We’re preparing for our long road trip today. Thought I would test the widgets on my blog. Nothing like needing to do some last minute tasks like go get dog food, drop off clothes at cleaners, etc.
But as Ruby Rhod would say, WHO CARES!
We’re on vacation and heading to Austin TX for a weekend of cars, food and fun.
Stay tuned.
My son and I are gearing up for a road trip to see the 14th Annual Lonestar Round Up April 17 & 18th, 2015 in Austin, Texas.
The Lonestar Round Up is a huge outdoor car show and live music festival featuring vintage hot rods and custom cars driven in from all over the country, that has become an annual pilgrimage to Austin for folks from all over the world.
Held on the rolling grounds of the Travis County Expo Center just minutes east of downtown Austin, the Round Up is a unique celebration of cars, culture and music that we plan to experience in person.
In addition we’ll get to see family & friends we haven’t seen in a few years.
Today I’m half a century old. I’m not sad or depressed. Every year I’ve learned to appreciate all the blessings in my life even more than the years before.
I attribute a lot of what I’ve gathered in the way of wisdom to grandparents who loved me and spent much of their time shaping me into the person I now want more than anything to be. To parents who love me so much, are always there for me and wise enough to know when to give me wings and when to hold my feet to the fire. To marrying the most loving and caring woman who challenges me in the things I think I can’t do. To parenting two of the most amazing children and to a God who gave everything for me. My family and friends through my life have most assuredly influenced, cared and corrected me as needed.
So I felt compelled this week to look back at my 5 decades and determine if I’ve made an impact. I don’t mean anything like did I create a cure for cancer. No, nothing that monumental. I mean did my presence or my efforts make an impact?
The first recollection of presenting myself to the World is not well remembered and had me standing in an open window with bars while in Madrid Spain. I was either handing out money that did not belong to me or urinating onto the sidewalk. Either way it must have been impressive! I was three. During my first decade I also met my first best friend Bobby Fields. He lived in the house directly behind our house in Meridian MS. He was a year older and we enjoyed playing basketball, riding our bikes and goofing off around the neighborhood. Good times.
My next decade was exciting and included the beginning and the end of my teenage years. Dating, you all know who you are, I’m not going to go into details. Driving, accident(s), showing off. My mom bought me a 1967 Ford Mustang when I got my license. My first job at the Woolworth in College Park assembling bicycles for Christmas and menial labor. Great church family at Calvary Baptist Church. Great memories going on church trips. Our family moved from Meridian MS to Clinton MS. I graduated high school and joined the USAF traveling the World. Lost my Papaw. Miss him so much.
My third decade was very rewarding and challenging. Finished my planned time span in the military and met and coerced an amazing young woman to marry me and moved her to Atlanta GA! New jobs for us both and we bought our first house and new car. I assisted in the creation of our first child; a boy! Very proud! Moved my new family back home to MS. It ended with some dispiriting time.
My fourth decade was a time of growth. I again assisted in creating our second child; a girl! Blessed! Job changes for us both. Challenging times becoming parents. Bought our second home. Great memories watching my siblings families grow. Last few years were of better job opportunities and a career change.
This last decade has included a rewarding career change, new church, new friends and new experiences. Children turning into adults and I’m having separation anxiety. I’m anxious for them to move out! A nurturing relationship with my loving wife. A few medical issues that are under some control. Growing relationships with my God, my family and my friends. I lost my grandmother and my Dad. I still tear up missing them.
So that’s my abridged version of my life to date. So I’ll close with a few things I’ve learned. It’s not WHAT you have in your life but WHO you have in your life that counts. Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are but we are responsible for who we become. Having a trusted friend provides perspective when you’re concerned or stressed.
I’m grateful to everyone in my life and I hope to enjoy many more moments with all of you. You know who you are!
I learned something recently when working to have my fathers Veterans burial flag folded and ready to place in some form of display/protection case. I’ve seen the process a million times on TV as well as at Veterans funerals, but I wanted to make sure I did it correctly. Not only is there a certain process in which it is folded there is also meaning to each fold.
Before I begin I want to especially thank my Dads siblings, Sheila B., Frances W., Charlotte P. and Billy K., for allowing me the opportunity to prepare and protect this flag as well as his ashes for the family.
The traditional method of folding the flag is as follows:
(A) Straighten out the flag to full length and fold lengthwise once.
