The second and last part of my 2007 Southern Adventures....Tuesday, Nov 20th 2007: Augusta to Cameron
Not sure why my cell phone has not melted from over usage, same goes with my American Express card :) It is check out time in Augusta. I could tell when the “storm trooper” came banging loudly on my door early in the morning. The force she used is obvious based on the security latch being loose.
I packed up, loaded the car and off to…yep Starbucks. But wait, what’s this? The traffic light won’t change? I need coffee and I need it NOW heh heh. I grew up in Jersey, so I made a right hand turn, made a u-turn and off to Starbucks for coffee and carbs. Off to the
VA hospital to meet with the SGT. Once I arrived I learn that most of my guys are off to a luncheon and also learned that the SGT I was to meet is also at the luncheon. He wanted to reschedule for the next morning, but this was my last day in Augusta. Jason sees me and tells me I should go to the luncheon. I saw Michael in the hallway and he said the same thing. Anyone who knows me; knows I’m not walking into a luncheon uninvited.
I left the VA to get my own lunch. Those morning carbs didn’t last too long. I went in search of a postcard for an elementary school student from Ohio (I sent a few from my travels). I’ve been collecting something else along my travels that I should pack and send.
After lunch, I return to say goodbye to my guys before hitting the road for
North Carolina. Not only did I get to say goodbye but the guys arranged for me to visit with the 1st SGT and Major of their company at
Ft. Gordon. Okay, that was worth delaying my drive back to NC. Prior to going to Ft. Gordon, I took some friendly badgering for not going to the luncheon :) I think 1st SGT Michael C would have dragged me had he known BEFORE the luncheon that I was around.
I was on my way to Ft. Gordon with Jason and Shane to meet the 1st SGT and Major. We arrive at the entrance and the guard asks me what year the car is and I look at him quizzically and reply, “I think it’s a 2007, it’s a rental”. He asks, “This car doesn’t come with seatbelts in the back?” I slowly turn around to look at Jason. LOL! Never saw someone buckle up so fast.
I explain about OFR to the 1st SGT and the Major as I want them to know about OFR so we may be of assistance. The meeting was quick; I left them my card and brochures. I had to get Jason and Shane back to the VA hospital and get on the way to NC. I have a four hour drive ahead of me, not including any stops.
Wednesday, Nov 21st 2007: Early Morning Shuffle Er, Shuttle
Oh my it’s 6am already? I’m ready in fifteen minutes (it does happen, don’t tell my boss LOL!) I’m updating my notes as I wait the arrival of Carolyn with a wounded soldier from
Ft. Bragg. The “baton” is being passed and I will drive him to Raleigh-Durham airport. By the time I leave NC, I should be able to drive back and forth to RDU with my eyes closed. At RDU, I park the car. Chris is on crutches and the plan is to help him as far as I can in the airport – which as it turns out, was right to the gate. We check one bag and the airline representative asked if I wanted to escort Chris to his gate. I didn’t hesitate to say yes.
I told the gate to make sure they board him early since he has crutches. He told me it was no big deal. We had a few minutes, so I got him a bottle of water called “Moonshine”. We walk back to the gate and I see boarding has started. Once they noticed us, they waved to Chris to board. My task complete, I head for the exit. Decide to grab breakfast at the airport. I ordered the “North Carolina Sunshine” and a cup of dark roast coffee. “Almost heaven West Virginia…” oops, wrong state though the coffee was heavenly and just what I needed.
Head back to Cameron. I stopped for gas and when I found a Wachovia branch, I stopped there too. This here is the stix and y’all never know when you would find these places again.
Stopped at Subway for a late lunch and before I could enter the store, my cousin in Florida calls me. He starts telling me he is
only eight or nine hours away if I want to drive down for the weekend. Um…more driving, I don’t think so – not that far at least. After lunch I venture into Food Lion to purchase soda and pies for Thanksgiving. The cashier asked me if I had the store card and I replied no. He must have scanned his card because the total dropped by $15. Back to Carolyn’s house, I prepare two chocolate cream pies. I’m exhausted, it’s been a long day and you’d never guess where I’m headed tomorrow morning.
