THE GOOD OLD DAYS....

Back in the early sixties a building boom was in full swing in Tullahoma. People moving into Tullahoma from all parts of the states needed housing. The Arnold Engineering Development Center near by was adding to its growing work force. I was working for my father, Hubert Burton who was a home builder. I had been working with Dad since I was around 12 or 13. Dad was teaching me the building trade. Dad was very good at his trade. Dad only had a sixth grade education but was street smart and had a natural talent for building houses and was a very good cabinet builder.

During those early years learning the building business we had a crew of Dad, myself, Harold Kimbrell, Buck Buchanan, Ronnie Jones and my younger brother Frank Burton. Frank only worked during the summer while he was out of school.

 Dad had an offer to build some houses for Doc Oliver, who owned Taylor Drugstore on the square in Tullahoma. Doc Oliver would supply the capital and pay Dad’s payroll each week. Doc Oliver wanted Dad to help his son-in-law, Don Bailey, learn the building trade. An agreement was reached where Don would work with Dad’s crew.

Taking on the brash new college man didn’t set too well with the crew. I can’t pin point the real reason why we all didn’t like Don at the beginning. We all had some good laughs at Don’s expense during those early days. Dad had told Don to go to Highlands Lumber Company and order two 18 foot 2X 12’s and tell then we needed them ASAP! In a short while we heard a racket as Don pulled up to the building site with the 2X12’s tied to the bumper dragging behind his white Volvo. We sure got a good laugh as the 2X12’s were now some what thinner than they started out.

One day Doc Oliver came out to our work site. Each time we would start a new house we would move some of the left over materials to the next job site and try to use it up. After several new homes were built the pile of materials were covering the yard in the back of the house that we were building.  On seeing all the mess in the yard Doc called Don to his car and we could see that he was giving Don a chewing out over the pile of materials. As Don exited Doc’s car we heard Doc tell Don, that better be cleaned up the next time I return. After Doc left Don went and bought 5 gallon of kerosene and set fire to the whole pile of materials. Yes, he cleaned it up; about three hundred dollars worth.

Don would leave to go some where and leave his hammer on a 2X4 brace at the center of the wall. If we were sheet rocking the wall Harold would say just cover it up and we would. No telling how many hammers we covered in the early days. I did a remodeling job on one of the houses we built years ago and while tearing out the paneling on the walls on a house on Fort Street I found one of Don’s old hammers.

We had built a house for the Owens and it was near completion. One day the electrician needed in the house and it was locked. He climbed in the bathroom window and his hammer fell out and knocks a big piece of white porceliem off the bottom of the tub. Don hired a man to come and fix the damaged bath tub. The Owens returned on a Saturday while the man was in the house fixing the tub. When they arrive at the house Don kept them out of the house while the man completed the repairs. I think he even took them out to eat. Years later I built some cabinets in the house for the Owens. Mr. Owens asked me to look at the bath tub. It had a discolored spot in the bottom. He asked me if I knew what was going on with the tub. I replied that I had never seen one go bad.

Once for a reason I don’t remember Don fired Frank and Ronnie. He told Dad that he had fired them. Dad said did you pay them to which Don replied no you have to pay them. Well Don I didn’t fire them, guys load up all our tools we are going home. Cool heads did prevail and no one was fired.

After a while we began to like old Don more as he took control of all the building we were doing. He was now in charge of all phrases of the building and selling the homes. He wasn’t losing any more hammers.

I will never forget Don coming up on the roof of the Matthews house on the corner of Fort Street. I had just installed a copula with a weather vain rooster with North, South, East and West on the top. Don took his finger and flipped the weather vain around and it broke off.  He had to glue it back together.

On the other Matthew’s twin brother’s house that we built on Country Club Drive, Matthew’s insisted that the garage should have had a steel beam in the center to hold all the ceiling up. The house was all completed and he was crying that the beam was going to be installed before he would make the final payment to Don. To the best of my knowledge the steel beam was ordered and placed in the yard next to the drive. Matthews paid Don the payment but years later after Matthews died I went back to put fancy locks on all the windows and doors for Mrs. Matthews. The steel beam was still lying in the yard next to the driveway.

