man who died, but the young man in that black and white photo there. (He pointed to the picture on the table).  He said we rejoiced and I just hugged him and cried and told him how much I loved and missed him.  He continued it was then I knew this beautiful indescribable place I was with him at was Heaven and he was there with Momma and Papa and the others and no more pain and I knew I would see him again someday in Heaven.  Ot was Joe's sign to me.  I woke up so peaceful and content and happy to have spent time with my brother. (Joe Clyde died at 59 in 1987 and Grandma V died the next year....probably from a broken heart).  And I knew that I would be with him someday in that beautiful place,  Heaven.   

I (Charlotte) know that God wanted Doc to share that story with me, so I could share with you.  I know that Doc visited Uncle Joe Clyde in heaven.  I know that Uncle Doc was saved and loved God.  I know he is in heaven with Joe Clyde, Grandma, Papa and the rest of the family.  This gives me great peace and I hope it gives you the same.  

***We are a religious family and some were worried that because Doc took his life he wouldn't be in Heaven.  

My Uncle RP was at home sick with cancer and couldn't make it to the funeral. My cousin Mark V contacted me later and asked for a copy of the memories.  He wanted Uncke RP to read it.  I sent him a copy.  

I miss all my Aunts and Uncles. I wish I had realized how lucky I was back then to have them closely and be able to visit.  On Dads side they are all gone, including Dad.  January will be a year since he left.  I miss him.   

1984 - Snow Storm and that very bad feeling all is not right

I dated Lee B between 1983 and 1986.

Lee and I met at college.  We were set up by a friend, and although Lee is 4 years younger than me; he looked older, and was 6 foot 5 and I loved tall guys.  Plus he was super nice.

Lee's family lived in Currituck County.  I was working as a server at a local Chinese 'fine dining' restaurant.  After I met his family, they decided I was a 'keeper' (and I felt the same way about them.  I would end up at Lee's parent's house whenever I had a free weekend, or week nights, holidays, etc.  Currituck County is very close to the Outer Banks.  It's the northern most county closest to the Virginia/NC state line.

One weekend, we went to visit his parents and his sister Lisa.  I was talking to Mom on Sunday and she stated they were calling for snow to come in and asked that I return home early, before dark.  Lee and I tried to make that promise, but for some reason we left after the snow started.  

Usually we'd go back to Rocky Mount, NC through Elizabeth City, then on to Williamston, then to Rocky Mount.  While heading back the weather was getting worse and worse and I was really starting to worry.  I was scared we'd get stuck on these country roads and who would come get us or help us out.  This was the days before cell phones.  In Eastern NC, on rural roads, if you had an accident, or couldn't get through due to weather, you were stuck.

Lee decided to drive us back through what he hoped would be better roads, conditions.  This took us close to Scotland Neck, and Hwy 97 would take us directly into Rocky Mount.  The snow was covering everything and starting to get deep.  We were on the isolated highway and there was no traffic, no houses for miles, but we were at least within 20 or 30 minutes of Rocky Mount.  We travelled slowly.

We noticed this car sitting on the side of the road, and the door was wide open which caused the interior light to be on.  Lee was driving slowly and moved to the left lane in order to pass the car.  The car door was open onto the road.  As we drove past, we noticed a single male occupant in the front seat of the car.  This man was facing forward, his arms draped over the back of the front of seat.  His eyes were open and lifeless, staring at the car headliner of the car.  It was more than obvious that this man was dead.  There was no one else around that we could see.  No car, no people, no houses.  HIs car wasn't wrecked.  I wasn't sure if someone was hiding in the back seat, or if the man stopped and started to get out and had a heart attack or what.

I'm so glad that Lee didn't stop to see what was happening.  It just felt - WRONG.  And when it feels wrong, you have to go with your instincts and keep moving.  We didn't have a lot to say on the rest of the trip home.  We just kept going, to get away from that situation.

Just one of the times I was extremely glad to see the lights of home.