Eternal Voyage

Do thy duty; that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.~Longfellow

He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.~Herbert

Surely oak and threefold brass surrounded his heart who first trusted a frail vessel to the merciless ocean.~Horace

Warren A. Cleveland~April 21, 1940-March 11, 2014

He did his duty. He learned to pray. And he went to sea. A voyage that lasted 23 years. And from what I remember of my Uncle Warren's personality, his heart was surrounded by more than just an oak and threefold brass. It was surrounded by courage and commitment. By honour and duty. But most important...by his love and caring for his family and friends. He had a firm voice but a gentle soul. I found that out back in 1973. Now that I think of it, 'twas that one thought...one single memory of the past...that braced me as I attended his funeral, week last. I'm not sure Uncle Warren's son, Tim, would remember the event but, perhaps he may recall it, anon. Isn't it strange how we remember things, places and events?

 I wish I'd gotten to know him better over the past 28 years. Oh, we conversed via 'phone, usually during the holidays. And he'd talk your ear off if you let him, heh, heh. Every now and then we'd both swap sea stories of our time in the Navy. I can only imagine the stories he didn't tell me. And I usually surprised him with the things I knew about his era of the military. This was usually the one way I could get in a word edge-wise. But even so, we both had the utmost respect for one another, especially as Navy veterans (even though we were of two completely different eras and divisions of the Navy~Uncle Warren was in the surface fleet and I was in submarines.)

 I could go on endlessly quoting and remembering here but, there are some things that are more personal and left between family and friends and not on a blog. Better to share the best memories of those you love in person and not on a computer screen, right?

 I know that someday I'll be with my Uncle Warren and all my other Naval brothers and sisters who've come to serve before me. We'll be able to swap stories once again as we sail on the becalmed ocean into eternity. So long for now, Uncle. Know ye that we have safely arrived at our home port.

 Your loving nephew,

 Todd


 For those of you that actually read this blog o' mine, you can go HERE to visit with my Uncle Warren.

Is It Spring yet?

Despite the lingering cold and lack of snow, the robins are out and about here in Massachusetts. I had a couple fly in front of my car just yesterday and I had to wonder...either they're lost or they're just so accustomed to the cold, that they never left. Or perhaps they know something we don't. Everywhere I go, it seems, I hear the age-old griping about the "damn" cold. Yes, it has been a rather colder year than most. Even NOAA got it wrong as they had predicted a much warmer winter than it actually has been. But then I've been saying for years that you just can't predict the weather. But as we are oft to say here in New England, "If you don't like the weather just wait a couple of minutes." How true that is.

 I had to laugh at the latest weather report for the southern states, that implied or "predicted" that the highs would be in the 70's. Above average for the time of year but, considering the mess that Atlanta went through with all that ice a couple weeks back, I'm sure it'll be more than welcome to bask in the suns rays. That's when I laughed and remembered that, we do that up here when it's in the 20's, as long as the sun is out and the wind is low. Hell, even the hard-core bikers come out to play!

But if you have a bad case of "cabin fever", don't worry too much. It'll be over soon...maybe. I mean, I've seen it snow up here in May, for crying out loud! And lest we forget, we can still get a major snow-dumping in March or April... So, if you're tired of looking at the dirty snow and ice, just concentrate on the picture of Brierly Pond above and think warm thoughts :)

Just a Squall

Just to let anyone who's actually reading this here blog that, I'm still around but recovering from the effects of the latest flu virus and "walking pneumonia". Also, to make a point that Winter is far from over. The pics here I took February 9th, 2013 at the onset of the blizzard we had that day. I took most of the shots from behind the safety of my front screen door or window. I mean really...who would abandon their sanity and venture out into this shit? Then I forgot that I did back in the super storm of March '93. But, I was in the National Guard then and didn't have a choice. Being a true "snow baby", I didn't really mind.

I don't quite remember the amount we got in my area but, it was well over 2 feet; though the drifts may have one believing it was much, much more.

"White-out" conditions were expected, as per usual. I took these shots at 08.24 & 08.25 but as you can see, it was still quite dark...

Isn't it weird how the drifting snow will build up in one place or another yet, leave nothing on the roof of a building?

Hard-core smokers, like my neighbour here, will come out in this. I know because I use to do this, myself. I'm still thanking myself that I had the where-with-all to quit smoking when I did (March 16, 1998 but who's counting?)

Aftermath and hours of digging out the vehicles, porches and patios, not to mention the fire lanes. I have a feeling we are long over-due for a major dumping but...I could be wrong. It's just a feeling I get... I have a lot more shots but I'll be featuring them on my DeviantART page. Drop me a note if you want to venture there ;)

Headache

I still can't believe it. Maybe enough people complained. Nah. For years I've been running down the lower part of Crocker Nye Road. It's where I go to get my supply of spring water. Cold, refreshing...free...water. I've never met the owner of the property but, I abide by the simple sign erected (and which I fixed my last visit there), stating to keep the area clean. No problem. I do what I can. My last trip out netted me a small amount of trash, which I placed in a handy trash bag someone else had left behind...abandoned. Anyway, I was surprised to see that the town finally paved the lower part of the road and included a lay-by close to the spring. Only now I have to watch for idiots using it as a "speedway". It's rural & not really patrolled.

You'd think a place so far out in the "boonies" would attract a lot of illegal dumping. It does only not as much as it used to. Most folks that come here respect the area and keep it clean. But...there are those that just don't give a fuck. Take the mook that dumped the head over there, next to the tree. Go ahead...get a little closer...I'm sure it won't bite you...it even had me fooled for just a second, heh...

This isn't the first time I've seen dumping here and no doubt it won't be the last. Not sure who removed the head...*SIGH*

Former Glory Gone

Somewhere in Oxford, MA. (71 Old Worcester Road), there used to stand a rather rundown house. I'd pass by it often enough when folks actually lived there. I'm sure the old place must've been pretty grand in its day but, it fell into disrepair over the last couple of decades. I actually remember going up to the side door and inquiring about a vehicle for sale (I didn't buy it...) I had chance to glance into the kitchen the door was off of and it looked like it hadn't been updated since the '60's or '70's. Then, earlier this year, I passed by and noticed that there were no longer any vehicles in the driveway. The remaining tenants had moved on. A couple months later I had camera at the ready and got of a few snaps of the decaying building. Glad I did, for when I passed by a week later, the place was being razed. I never got the chance to explore the interior but...maybe that was a good thing. The lot now remains empty (except for the occasional "speed trap" set-up, heh...) Sometimes it's easier (and cheaper) to tear down an older place and rebuild, than to try to rehab it. This looked like one of those times.