Thursday, Nov 22nd 2007: Thanksgiving Dinner With Heroes
Have you guessed yet? Yep, off to RDU once again. This time to pick up John the camera man who flew down to film parts of Thanksgiving dinner for a documentary. My timing was perfect. John called me as I was heading into the parking lot. Once inside, I see a young man by the carousel. I had described myself to John, but didn’t know what he looked like. I see this young man and I start thinking that it is John. I watch as he looks my way, but no recognition. He pulls out his cell phone and I’m thinking okay, if this is John he’s going to ring my cell phone. Surprise for John, my cell phone is set to vibrate. I pull the phone out while watching John and ask “John?”
Good time to travel, hardly anybody at the airport. Except the bag John checked didn’t arrive with him. We waited and waited. John checked with the baggage office. They would get the bag to his hotel later. It contained tripods so John would have to make do without them.
Using the GPS, we locate a Dunkin Donuts. Dang, they are closed. Can’t blame them though, so off to find Starbucks and fortunately for use they were open. Did I mention I love this GPS? :) John’s hotel turns out to be closer to the airport than Cameron. He checks in and we’re on the road to Cameron. I stop at Carolyn’s to drop off the GPS since she needs it for a family drive and then take John over to Karrie’s house. I stayed for a bit and then went back to Carolyn’s to freshen up though I really needed a nap.
John setting up the camera for when guests arrive. Even though it was a direct flight from Boston, the airline lost his checked bag with the tripods.Back to Karrie’s as prep work is being done for dinner. Guests started to arrive. Not as many as Karrie had anticipated. Prior to dinner, we gathered in the dining room and Karrie asked everyone to mention what are they thankful for today. Dinner was fantastic and afterwards I thanked our Heroes for their service, dedication and sacrifice. Then they were asked to participate in answering some questions for the documentary. I asked the questions so John could concentrate on filming.
We helped clean up; I had some coffee and then took John back to his hotel and then back to Cameron.
Friday, Nov 23rd 2007: RDU – In My Sleep
Can you hear the song too? “I’m Henry the Eighth I am, second verse same as the first” off to get John at his hotel and get him to the airport. We stop at Dunkin Donuts so John could get breakfast. He gets back in the car and I heard him mutter a nasty word and I asked what was wrong. Turns out the departure he gave me was actually his arrival time at Boston. I asked when the flight was and John says 10am. I look at the dash and it’s 10:20am. We get to the airport and John has luck on his side. If he moves fast, he can catch the flight that leaves in
FIVE minutes. I’m thinking no way with security. Good thing I didn’t make a wager. There was nobody on line where they check for ID and boarding passes and then they escorted him right to through the rest of the security check.
I decided to enjoy some dark roast coffee on the outside chance John didn’t make his flight. I also realized that I should have left today. I kept thinking the airports would be crowded.
On the drive back from the airport, I make a visit to the quaint town of
Pittsboro, NC. I’m a member of the Motley Fool
http://www.fool.com/ and today I’m to meet another online member “Piney” for the first time. Fortunately having a GPS helped me find where I needed to meet Piney, the Pittsboro General Store. We chatted over coffee, I met her son and time was flying. Piney gave me a quick tour of downtown Pittsboro before we parted ways.
As I arrived in Cameron, I stopped at Hardees for lunch. One customer chatted with me saying he couldn’t wait for summer. Um, the weather has been chilly at night but averaging upper 60s to lower 70s…I’ll take it. The customer was eating as another customer recognized him and stopped to say hello. She was getting ready to leave, although she said “I’m fixin’ to go” and I thought hey. I’m fixin’ to go as well :) I went in search of a movie theatre LOL that was an adventure in itself. The GPS helped me locate the nearest movie theatre, however it didn’t know that it’s been closed…for some time. I did find the next “closest” movie theatre thirty miles away in Southern Pine. Okay, a movie was out of the question. After texting with Karrie, I started to make my way over to Fr. Bragg to meet Karrie, Mahkaylah and Alan for dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. It was a nice dinner and we had fun with the staff as the gals would dance for certain songs, but no guys would dance. Convinced Jasmine, our waitress, a guy needs to dance to ensure her tip is nice. Heh heh, one young man helped her out and wouldn’t you know it, he’s a
NY Yankees fan proudly wearing his baseball cap.
