Hawaii 2012

Sometimes the best made plans sometimes don’t come to fruition. . . As in blogging DURING our Hawaii vacation.

Frankly, even had I had a full sized keyboard I wouldn’t have bothered to blog, as I was whipped each and every day of our 'restful' vacation.  So, If I didn't have the energy to blog I suppose it is only fair that I couldn’t expect Audrey to feel any different.  Afterall, she did even more than me.

So, what I’ll do right now is highlight the trip while it is ‘fresh’ in my mind (Cough.  Cough.  Cough).  In so doing I'll share with you some of the “wish we hadn’t did’s” with the “wish we did’s”.  And, when you visit the Big Island this information may be helpful in allowing you to have a 'restful' time.

News Flash:  Sunday, August 19th, 2012 - Audrey did make two blog entries; for the first two days of the trip.  Here they are:

Hawaii Vacation

August 7, 2012, Day One

Audrey Writing!

Ugh, takeoff.

It’s one of my worst enemies. So bad, it’s way up there with cuttlefish, knives, and watermelons. Yeah, that bad.

You go fast, then you go slow, then the pilot decides he wants to scare you out of your skin again and goes super fast and you start going into the air and your stomach decides to go in your throat. There’s a reason why they have barf bags on the plane. Then, just to top it all off, your ears pop and you get a headache, but gum helps.

But, before all of that, you go through the safety briefing. I barely listen to it. They could be speaking Russian for all I care.

“And now,” Vladimir, the Russian flight attendant says. “You put dis mask string thingy on your head and pull de other strings. Then-“  Vladimir suddenly stops, noticing that everyone on the plane had fallen asleep and he throws the oxygen mask on the floor in anger “I give up! No one cares!” He then stormed into the back of the plane, the other flight attendants comforting him.

Anyway, other than the terrible takeoff, there’s the length of the flight. Almost 6 hours long. 6 hours! Imagine trying to entertain yourself for six hours! Sure, I had my handy-dandy iPod and that entertains me for a while but when the songs get old (dare I say it) and then you’re just plain bored! My poor dad had to suffer from my boredom. I ended up playing patty-cake with his knee and discovered new ways to just annoy him in every way.

After landing (again, ugh), we finally got to the Big Island. Now, Hawaii’s beautiful without even trying. The airport itself was open to the warm air and made up of those cool huts and had colorful tropical flowers. Palm trees blew lightly in the breeze.

I prayed that a coconut didn’t fall on my head, which would be bad.

If Hawaii is nice, the locals are ten times better, they all “aloha” to you where ever you are. They all smile! Maybe it’s the sunny weather, in Washington; we need a very good reason to smile because the weather’s always rainy.

After getting lost three times in our Dodge Charger (rented), we made it to the Sheraton in Keahou Bay. As usual, the workers were nice and the hotel was very fancy. We got free shell necklaces and a kind man showed us to our room above the pool and waterslide. After having a wonderful dinner at Sliders, we went back to our room to take naps then we’ll go to the pool.

You were probably expecting more writing from me but it was our first day so not much happened except for the long plane ride.

Goodbye.

Love,

Audrey.

Hawaii Vacation

August 8, 2012 Day Two

Audrey Writing!

Today, my body told me to wake up at 5 o’clock Hawaii Time. My mind replied, Urgggggggggh.  To you otherworldly people, 5 o’clock sounds like one of the worst possible times to get up but this is Hawaii Time which is three hours earlier than Pacific Time.

Oh, you’re thinking. That’s logical.

Yeah, I know that. That’s the reason why I got up then.

Anyway, I got up early and started doing puzzles on my mom’s Kindle and almost finished them off until Hannah woke m e up and made me stop. After Hannah took a bazillion hour long shower, it was my turn. It took me about twenty minutes to figure out the temperature control because the labels were on backwards. I was about to take a cold shower when I accidentally figured out how to change the temperature.

The rest of the family took their showers and we went downstairs to eat at the breakfast buffet.

I wish Audrey had continued to write the blog.  She's as hillarious with her writing as she is with her speaking (Bernadette is afterall a Filicsky and is descended from Bernard and Gus).  Perhaps I can talk her in to writing more, but with school on the horizon her focus is elsewhere (SHE LOVES SCHOOL AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK)

 

The Trip to the Big Island of Hawaii

So, on day one:  I wish I hadn’t taken an Ambien to make the flight more bearable.  Most meds don’t agree with me, and this one definitely falls in that category.  I was zonked, but not rested for more than a day.  The smart travelers in the family (everyone but me) did just fine as they passed the time with word games, Kindles, and so on and so forth.  6 hours to them was pleasant as opposed to my own personal journey to the outskirts of Hades.

We arrived on Hawaii with bits of precipitation around us but not on us directly.  Meaning, it kind of reminded us of home.  Rain around us but not in the “Blue Hole” of the North Olympic coastline.  The Kona Airport was an ‘outdoor’ airport.  We debarked down steps that made one feel as if we were flying on Air Force One (I have a vivid imagination at times.  May I suggest it had something to do with the Ambien)?  And, instead of picking up our checked baggage (Twenty bucks a pop) in air-conditioned splendor we picked it up in something akin to a grass hut.  Audrey loved it.

Three hour time changes are no fun to this boy.  Two are a piece of cake.  Three.  I hate ‘em.  So, after a pleasant Ambien produced sleep, my biological clock went off and I was wide awake at 02:50.  Ambien or no Ambien this boy is up at 05:50 (Port Angeles time).  The only solace was the pool was open 24 hours and then later; the joyous cacophony of our avian brethren began.  I love the tropics for a lot of reasons, but high on the list is the birds and the flowers.  Especially the former.  Their singing is fabulous to these ears.

Yes, speaking of birds, Hannah and Audrey were quick to notice that we were at the ocean but there wasn’t a seagull to be found.