Mrs. Matthews pulled a good one on Dad. Her husband had made a deal with Dad to cut the trees in the way for the house. Dad would get the trees to be sawed for lumber to build a fence at his house. Mrs. Matthews wasn’t aware of the deal and sold the logs to a sawmill. Matthews had to pay Dad for cutting the trees. Mrs. Matthews always felt bad about selling the logs. She even cooks all the crew a big Thanksgiving dinner as we worked that holiday trying to get them into their new home.

Work got real slow in Tullahoma and Don and his family moved to Clarksville. He wanted Dad and me to come to Clarksville and build his houses. Dad agreed and off to Clarksville we went. Don had rented us a trailer to say in while we would work Monday through Friday and return home for the weekend. Early Monday morning we would leave Tullahoma around five o’clock on our way to work another week. We would always stop at Kristy Kream for doughnuts and coffee. We built some big houses in Clarksville for Don.

One Friday morning it began to snow heavy. Dad told us to gather up all the tools we are going home before we get stuck up here. Parker Smith was working with us while out of work. We loaded up the 1964 Ford truck of Dads and I would drive. Man it snowed big time. By the time we arrived in Nashville the snow was already six inched deep. Traffic was at a stand still. We sat in front of a liquor store for three hours before we moved. I joked about going into the liquor store and buying us a bottle of wine. Dad was very nervous on the way home. Come to find out he didn’t have any insurance on the old truck. We would have to get out and help push people’s vehicles over hills. Once we even had to push a bus. The trip took us nine hours to get back to Tullahoma and there was twelve inches of snow on the ground. My car was covered with snow and a thick sheet of ice and I drove home to Estill Springs with my head out of the window.

I had built our family a new home in 1965 before going with Dad to Clarksville. I was missing my wife and family and made a decision to leave my Dad and try to find some work around home. A sad day after all those years working for my Dad.

A phone call left on our answering machine from Don Bailey while I played golf on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011. I returned the call to Don and was very happy to talk with him about those days working with him and for him. Those were the good old days.

AMAZING WAFFLE HOUSE COOK

I haven't been to the Waffle House for breakfast in years. Since I had an early lab appointment for some blood work I sure was hungry after leaving the doctor's office.
The place was crowded as no tables were available, so I had to set at the counter. A young lady was directly in front of me cooking at her grille. Things were happening very fast as two waitress called out orders for her to cook. She wasn't writing any orders down just taking them in her head. My waitress called out my order....pecan waffle, sausage, hash browns and the cook placed my saugage on the grille along with other foods cooking. There were pork chops, steak, bacon, eggs sizzling in their skillets. Talk about multi-tasking this girl had it going on big time. I was mesmerised watching her prepare every ones meal. She didn't seem to be having any trouble finishing her orders as others were called out to her. I asked her if she cooked at home. Her answer surprised me....no not much??
I tell my waitress, she knows whats she is doing...she replies...she filling in for the regular cook who is off today. Well that cook had better watch out because this girl is a wonder.
I guess we take people's jobs for granted when we visit a place for a meal. I'm sure they don't pay when a lot of money for there ability. Another person that totally blew my mind watching her preform her duties at a Mexican restaurant last year while 14 people attend my sister and my birthday supper. The waitress begin taking every one's order. She wasn't writing any thing down. I'M thinking this will turn out to be fun. Once she returned with the orders she calmly placed each order at the proper place without a mistake....that's 14 orders !! I sure was amazed at her memory. She probably didn't have any trouble crossing the boarder either???

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE......

They built a new high school. Torn down the old one I attended for two years. The old school grounds had a football stadium, baseball field and a detached gym as well as an elementary school. Progress through the years as a new school is almost completed at the East Lincoln Street site. The only original building that will remain is the old Industrial shop .
My first job one summer was hitting baseballs and softballs up against the brick shop wall. We were testing them for durability. Some would tear up in two or three hits while others took many hits to damage. Eighteen dollars for that week's work.
The old elementary school, grades 1 through 6 holds some special times in my early childhood. It also holds some low points. Played hooky one time and got caught. Worked in the lunch room for a free meal. Remember my first kiss near the school. Play tackle football at recess on a cinder field. Broke a classmate's leg during a tackle. Push another classmate off the porch down onto some bicycles 8 feet below. He tried to drown me while I was learning to swim. At the time it was justified?? Appointed a school crossing guard the next year after the hooky ordeal. I was the only one of four who didn't get a paddling. The principle caught me coming after class to get Bobby's new bike the day we played hooky. That didn't go as planned. " Hey Nick I'll let you ride my new bike if you will go to school and get it for me." You BIG DUMMY!!
My late brother, Frank was starting school at East Lincoln. We lived about four blocks away from the school. Mother walked Frank to school that first day and got him into his room. Frank was crying and didn't want to go to school. When Mom returned home Frank was setting on the front porch still crying. He took a short cut home through the woods. Mom whipped him all the way back to school. After about two days of this Frank decided he better get an education.
The new school can be seen it the back ground of the photo. I hope it will through the years create memories for students in the future. Buildings can be hazes to the ground but fond memories from childhood will remain for ever.

