Alone for Thanksgiving

[oneighty]

I am alone by choice.

I am sitting at my computer in the new addition to our house. The room has just been more or less completed. I am playing Mozart louder than I should perhaps. I am driving the daemons from used to bees away.

About my new room: It is ten by sixteen feet. The lower four feet of the wall is a wainscot of number two pine one by four inch pine boards. The pine is stained dark walnut. The upper four feet is bright yellow two foot by four foot ceiling tiles the joints of which are covered with Chinese red one by four inch number two pine boards. The ceiling is one foot by one foot white tile. The carpet too is bright red.

My grandson Shane wants my room. He says he will trade his room for my room but then I would have to move to their house where dinner is going on right now.

I remember one time on Thanksgiving Day in Japan Panzer and his girl friend and I with my girl friend attended dinner at our shipmate's home in Yokohama. We called him Sechman because that was his last name. Mr.and Mrs. Sechman had a house full of children almost too many to keep track of. One of the young boys had a set of cap guns. He and I were quick drawing on each other when I inadvertently hit him in the face with my cap gun. He cried but was not hurt. But I was hurt at doing such a foolish thing.

Panzer's girlfriend was dressed in traditional Japanese fashion. My girlfriend Kazuko was dressed western style. We had a good time there with Mr. And Mrs. Sechmen. I have pictures from there, we all looked so very young in nineteen fifty two.



In fifty three I was back in the states for a few months. I invited two of my shipmates home to the house on the cliff over looking Lake Erie for Thanksgiving dinner. I was very ashamed of the house where I grew up on the cliff over looking Lake Erie as water was scarce and there was no indoor plumbing that worked. But they were OK with it and we had a fine dinner.

We went from there to my sister's home in a nearby city. In our dress blue uniforms we went to a local Union Club (CIO) where we drank all evening for free. All in all it was a good time that Thanksgiving.

Vivaldi is coming on next. I especially like 'Summer'.

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[Left Is Write]

1. Thank you for this.

I loved reading every word.

Happy Thanksgiving, oneighty. :hug:

[oneighty]

3. Thank you

In my day dreams my friends from long ago are visiting me. They are laughing at my outrageous room. I am laughing with them.

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[Joe Chi Minh]

2. Yeah. Great reminiscences.

[catmandu57]

4. I'm alone by choice as well

but you have better entertainment going, it's a long way from there to here isn't it? Enjoy the solitude, and crank up the tunes.

[oneighty]

7. Yes a long way

And I have left so many behind.

And yes I enjoy solitude. And certainly cheers to you catmandu57.

Unfinished is LOUD! Whoops William Tell now. Hi Ho Silver by golly!

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[Rhiannon12866]

5. I'm alone, as well, except for the small dog, behind me in my chair.

Thank you for your wonderful stories. And a Happy Thanksgiving, from me, to you.

Rhiannon:hi:

[oneighty]

8. Oh I love dogs.

I cannot have dogs anymore unfortunately. Pet yours for me.

And Happy Thanksgiving to you.

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[Rhiannon12866]

22. Thank you, my friend. Consider it done. I love dogs, as well, and have

two. However, this one was a surprise. I was attempting to adopt an eight-year-old cocker spaniel, since I tend to adopt senior animals from rescue, and I grew up with a cocker, when I was told that this dog had been adopted. But this lovely woman in rescue, who has become my friend, said she knew of another little dog who was in real trouble. That was three years ago, and the rest is history. Meet my little guy, LOL! :loveya:

http://www.dogster.com/pet_page.php?j=t&i=170168

[oneighty]

27. Meneken

You have a soft loving heart.