Hapuna Beach

Ralph S. had suggested that we go to Hapuna Beach State Park.  So, when a native Hawaiian suggests that you do something while in Hawaii, you take it to heart.  We did and we were glad of it.  Hapuna turned out to be a beautiful beach with pristine blue water.  Hannah and I snorkeled as Audrey and Constance enjoyed swimming.  At the south side of the beach H and I discovered a ‘secret’ undiscovered cove (well, that’s the game we played, that nobody had ever been here before) and we rode a swell into a cave that extended further than we cared to venture in the blackness.  H loved it and I was glad we headed back out to the sunlight.  The swells were enough to drive me back to lounging on the white sand as motion sickness was knocking at my door. . . about this time I generally say, getting old sucks, but this has been my plight since being a child riding in the ’62 Chevy to Cayuga and throwing up each and every trip.  Dramamine and Bonine and their cousins do very little for me other than making me groggy so I avoid them unless I know my stomach is going to be above my head.  The beach was beautiful, Hawaii is fabulous and as a quick side note I read that Hapuna Beach was where the USMC prepared for the Iwo Jima Campaign.  It made sense to me.  A similar beach as on Iwo.  Similar lava formations.  Close proximity.  It’s a fact.  All these years after WWII there are still signs on the beach that warn of undetonated ordnance.  FYI: During their preparations the Marines camped on a nearby cattle ranch (the Quonset Huts are still there). 

That evening we had a great meal at ‘Sam Choy’s in Kona and the waitress gave us a multitude of suggestions.

Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

So, on the second day we implemented the waitress’s suggestions.  First stop: Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park.  This is he “City of Refuge” where the Hawaiian King lived in the days before Caucasians wreaked havoc on the land.  (Actually, I still dream of islands yet to be discovered being discovered by yours truly in his kayak or what not).  The interesting feature of the site was the nearly 1,000 feet long wall that surrounded an area known as “The Puuhonua”.  This is where defeated warriors, law breakers (the penalty was death), non-combatants during times of battle, could find sanctuary.  For once inside of the walls, you were safe (kind of like the ultimate game of tag . . . you’re it!).  There was also the ‘Hale o Keawe’ where the bones of former kings are kept.  In so doing, it was believed that their bones would evoke good medicine (mana) on the people.  The grounds were beautiful.  The Polynesian culture and heritage was fascinating, and we were all glad to have made the stop.

South Point

From the City of Refuge we drove further south to ‘South Point’ the southernmost point in the United States (further south than the Florida Keys).  There, wind and waves have eroded the lava rock to form blow holes beneath our feet (see the photos on Flickr).  Hannah and I hiked to the southernmost point which has a Marine navigational marker and light.  The light sits atop a 40 ft. tower and there is a high ladder whose first rung is about 9 feet off the ground.  Hannah was on the ladder before she asked my permission (I would have granted it) but the wind was howling so she was reluctant to move to the tippy top of the thing.  Here is where I plead old age as I didn’t bother.  We walked on down to the tidal zone just to say we were as far south as you could possibly go and still be in the United States.  Yep, Con and Audrey didn’t go that far south.  But, H and I sure did.  As far south as you possibly could go in the United States.  Hannah and me.



Papokolea Green Sand Beach

Then we headed off to the Green Beach, so called for the green sand that gives the beach its distinctive and very unique color.  As we were driving on the very primitive road (perhaps an old Military installation) we came across foundations of old buildings, rusted out hulks of cars and trucks, and other assorted what not’s that provided a rather surreal feeling to the experience.  As, in this could be the scenery in a post apocalyptic movie set.  You know the kind where cannibals flourish.  I thought to myself, “Where are the other tourists?” 

Eventually we maneuvered our Dodge Charger to a parking lot at the trailhead.  There, some folks stuck in 1968 were attempting to fund their drug habit and offered to take us the final 3 miles to the beach for $15 a head.  60 bucks.  3 miles.  In the back of a rusted out 1968 Ford 4WD Pickup truck.  They didn’t say anything about a two-way trip either.  They merely said, “We’ll take you to the beach for fifteen bucks each.”  To which I said, “We’ll walk”.  To let the truth be known, visions of Morlocks danced in my head (just in case you are wondering who the Morlocks are, remember the subterranean creatures in Jules Verne’s ‘The Time Machine’.  Yeah, that’s right, they scared me when I first watched it way back in the fifth grade (or, was that last night?).

After about a hundred yards of walking into the 35+ mph headwind Audrey said that she had had enough and I was glad she did even though I may have said something like, “What?  No daughter of a Marine is going to turn back after only a hundred yards!” 

And the remaining three in the family said, “Dad’s nuts.  We’re going to feed him to the Morlocks.”  Reluctantly, we decided to pass on the Green Sand Beach.  If you’re interested, I suggest you Google it “Papokolea Green Sand Beach”. 

On the hundred yard trek back to the Dodge I may have mentioned how easy it would have been to have driven a JEEP over the trail to the Green Sand Beach.  You know you can actually rent Jeeps instead of Dodge Challengers around here.  But, the comment fell on deaf ears, or should I say ‘discerning’ ears.  And, there was no comment by any of the girls in reply. 

Only Hannah smiled.

The return to Kona and the Sheraton was rather uneventful.  A side trip to get Smoothies at a Native Plant Store somewhere around 3,000 feet.  The road was high.  In fact I was surprised by how far the road was above the water.  Geez.  But, the temperature was pleasant, there was a pleasant tropical breeze and I thought to myself, “Why did Ralph leave here?”

Punaluu Beach  (Black Sand Beach)

After being dissuaded to see the Green Sand Beach by the Morlocks we decided to include a trip to the Black Sand Beach on our drive to Volcanoes National Park.  

This was further north along the east coast of the island and it also had its fair share of wind.  But, tropical breezes to this boy are a good thing.  It’s what makes the 85 degree temperatures quite comfortable.

Punaluu Beach was formed when molten lava flowed into the ocean and was quickly and explosively cooled by the seawater.  The result is fragmentation of the rocks into smaller and smaller pieces until it is cooled.  The small fragments then wash up onto the beach and create the ‘black sand’ (albeit there is no silicon (sand) involved).  The black sand is actually coarser than what you and I consider ‘sand’ to be.  Still, it is quite striking to see.  A palm tree grove is just beyond the beach and these trees blowing in the tropical breeze are quite striking.  An easy one mile detour from the main highway was well worth the time and effort.

