Tennis In Camdenton - At Last

Wednesday, Thursday - November 13 & 14

On both Wednesday and Thursday mornings I accompanied my dad to his physical therapy. He's working really hard to overcome the effects of his stroke. The doctores didn't expect him to walk or have any use of his left arm or hand after his stroke in April. With a lot of effort and a positive attitude on his part, he get's around very well, thank you very much. His left arm is getting pretty strong and two fingers on his left hand are getting their strength back.

It was with many mixed emotions that I watched him (and helped a little) struggle through his PT routine pushing himself to the max. It's paid off so far and I can only hope and pray that there is ongoing improvement.

After the physical therapy on both days my dad's wife, Char, and their dog, Toby, and I went for a nice long walk at one of the many state parks around here. Of course the forest is stark....the leaves are on the ground, not on the trees, and there is no one around. Quietly and starkly beutiful in it's on way. I'll provide some pictures in a later post.

Later in the day on Wednesday I got my Tennis Audition.

Honestly, I was figuring I wouldn't play tennis until the Fiesta Bowl Tournament in Scottsdale in December.

Last time I was here in Camdenton around this time of year 2 years ago, I searched for someone...anyone...to hit with.

No luck at all.

Here's what happened this time.

On Monday, while accompaniying the Marine Corps League to St. James, someone asked me how long I was staying here. I said until just after Thanksgiving when I had to head out for a Tennis Tournament in Scottsdale.

Mike, the driver, said, "Oh, my cousin has a son who's the best tennis player around these here parts."

I said, "How old is he?"

"13."

"I'd love to hit with him," I said. I know a really good 13 year old is really good. And a pretty good 13 can be really good, too.

"Oh," said Mike. "I don't think that would work. He's really a good player and beats everyone around here, including all the adults. No one wants to play with him any more....he's too good."

My mouth was watering.

"That's OK," I said. "I'd just like the workout."

"Well, his father is pretty particular about who he plays with."

I didn't want to make a big issue out of it, so I let it drop at that point.

But as we were saying our goodbyes for the day, I said, "I'm serious about playing with the 13 year old. I'm pretty good and I might be able to give him at least a decent workout."

"I doubt his dad will want to have him do it," Mike said.

So I had to resort to my most aggressive tactics.

I pleaded, begged, grovelled, got down on my knees, and offered him a bribe. When all that failed, I cried. That worked.

Next day I got a call and set up an audition for myself. The Kid's dad is Bob. I told Bob I'd come over and he and The Kid could evaluate my play for 10 minutes and if they didn't think I'd be good for The Kid to hit with, I'd leave voluntarily and without incident.

I've never hit a tennis ball in an indoor court before, so I was eager to dust of my rackets and see if I could hit a ball in a giant room.

The Knolls "Condominium Resort" was the site. Nice place. 2 pretty nice indoor hard courts.

When I got there on Wednesday, The Kid and Bob had been hitting for a time.

I strapped on all of my orthopedic paraphanalia that holds my various joints together and supports all the sore, strained, and just plain weak muscles and ventured out on the court.

The Kid is Jake. He's actually 14 and quite a good player. This isn't Sourthern California where there are no lack of good players for other good players to work out with. Here, it's not the same. Jake has a real hard time finding a good workout without a trip to St. Louis or Kansas City....both about 3 hours away.

The bottom line is that we played for a couple of hours on Wednesday and again on Thursday. I couldn't have been happier and I think he had some fun, too. He hits the ball a ton (as you'd expect from a good 14 year old boy) and had no problem with my serves or best shots.

Jake & Family

Bob - Lisa - Jake

Jake

I believe Jake said he was ranked 2nd in the USTA Missouri Valley Section last year. I'll be following his career as he moves up the age groups and hope he continues to enjoy his tennis whereever it leads him.

And....more importantly....I hope Bob will call me again for more tennis with Jake.

The Marines Have Landed

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Tuesday was another awesome day with the guys and women from the Marine Corps League.

