Late fall in NE Tennessee is indeed a beautiful thing. About a week ago the hills were all brown and orange with changing leaves. Now, at Thanksgiving time, almost all the tree have lost their leaves, and the barrenness of winter has set it.
It's Thanksgiving 2021 as a write this post. Lots to be thankful for, none more than the fact that my mother is still alive. In fact not only just alive, but doing well. Me and her went golfing yesterday. In fact in the last month I went golfing with her three times! That's a carryover from her time with my father, Eric Sr, who was an avid golfer. Me? Well, I thinking golfing is okay. But I do love Warrior's Path in the Colonial Heights neighborhood. That is a fun golf course. Lots of rolling hills, and challenges. So check it out if you're ever in my neck of the woods.
Warriors Path Golf Course also has some more vertically, hilly holes as well
Lots going on in my world right now. For starters I think I've found a church I'm going to stick with, Grace Fellowship headed by Joel Owen. I'm not bonkers about the place, but I'm not down on it either. Solid biblical teaching, and several elders have reached out to make me feel comfortable. That means a lot to me. The personal touch can't be undersold when going to church.
Next week I should get word on the $5,000 life insurance policy that my dad took out in 1963 when he was in the service. Really wanna score the $5,000 for my mom, as I found out that my dad was play $23 two times a year to maintain this policy -- since 1963! Anyway, at times my dad Eric Sr. was quite the cheapskate. I think I'm doing right by my father by seeking the money from a policy that he paid into for most of his whole life. Should hear about that on Tuesday the 30th. That's when a decision is due by Western National. Found out last week that my dad wasn't due any benefits from the Vetereran's Administration. He was only in the Army for 2 1/2 years, and wasn't getting a pension or benefits for them. One my relatives pushed me to try for VA burial benefits, my dad just didn't qualify. :(
On the work front, I'm STILL looking for employment. :( Had an interview last week that look promising so we'll see. Had a near miss with the Post Office, but I missed one of their correspondence paperwork deadlines. A couple other places didn't have enough money.
On the writing front I'm back in the Thars again trying to shape up the 4th book in the 5 book series. I've got an interview with a CHRISTIAN publisher on Monday who showed interest so we'll see. My master goal for 2022 will be get the series published. Will also get back to updating the epic fantasy sidebar so it will no longer be neglected.
In other writing I'll probably work on transforming Indians of the Ancient Plains, and Cowboy Alien Diaries into novels. Screenplay wise I'm looking at writing another big hitter in 2022. It's time to write, The Beautiful Kingdom (expect something ambitious, something BIG). I would also like to write the sequel to So Go Back & Get Her. We'll see...
On the home front, it's been a long haul, but the storage shed we desperately need is close to being completed. My mom went all out on this, and made probably three times the shed we needed. Right now the contractors JUST dug the power ditch and the city approved the "rough-in" for it. Surprisingly the power ditch ONLY has to be buried a foot and half below the ground. Sure there's PVC pipe protecting it, but a 18" isn't a lot. Still need to get a final inspection sign off, but that should happen in early December. A separate contractor is doing the drywall. Then it's on me and my brother to rent a U-haul and get our stuff out of storage, and relieve my mom of $300 a month storage hits.
Front of the house:
Back of the house:
The garage, still waiting for barn light. Garage door JUST put in Wednesday, 11-24-2021:
Solar lights, I replaced I string and mounted the solar panels to the deck:
So as the leaves stop falling my life is settling down and starting to form to shape in Tennessee. I still HATE this place, but things are looking much better than they were the first week of September when my dad, mom, and brother were all in the hospital with Covid-19.
Got lots to do, and this third rock from the sun never stops spinning. Still, I'm grateful. Grateful to the Lord for watching out over my family all these years. Grateful that my precious mom is adjusting very well to life without my dad. We will always miss him. But they did do his memory right with this plaque right.
In the end I think me and my brother honored him the best we could with where we choose to bury him, and where his final remains can be found. Thankfully all the details surrounding a death and funeral come to and end at some point. Not quite done yet, but we're almost across that finish line.
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