Volcanoes National Park

From black sands beach we continued north on Highway 11, climbing gradually and more or less without realizing it to an altitude of 4,000 feet.  Lava fields are the predominate landscape here as Mauna Loa’s east flank is immediately to the left of the road.  In a short while you and countless other tourists enter Volcanoes NP at the Kilauea Visitor Center. 85 degrees is down at sea level, up here the temperature was a cool 60 in August, near the equator, in tropical Hawaii.  To get a lay of the land and plan our day in the park we discussed our options with a Park Ranger, read the displays (Audrey insists that we take the time to read each and every display as she expects to learn something) and watched a video.  From there we drove the Crater Rim Drive to the Jaggar Museum on the rim of the still active Kilauea Volcano.  Lava couldn’t be seen in broad daylight but steam and smoke rose steadily from the cauldron of the volcano.  We all thought it was interesting and worth the time and drive simply to see this 

From the visitors center we continued along the ‘Chain of Craters’ Road stopping from time to time to see the MANY craters (Mauna Ulu, Kealakomo, Napau, and Holei Pali).  Before leaving  Crater Rim drive we stopped at the Thurston Lava Tube and hiked to this somewhat familiar site (very similar to Ape Cave, south of Mt. St. Helens which we have explored twice before).  If you haven’t seen a lava tube before this is worth the stop but for all of us except Hannah (who loves caves) the highlight was the forest that we hiked through.  Ferns, trees, flowers, and birds were diverse and abundant.  The aroma was that of a fruit stand that needed the fruit to be replaced (a strong fruity smell from a plethora of varieties, where none could be identified individually . . . as in saying “oh, that’s a banana”). 

The Chain of Craters road ends about a mile short of a lava flow that covered the highway beginning in 1983 (yes, the mountain has been spewing lava continuously since 1983).  Back in 1983 the Rangers weren’t sure of the direction and volume of the magma so they blocked the highway and made a turnaround about a mile shy of the lava.  We hiked this distance with a number of tourists from the US and Japan.  Along the way we passed by a palm tree oasis that was somewhat striking as the palms are the only trees amongst the miles upon miles of black lava.  Also, there is a sea arch near the ‘trailhead’.  Arches National Park isn’t the only place this feature can be seen, and this one is above the ocean.  It was neat to see but I imagine it would be super cool during a winter storm.

From there we drove back on the Chain of Craters Road and exited the park, stopping at Volcano Village for supper.  The kids love the local fare, especially ‘Loco Moco’ which is actually a breakfast item of rice, with a hamburger patty on it, an egg on top of that, and brown gravy over everything.  The weather at Volcano Village was cool, in the upper fifties. 

The Saddle Road

We returned to Kona via. Hilo and the Saddle Road.  Back in the mid-nineties when Con and I were last here on the Big Island car rental companies forbid folks to take their cars on this road.  So, that of course made me want to drive it.  This time, nobody said anything, so I pointed the Dodge Charger westward from Hilo on Highway 200.  The road was a NEW four-lane super highway for miles upon miles upon miles.  The strange thing was there were VERY few other cars east or westbound, while earlier on Highway 11 there was hundreds of cars leaving Hilo on a Friday night.   Hmm, I wondered.  What’s the deal?

The road is so named for it crosses the saddle between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea (somewhere around 6600 feet).  The tropical forest near Hilo is wetter than on the Kona side and the trees are huge and fascinating.  Reminding Connie of ‘The Tree of Life’ in the movie, Avatar. 

The road was exemplary and Con said, “What’s the big deal?  This is a GREAT road.”  All the while having an ear to ear grin. 

After we started our decent towards the Kona coast we passed an old WWII Army Air Base.  Quonset huts and all. 

Shortly after the airfield the new construction ended and we found ourselves on a very narrow two-lane ancient road that was probably the same one used in the 40’s by the Airmen.  The speed limit was still 55 mph but all of the sudden you came to the first of many (probably ten) one-lane bridges where we, being on the downhill side had to yield to the uphill vehicles.  So, from 55 we came to a dead stop, in order to cross the narrow (even for the Dodge Charger) bridge, in this very hilly terrain (the Flat Iron Road on steroids).  Sometimes the bridge was at the base of a draw and you stared up perhaps 50 feet towards the opposing traffic and hoped that everyone was paying attention.

Con was by this time saying, “I hate this road.  I hate this road.  I hate this road.”

Believe me; we got it the first time.

Hannah and Audrey were howling with laughter with that feeling in your stomach similar to riding a rollercoaster (which is what the road was). 

Further down on the road we saw hundreds of wild black goats, cattle, beautiful horse pastures, grouse, and even wild turkeys (more than I’ve seen in my entire life). 

Darkness was upon us as we finally left the Saddle Road for the final stretch into Kona.

This road was interesting as well.  Dropping down into the center of Kona, the road went more or less in a straight line descending the final 2,000 feet.  Not a single switchback.  A narrow, shoulder-less road with heavy traffic, pedestrians walking along the shoulder, and teenagers on 49cc scooters trying to coax their mounts ‘up’ the highway to ‘home’.  And, no runaway lanes for trucks when their brakes overheated and failed. . . Geez.

Finally back to the hotel, we headed for the pool.

The Key Fob Thing-a-ma-jiggy

So, the plan was a simple one. 

Go to the grocery store, and procure a few items to place in the cooler for a day at the beach. 

Perfect.  Simple.  Sweet.  Easily accomplished.

We did this and then returned to our Dodge Charger with groceries in hand. 

I was the driver and I had the key fob in my short’s pocket.  I removed said key fob from said short’s pocket.  Since, there isn’t an actual key, simply this fob which must be in close proximity to the ‘start’ button to actually start the engine.  Modern automobiles want to be like racecars these days and racecars don’t have keys.  Geez. 

Furthermore, the Rental Company apparently has had instances where renters have dropped the key fob into the ocean and then after retrieving it (a commercial hard hat diver may have been used in said action) the dang thing had been rendered inoperative.  Shorted out by all of that saltwater.  So, the car rental company had signage on their fob, “Do Not Get Wet”.  Simple enough to accomplish, I always disrobe before I shower. 

Anyways, back to the grocery store parking lot. . . .  

Since there isn’t a key to open a trunk I retrieved the fob and pressed the appropriate ‘trunk’ button. 

“Pop” went the trunk.

Con said, “Hold these so I can get the cooler.”

“Yes, dear” I dutifully replied. (36+ years of blissful marriage has made me quite dutiful).

She handed me the groceries she was carrying as to free her hands to procure the cooler (which was on her side).

The beautiful children were already bouncing around to the glorious sound of the music as they had their earphones in their ears and they were somewhere else.  In a dreamland.  In fantasy land.  Somewhere, anywhere but helping their parents carry the groceries to the car. 

Requiring my two limited hands to hold the groceries I placed the key fob onto the left rear fender of the Dodge Charger with the opened trunk. 