About seven years ago a couple of former Marines (my dad, The Colonel, being one) here in Camdenton, Missouri, thought it would be fun to celebrate the Marine Corps Birthday. They did.
They said "next year" let's see how many Marines we can find in the area to celebrate with us.

From that conversation, the following year - six years ago - "The Group Of Five" emerged to celebrate the Birthday and form the nucleus of what is now the local Detachment of the Marine Corps League.

It is an officially sanctioned organization of former Marines united in camaraderie and fellowship to preserve the traditions and promote the interests of the Marine Corps, the ideals of American freedom and democracy, to aid all Marines and former Marines and their widows and orphans, to perpetuate the history of the Marine Corps, and to serve their local community.

In six years this Detachment has raised the money to buy and rehab their own building outright, to outfit themselves for as needed for special events, and to purchase a van so they can travel together as a group to the activities, events, and ceremonies in which they participate. And, it has skyrocketed to 80 active memebers. In this tiny community, I find all of that quite remarkable.

But, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. These are, after all, Marines.

Tuesday they had the official "Dedication Ceremony" for their Headquarters Building.

I was honored to be there with The Colonel.

The Marines Have, Indeed, Landed

The Honor Guard

Flag Raising

Ribbon Cutting

Cake Cutting (Youngest & Oldest, Again)

Award To The Commandant

The Colonel - Bill - Dan (The Commandant)

Sergeant Liberty

After the Flag Raising and Ribbon Cutting, the Members and the Auxiliary prepared a steak and baked potato feast of monumental proportions. The steaks were grilled on a monster grill outside and could not have been better. Accompanied by baked potatoes and salad, the meal was awesome and the huge array of home made deserts even better.

I'm guessing there were 50 or 60 people there. Maybe more. The Commandant, Dan, was presented with an award. They raised about $6,000 in a raffle. And, this being a Marine Corps event, what else would they raffle than a weapon. A slick handgun that it seems everyone in the building REALLY wanted.

There was lots of laughter, war stories, good natured ribbing, and a ton of gratitude and respect shown to my Dad, The Colonel, who was one of the original founders of this Detachment and a strong leader when he served as Commandant. I know he personally raised at least $35,000 or more for the Detachment. They all seem to hold him in the highest regard for both his service as a Marine Corps Fighter Pilot in WWII and Korea, and for his contributions, leadership, and efforts to make the Detachment successful.

I was extraordinarily proud to be with him.

The Colonel

In case any of you Marines from the Detachment happen to read this, thanks for looking after The Colonel and for your gracious hospitality and the warm welcome you all extended to me.

Semper Fi.....

The Marine Corps Birthday

Monday, November 10, 2008
The Marine Corps Birthday

I had an amazing day on Monday (I'm actually writing this a few days later).

Monday was the 233rd Birthday of the United States Marine Corps.

During the American Revolution, a committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore. The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines. Each year on November 10th Marines and "former" Marines from every corener of the Earth celebrate the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country and our incredible way of life as United States Marines.

Having served over 4 years on active duty in the Marine Corps myself, I was honored to accompany my dad and 11 other Marines in his Marine Corps League Detachment to some quite remarkable and special Birthday Celebrations.

Happy Birthday

This group of 12 incredible men travelled in a van and in their casual Marine League uniforms first to St. James, Missouri. We stopped in at a Veteran's Convalescent Home.

It is a beatiful, well kept place. There were 12 Marines among its residents.

What would a birthday be without a birthday cake?

The Cake

All 12 of the Marine residents were brought in for the party - some under their own power and some wheeled in. They were from WWII though the Vietnam War (I don't believe any served in combat after Vietnam - though I could be mistaken about that.) Included among them was a Medal of Honor recipient from the battle at Iwo Jima.

The Marine League men chatted and laughed with them. The mutual respect and commraderie - the common bond of special men (and women, by the way) - was thick in the air. It made you stop and think about some of the tradegdies and horrors these Marines may have experienced....and the sacrafice and bravery.

