May 6, 2008 - Carrabelle, Florida
Today is a work day for Bruce. He has two conference calls to make in the afternoon for the executive coaching that he’s doing. Shortly after setting up camp, we realized that the downfall to rural life is the lack of cell phone coverage. There is no T-Mobile in or out of the town center. That can be both good and bad, so we are thankful for at least having computer access. Bruce was able to activate “Skype”, a free system that enables people to communicate through video or voice over their computers. After making his preparations, Bruce put on a dress shirt and sat at the dinette table of our trailer in his swim trunks for his video conference! I took the dog for another swim/play session along the beach. Upon the completion of his conference, I asked him how it went. He said that it went fine, until the air conditioner cycled off and he began to get warm and inadvertently started to unbutton his shirt!!! The guy on the other side of the video conference asked Bruce if he was in his trailer. Of course Bruce answered honestly and with that picked up his laptop and slowly turned it around so that the guy could tour our trailer!...luckily the bed was made! Ha!
Tonight I was able to test Windows Live Messenger with a video conversation with our daughter Kimberly. It was so totally cool seeing her face on the computer screen and hearing her voice as well. This is a mind blowing technology to me and I’m certain this is a primitive state. No telling what’s to come in the future!??
A Good Samaritan camping group from Georgia has moved in and taken a number of campsites for an annual rally. It is a small, respectful group of mostly retired folks. Many of the elderly spend their time in the small social hall playing cards most of the day. Maybe it is sensitivity to the sunlight or just stubbornness…I simply can’t relate when there’s an amazing natural habitat thriving right outside the door wanting to be enjoyed! The rest of the group are out socializing and stopping by other sites to say hi or share a story.
One such character, James Green parked himself in one of our chairs under the shade of the awning this afternoon and shared some interesting stories of his life in south, central Georgia. Although captivated by his southern accent and delightful humor, one story will forever affect me.
James lives on a lake in a house where he and his wife raised their three sons. Out in the country, he also owns about 300 acres of pine and hardwood forest that he inherited from his folks. He has been an engineer by profession, designing and building the electrical grid system for Georgia Power and Light as well as the landing field lighting system for Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport… a couple of his small projects. His humble way of mentioning his career accomplishments was impressive and drew me into an instant respect. He seemed to claim no glory for his human involvement.
In his retirement, James has been working with the Georgia Forestry Commission along with the US Department of Natural Resources and is attempting to build and maintain a natural habitat for the plants and wild animals on his property. He is part of a Forest Stewardship Plan which sounds like quite a detailed and defined effort in sustainability
A little over a year ago, he was to meet a state official on his land to review the improvements he had made and receive additional advice. James had built a pad to park his motor home on the property and told his wife that he wanted to go out and spend a week working on the project. She expected him home on Friday.
James is a man of large stature, but appeared fit until I noticed a special leg stocking and brace. Apparently he left, as planned, to go out to the property for his meeting and to work on the land. After the official left, James took off on a four wheeler to survey a pond that he was hoping to enlarge. He decided to climb a steep embankment for a better view and flipped the four wheeler. It landed on his back…and pinned him. There was no way that he could budge the thing off of himself. The engine was hot and he could smell and feel gasoline dripping onto his jeans.
Luckily an ax fell out of the vehicle near him along with a plastic bottle. For the next two days he was able to push the bottle over to the edge of the pond and get water to sip on. He had the ax to protect himself from wild boar, coyote and water moccasins that inhabit the area! On the third day, he heard his wife calling out to him. She had decided to drive out to the property on Tuesday evening to surprise him and when she couldn't find him in the motor home she went hunting. When she found him she immediately called 911. The last memory that he had was being put into the ambulance. Two months later he awoke from an induced coma. The gasoline had been absorbed through his jeans, burned his skin and had eaten away at the muscle in his leg. He had been poisoned and had major body systems shutting down. He was hooked up to ventilators and respirators, monitors and alike to keep him alive. He survived after multiple surgeries and weeks of physical therapy. He believes that God protected and spared him for a greater purpose. I have no doubt in that truth!
The people that we have met thus far have many stories such as this…each living their life’s journey and experiencing some defining moment that sharply changed their lives and their perspective of it. Because of their experiences, I have found some very brave human warriors who have battled adversity, health issues and general tough times. Each have been molded and shaped into humble, empathetic and friendly people…many with a humor like none other and an unwavering faith in a power, greater than man. I call it God and am thankful for the opportunity to share time with his children along this journey.
Happy 13th Anniversary Connie and Michael!!!