The parking lot of the grocery store was a normal parking lot.  Rather nondiscript.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  Flat (as shopping carts still don't have brakes on them).  Asphalt.  Pretty white lines painted to designate the various parking spaces. 

I turned my attention to assisting my beloved, dear wife.

As I did so I noticed that the car was moving violently as the girls were gyrating to the beat of the band.  Hannah likes bass, and I'm pretty sure the Charger's windows were even vibrating as they strained to not shatter into millions of tiny little fragments. 

The movement of said vehicle caused the key fob to slide off onto the ground.

I watched the slide of said key fob thingy ma jiggy with my well developed peripheral vision (so attuned all those years ago as to detect an enemy offensive guard who was closing in to block me).  No biggy.  The key fob thingy ma jiggy simply slid onto the pavement, I would procure it in short order.

I continued to assist my beloved bride of 36 blissful years.

Completing the task I turned to procure the key fob thingy ma jiggy from the nearby pavement.

NO!  NO!  NO!

This can’t be!!!!

Said pavement contained a stragetically placed (put their by Satan himself) storm drain.

There was the faint sight of miniscule waves diminishing where the key fob thingy ma jiggy had entered the blackened, foul smelling water.

Adrenaline flowed into me as air flows into a newborn babe.

I yanked the storm drain cover off and observed the ten feet of space between me and said depths of water and other stuff in said water, including the key fob thingy ma jiggy.

I contemplated chimneying down into the drain and the blackish water when I remembered the "Do Not Get Wet" warning label on the fob.  My reason slowly but surely returned and I realized that even had I been able to locate and retrieve said key fob it would most likely be inoperative and ultimately useless.

I calmly explained the scenario to my beloved bride of 36 years (perhaps this would be the day where said streak would end???)

Instinctively, I ducked.

Said bride calmly walked around to her unlocked car door, stepped inside, opened the glove compartment and obtained. . . . (I was ducking and covering by this time, albeit about 600 yards distant, as my aged and tired feet had become fleet as an antelope) the car rental papers.  She then telephoned the company who said they were going to locate the spare key fob and have some dear person bring it right out.

I slowly made my way back to the car and tried to explain my need to exercise to said bride of 36 blissful years.

She ignored me as she has grown accustom after 36 years of blissful marriage with me.

After a relatively short period of time said representive from the car rental company called my bride and informed her that the key fob couldn’t be located so they were sending a tow truck with a replacement car.

The Chevy Impala arrived in short order and it actually had a key.

A real key.

Meanwhile, the gyrating children were still in the back seat of the Dodge Charger and looked up with a bewildered, perplexed, non-understanding gaze, when they were asked to remove said bodies from the Dodge Charger and reposition themselves to the Chevy Impala.

"Why dad?  Why?  Why?  Why do we have to?"

Music is a wonderful thing.  It sometimes provides a great escape from the realities of this harsh and cruel world.

FYI: Our car was rented through Alamo Car Rentals.  They were very helpful in assisting us during our self-created dilemma.  Many kudos to the fine folks at ALAMO!!!





Kekaha Kai Bay State Park

The Chevy Impala was a bit louder than the Charger (I know, you’re probably as confused as I am), and the Chevy didn’t have as much get up and go as the former, but it did go as opposed to sitting in the sweltering Tropical sun.

So, the Chevy became our steed for the remainder of the vacation.

I surmised that we had had enough bad fortune for our week in Hawaii (due to our Encounter with the Morlocks and the Misplaced Key Fob thing a ma jiggy) so I decided that it would therefore be safe to snorkel in the ocean.  The Tiger Sharks in the vicinity would surely munch on the guy from Tennessee instead of us.  After all, it was his turn to deal with adversity.  We were done.  Or, so my bride of  36 years exclaimed.  All the while she was excaliming, I was dutifully nodding my head in agreement.

So, in our Chevy carriage (Body by Fisher) we headed north along the Kona coast.

This time our destination was another State Park Beach, Kekaha Kai State Park which was but a short distance north of the Kona (Keahole) Airport.  The main entrance to this park is well marked, but our ‘secret’ beach was one that we had learned about from a ‘native’.  This beach was accessed from a road north of the Park’s main entrance.  This access road was unmarked but was directly across from the West Hawaii Veteran’s Cemetery (so, now you know now to get to this ‘locals only’ beach). 

The beach was teeming with locals.  Enjoying their Sunday afternoon on the beach.  Coolers in hand.  Umbrellas providing the needed shade from the sweltering tropical heat (about the same temperature as Seattle on the same date).  Everyone was greeting one another with “Aloha” and saying “Makalu” after being offered a beer.  I tried my best to look like a local but I don’t think anyone was fooled.

Someone who shall remain unnamed made the error of joking about Tiger Sharks on the drive to the beach.  This imparted a visual image into Audrey’s impressionable mind that absolutely prevented her from entering the vast, unknown, scary ocean.  So, she and her Mother erected their fancy new beach shade thingy and crawled in.  Pleads of common sense from father and sister fell onto deaf ears and the result was Hannah and her father spent a good hour and a half in the bay.  Chasing sea turtles, and a plethora of tropical fish including angels, butterflies, tangs, triggers, spotted puffers, trumpets, damsels, etc.  But, not a single Tiger Shark or any of its cousins.

The highlight was most definitely the Green Sea Turtles that were feeding on a reef that was no more than 30 feet off the beach.  The  beach side of the reef was a whopping 3 feet deep and the Oceanside of the reef was in approximately 6-7 feet of water.  It was fascinating to watch the four turtles being tossed about by the surf as they munched on algae.  A beautiful creature in its natural environment as opposed to being watched in an aquarium.

Hannah decided that it was absolutely imperative that she share this experience with her beloved, younger sister, and she, being the patient teacher and compassionate friend was eventually able to convince her Mother and Sister to venture to the water’s edge.  After shouts of joy when they saw their first turtle they were both able to walk waist deep into the vast Pacific Ocean and watch these wonderful turtles. 

Audrey was even able to enter the water in a four step process:

1.        She donned her mask only to decide it was too tight and therefore removed it.

2.       She entered the water until it was almost up to her armpits.

3.       She was so enthralled by the spectacle of the turtles and surmising that had there been a Tiger Shark in the vicinity the turtles would provide a more delectable snack (wrong, they were encased in their shell, she wasn’t) she entered the water and was able to lengthen the mask’s strap to make it actually fit her.