I returned to Carolyn’s house as the family finished their Thanksgiving dinner. Carolyn has been so hospitable during my stay; I wanted them to enjoy dinner sans Bob. Carina needed help with her iPod and they asked me to help. Um…I won an iPod in September and it’s February 20, 2008 as I write this and it’s STILL in the box. But with the help of another online Motley Fool member, I was able to get the iPod working again – even though she would need to download her songs.
Saturday, Nov 24th 2007: Dinner at Drunken Jack’s in SCI slept in this morning as Carolyn and the family packed up the cars to head for the Smoky Mountains. It was a bit chilly this morning, so I grabbed my jacket and thought of heading to the NC shoreline. The winning destination became
Ocean Isle Beach, NC and I set the GPS for the Silver Coast Winery (
http://www.silvercoastwinery.com/) Upon arriving, I check the place out and then decide to do the wine tasting. I inquired about shipping to Connecticut when the gentleman behind the counter asked me where in CT I lived. I told him Waterbury and he asked me how Baldwin St. was doing. Either it was a good guess or he knows about Waterbury. Turns out he’s originally from Danbury, CT and retired to NC. Ordered a case of wine and drove around the area taking pictures.
It was getting late and I had called a coworker who vacations in
Myrtle Beach, SC to ask for a restaurant suggestion. He tells me Drunken Jack’s is a great place. I set off for
Myrtle Beach and Drunken Jack’s. It’s actually in
Murrell’s Inlet, SC and a tad south of Myrtle Beach – but dinner was fantastic. Though I still have a three hour drive back to Cameron which is nothing compared to my drives to Washington, D.C.
Sunday, Nov 25th 2007: WOMAC Visit
You are NOT going to believe this…Sunday was a laid back kind of day. Karrie, Mahkaylah and Alan took me to
WOMAC, the medical center on Ft. Bragg. I met a couple of wounded Heroes and had some items for them. The place was relatively quiet due to the holiday weekend. I enjoyed dinner and a trip to Cold Stone Creamery with Karrie, Mahkaylah and Alan.
Monday, Nov 26th 2007: Quick Stop in Raleigh Before the Airport
Can you feel the excitement? The trip is coming to a close; look how long it took me to write about it. I am packed and ready to head to Raleigh. Not quite ready for the airport, that would be too easy. I have one last stop on this long journey and right in Raleigh close to the airport. Another Motley Fool member, Sarah, and her family are involved with sending care packages to our troops overseas. Her Dad, PJ, is the founder of the
Back Home Box Foundation – a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
http://www.backhomebox.com/ It was a pleasure to meet some of the folks behind the Back Home Box Foundation and learn more about their organization. If you know someone who needs a box from…back home, check out their website. I highly recommend them.
WRAMC = Walter Reed Army Medical Center
BNH = Bethesda Naval Hospital
OFR = Operation First Response
BHB = the Back Home Box Foundation
GBFBD = God Bless Fort Benning Day
Links:
http://www.godblessfortbenningday.com/ – God Bless Fort Benning Day - Columbus, GA
http://www.portcolumbus.org/ – Port Naval Museum – Columbus, GA
http://www.operationhomefront.net/ – Georgia Chapter, Kim Scofi – President
www.elvaresa.com/tainsh.html - the book “Heart of a Hawk, Eye on an Eagle” – Deborah Tainsh
http://www.dav.org/ – Disabled American Veterans
http://www.backhomebox.com/ – the Back Home Box Foundation – Raleigh, NC
http://www.fool.com/ – The Motley Fool
http://www.silvercoastwinery.com/ – Silver Coast Winery - Ocean Isle Beach, NC
“Best of Us” video by Ryano:
http://musicnation.com/music/ryanorocks/the-best-of-us check out Ryano's music
www.myspace.com/ryanorocksVery Respectfully,
Bob O’Donoghue
Director of Special Projects
Operation First Response (OFR)
http://www.operationfirstresponse.org/
Easy drive from points in Connecticut, Massachusetts and parts of New York. Come out and show your support for our wounded Heroes and their families.
