Josh, attending his last US Coast Guard Academy graduation as an active duty senior officer.

May 23, 2019 - Thursday morning

49 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

My oldest son, Josh, sent this picture yesterday saying that it would probably be the last time he wears his formal uniform. A graduate of the academy himself, Josh is retiring as a full Commander in June.

Boy, it's doesn't seem like it's been that long since he came into his mother's and my bedroom late at night and, unable to sleep, said he didn't know what he wanted to do in life and rather than waste his (and our) money on meaningless college classes, decided to spend several years in the military, earn the GI bill, and figure out what life had in store for him. That was twenty-five years ago.

Josh has always been wise beyond his years. The boy entered the Coast Guard as a lowly enlisted Seaman and received a very rare appointment to the Academy after some heroic and outstanding service. He's living proof that hard work, determination, and tenacity, can pay off.

Josh served up and down the East Coast at various Coast Guard stations and in Washington DC, taking on more responsibilities and advancing in rank with each billet. The last assignment saw the Commander following in his old dad's shoes, as a professor at the Academy.

Having an advanced degree in engineering, offers of jobs and vocations, post Academy, have been pouring in, including remaining at the Academy as a civilian instructor. 

Regardless if what he decides, you better believe that we'll be there in New London, Connecticut, in the front row, in early August for his retirement ceremony. Along with his three younger brothers, he's my hero. 

Wednesday had to be one of the lousiest days in the weather department we've had in a long time. It wasn't cold, but the wind howled and a chilly mist fell throughout the day.

I spent much of Wednesday in the shop, playing with one idea or the other, but in reality, not accomplishing much. I did manage to cut out a fairy.

 The wings and flower that she's holding were a bit of a challenge, but otherwise, the fairy was simply time consuming. She's part of a much bigger project that I hope to complete later today.

I took a wonderful nap later in the afternoon and watched videos of the Appalachian Trail among others. The wind was whipping around outside and with the inclement conditions, what was a guy supposed to do? I later took a walk to Pentoga and back to get the blood flowing.

Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri are in Wyoming visiting Isabella, Sheri, and Curtis. I was excited when I noticed he'd sent a picture and assumed it would be of Isabella and Sarah. 




Seems his rental car was upgraded to a brand new Expedition. It's going to be many years before I let that boy live this one down.

Sargie didn't get home until late last night after closing the Vision Center. She's off for the next couple of days. I'm heading out the door shortly for my morning stroll then plan to be in the shop for the morning hours. The new bushings for the backhoe are to arrive this afternoon, so no doubt, I'll be in the garden, wrench in hand, installing those.

Jerad, Yooper Brother Mark's son, is coming out after work to drop a couple of maple trees for me. Two have been dying for sometime and both are close to buildings. Jerad used to work for a company that cut trees from high power lines and can fell a tree on a dime. In my advancing years, my aim's not nearly as good as it used to be.

It's time to strap on those hikers and put a mile or four under my feet.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Look who graduated from preschool!
Thankfully, Sarah sent a picture of Isabella and not of her father's rental car. Isabella will be flying home with Grandma and Grandpa to spend a few weeks with them until Sarah flies out in June.