4.       She put her head beneath the water and was rewarded by a truly marvelous spectacle of nature. 

Audrey even swam around to the deep side and with her sister’s assistance was vastly rewarded by views of the turtles and very colorful tropical fish.

A great experience was had by all!!!

And, I’m pretty sure that if you were to ask Audrey what her favorite part of the entiore vacation was, it would be this very experience.  Swimming with the Sea Turtles.  She has already told me that sea turtles are 'now' her favorite animal,  with the exception of dogs.  So, we can safely say that sea turtles are Audrey’s favorite creature in the wild.  Dogs are thereby her favorite domesticated creature.

The Last Full Day

AM – We went out with a bang.  All four of us went aboard the Kamanu, a sailing catamaran out of the Kona Marina.  This very stable, comfortable sailboat held a crew of 2 and 24 passengers.  However, on our morning trip there were only 13 including 6 children (of which Hannah was the oldest).  We headed to Pawai Bay, but the conditions weren’t right for the skipper.  So, he and the mate discussed the options.  Turtle Heaven or Eel Cove.  They opted for the later as the former was frequented by sharks and the skipper was concerned that the sight of these fish would cause great concern for the kids.  I know that would have been the case for Audrey and as such, I appreciate the Captain’s consideration.

If there was a better snorkeling experience than Eel Cove, I’d be surprised as there was great visibility, plenty of coral and reefs to provide structure.  Minimal swell and a plethora of tropical fish.  Including a school of yellow tangs that numbered in the hundreds.

Hannah was quickly in the water and awaited her sister.  Audrey joined her and immediately said, ‘It’s deeper than what I was expecting.’  Hannah did everything she could to comfort her sister and make her feel at ease.  The depth was somewhere around 30 ft. where the boat was anchored.

Hannah and I were partners as Connie and Audrey hung together.  They bobbed in inner tubes and enjoyed the view from the surface and the security of the flotation devices.  Most of the guests stayed in the shower water of the cove and Hannah and I headed for the reefs edge at a drop-off.  Swimming along the edge was thrilling to Hannah and she is simply ‘at ease’ in the water.  She never expresses or verbalizes any anxiety and she is an adventurer extraordinaire.  She wants to keep going to see what’s around the next corner, or over that edge, or on the other side of the reef.  I have to work to keep the reins on her.  But, I’m not complaining.  I just want to keep her close as it is a few thousand miles to Asia.

Now, whether we’re on a snorkeling trip, or a hike in the mountains, one of my favorite things is to make new friends.  And, on this morning we befriended a couple with an accent.  Andrew & Juliet from London, England.  He is a blogger for MICROSOFT and they travel a great deal because of his position.  That made for some fascinating stories and recommendations.   Julie felt at ease in the water as much as Connie did and that made Con feel that much more comfortable.  All is good in Hawaii.

PM – After returning to the Marina the swells had taken their toll on yours truly.  Hannah, Audrey, and Mom were all good to go, but I had even taken a Dramamine before the day’s outing began.  Nevertheless, the rise and fall of the ocean swells gave me that swimming, cork like feelings, and well, I wasn’t able to enjoy the lunch prepared by the staff for the return sail to the Marina.  Alas, the remainder of the family was just fine.

The highlight of the return was Hannah and Audrey lying on the trampoline of the cat.  They watched flying fish just ahead of the bow wake.  Both girls loved it; Hannah called it her favorite thing of the entire Hawaii trip.

Temps were great.  Water temp was a fabulous 79 degrees.  A slight breeze made the 85 degree air temperature quite pleasant.  Kona at its finest.

The Marine Radio of the boat was on and there was a fishing derby going on in Kona.  Boats were reporting their morning catches.  Boats were from Hawaii to Australia to New Zealand to California to the various Marinas around Hawaii.  About one boat in five had a catch to report.  Sailfish.

PM – Since the next day was going to be our ‘exit’ day, it was necessary to start packing for the return trip.  We did so, reluctantly.

That evening we attended a Luau at our hotel, the Sheraton Keauhou Resort.  Great food.  Great entertainment by ‘Island Breeze Productions’ of Polynesian Culture and Dance.  Ranging from Hawaiian mythology, Tahitian, New Zealand Mowry’s.  Before the evening’s entertainment began he girls learned to make a lei and both girls had temporary tattoos painted by the performers.  Audrey had a Sea Turtle.  And Hannah had a flower put on her shoulder.

The menu included sweet potato salad, fern shoot salad, ahi poke, and red ogo, fruit, steamed rice, mahi mahi, Teriyaki Steak, Roasted whole suckling pig, and taro rolls.  Plus dessert.

The highlight for me was the pork.

Yummy.

The Last Morning & Hindsight is 20/20

We awoke early.  I can’t say we were ‘excited’ as much as we were simply trying to be prompt.

After loading our luggage into the Chevy Impala we pondered breakfast options.  After a brief discussion we decided on Sam Choy’s, which is where we all enjoyed a traditional Hawaiian breakfast a few days earlier.

Arriving at the nearby restaurant we found the doors locked.  We were too early . . . hmm; there is something to the ‘Island Time’ mentality.  These folks are genuinely ‘laid back’.

What to do, what to do? 

Well, let’s go down on the Kona waterfront.  Surely we would find something there.

Yes we did.  Unfortunately, we didn’t find any parking for the Chevy Impala.

Somebody’s stomach growled.

Alright, alright, alright.  Stay calm.  The Chevy Impala is doing just fine.  We’re not stuck in some parking lot with the keys in the storm drain . . .

Then a light bulb went off.  Like a beam of light enlightening James Belushi in the South Chicago Church.

“McDonald’s”.

So, off we went to the McDonald’s Restaurant across from the Sports Authority store.  We had spied it a few days earlier.

The restaurant had the normal fare, predictable.  Dependable.  The same in Kona as it was it PA as it was in Danville as it was in Bridgeport as it was in Daytona Beach.  Did I say predictable?

Now, on top of the normal fare the Kona McDonald’s offered some Hawaiian slants on their breakfast offerings. 

SPAM.

We had noticed that a number of the Big Island Restaurants offered Spam.  And, here it was on the McDonald’s menu.  Hannah and I ordered meals with SPAM on it.  These Hawaiians love their pork.  They brought pigs with them on their voyage from Polynesia.  Feral pigs cover the islands.  You can even hunt them.  Albeit one gent said you could only kill them with a machete (we all took a step back when he told us that).  These Hawaiians are tough hombres.  Hunting with machetes???  Hmmm.

