Returning to Ohio,Jan.5,2013

As they say all good things come to an end and so it goes with my Christmas in California. I have enjoyed my stay with Bami and Janice beyond description as well as spending time with Parisa who came home for Christmas from New York City and Corey and Nicku who reside locally in California. Thank you all for making this a very special Christmas.

We loaded the baggage into the car and took off for San Francisco airport. They dropped me at the curb check in stand , we said our goodbyes and I proceeded on in to check in and wait for my flight. Check in was without problems. We had an on time departure for the flight to Denver, Colorado. The flight was smooth and the scenery below was beautiful as we flew at about 37,000 feet through a clear sky all the way.

Snowy Mountains

Snowy Mountains. Look at That Road Winding Through The Mountains

Large Lake Not Sure Where As Pilot Did Not Serve As A Tour Guide

Arrival At Denver Airport Visible In The Middle Background

The layover in Denver was short and we departed on time for the flight to Tulsa. It looked like they had about 3 inches of snow on the ground at Denver but it was clear. The flight to Tulsa was uneventful except for a few bumpy places caused by the high winds. Landing at Tulsa was a little rough again because of the high winds but otherwise it was clear and cool. I was met by Jamie, Sarah and Will. They left Steve home cooking dinner. We had a wonderful meal and watched some football of course. Sunday Jan 6, 2013, I went to church with Jamie's family. Following church we went to eat at a Chinese place which I enjoy. You go through the line and tell the cashier what you want and they bring it to your table You get your own drinks. It is much faster and more enjoyable way for me.

Pei Wei  Chinese Restaurant

My Meal - Sweet & Sour Chicken- Doesn't  That Look Delicious? It Was

Jamie's Family Room. Steve's Chair.

Jamie's Family Room. My Favorite Room In The House

Monday morning January 7, 2013 I said my goodbyes and loaded Lady Blue up and headed out for a short 2 hour or less drive to Johnson, Arkansas and the home of my brother James Louis and his wife Roylene. Lady Blue performed well after being cooped up in the garage for all the time I was in California.We had a wonderful time talking about old time and visiting with James Louis's daughter Sherry her husband Edward and of course their son Landon. Of course he is always the star of the show. He is just reaching the age that he wants to be the center of attention in a crowd. He gets all wound up talking an telling big stories. He loves the attention and we love to give it to him. Roylene fixed some excellent meals and invited my aunt Dorcas and my cousin Billy Frank Dowel  to eat and visit with us. That was enjoyable. There is a eating place there called the Cat Fish Hole which serves the best catfish I have ever eaten so we started out one evening to go there for some catfish. As we were driving along James hit a chuck hole or bump and there was a loud bang in the right front of the car and as he stopped it sounded like metal scraping on the ground. We got out to look and he thought he had blown a tire but we saw it was something much serious and it would require a wrecker to take the car to a garage to have it repaired. So calling and waiting for the wrecker and waiting for Sherry to come and take us back home that just about killed our plan to eat at the cat fish hole that night.

Right Front Wheel Leaning At a 45 Degree Angle  And Obviously In A Big Hurt

Wrecker Preparing To Tow Jame's Lincoln To Garage

Since our plans to dine on cat fish were dashed we went back home and had a wonderful meal of left overs and sandwiches. We watched TV and talked and speculated about what had happened to the car. The next day the garage called and said the ball joint had broken and it would be a few days before they could get it repaired. James has a suburban so we made new plans to go eat cat fish and we did that night.

Here It Is

Entrance To The Cat Fish Hole

Cat Fish Are Served With Hush Puppies, Dill Pickles, Cole  Slaw And French Fries

My Plate. I Wanted The Cat Fish So Bad I Almost Forgot To Take a Photograph

Obviously, when you look at the last picture above you soon see the dill pickles and the fish were what I went after first. Don't worry I cleaned all the plates. Boy it was a treat to eat like this. If I had some place here to get this kind of food I would eat out all the time. Long John Silvers has good fish but nothing to compare to this. So back home for a good nights rest before heading Lady Blue back toward Ohio which I did the next morning. After about a 12 hour drive I made it home to West Chester. I was glad to be home and headed for the bed and waited until the next day to unpack the car. Of course Lady Blue was just fine in her own garage.

Again I thank everyone for making this a most wonderful birthday and Christmas. I had a wonderful time. As always when I travel and visit places I am so reminded of Jan because we were there together. That's what it all about for you younger people - make memories. They can be both enjoyable and sorrowful as well but they balance each other out. 

The Lord willing my next long trips will be back to Tulsa for Sarah's college graduation in May, 2013 and drive to California for Nicku and Corey's wedding in late August 2013. Of course in connection with both of these trips there are National Parks and the beauty of our nation to see.

I love you.

Grandpa Bill