Burky's Blog

It is January 10 today, believe it or not.  Only ten short days ago, we were introduced into a new year and a new start. 

Today is Bethany Gehman's birthday.  Two days ago, it was my cousin, Doreen Byers, birthday.  Funny how it was that I would think of people right on their birthdays, but I didn't get around sending cards or something to make them realize that?  Well, I am not about to do anything for Bethany other than sending her well wishers on her MySpace.  But Doreen?  A cousin is a cousin, and family matters....

The last two weeks of December is really busy time for me.  I feel like I have no time for myself, and thankfully, January mercifully shows up.  But I am glad I did have time on Christmas Eve to send Christmas greetings to all of my contacts.  Then next day three replies to that email, and I realize that I can see names of all I send to!  I was so embarrassed and felt bad about it, so I wrote another email of apology.  I wasn't thinking to be sure if I clicked on "BCC" not "CC".  Bummer.  Then that day a lady must found out and decided to send to every email I send to an email.  I was so furious at her, but of course, it is mostly my fault.  My impulsive nature certainly didn't take my life kindly at times.

I did send her an email, scolding her for what she have done.  But the damage has been done, despite of my warning in that third email, Paul Hoover went on and bought her a plane ticket so she can come and visit him.  What I would like to know if he did send her money or did he just buy airplane ticket with her name on it?  I didn't think to ask at time, but it bother me if he get suckered.  What if she would never show up, using his money for her own purposes?

Trip to Texas went well.  Just say it went just as I thought it would.  I did felt bit of excitement for it on my last day at work in 2007, but I have been cautious for a long time that I would be bored--at least a bit.  But thankfully it is all over, and I am glad for the experience.

Of course, I would admit that if Grandpap is not with us, the trip would have went a little better; although he didn't do anything worthy of our malice.  It is just that his age slows us down and I did feel that we made a stop way too often.  But it is not my place to fret as it is their planning all along.  It is Susan that beg me to tag along.  Later when she told me that she knew another person is coming to surprise her, she thought it would be a lady....she hoped it was Janet.  Oh I would love to have Janet along!  She would certainly made the trip much more interesting.  But I understand she didn't want to get into our family's way, in case if we ever get into a spat.

Well, back to Texan trip's story. I will try to think.  We did arrived Kemp, Texas, in mid-afternoon.  It was good to see Susan.  It was good to be in other state.

Sunday morning we went to her church.  I am glad she found a place where she can truly be happy.  She felt belonged.  I am sure there are low days, just like everyone else, but the point is she found her niche in life...that's all it matters.  I am so glad for her, although I know Mama sometimes miss Susan's presence at home.  Maybe by now Mama get used to the way things are now.  I don't know.  Gray Prairie Mennonite Church is part of Eastern group, and that's where Susan is a member and a schoolteacher in Special Ed.  The people there are friendly and affable. 

We went to Mark Boll's for lunch that day.  It was okay, but I felt left or feel funny out in men's group; and then my sister try to participate me in young children's play.  Pictionary and Actionary are fun games, but I do wish for more players.  I was so glad to be home that evening as well.  Then we went to church for singing.  No familiar faces who I would like to meet.  I am glad we stayed at the house part of the church, so I can walked right over to where we stayed and curled up on sofa with a good book.

I got The Stonewycke Trilogy book for my birthday, and never get around finishing it.  Finally, because in Texas, I am away from my computer and hubbub of ado at home, I need a way to kill time.  Thankfully that book is very interesting that I got really involved in that book.

Monday morning, as early as 5 AM, had us on road to Galverston.  That island/peninsula off of Texas coastline gave us a nice view of the Gulf.  I have seen Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, so now I got to see the Gulf.  But they are basically all the same...I went to the beach!  It was deliciously warm that day, for that we are thankful.  But I had all long-sleeved shirt with me, so I was rather hot that day.  Even if Susan and I went wading in the water, it about froze our feet.  Cold feet didn't help much to lower the feel of heat.  Later that day we went to the ferry.  It was my first clear memory of riding a ferry.  Sure I ride the ferry in Belize and I rode on ferry over Michigan Lake when I was a tiny tot, but this is my first ferry ride when I am old enough to remember every fine detail of the experience-- in America!  I did see a fin of a dolphin in the wild, but my mom and sisters got to see three.  Sounds like Joel Reed's experience.  We did enjoy browsing through off-shore oil rig museum, but my family surely like to rush through it.  I like to take time and absorb the facts and try to understand how oil well out in the ocean would work, but I have to keep up with my family or they would drive off without me.

Since we got up so early that day, we were really tired that evening when we got home.  But because it is New Year's Eve, I was determined to watch the fireworks as Susan say.  And because I am in Texas, my sisters are determined to keep me company.  So three of us stayed up until midnight.  We only stay around for 15 minutes.  We were so glad to be sleeping soundly from 12:15 AM until dawn.