(B) Fold it lengthwise a second time to meet the open edge, making sure that the union of stars on the blue field remains outward in full view. (A large flag may have to be folded lengthwise a third time.)
(C) A triangular fold is then started by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to the open edge.
(D) The outer point is then turned inward, parallel with the open edge, to form a second triangle.
(E) The diagonal or triangular folding is continued toward the blue union until the end is reached, with only the blue showing and the form being that of a cocked (three-corner) hat.
The flag-folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our great country was originally founded.
The portion of the flag denoting honor is the canton of blue containing the stars representing states our Veterans served in uniform. The canton field of blue dresses from left to right and is inverted only when draped as a pall on the casket of a Veteran who has served our country honorably in uniform.
In the U.S. Armed Forces, at the ceremony of retreat, the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold and kept under watch throughout the night as a tribute to our nation’s honored dead. The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the resurrection of the body.
Symbols for the Folds of the Flag
» The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.
» The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life.
» The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the Veteran departing our ranks, and who gave a portion of his or her life for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.
» The fourth fold represents our weaker nature; as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace, as well as in times of war, for His divine guidance.
» The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right, but it is still our country, right or wrong.”
» The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
» The seventh fold is a tribute to our armed forces, for it is through the armed forces that we protect our country and our flag against all enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.
» The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor our mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.
» The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood, for it has been through their faith, love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great have been molded.
» The 10th fold is a tribute to father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since he or she was first born.
» The 11th fold, in the eyes of Hebrew citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
» The 12th fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.
» When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.”
After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it has the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under Gen. George Washington and the sailors and Marines who served under Capt. John Paul Jones and were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the U.S. Armed Forces, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.
The source and the date of origin of this Flag Folding Procedure is unknown, however some sources attribute it to the Gold Star Mothers of America while others to an Air Force chaplain stationed at the United States Air Force Academy. Others consider it to be an urban legend. It is provided as a patriotic service to all Veterans.
I was introduced to the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in December 2012 when my company began providing IT services for them. We also had another customer we were working for next door to the museum and as many times as I have traveled to Indianola, I’ve never had the time to visit the museum.
On a recent trip to work for the museum I was finally able to meet the great staff there. They even pulled out one of several of B.B.’s guitars. This one was NOT on display.
Growing up I learned about music by watching Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, Soul Train with the original Don Cornelius, The Midnight Special and then finally MTV. I was listening to Rush, 38-Special, Boston, KISS, Styx, Journey, KC & the Sunshine Band, Glen Campbell, Paul Davis, just to name a few. I had always heard of B.B. King (who hadn’t?) but I never considered listening to blues music. I watched B.B. King & Gladys Knight perform together on The Midnight Special in 1973 and then I saw B.B. King and Bobby Blue Bland perform on Soul Train in 1975.
Besides the museum being about the life and times of B.B. King, my desire to see it was mainly out of what I consider a duty. If someone invests their time and money in you (my company), you should likewise invest in them whenever feasible. Especially with Mississippi companies. So I invited my wife and my mother to go with me for a day trip to a very nice restaurant for lunch and then to tour the museum.
We first went to lunch at a very nice restaurant called The Crown in downtown Indianola. It was just a few short blocks away from the museum. The food was amazing and I highly recommend you go see Mrs. Evelyn. She’ll treat you like royalty.
After lunch we went to the museum. When you walk through the door you are greeted by a tour guide with options to go on the tour or sit and lounge in Lucille’s Gift shop.
The tour begins with the guide showing you a computer monitor of the current whereabouts of Mr. King. The day of our visit he had been in New Orleans the previous day and was currently on I-20 around West Monroe, LA. Next they take you into a huge room which is actually the original cotton gin building in which B.B. got his first job. They built a beautiful building around it leaving the inside intact.
“The B.B. King Museum in King’s hometown of Indianola, MS, explores King’s 60-plus year career through the presentation of Mr. King’s personal papers, materials, and objects from his life and work, along with cutting edge multi-media and film.”
“The museum is designed so that visitors will experience chronologically the periods in B.B. King’s life in the larger context of a changing world, moving through an interactive environment that is visually stimulating and full of music.”
Near the end of the maze they had a very cool Guitar Studio. It is similar to playing the Guitar Hero game. Visitors can actually play instruments in an interactive environment, making their own music, recording it and hearing playback.
The place is just Incredible! It is a World Class museum! It’s an amazing tribute to the King of Blue’s talent and rich history. A MUST SEE!