TULLAHOMA'S LANDMARKS DISAPPEARING

Say it isn't so?? Our old landmarks are being torn down. The old Geneso building on the corner of Anderson and Carrol street has been hazed. It sad to see this old building leaving it's home since 1934. The land was originally donated by the late John W. Harton to the city of Tullahoma with the stipulation that the city would bring a manufacturing plant to Tullahoma. General Shoe Corporation had said it would be interested in a shoe plant in the town if provide with a building. During the depression the city was on the verge of bankruptcy. Employment just barely existed. A government grant was available for $100,000 for a civic center. The sly maneuver by the Mayor and alderman to apply for the grant as a civic center till the building was completed and then turn it over to General Shoe. The local banks found out that the building wasn't going to cost $100,000 but would only cost $60,000. To not try to deceive the Federal government the four local banks agreed to share in the $60,000 loan to the city. Those banks were First National, Traders, Farmers and Merchants.
The city signed a lease in 1934 with General Shoe for $1.00 a year rent on the building. General Shoe flourished as Tullahoma largest employer during the depression days and was given credit as Tullahoma saviour from bankruptcy. The General Shoe became Geneso and employed many people through the years in and around Tullahoma. Additions to the building in both 1939 and 1945 increased production to an all time high. I recall many people through the years working at Gensco. My late father-in-law comes to mind.
The doors were finally closed in 2000 when SAS or San Antonio Shoe ceased operation at the building. My brother-in-law, Ned Hindman was the plant manager.
Progress will go on at the site but many people that still are alive will have many memories of those good days of working at Gensco. They had their own newspaper and held many social events for their employees and the town through the years.
GOOD BYE OLD FRIEND.................

RONNIE'S ROOST.....

People talk about plans on what they want to do some day. I think we all have had some strange ideas we want to accomplish in the future. I always laughed at a guy who worked with me for many years. Ronnie always talked about having a place on the river and living in a tent. He would bring this up many times over the years when his rent went up or he received a high electric bill. I would agree with him and say, " Yeah, one of these days??"
My sister had told me about Ronnie's place down on the Duck River several years ago. She had told me they were having a family get together at his place for the Fourth of July. On the spur of the moment I decided to see if I could located Ronnie's Roost.
A scenic drive down through the Cascade Hollow, home of the George Dickel Distillery. Around here if you don't know JACK you might know GEORGE. After a short drive you arrive in a very small town, Normandy. The only thing going on was a place in the middle of the town square renting kayaks. I soon passed my landmark; the fire hall and found the first turn off the main road onto Ronnie's Roost. Down a short steep incline and under Ronnie's sign announcing your arrival. High on the hill on my left was his herd of goats in their fenced in area. Chickens and ducks walked close to the road and I got a chuckle out of the signs posted.....Chicken Crossing...Duck Crossing. A fenced in area on my right was full of young ducks and a large white dog with a gruffy bark. Soon I came into a open field with a few cars and trucks parked. I parked my truck and was out walking to an area where some people were seated in lawn chairs near the rapid flowing river with a large home built table nearby with a covering over the top of it.
High on the hill on my left I heard Ronnie's voice asking," Who in the world is that walking up to the people seated near the river's edge." It didn't take him long to figure out who I was. " Hey, Nick come on up to the cabin and I'll show you around." The climb up to the cabin was steep and rocky but I didn't have a lot of trouble reaching the porch of the cabin where his wife and another woman were seated. We shook hands and he began to tell me all about his roost. Almost all the work was done by Ronnie using used building materials he had accumulated over the years. The small cabin wasn't the only structure on the land. He could tell you where all the materials came from in each structure. After showing me the small one room cabin with a bed, wood stove and a table.....Nick I have no electric bill, water bill or sewer bill here on my four acres. We walked a little ways to his newly planted peach and apple orchard. I want to show you my outhouse. He explained that he thought about building an old fashion out house but changed his mind......Maybe Brenda changed his mind. We entered a small building with a bunk bed by the window. A door opened to the bathroom with a commode. Four buckets of river water sat on the floor for the flush cycle. He had some barrels filled with stone as the septic system hidden in the ground.
Ronnie was upset because the river was flowing at a  high rate. TVA was releasing water at the dam about a half mile away from all the heavy rains we have been having. Fishing and swimming wasn't going to be happening this weekend. His oldest son arrived and told me if his mom died first he was sure his Dad would stay here on the river full time.
Yes, Ronnie had talked big about his plans to have a place on the river many years ago. He had accomplished his dreams. Way to go Ronnie!!!