Today is a work day for Bruce. He has two conference calls to make in the afternoon for the executive coaching that he’s doing. Shortly after setting up camp, we realized that the downfall to rural life is the lack of cell phone coverage. There is no T-Mobile in or out of the town center. That can be both good and bad, so we are thankful for at least having computer access. Bruce was able to activate “Skype”, a free system that enables people to communicate through video or voice over their computers. After making his preparations, Bruce put on a dress shirt and sat at the dinette table of our trailer in his swim trunks for his video conference! I took the dog for another swim/play session along the beach. Upon the completion of his conference, I asked him how it went. He said that it went fine, until the air conditioner cycled off and he began to get warm and inadvertently started to unbutton his shirt!!! The guy on the other side of the video conference asked Bruce if he was in his trailer. Of course Bruce answered honestly and with that picked up his laptop and slowly turned it around so that the guy could tour our trailer!...luckily the bed was made! Ha!
Tonight I was able to test Windows Live Messenger with a video conversation with our daughter Kimberly. It was so totally cool seeing her face on the computer screen and hearing her voice as well. This is a mind blowing technology to me and I’m certain this is a primitive state. No telling what’s to come in the future!??
A Good Samaritan camping group from Georgia has moved in and taken a number of campsites for an annual rally. It is a small, respectful group of mostly retired folks. Many of the elderly spend their time in the small social hall playing cards most of the day. Maybe it is sensitivity to the sunlight or just stubbornness…I simply can’t relate when there’s an amazing natural habitat thriving right outside the door wanting to be enjoyed! The rest of the group are out socializing and stopping by other sites to say hi or share a story.
One such character, James Green parked himself in one of our chairs under the shade of the awning this afternoon and shared some interesting stories of his life in south, central Georgia. Although captivated by his southern accent and delightful humor, one story will forever affect me.
James lives on a lake in a house where he and his wife raised their three sons. Out in the country, he also owns about 300 acres of pine and hardwood forest that he inherited from his folks. He has been an engineer by profession, designing and building the electrical grid system for Georgia Power and Light as well as the landing field lighting system for Atlanta-Hartsfield Airport… a couple of his small projects. His humble way of mentioning his career accomplishments was impressive and drew me into an instant respect. He seemed to claim no glory for his human involvement.
In his retirement, James has been working with the Georgia Forestry Commission along with the US Department of Natural Resources and is attempting to build and maintain a natural habitat for the plants and wild animals on his property. He is part of a Forest Stewardship Plan which sounds like quite a detailed and defined effort in sustainability
A little over a year ago, he was to meet a state official on his land to review the improvements he had made and receive additional advice. James had built a pad to park his motor home on the property and told his wife that he wanted to go out and spend a week working on the project. She expected him home on Friday.
James is a man of large stature, but appeared fit until I noticed a special leg stocking and brace. Apparently he left, as planned, to go out to the property for his meeting and to work on the land. After the official left, James took off on a four wheeler to survey a pond that he was hoping to enlarge. He decided to climb a steep embankment for a better view and flipped the four wheeler. It landed on his back…and pinned him. There was no way that he could budge the thing off of himself. The engine was hot and he could smell and feel gasoline dripping onto his jeans.
Luckily an ax fell out of the vehicle near him along with a plastic bottle. For the next two days he was able to push the bottle over to the edge of the pond and get water to sip on. He had the ax to protect himself from wild boar, coyote and water moccasins that inhabit the area! On the third day, he heard his wife calling out to him. She had decided to drive out to the property on Tuesday evening to surprise him and when she couldn't find him in the motor home she went hunting. When she found him she immediately called 911. The last memory that he had was being put into the ambulance. Two months later he awoke from an induced coma. The gasoline had been absorbed through his jeans, burned his skin and had eaten away at the muscle in his leg. He had been poisoned and had major body systems shutting down. He was hooked up to ventilators and respirators, monitors and alike to keep him alive. He survived after multiple surgeries and weeks of physical therapy. He believes that God protected and spared him for a greater purpose. I have no doubt in that truth!
The people that we have met thus far have many stories such as this…each living their life’s journey and experiencing some defining moment that sharply changed their lives and their perspective of it. Because of their experiences, I have found some very brave human warriors who have battled adversity, health issues and general tough times. Each have been molded and shaped into humble, empathetic and friendly people…many with a humor like none other and an unwavering faith in a power, greater than man. I call it God and am thankful for the opportunity to share time with his children along this journey.
Happy 13th Anniversary Connie and Michael!!!
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