Back to the McDonald’s menu: other offerings included steamed rice as a side dish in lieu of hashbrowns.  There was Portuguese Sausage instead of ‘normal’ sausage.  But, to our dismay there wasn’t a McDonald’s version of Loco Moco (rice, a hamburger patty on top of that, an egg on top of that, and brown gravy covering everything). 

So, at our McDonalds breakfast we more or less had a farewell breakfast that was traditional Hawaiian.  Everyone walked out with a smile on their face.  Even though the last meal that we had during our vacation was at a McDonald's.  Ho hum.

We filled up the tank of the Chevy and returned it to the Alamo.

Uneventful.

We rode the van back to the airport and checking in to the Alaska agent as well as US Customs was uneventful.  As we weren’t carrying any top-secret Hawaiian vegetables or fruit getting through the FDA inspection was a snap.

Then we all oohed and aahed at the Kona terminal.  Basically an outdoors terminal.  I love a place where the airport terminal is essentially outside.

Con picked up some local delicacies for the flight (5 ½ hours eastbound) and to share at home.  Among them, dark chocolate Donkey Balls.  Delicious.

Then we headed to our gate where we were reunited with our snorkeling friends from yesterday, Andrew & Juliet.  They were on our very flight for Seattle.

They shared with us some of their stories and travel photos.  Andrew is a computer geek and his hardware and knowledge is something to envy.  I especially loved his photos taken at the Observatory on Mauna Kea.  Sunset from near the summit of the world’s highest mountain (by relief) was absolutely spectacular. 

Going to Mauna Kea was my single ‘wish I had done’ event of this vacation.  Nuts.

The kids had snorkeling with the Manta Rays at the top of their ‘wish they had done’ list, but Andrew and Juliet had actually done that while we were at the luau.  They were skunked.  They hung on to the light ring for hours, and were rewarded by the need to shower off the saltwater.  Not a single manta ray bothered to eat the plankton fare.  Perhaps, they were instead chowing down on the SPAM at McDonald’s?  Stranger things have happened in Roswell, NM.

I wish we had rented a JEEP so we could have gone to Green Beach ourselves and drove up Mauna Kea at our leisure.

I realize that I brought too many clothes.  All you need are sandals.  Leave the shoes and socks on the mainland.  You don’t need them.  Leave the trousers as well.  Bring plenty of shorts.  All you need is shorts.

Take the Mauna Kea tour.  They provide the transportation and the warm clothing for the near 14,000 foot altitude.  That place is the premier astronomical site on the planet and the new telescopes that the professional astronomers use are even BETTER than Hubble.  Since the Kona Coast is the only place on the planet where you can see the elegant and unworldly Manta Rays feeding at dusk, you might as well see do that as well.

Finally, stay longer.

There’s a lot on the Big Island and we were only able to scratch the surface.

The weather is superb.  It may be warm, hot to this boy.  But, it is cooled by the tropical breezes. Even at sea level.  But, if you really want to cool down all you have to do is drive the island and you’ll eventually find an elevation that is the PERFECT temperature to fit your needs.  Somewhere on the island, it is always 72 degrees.

Now, during the flight home the 5 ½ hours flew by (literally and figuratively).  Audrey got out her Kindle Fire and all four of us took turns watching the movie ‘Ironman’.  It was fun and it sure passed the time. 

Unfortunately, one of my Donkey Balls fell onto the floor and rolled around the plane unabated.  I heard many a ‘What the heck is that?’  As the little brown blob rolled pass someone’s feet and for some reason was for some reason the source of extreme anxiety.

Some people drew their feet up onto their seats (not an easy task) and shrieked with fear as the brown ball rolled pass. 

But, once I heard a Donkey Balls connoisseur remark, ‘Hey, that’s a donkey ball’. 

To which someone else said, “A donkey ball?”

Thoughts by Roseann

February 28, 2012

Thoughts by Roseann

For the last two weeks, I have been going through Granny’s (Caroline Bottorff) old trunk which was an old trunk when she got it from one of her relatives, cleaning out some stuff, organizing other things that were in it, but this time there was an exception, I actually had the time to pay attention to the items I was looking at and do some investigating.

Although over the years, I have gone through the stuff and added others, I have not taken the time to read each and every piece of paper nor taken the time to think what some of the things clearly meant to the person that saved them.

A lot of the things tell stories of their own, some of my grandmother, some of her Mother, some of her Sister.  How much of what was kept by my Mother, what I’ve added.  It all turned into a major project and I’ve been enjoying it.

One nice thing is I have been able to share some of it with my “cuz” Tony Little who is descended from the same old gent as I  – Green Little.

Although at times, depending on what I was looking at, emotions have taken over.  Looking at a picture of my Grandmother in her youth, my great Aunt’s things, my great grandmother’s autograph book.  What a wealth of history is in so much of it and what information can be gleaned from going through it all.

Today I decided to read the 3 newspapers that were there.  One, I am assuming my grandparents put aside.  It is dated September 1, 1939.  Chicago Daily Tribune.  Cost 2 cents.  That right there is historical!

 The headline reads “WAR!  BOMB WARSAW”

And continues to display “Nazi Army Order” and quotes Hitler’s order to invade Poland..

In investigating further, I see that these are facsimiles of 12 front pages, highlights of World War II.. I didn’t have a paper that was original to that day.  I had 12 front pages on the beginning of that war and the end.  How interesting! And proof that I can read and think at the same time!  WOW! 