PEOPLE WATCHING...............

Ever wonder what people are up to when you see something strange while you are out and about??
Yesterday, we went to eat after I took my wife to the doctor in a big town. We like to go to Ryans for lunch after her Doctor's appointment. While having our meal I noticed a woman opening the men's restroom doors and looking inside many times. I told my wife I think I'm seeing my first woman pervert. We both found this event unusual. Finally out of the restroom came a blind man and the woman lead the man to a table near us. That sure solved the mystery but also created another mystery for me? Did she go inside and help him with his aim??
Once she had him seated she went to the bar and fixed him a plate and sat it down in front of him to eat. He sure was having a hard time keeping the whole kernel corn on his fork. I was sorry to see all the trouble he was having with eating his meal. I can only imagine the hardship of been blind.
The world has seen some amazing blind people through the years. They have exceed way beyond their handicap. The great Ray Charles comes to mind. Look at all that man accomplished during his time on earth.
Amazing people with their handicaps succeed in life where a lot of normal people fail.

SUN DROP COLA......MY FIRST ONE....

Do you remember the first time you tried some thing new?? Maybe a new food or drink. Looking back in time I remember the first time I sampled a new soda called Sun Drop.
Charles Lazier came up with the idea for a refreshing citrus soda in 1949 while driving around his home town. He jotted down the ingredients and gave them to his son Charles Jr. The next move was genius; Sun Drop Cola was born.
The cola hit a few stores in a few states in the South in 1951. We had a small neighbor store on Franklin Street called Scott's run by two elderly sisters. Going to the store for a soda and peanuts the Double Cola truck was parked at the store. The cola driver was giving away a new soda to customers. It was Sun Drop and I got a free one. At the time all sodas were only five cents. It was different in taste and I didn't particular like it at the time. I wasn't going to switch from my Pepsi.
Time goes on and old Sun Drop becomes a top seller around the Southern States. People became addictive to the cola. My son's friend in the Marines would have his parents UPS him two cases of Sun Drop to California since it wasn't sold in all States. Sun Drop crossed many State lines in those early days. Just like Coors Beer. Beginning this year Sun Drop has gone Nationwide for the first time. Nothing beats a refreshing Sun Drop on these hot summer days. This cola is very popular with the younger generation. We old folks enjoy it too!!

TIMBER HARVESTING

For many years I have been against having our timber cut on the back of our property. With so many trees being blown down during the recent storms I reconsidered my options. Many of the trees are also dying. I decided to contact a friend that I ran around with during my high school days. Wayne came by and we walked the back acres where he said the timber should have been cut 20 years ago. The woods had several species of old trees. Wayne told me that timber was at an all time high in price. Our deal was for him to cut and ship the timber to a sawmill located about 35 miles from the sight. We agreed to a 50 / 50 split on the timber sales. The sawmill would provide a computer list of every log sold. This would include the length of log, the diameter, grade and price.
The woods featured red oak, white oak, poplar and some hickory trees. Only the market timber would be cut. Wayne used a bull dozier to pull the down logs to a clear area to be stacked. A huge piece of equipment with forks would load the logs onto a log truck to transport them to the sawmill. That first week Wayne cut and shipped 275 logs to the sawmill. Wayne is 69 years old and small in statue and man can he cut down the trees and fall them just where they need to fall. He gave his Stidl chainsaw a good workout that week. Nine loads were shipped. On Friday afternoon Wayne rang my doorbell and said I have your first check. I sure wasn't expecting a check till he completed the job. With the check was the computer list of all the log data. Wow!!!! I had no idea my check would be this much. The woods with all the tree tops left was indeed discouraging but that check made it not such an eye sore.
The next week he completed the job with two more big loads going to the sawmill. He was saving the MONEY LOGS which were the big White Oaks to be sold to a friend that makes barrel staves to be shipped to France and used in the wine industry. Indeed these logs brought top dollar. The red oak lumber will be used for hardwood flooring, railroad cross ties, cabinets and furniture. Hickory is used for flooring, paneling, smoking meats chips and made into handles for hammers, shovels, picks and etc. Poplar used for furniture, wood pulp and paper production. A total of 377 logs were cut and only two were culled by the grader at the sawmill.
All the tree tops left on the ground will be cut into firewood by friends of mine that burn wood. Oh, yeah, I'll be cutting wood for the next 20 years??????

