If I Could Work A Miracle, Guess What It Would Be

More Blankety Blank Snow......

We didn't eat our groundhog sammiches quick enough!!! :(

Crossing Paths/Paths Crossing!

I was into geneology before the movie "Braveheart" came out. But after it did I dug into some of the history on William Wallace to find out how much of that movie was just Hollywood mumbo jumbo and how much was fact. For starters in physical appearance Mel Gibson is a midget compared to the size of Wallace. Wallace was 6' 7" tall. A big man even in our time, but in those days he was close to a giant in stature. They got some of the main points correct but other than that a lot of Hollywood went into that movie. What it did though, was to revive an interest in that time in Scottish history when the Scotsman fought for his freedom from English rule.

Now, imagine how surprised I was last year as I was tracing back my Maternal line, when I discovered that I have a direct line back to William Wallace's younger brother John. It starts with my mother and goes back through Jarboe, Greenwell, Taylor, Campbell then to Wallace. That in itself seemed amazing to me. But, then this past week I was researching some of my fathers ancesters and found that On my paternal side I am directly related to Robert De Bruce, who fought with Wallace in that quest for freedom. It goes back through my father to his mothers family the Hickeys to Mitchell, White, Shelton then to Robert de Bruces sister Margaret. These two lines crossed 800 years later to procduce me. There may have been other times that they crossed paths, but this is the time that I have appreciation for, else I wouldn't be here.

Above is an image of Robert de Bruce and a statue of William Wallace. X.

Fitting In

Have you ever had an uneasy feeling about a given situation or group of people who you were associated with? I can only remember a few times in my life when I felt uncomfortable. During most of the time that I was a Conservation Agent. People don't treat you the same when you wear a uniform. I felt ok with myself, I could just sense the difference in how people related to me. I learned that it took time before they would treat me like one of the guys. And even then it wasn't everyone, just a few.

I think time is sometimes the key to a given situation. And other times I realize the reason I feel uncomfortable is that my inner self just knows that I don't belong where ever I am trying to be. As I've gotten older I have learned to listen more carefully to that inner voice.

The picture above reminded me of this. Not sure where I picked it up. Probably one of the many e-mails people have sent over the years. As I look at the picture I wonder if that cat in the middle is as comfortable as he looks. Or, perhaps he just doesn't know the difference. X

Happy Birthday Layn

My middle grandson was born on this day. His Mother was born while I was in Nam on the Ides of March. X.

Happy

Birthday

Layn.

Love

Ya,

Grandpa

Top photo is of Layn, his mom Tanya on the left and my other daughter Trisha holding Layn.

Dancing With a Princess

As you can see,the things going on in the picture above are as far away from dancing with a princess as you can get. This picture was taken from one of the hills in the Duc Pho area of Vietnam. The Phantom jet is moving from left to right, towards an area where me and my company are engaged in close combat with the enemy. We were on a search and destroy operation called 'Desoto'. It was the worst combat that I was involved in while in Nam.

Two weeks later I was plucked from this hell and on my way to Taipei Taiwan for a week of what they called R&R. I spent the first four days pretty much wasted, trying to blot out where I had just come from. As I came to on the fifth morning I was resolved to see part of the beautiful country that I was visiting.

I hired a guide at the hotel I was staying in and we were off to see some sights. One of the places we went, was up in the mountains to a popular tourist attraction for the Taiwanesse people. There was a tribe of aborigianal people who lived there and they would perform for the tourists. They had some beautiful stone 'castles' built into the hillsides. We entered one in which some of thier royalty were performing ancient dances. They wanted someone from the audience to come on stage and dance with the Princess. Since I stuck out like a sore thumb (I was the only caucasion) they pointed to me and asked me to come on stage. And I did, reluctantly as my guide urged me on. It was quite an experience, one I will never forget.

Unbeknownst to me my guide had picked up my video camera, (which I had just purchased that morning)and he video taped the whole thing. And then decided not to tell me what he had done. I was to mezmerized while on stage to notice what he was doing.

Fast forward to one year later. I am at home with my family and friends. I have borrowed an 8mm film projector and am in the process of showing my video to everyone. Guess who shows up on the screen. I was more shocked than anyone. I didn't realize that the Princess and I had been taped.

I would love to share a picture of that unusual event, but the video was destroyed in a house fire that I lived through. And that can be the subject of another blog posting. X.

Kreativ Blogger Award

Mary over at Moontides sent me this award. along with these rules.
1 Thank the person who gives the award
2 Copy button of award
3 Place link to the person who gives the award
4 List 7 things about yourself that most don't know
5 Nominate 7 people for the award
6 Place a link to these people
7 Notify the people you nominate

Mary has a number of blogs that I follow. I really don't know how she finds the time to keep them going. She normally posts everyday to all of her blogs. She is a very interesting lady and her blogs are special. Thank's Mary, I am flattered that you nominated me.

The Award button is at the top of this post

The Moontides button is at the top right side

7 Things about Me

1 I once danced with an Aboriginy Princess on stage (In the mountains of Taiwan, while on R&R from Vietnam)

2 I am a cancer survivor

3 I cannot sing, but wish I could. I do love all kinds of music

4 I have conversed with spirits

5 I have a soft spot for freckles

6 Sometimes I feel like the cat who had 9 lives. This has double meaning. It concerns past lives and this life by itself.

7 My sense of humor is dry and almost macabre at times

I am to new at blogging to nominate 7 people, however I have two in mind that I think should be checked out.

"One Witch's Story" Sydnii has a neat blog. She has a way with words that I envy. Check her out. ( Button on the right)

"My Secrets For Happiness" Great pictures and an interesting prespective on things.
( Button on the right)