The Marines - Residents and League

After the socializing, laughing, and, I suspect, a few tears flowing in memory of god knows what, it was time for the traditional Cake Cutting. The tradition is that the youngest and oldest Marines in the group share the honors...one generation bonding with the next.

In our case both the youngest (Pete - 49) and the oldest, (Howard - 93) did the honors.

Cutting the Cake

Howard - Pete

The Marine Corps Hymn was sung with much gusto. I won't comment on quality, but enthusiasm ran high.

Goodbyes, hand shakes, and hugs were shared.

I was honored to be there and share this amazing experience with the members of the League and also the Marines in Residence.

Since I had served myself, even though I was just a visitor for this event, I was typically called "Captain." That was my rank when I left active service. Everyone in the League retains their last rank. I haven't been called Captain since I was last on active duty. Often someone was talking to me or referring to me as Captain or The Captain and I had no idea who or what they were talking about. It took me a while to get used to it.

And my dad is known by them all simply as "The Colonel."

It was about 1.5 hours driving down to St. James and the same coming back. When you're trapped in a small van with 12 Marines for 3 hours, you kind of get to know them. None of these guys is particularly shy.

I won't try to describe them individually. Let me just say that as a group, you couldn't possibly find a better bunch. Remember, these guys volunteered to become Marines. Most have combat experience. And now thay are volunteering again to be part of the Marine Corps League and to to do this and hundreds of other community and Marine Corps service jobs, tasks, and events.

They have bonded together as Marines and as a Marine Detachment have reached out to the community. They provide full dress military honors funerals for vetrans of any service, help raise money for community oranizations, march in local parades, serve as the color guard (they provided a full color guard at the local high school for their Veteran's Day celebration, for example), and much, much more. They work hard to do it right, they drill like Marine recruits, they are consciensiuous, inudstrious, and a heck of a lot of fun, to boot.

Next we stopped at a Convalescent Home in Osage Beach, Missouri, where I met Michelle.

Michelle is a beautiful young former Marine who is, unfortunately, severly affliced with MS. When we walked into her room, it was clearly very difficult and painful for her to get into her motorized chair (provided to her by the League, I understand).

But after she managed to get settled into it and spin it around, she had a huge smile on her face and clearly knew exactly what was happening. And was excited to see her brothers in arms.

The League Marines had a separate Marine Corps Birthday Cake for her.

Although it was difficult for her to speak, she did her best to chat with the guys a little. And that smile of hers never left her face.

Michelle, The Cake, & The Guys

In spite of her pain, her broken arm, and the pain and suffering I know she was experiencing, she managed to whip off a perfect salute of respect and thanks to her fellow Marines after their quite loud rendition of the Marine Corps Hymn.

That simple salute speaks volumes.

There was one more stop at another convalescent home not far from Michelle's place.

There was only one Marine there, too. I can't remember his name as I write this (so I'll call him the Unknown Soldier). He is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. They said he wouldn't know what was going on. But that did not deter our Marine Corps League. They were on a mission to get a cake delivbered to every Marine in a home in the area. So we stormed the place anyway.

The League Marines & The Unknown Soldier

The Unknown Soldier may or may not have known exactly what was happening or that it was the 233rd Marine Corps Birthday.

But I can tell you this. After the candle was blown out, the Marine Corps Hymn was sung, and when Bill gave the Unknown a little bit of the icing on the cake, I swear a saw a slight smile on his face and a tiny tear in his eye.

Monday was a day I will never forget.

The Colonel & The Captain

To top it off, since I hadn't seen my Dad in a long time and not since he suffered a stroke in April, it was no less than a perfect way to spend my first day of a 3 week visit.

He could not have been more proud to be able to be part of this tribute to the less fortunate Marines in the area.

And I could not have been more proud than to share it with Dad.