LIFE IS SHORT..........

Last Wednesday 8 senior men began a golf tournament for 7 weeks. We would play with a different partner each week. 2 points for a win , 1 point for a tie. One in our group was going on a vacation for 3 weeks. No problem Bill we will wait till you get back to resume. I'm sorry to say our friend will not be back. We never know when life will end. Yesterday our golfing friend's life ended in a sudden tragedy. He was visiting with friends and all were on the deck which was ten feet off the ground. Bill was leaning against the railing when it broke and he fell to the concrete and broke his neck. Our Bill was gone from this life.
Bill was a fun loving man. Loved to golf; loved to win. He enjoyed poking fun at his golf competitors when his team won. One week Bill was unbeatable in his match against my partner and me. Bill chipped into the cup from just off the green on five holes. A feat that Bill will hold the record on for ever.
Bill is gone from this life but he left all of us with memories we want soon forget. Rest in peace Bill. I'm sure if there is golf in heaven Bill will tee it up. 

MOTHERS..........HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY..

Today is mother's day and I wish my mother was still alive. Not a day goes by that some thing doesn't remind me of my MOM. MOM was a simple woman who loved her husband, children, grand children, great grand children, relatives and friends. Mom never learn to drive. Mom was devoted to all her family and loved to cook special meals with everyone in attendance. Nobody could cook like MOM. She could have a good meal on the table in no time flat.
Mother spent many hours during the cold winters baby sitting for each of her children's kids. All the kids LOVED their Nanny. She made each one of us a quilt as well as the grand kids. All the work was done by Mom's hand. My quilt has some of my clothes that I worn a long time ago stitched into the pattern. I only became aware of this on looking at my quilt some days ago in closer detail. Wow, there are pieces of that pink shirt that I wore during high school that was so popular with the guys. By the time I got mine they were going out of style. Patches of my sport coat that my wife made for me years ago. Mom always was collecting pieces of material for her next master piece. Perhaps other pieces of clothes that my brother and sisters worn are Incorporated into my quilt. Mom sewed ever stitch with LOVE. It took many hours to make each quilt. I cherish my quilt and the love mom put into it for me.
Mom endured a lot of heart breaks during her 74 years on this earth. She lost all her family except a brother. Lost Dad, a daughter, and two sons. After Dad died mom was never the same. Life takes a toll of everyone but that's how life works. If you have a Mom still alive spend as much time as possible with her.

THIS PHOTO DOESN'T BELONG???

A REAL SURPRISE.....??????