New Year's Day.  I was surprised to find there are places that are open.  At first we talked of going to Sixth Floor Museum, which remembers when John Kennedy got shot, but we found out that Half-Price Bookstore is open that day.  And also Papa missed the exit.  So we went to Half-Price Bookstore, and I tell you, it is a bookworm's paradise.  I bought quite a few, especially Who Do You Think You Are...Anyway?  I start reading that book in van, and I am captivated.  I have always have some curiosity in psychology, but reading secular psychology is enough to make anyone run for fresh air.  Now that book and I also got volume collection of Tim LaHaye's books, I sure would be captivated for awhile...and I will learn to understand people more.

Last night I finally got that book read. 

After bookstore, we went to Dallas Zoo.  I enjoyed it, but was disappointed to find they close at 4 PM, leaving me not enough time to be thorough with that zoo.  We went home after that day, and enjoyed an evening meal with and at Dwight Eshbach's.  I even got to play Boggle after a long time of not playing it!

Thursday...It is a day after New Year's Day, and Susan's school opens.  It was interesting to hear from Mike Emery who had a devotional that morning at school.  We visit Susan's room much of the day, and then later Julia and I visited other rooms.  We had lunch with Clifford Stauffer's, and I was glad to have a ride back home to enjoy a good book for the rest of the day.  Thursday finds us visiting school again and eating lunch at Stephen Eshbach's.  I enjoy visiting Stephen Eshbach's greenhouse and shop.  He sure did a good job making caskets.  That evening is prayer meeting.  I was disappointed to find that they divide up into groups.  That means my interpreters will be with women, and I am stuck with men.  So I quietly left after the devotional and went over to the house where we stayed.

Friday morning, we left good and early and stopped at Kilgore Oil Museum.  I really like those kind of museums that have a life-like pictures or images of memorabilia.  There I get the picture of how stores used to look before there is Walmart and all.  Again, I felt rushed through, so it kind of confirms me that it is always best for me to travel at leisure and travel alone!  Seems like everyone like to rush through museums!  There at that museum gift shop, I got a pictorial book about Texas.  And in that book I found out that Texas comes from an Indian word, Tejas...which means friends!

Texas is really a friendly place.

We stopped at Mississippi welcome center and I got to see inside!  They sure have a room resembling a Victorian sitting room, and I had to take picture of it.  We finally arrived home by nightfall on Saturday, January 5.  I was glad to be over with that trip, and I am also glad for the experience.

Sunday morning I decided to hang around and go to Meadow View Mennonite Church where I grew up attending.  Russell Petre interpret for me; he sure forget some signs.  It was good to see familiar faces, but I didn't enjoy the gawkers.

Soon after lunch of oysters, I was so glad to be going home!

I arrived home around 4 that afternoon, just to find my friends playing Rook.  I knew I wouldn't be in for a recuperating evening, so I decided to stay home Monday even if I could go to work.  I stayed home all day Monday catching up with emails, and do this and that on Internet.  It feels so good to be back with my computer and surfing the Net.

Tuesday is my first day at work in 2008.  It feels good to be back to work, even if I don't really enjoy that work.  What I am relishing is the security of the familiar. 

Yesterday evening I finally completed Who Do You Think You Are...Anyway?  I really enjoy reading that book, and it makes me realize where my background and my personality had me the way I am today.  I really like that book.  Now I am not sure what next book to tackle.  I am thinking of another book....

Last evening I got talking with Susan on TDD.  And got to fax her a trial.  Now I have her fax number and TDD program back on my computer.

Tomorrow is Friday evening, the first ASL social in Lancaster for 2008.  Saturday evening, we are planning to go to rodeo in Harrisburg.  Oh that reminds me, I should tell Mylin Druist about that.  Susan told me about Julia is going to Messiah Bible School on January 19 weekend.  I thought it would be nice if Janet, Julia, and I can all carpool and visit Susan, one of the cooks there at that time.

January 26, my friend from New York City will be spending a weekend with me.  Also it would be when Bus Stop play will be.  I only got 4 tickets, and Mike, Lori, and Louie is going with me.  That is also the same weekend my cousin will be getting married, but I am not invited...nor am I interested in going. 

February 1 is when ASL social in Harrisburg....at least it should be.

What?!  I didn't realize that I am in for a busy month.  I thought I would have it relaxing as Leon, Amy, and Mike is off on their vacation.  Leon and Amy is traveling to Wisconsin, Illnois, and other states for one month vacation.  Mike Musser is going to Hawaii for one month too.  So things would be bit quieter without them, but I expect Paul would hang out with us on Sundays...and if Ricky Eberly shows up, surely there would be a game of Rook or two.

--
Omar Burkholder
1091 Martindale Road
Ephrata, PA 17522

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