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[Rhiannon12866]

38. Thank you. That's my guy, LOL!

As I said, he was supposed to be a cocker spaniel, since that's the kind of dog I'm used to and that's the dog I called about, an eight-year-old male cocker. I had never considered such a small dog, only eight pounds. But my friend in rescue said that she knew of another little dog who was in real trouble. She was so afraid I wouldn't take him, but he needed me and he melted my heart. That was three years ago, next month. He's 12 now. And thanks. He's my baby.:loveya:

And will you please tell him that, tomorrow, when he has a grooming appointment...:shrug:

[oneighty]

41. An interesting site.

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[Rhiannon12866]

46. Check out my new sig, LOL!

My friend did that for me, took his pic after his grooming appointment. They said he was very good...:D

[In_The_Wind]

47. That is the epitome of total cuteness.

:thumbsup:

:hi:

[Rhiannon12866]

48. I thought you'd like him, LOL!

And I wish you could see my Sara. She has a red bow on each ear. Well, she had a red bow on each ear, LOL! And my little guy's already left his bandanna behind more than once...:D

[DemExpat]

6. Thanks for sharing this, oneighty....

some of us love having a peek into others' lives like yours.

:hug:

DemEx

[oneighty]

10. You are welcome

I enjoy writing my little stories.

I just finished writing 'KAZUKO'a love story about the girl mentioned at Mr. Sechman's home in Yokohama. Of course writing that brought back the memories related here.

Thank you

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[Mikimouse]

9. Being alone isn't so bad...

The cats and I always have good holidays. This year, I even got us a smoked turkey breast (they love the smoked turkey and I will give them some when I thaw it out tomorrow). Best wishes to you 180!

[oneighty]

12. Cats

We had a Russian Blue in South Carolina. She was given to us (An adult cat) Her name was Madam Blue she was a beautiful cat.

Alone is good now and again. With DU we need not be alone though as this thread proves.

Do your cats chase you Mikimouse?

Like a cat I am curious.

Best to you as well.

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[Mikimouse]

13. Nah, they don't chase me, only each other...

Mine are not known for being subtle, though. They let me know in no uncertain terms when they are hungry, and where they will sleep (on my bed, under my covers, or in my favorite chair).;-)

[oneighty]

17. It is the way of cats

I miss our cats and dogs. Sigh

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[Mikimouse]

24. Can you get another cat?

Seriously, mine keep me sane and healthier than I would be completely alone. They always love me, no matter my mood, and they know when I am sad. They come around, jump up on the table and give me kitty kisses (marking my beard,m usually) when I am really upset. If you can get one, I recommend getting a Korat (my Pooky), as they are especially warm and talkative. You need never be completely alone.

[oneighty]

30. No more pets (Sigh)

I have serious lung problems. But I am allowed memories. I have written many stories about our pets.

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[Mikimouse]

31. In that case, allow me to send along...

Some Pooky love! He is sitting right her reading along with me, purring and batting at the screen. From all three of mine to you- many kitty hugs and good wishes! (we need a cat smiley for this board!)

[oneighty]

32. Thanks for the

((((((((((((((((((((cat hugs)))))))))))))))))

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[Individualist]

16. You're right

Today was nice, and Honey (aka Cattila the Hon) got to eat almost all the turkey he wanted. Afterward, he lay down for a very long nap and hasn't awakened yet.

[oneighty]

19. Cattila the Hon

Hahahahahaha

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[Mikimouse]

25. Catilla the Hon, I love it!

Sometimes I think I have three of those, but one is more like Kublai Khan, kinda old and likes to rule the roost from the table top. The other two are kittens by comparison. The old guy (DC) is 25 human years old (clearly not completely domestic housecat), the others are a Sealtip Snowshoe (Tootsie) and a Korat (Pooky)

[Kali]

11. Nice

and you are not alone.

[oneighty]

14. Hey Kali

No I am not alone and my wife will soon be home. She will say "Are you OK Eddie?" And I will say; "Yes I am."

How have you been destroyer of worlds???

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[Kali]

20. Been cooking all day so my offspring

can do the destroying!

It will be over in about 15 minutes!

[Call Me Wesley]

15. Vivaldi is always a good choice.

Thanks for sharing this story.

We might be alone sometimes, but we're never lonely.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[oneighty]

18. Happy Thanksgiving to you

Call Me Wesley.

At a concert last year I was pleasured to hear Vivaldi's four seasons. I had my grand daughter with me as a guest. She was all dressed up for the occasion and wearing a wrist corsage I had bought for her.

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[Call Me Wesley]

21. Thank you.

A dear friend of mine who passed away a few years ago was a violinist, and I still have many of his Vivaldi concerts on tape, along with Bach and Mozart. I need to listen to them again.