A sudden blast from my past happened Thursday that sure floored me. We have been losing a large number of huge oak trees being blown down during the storms recently.
Through the years loggers have stopped by and wanted to cut the timber on our land. I have always been against cutting the trees as the mess the loggers leave is unsightly. With so many trees down on the ground it was time to rethink my options.
I had inquired about loggers from several people with no good results. While out to eat I ran into an old friend and asked him if he knew anyone that does logging. He was quick to answer yes it's Wayne Lynch and told me just where his office was located in town. Man, I had forgotten about Wayne. We go a long way back to high school days. He lived in an adjoining county and we ran around some in those early days. We both were car guys and both drove Fords. Wayne always had fast good looking Fords back in the day. Wayne helped his father Frank lay brick during his early working days. Mr Lynch was one of the best brick masons around our area. Frank taught his son well in the family business. My first house I built  the Lynch's laid the blocks and the brickwork. I laugh as I look back on Frank telling Wayne to slow down on laying brick. Wayne was fast!!
Time goes on and each son that starts out working for their father for some reason or another reaches a time when it's time to look for better employment. A time that's hard to pull away from a father that has taught you a trade. I too reached that point when I wanted to go into business for myself.
Wayne and I talked about him cutting my timber and he came out and we walked around in the woods. We made a deal for him to cut the timber. He told me he would be here to work in three or four days. Before he left I had to show him my 40 Ford coupe and the 52 Chevy truck I'm working on. After looking at the 40 Wayne said I have a 40 Ford title some where in some other titles I have acquired through the years.
On Thursday after lunch I heard a motor running in the woods. I went to see if it was Wayne and sure enough it was him and his son. They had brought the BIG Log loading machine into the woods. Hey Nick come out to the truck I have some thing I want to show you! Man, was I in for a big surprise. Wayne reached into his truck and pulled out an envelope. Nick, you remember me telling you I had a 40 Ford title. He pulled the title from the envelope and showed it to me. Nick this title has your name on it. Do you remember me buying that 40 Ford Coupe body from you?? I couldn't remember who I had sold one of two bodies I had back in 1962. I did remember selling one to a woman who wanted it for her husband's birthday gift.
There it was in black and white a 1940 Ford Coupe title I bought from  Wayne King from Cowan, the seller to Nick Burton , the purchaser dated 1962. Wayne had kept the title all these years since the guy he sold the 40 to never paid him all the money he owed. The title with my name as the owner was giving to me . Thanks Wayne!!! 

ALABAMA TORNADO SUPRISE......

Our heart and prayers go out to the all the people in our neighboring state of Alabama who lost their lives and property. More tornadoes have happened in the USA this year than any time before.
We lost some trees near our house during the storm but nothing like the people of Alabama suffered. I went outside yesterday morning early to survey any more damage around our house. A big tree just outside our den windows blew down while I was watching the high winds Wednesday night. Lucky for us it fell away from the house. I discovered two more big trees down in the rear of my shop. One was on the ground while the other one was lodged in another tree. In the 27 years we have lived in these woods only one tree near our house has fell because of a storm. This year in the last month we have had nine trees to fall. A few were rotten at the ground but most were big healthy trees that were up rooted from their place in the ground for well over a 100 years.
A piece of paper on our deck caught my eye as I walked around the back of the house with my camera to take photos of the tree at the den windows. I was still able to read the typing on the sheet of wet paper. It was the minutes from a meeting in which the motion to pay for the spouses lunch was voted on by the Bear Creek Housing Authority. I googled it and found in was in Bear Creek, Alabama. This I found out was 113 miles from my home. The winds had carried this piece of paper to my deck. I also found some other debris in the grounds around our house, a piece of paneling, tar paper, insulation and other papers. I ever found a page from a bible. I'm sure each one of these items could tell some hair raising stories.
Thanks for the internet I was able to track where the paper on the deck came from. The oddity that Bear Creek, Alabama is in the same named county as I live; Franklin County.

DEEP SEA FISHING NIGHTMARE......