Here are the Highlights:

The 2^nd one states “US & Japs at War’ DEC. 8, 1941

The 3^rd one states “Corregidor Falls dated May 6, 1942

The 4th  one states Repulse Jap Fleet May 9, 1942

The 5^th one states “Japs repulsed at Midway dated June 6, 1942

The 6^th one states “AEF Invades Africa”  Nov. 8, 1942 (and it was 10 cents)

The 7^th one states “Allies Invade Italy”  Sept. 3, 1943 (and it was 3 cents)

The 8^th one states “Allies Invade France”  June 6, 1944

The 9^th one states  “Roosevelt is Dead!”  April 13, 1945

The 10^th one states “ V-E Day-Truman  May 8, 1945

The 11^th one states “ Atomic Bomb Story August 7, 1945

The 12^th one states “ Great War ends”  Japs surrender to Gen. M’Arthur  Aug. 15, 1945

The thoughts of what went through my grandparents minds and the effect it had on the country as a whole.  I was born in 1943 so all this was going on at the time.  As I reached high school and beyond I never could get any in my family to talk about it at any length.  In later years, like around 1986, I tried to get my Father to discuss his war years after he found me reading a book on Patton and got angry.  He wouldn’t talk about it.  As recently as this past year, as I took a trip to Germany to visit my son in the army, I found it was a touchy subject there also, maybe more so.  The Germans really want to forget it.  I did manage to visit a cemetery dedicated to the US fallen on the way to Luxembourg and lo and behold, there was Patton’s grave.  Although he didn’t die at war, he requested to be buried there and was.  Beautiful interesting place.

Though the paper is older than I am and delicate, I continue to read all the pages.  MMM, interesting.  Though it took me hours to peruse, now the question is how do I preserve it for another 70 years?

Moving on I find the papers I put in there after I had possession of the trunk and again am fascinated and emotionally rung out after reading those.  Again the Chicago Sun Times November 23, 1963 (America Weeps) and Dec. 29, 1963 (A Monday walk in Gothic Gloom) followed by you got it the Chicago Tribune’s “The Warren Report” Sept 28, 1964.  I am once again crying..unstoppable tears as I read and look at Jackie Kennedy and John John saluting his father and am right back to the day it happened.  I was going to be of legal age to vote for the first time and was so excited because I loved JFK and now I couldn’t bear the thought.  How that day and all that followed changed our country and all of us.

Moving on, another newspaper (once again the Chicago Tribune) I put in there dated August 9, 1974 headlined  “Nixon Resigns.”  This time all 60 pages of it and it was 15 cents.  Again, I am lost in the news reading even the advertisements.  My son in Germany is interested in all of this but it’ll have to wait as it all has for so many years.

Chapter I - THE MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS

THE MAN WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS

A TRUE CIVIL WAR STORY. . .

By Caroline Dowde

CHAPTER  I

     It was with a happy heart and heavy tired feet that Green Little trudged along the narrow path by Deep River that led to his home near Asheboro, North Carolina.  He was returning from his enlistment in the Confederate Army after two lonely years away from home.[i]

     Green Little loved every tree and bush in this familiar old woods where he had hunted and fished all his life.  The squirrels scolded and sent warning signals to each other and the possums played dead as he walked thoughtfully along.  He was wondering if he would find his family up so early.  He hoped they were all alive and well; it had been so long since he had heard from them.  As he neared the cabin, he gave the old whistle that they all knew so well and waited to see what would happen.  Smoke was coming from the chimney, so they must be up.  He came a little closer and whistled once more.

     In the house, Mrs. Little and six children[ii] sat at the large square table eating corn cakes and molasses.  Robert, the oldest boy at home since David had been called was saying, “Listen, I hear a whistle.”  Mother looked up from her plate and replied hesitantly, “It could be a bird.”  “Oh, no, I don’t think so,” persisted Robert.  When the second whistle was heard, everyone knew it was Pappy.

     In the rush to get to the door, the table was pushed over, the dishes spilled on the floor, and all the children came out falling over each other.   As they rushed to embrace the weary figure, they clamored over and over, “Oh, Pappy, you are home at last.”  Mother was the last to greet him.  Getting the table and benches from under foot and salvaging the dishes had held her back. 

     “Why, Mother, aren’t you glad to see me?”  were Pappy’s first words to her as he folded her in his arms.  This was the woman he had loved so many years and had missed so much during his absence.  Mother hurriedly assured him that she was glad to see him, she had been so worried and it had been so long since she had heard from him.  She told him she had a letter from their son David and that he was well.  Her next words were, “Oh, you are so dirty!”

     “I know I am,” Pappy chuckled, “But I would like some coffee before you start cleaning me up.”

     After a noisy breakfast, Robert and John were sent to the spring with buckets to fill the big black kettle in the backyard in which they heated all the water to wash or scrub with.  Mother set about getting clean clothes ready, and the younger girls were sent scurrying to get the tub ready in the woodshed.  Pappy was relaxing over his coffee enjoying the gay clamor when he saw Louise, his oldest daughter, coming out of Mother’s bedroom.  His smile broadened.

     Louise was called Ludie for short.  Pappy had given her that name when she was a very little girl.  She had always been the apple of his eye.  She was now eighteen and a big girl indeed, with square shoulders like a man and all of five feet six in height.  When Pappy was away, she considered herself the head of the family.  Pappy wanted it that way.  He could trust her, and he knew she always used good judgment.

      “What have you there?”  Mother nodded toward Ludie’s hand.

     “Oh, you know how gad the lye soap smells,” Ludie answered.  “Pappy doesn’t like it, so I am going to drop in a bit of musk essence in the soap for him.”  Mother smiled and agreed he would like that.

     After the bath and clean clothes, Pappy felt like a new man.  The only thing wrong was that his long black hair was standing up like a wild man’s.  One look into the broken mirror and he went into a rage.  His beard was even as a March here.  Mother cried, “Go quickly!  Get the mutton tallow for him.”  One of the girls came running with it and saved the day.

     The rest of the day was spent talking about all the things that had happened while Pappy was away.  Mother had warned the children not to tell him anything bad, like when the biggest sheep got tangled up in the fishing line and fell into Deep River, or the time the ash pit caught fire.  They saved the ashes from the hearth to make lye for soap.

     Everything went well in the evening.  The children went to bed early.  The boys slept in the loft and they did a few acrobatic tricks for Pappy as they climbed the ladder and pulled it up behind them.

     When all was still in the house, Ludie sat down at the table with Mother and Pappy to talk about the more serious side of things.  They told him about the debts they had been forced to make and about the boys being such poor shots at hunting.  They wanted so much lead, for they couldn’t even mold it right.   Ludie said they were both lazy and were always fighting about who would hoe the garden.  She said Mother took their part about the garden and made the girls help and they chopped up every other hill of beans.  It seemed that no one could hoe except John, and it wasn’t fair for him to have to do it all.  A cool breeze came up and Mother got up to close the window and then went into her room to get ready for bed. 