[oneighty]

23. A treasure those tapes

There are classical muscians on DU. I know of several.

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[Kali]

26. What a wonderful Grandfather you must be

Saddest thing in my life is that my kids have no grandparents. I was blessed - had all but one grandmother until I had kids. They actually had great granparents longer than grandparents.

My dad is still alive but he isn't the grandpa type. Can't picture him taking one of my kids to a concert.

[oneighty]

29. Cashel-

my grand daughter. I was very proud of her Kali. She pushed me the long distance from the car to the concert hall in my wheelchair and was so very careful and attentive.

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[trof]

28. Hey, old friend.

Sounds like a nice cozy place you're in.
Just got back from dinner down the street and I'm STUFFED.
Looking forward to a quiet evening myself.

Mazel tov.
:toast:

[oneighty]

33. Hey Pilot

Nice to hear from you. Happy days!

Tell me. Did you have oyster/corn meal stuffing? That was a favorite in Tricia's family.

And your dock is repaired?

We are enjoying a blizzard coming in from Lake Erie. Whoooooo Hooooooo!

Ed

PS-my cool room. Tricia said; "Ed I am going to get you a really thin mattress for your bed on the floor and a brick for your pillow."

Hee hee hee. But she is beginning to like my room.

Ed

[trof]

34. Sadly, no oyster stuffing.

It's one of my favorites, but our oyster beds are closed because of pollution and a red tide. Weird.
Dock is better than new. Came through Katrina without a splinter.

Blizzard.
Wow.
I wore shorts for the dinner.
:-)

[oneighty]

35. I feared your local

shellfish harvest might be ruined for at least this winter season. I hope they recover.

Shorts huh?

Ed

[trof]

36. And an Aloha shirt. 75 here. Beautiful.

[fight4my3sons]

37. Thank You 180

What a great read after putting the kids to bed. They have been running around like Tasmanian devils all day! (three of them - one 3 yr old and twins who are 17 mos)
Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving!

[Elidor]

39. Hi there, stranger

I hope the holiday is as good for you as it is for me.

I'm sitting here with my lady, listening to Louis Armstrong, full of cheese and crackers, pretending the world outside doesn't exist for a few precious hours.

Good to see you. :hi:

[oneighty]

40. You are not

caving today?

Armstrong-I will forever kick my butt because-In Yokosuka in the fifties Armstrong was appearing at the enlisted men's club. TWENTY FIVE CENTS a ticket and I did not bother to go.

We are doing well here. A terrible winter storm came in off Lake Erie and left those of us along the shore line only a few inches of snow. South of us in 'Ski country' got hammered, but they are happy for them snow is money.

Good to see you too Hardhead.

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[Elidor]

43. Haven't caved in about a year now

Minor health problems, busy schedule, life in general, etcetera. I'm itching to go, but rounding up the usual suspects isn't as easy as it used to be.

Glad you're well. You're one of my favorite DUers, and we don't see nearly enough of you around here.

No snow here, yet. Hopefully, we won't have any at all this year. After being born in Alaska, and growing up in Minnesota and Colorado, I've seen enough snow for several lifetimes.

[oneighty]

44. I spent

a good deal of time writing.

And the addition kept me busy watching the progress and signing checks.

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[bikebloke]

42. Solitaire by choice.

I took a stroll down through my own history. Decided to dig out all my old photos from my travels, and attempts to settle down else where, stored away in various boxes. I want to consolidate them, and should probably find some albums rather than the processing envelopes. And maybe digitalize the gems. I'm using the poor man's scanner. (My digital camera. Taking photos of prints. Then cropping the excess with my barebones iPhoto.) Some have faded to sepia and not 25 years old. Well, I'll have to get them reprinted.

Funny, I've gone 180 degrees from those hypersocial days with my travel comrades, met on the road. And seeing old flames. Nice memories, and a couple embarrassing ones.

[Elidor]

45. Actually

I just realized that just a few minutes before I said I hadn't been caving in a year, I was scoping out a sinkhole in the most developed part of town. I found one of six entrances to a huge cave system that runs under this whole town - five miles of easy horizontal passage, though a couple of people died in there during a flood a few years back.

I'm itching to go. I gotta round up a group and cajole them into crawling in there with me.