A vacation trip to Jacksonville,Florida years ago gave me my first and last deep sea fishing trip. We had went to see my uncle J.B. and aunt Doris and their boys. My uncle was the district manager for several Red Ace Gas Stations in the local area. To show me a good time he was going to take me on my first deep sea fishing trip. Oh, yes I was thrilled with the idea but deep down I had a fear of the water. While younger I was beginning to learn to swim when a school mate held me under water and I almost drowned. Every since I have had a fear of water. By not knowing how to swim I missed a lot of fun through the years. In college I took a first year swimming class. This is the only course I ever failed!! I had to drop out because of my doctor's orders as I had tonsillitis. When I gave the teacher a written note from my doctor for me to drop out of her class she said, " young man you know you are going to get a F since you are failing my class." I got a F!!
Saturday morning bright and early we have coffee and I had some rice krispies for breakfast and it's off to the dock to board a 50 foot fishing boat with 50 people on board. The day is beautiful with not a cloud in the sky. I should have been warned as to what the day would bring as an elderly woman walking up the gang plank had already got sick.
The captain of the boat told us that we would be going about 17 miles out into a prime fishing spot. We could go ahead and fish on the way out if we wanted too. What a beautiful sight going out as dolphins surfaced in and out of the water following along besides the boat. I caught a strange looking fish on the way out. It looked like a big frying pan with a small mouth and teeth. I never did find out what kind it was as my uncle told me to throw in back. Red snappers were what we were going to fish.
Once the captain found the fish he anchored the boat and the fun was on. We were catching fish two at a time when we weren't tangled up with some one's line on the other side of the boat. After about an hour of fishing out of no where came a storm and I mean a BAD ONE. The wind got up and the waves got very high. I had on two life jackets and was scared to death. My uncle continued to fish with others during the storm since the captain said he wasn't going to pull up anchor. We had paid for an all day trip so that was what we were going to get. By now I'm so sea sick I go down below. Once in the hole I find the commode and begin to heave up rice krispies. This continued for some time. When I would heave again the commode would be opposite were I let go; with the rocking action of the boat I don't think I ever hit the target.
Yes, I said a little prayer, "Lord if you will get me off this ocean I will never get back on it again." Finally what seemed like an eternity it was time to pull up anchor and head back to the dock. Man, it will be good to touch land again. Someone tells us the engine on the boat is on fire!!! The boat is dead in the water! What a nightmare as it is now dark. A call goes out to the dock for another boat to come and tow us into the dock. We finally arrive back at the dock at about 3:00 in the morning. I'm so sea sick I have to stay another day before I feel like driving back home. My uncle always laughed at my ordeal. To him in wasn't bad at all. Well I have kept my word with the LORD, I haven't been back on the ocean.

STATE LICENSE PLATE COLLECTION

Ever wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep?? Years ago while racking my brain during the night I said to myself, Wouldn't it be great to have a license plate from ever state in the USA to hang on my shop's wall?? I was receiving a car magazine that you could place a free add. I WILL TRADE A TENNESSEE LICENSE PLATE FOR YOUR STATE PLATE. Then the fun began as I started receiving some plates from different states and would in turn mail one from Tn. back too those who sent me theirs. The states I thought would be the most difficult to collect were attained right off the start. I found a Hawaii plate locally at a garage sale. Found a bunch of Tx. plates at a junk yard. One guy in Colorado wanted to trade 7 plates. It was always an adventure to go to my mailbox and find new license plates I didn't have. Within a year I had most of the states and finally down to that last remaining plate( Delaware) That one was so hard to add to my collection. I had almost given up on Delaware and one day there it was in my mailbox. Mission accomplished. The Delaware plate was the worst looking plate in my collection but I sure treasured that ugly plate. I have traded for some foreign plates, Australia, England, Germany, Canada, Nova Scotia, Yukon to name a few. I also have several older Tn. plates shaped like our state. Some of these are valuable to collectors. The most valuable Tn. plate is the 1915 , because it was the first year Tennesseans had to by law have a license plate on their cars and trucks. Not many were sold. A collector friend found a pair of 1915's and gave $7,000 for them and had them refurbished. He runs an add in those swap and shop papers all over Tn. A while back a black lady called him and ask, "Are you the fool who will pay $1,000 for a 1915 Tn. License plate??" He said yes I will!! " You had better get down here before you change your mind." He went to Memphis and got a great looking plate, almost in perfect condition. License plates are highly collectible and get this.... A man in California has every state license plate that has ever been issued!!!!

CHEAP GAS PRICES......1959!!!!