Travelling East

Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
November 7, 8, 9, 2008

I left Chromo, CO headed for Camdenton, MO Friday morning around 9:30.

It's roughly a 900 mile jaunt. You can drive it in a day if you really want to. Most people would probably shoot for 2 days. I elected to eliminate undue stress on myself and take 3 days.

There are a few ways I could have gone. Up north to the I-70 then across to Kansas City and then down to Camdenton. Or, south to the I-40 then across to Oklahoma City and then up to Camdenton. (Both essentially on the major Interstates.) Or, straight across - straight east - on more secondary and rural roads.

I chose the latter. I fall asleep on the boring big Interstates. Although efficient, they are uninteresting. So my trip consisted primariy of 2 lane roads and slowing to a crawl while driving through innumerable small and tiny towns in the heartland of America.

It was Awesome. Much preferred. Way more fun and intersting than the major Interstates.

I had identified 3 possible stopping points (RV Parks where I could get an electrical hookup so I could get my computer plugged in and work and also take a shower without having to move the stuff I store in my shower while traveling). The first was about 3 hours away, the second 4 hours out, and the last one about 6 hours from Chromo.

The first leg of the trip took me up, up, up, up, and over the Rocky Mountains. Jim and Debbie are at about 7,500 feet. I had to climb to over 10,200 at the highest summit.

Everything was snow and ice up there. I couldn't stop to get any pictures because the road was narrow and steep and the snow removal efforts stacked it up high on the sides of the road. The pull outs were deep in snow and I didn't want to take any chances of getting stuck or anything like that.

The road itself was still covered in snow and ice in many places with the sand/gravel/salt mixture - whatever they use - mixed in resulting in 2 things. 1) The going was kind of slow. I drive my Motor Home with Extreme Caution. 2) Unbeknownst to me at the time, this mixture of snow, ice, and gook was caking my motorcycle and the back of my Motor Home as the back wheels spun it up off of the road.

Once getting over the Rockies, the road straightened out and flattened out and stayed that way as I headed east through Eastern Colorado and Kansas.

Although I have a good supply of audio books with me whenever I travel, Debbie also lent me a few from her library. I had put in To Kill A Mockingbird (one of my very favorite books, movies, and now, audio books) and I was so engrossed and entertained, I kept on driving through to Garden City, KS (the six hour away place) before stopping for the night.

Because of the slow going over the Rockies, that I stopped to check my emails once, that I also stopped at a grocery store for some essential supplies, and the time change into the Central Time Zone, I didn't get to my stopping place until after 6:00 PM and after dark on Friday. Hooked up, worked some, read a little, and went to sleep.

Here's what I discovered the next morning...

Colorado Road Gook

My motorcycle was a little dusty, but essentially clean, when I left Standing Stone Ranch. This is all Rocky Mountain Road Gook. It was caked on everywhere. And I mean everywhere.

Saturday I wanted to make it just past Witchita which would give me an easy days both Saturday and Sunday and time in the afternoon on Saturday for some work, to clean my motorcyle, and to do some cleaning and organizing inside, too.

Here's what I have to say about driving through Kansas. It is flat. The road is straight. Kansas is windy. From dawn 'till dusk, it was windy in Kansas.

I was still engaged with Scout and Jim, Atticus, and Boo Radley all Saturday, so the time passed quickly. I got settled in El Dorado Kansas around 2:00, and accomplished all of the chores I'd set for myself for Saturday afternoon.

Here's what greated me Sunday morning as I set out for my Dad's.

Kansas Sky

The day was beautiful, the drive uneventful, and I hit Camdenton around noon. My dad and his wife, Char, had gone over to Mt. Vernon Saturday for the night. It was an early family (her family) Thanksgiving and Char's nephew was in a play. I didn't expect them back to their house until 2:00 or 3:00, so I stopped for lunch and pulled into a do it yourself car wash place to give my motorcycle a more thorough cleaning than I had the the previous day.

We all arrived here around 2:30.

The reunion was quite tearful.