I know we all are feeling the effects of high gas prices. And we though they were high back in the day at 19.9 per gallon. OK, not all of you go back that far??. While in high school 19.9 was what we paid for a gallon of gas. For $1.00 you could drive a week or more. Man, those were the good old days, little did we know how good at the time.
I had enrolled in college at Murfreesboro,Tn. and was staying with my Aunt and Uncle and their two boys, Randy and Steven. My sleeping quarters was in the same room with the two boys. Little Steven had a problem, he was afraid of the dark and insisted on sleeping with the light on. Once he was asleep I would get up and turn the light out. If Steven woke up during the night he cried out and I would have to get up and turn the light back on. I soon found out it was better to sleep with the covers over my head as to try to out smart Steven.
My uncle J.B. was the manger of the local Red Ace Gas Station. He received a call from his boss that the station was going to start a Gas War for the week end. He told uncle J.B. to lower the price of gas from 19.9 to .09.9 starting Friday morning and running till Monday morning. Uncle J. B. ask if I would help pump gas during this time and I was glad to help. Back then stations pumped your gas when you came into the station. They also washed your windshield, checked your tires for low air pressure and put in oil if you needed it. We didn't know what self service was back in those days.
You can imagine the crowd of cars coming into the station that weekend to fill up their tanks with that cheap gas. We were the only station in town with those low prices. The cars formed a long line while waiting to reach the pumps and the line ran for blocks. Tanker trucks were standing by to fill the in ground tanks out back as soon as we pumped them down low. To say that weekend was a mad house is an under statement. Man did we sell the gas. That weekend the gallons sold was a new record for the Red Ace Owner.
The old saying," What goes down will go up" was true, because Monday morning Mr. Red Ace called Uncle J.B. and told him to raise the price of gas to 24.9. I know the people weren't happy with the new gas price. Little did we know what a great deal that was at the time.
Today or tomorrow it's time to fill up my wife's car and my truck. $3.69 here at present. Man, I wish it was 1959 again.

FLYING KITES........

March winds always back memories of when I was a young boy and my love of flying a kite. Times where tough in our household with 3 siblings. Kites cost a dime at the local 5 & 10 store. Guess you haven't seen one of those stores in a long time? I was too poor to buy a store bought kite so I made my own.
First you needed a big brown paper sack, two sticks, some string, glue and a piece of cloth to make a tail. The big brown sack was cut so it would lie in one large flat piece. I would find some round weed stalks that grew down by the creek. They were about a half inch in diameter and very strong. The sticks were arranged in a cross pattern with the vertical one longer that the other one. They were tied together with some string forming the cross. Around the outside of the cross you attached a string in each stalk by silting it with a knife. Once you had the outline of your kite you placed the cross onto your brown sack and traced a line about an inch bigger than your cross. You would turn the sack's extra inch over the string and glue the paper around the cross. I would mix some flour and water to make my glue. Yeah, we were poor!! once the glue dried you need a long piece of cloth to make a tail for your kite. The stronger the wind the longer a tail should be. Mom always had a big stool of strong thread that was used to attach to the center of the cross. My kite is ready for a flight.
Only one place in the neighborhood to fly my kite. The Ward's vacant field by their home that had no trees or electric wires. Test to see which way the wind was blowing and run with the kite and give it more line until it was airborne. What a thrill it was to see my kite soar into the sky. If every thing was right with your creation it flew effortless in the strong wind.
Several times it flew out of sight and when reeled back to earth it would have ice on the kite. Once I built a kite out of aluminum foil and when it was almost out of sight I cut the string. A radio station was about a half a mile away and people began calling the station reporting a flying saucer. Those were the good old days. I might go to town this afternoon and buy me a real kite?? I'm just about over being poor????

Mother-In- Laws.......

My wife and I have always discussed major purchases through the years. Some times a deal comes up when you least expect it. If you delay to act on that deal it's might not be there the next hour or day or even a week.
I was working on a remodel job and the guy who lived next door to my job site came over early one morning and asked if anyone wanted to buy a fishing boat he was thinking about selling. One of my workers asked him, "What do you want for the boat ?" I need to sell it today I will take $300 for boat,motor and trailer. It has a 50 horsepower Johnson motor and runs real good. Come on over and look at it. My worker is excited when we see the rig. " Man I wish I had the money to buy that boat but there's no way I can buy it. It's a great deal Nick that thing is worth at least $1000. Why don't you buy it he ask me??
Well my interest peaks but what will my wife say when I bring it home? She always complained on the first boat I bought and took years to sell. Spur of the moment great deal and I write the guy a check and the boat is mine.
How in the world am I going to justify buying this boat without discussing it with my wife. The best time to announce some thing like this is to catch her in the right mood, has worked several times before! A great plan comes to mind....take the boat, motor and trailer up into the woods at our house and hide it till the right moment to break the news. What a brilliant idea???
My wife works till 5:00 so she want see me hide the boat. Did I tell you my mother in law lives next door??? I don't think I did!! My wife came home from work and it hasn't been long since she arrived home that the phone rings and she answers. It's her mom.....What''s Nick going to do with that boat he has in the woods??? And then it hit the fan!!!! Got to love those mother in laws????