     Ludie was glad to be left alone with Pappy as she had so many troubles on her mind that she hadn’t bothered Mother with.  She asked Pappy if he had noticed her faded dress.  He nodded and said he thought it used to be pink and now it was white, and he also wondered why her shawl was so patched.  She told him calico was $1.00 a yard and she had begged Mother to get her goods for a dress.  When she had finally talked her into it, Mr. Frazier had been very insulting when they were in the store looking at the goods.  He had said, “Mrs. Little, you know you can’t afford to be buying yard goods for dresses.  I have only one or two bolts left.  You had better leave it for someone who can afford to buy it.”  Ludie also told Pappy about going to the mill with the boys for corn meal and as they passed the Ashworth plantation two little negro boys called them white trash and made fun of her faded dress.

     She was in tears as she went on to tell that someone had killed their dog; he was such a good hound dog and they needed him so.  She wondered how soon the war would be over and if things would ever be the same as they used to.  Pappy gave her his handkerchief to dry her eyes and said he would see what he could do about it all very soon.  He told her to go to bed now and let him carry on tomorrow.

     The day after his homecoming , Pappy went hunting and took John and Lucy Ann with him.  Lucy Ann was the youngest girl.  Her long black hair was plaited and tied tightly around her head to keep the brush and briars from hurting her.  Lucy Ann and John were both tall and thin and looked very much alike when Lucy Ann wore boys’ clothes, as she often did.  Pappy had promised them when they were older he would take them hunting, and now was the time.  They carried their lunch in the canvas hunting bag and went off singing.  They were still singing after they crossed the river, so loudly, in fact, that Mother and the girls could recognize the tune, “Froggie Went A’ Courting.”

     Robert was given his work instructions for the day.  Betsey Jane and Caroline were assigned to filling up the brick dust box which was to be kept full at all times.  They used the dust to clean the pots and the board tables so they didn’t need so much soap.  The girls liked this job; they thought it was fun.  They put the brick in a bag and sat and pounded it to dust with a hammer on the flat rocks by the river.

     Mother washed clothes as usual.  It seemed that she was always washing.  Ludie accused her of washing for a pastime, but today she had Pappy’s clothes as an excuse.  After doing the washing Mother returned to see if the work had been done at the house.

     As evening drew near, Ludie wondered what to do about supper.  If it had been the boys that went hunting she would have had the Jackie peas and side pork on cooking, but Pappy was different.  He loved roasted meat so she dug some sweet potatoes and kept a good bed of hot coals on the hearth.

     Lucy Ann returned first with her pockets and arms full of wild grapes and saying she sure missed her dress or apron to carry the grapes.  She complained of scratches and tired feet and said she knew Pappy had shot something because he had some kind of a tail on his hat and so did John.

     The next morning Pappy was up early.  He took the axe and went out to the clearing to start in where he had left off before he went away.  He had to make the tobacco patch larger if he was to make any money, but, for some reason that he couldn’t answer to himself, his interest was gone.  He sat down on a log and tried to figure things out in his mind.  The war was going well, that he knew, but supplies were not what they should be.  He wondered how it would affect him if the South should lose the war.  He didn’t own any slaves.  All he had were the children and they were growing up.  He thought of his uncle, Ed Little[iii], in Indiana.  Maybe after the fighting was over he might move to Indiana.  Feeling no inclination for work, he decided to go into Asheboro to see who was leaving in the bunch that was to go next week.    He needed some tobacco anyway.  He took his musket along in case he saw a squirrel or two on the way home.

     There were lots of people in the village, all talking about the ones that were going away.  The cotton growers were trying to get things in shape so their foremen could run things while they were away.  Army men were on every corner trying to buy horses.  They wanted the best, and some of the men were selling their riding horses and walking.  Pappy sat on the courthouse steps shaking hands with the older men as they came and went.  Some thanked him for service in such a good cause; others asked about conditions in the army.

     As Pappy was walking along toward home, a fine looking gentleman rode up and stopped at his side.  He asked pappy if he would like to ride.  At first Pappy did not recognize him.  “I’m your neighbor,” the gentleman smiled.  Then Pappy said, “Oh, yes, Mr. Hammond.  You have grown a little stout since I saw you last, and you have a new rig I see.”

     “Yes, I had a good cotton crop this year,” Mr. Hammond answered.  You are lucky to be out of the army, Little, just as the rest of us are going in.  Tell me something about it.”  As they rode along, Pappy told about some of the battles he was in and some of the hardships of the war.  Mr. Hammond asked if he thought he would enlist again and Pappy said, “No.”  He felt he had done his share.  Mr. Hammond also inquired about his wife and children, which puzzled Pappy a little because he had never been so friendly before.

     “I see you are hunting on my north forty at the back of you,” Mr. Hammond went on.  “Do you bag anything?”

     “Oh, a squirrel and a possum once in a while.”

     “How is your tobacco patch?” Mr. Hammond asked.  “You should clear more land and keep those boys of yours busy.”

     “I know,” Pappy agreed as he stepped out of the rig and thanked Mr. Hammond for the lift.

     Supper was ready when pappy came in.  he told them all about his ride home with Mr. Hammond and that he had asked about Mother and the children.  Both Mother and Ludie threw up their hands in disbelief.  “You must be funning,” they cried.  Pappy admitted that he was surprised too but guessed he was a nice man just a bit high toned. 

     Pappy and the boys spent the next couple of days tracing some bees to their hive in the woods.  After three or four good stingings, which they cured with raw onion, they returned with a bucket full of honey.  There had been some honey in the tree that Pappy cut down and he set a bear trap nearby, so he took up his musket now and went back to see what would happen.

The Woods on Frazier Mountain

Near the Green Little Cabin, North of Asheboro, NC

Photo taken in 2008

     As he was walking along the river, he saw Mr. Hammond walking towards him.  “Now where are you headed, my good man?” asked Mr. Hammond.

     “Oh, I’m just going to take a look at my traps.”

     “Well, sit down on this log; you’re not in a hurry and I would like to talk to you.  Green Little, do you know what you need?”  Pappy was scared for a minute but drew a deep breath as Mr. Hammond continued, “More land.”

     “Oh.”  Pappy said.

     “Now, I have these one hundred and thirty acres of timber here that joins you.  That is the best kind of land if it was cleared.  And you have those lazy boys at home too young to go to the army and one in the army who will be home soon.  They could pitch into this and clear it in no time, and look what you would have then.”  Pappy was puzzled as Mr. Hammond continued.  “You could make some real money.  Boys need work to keep them out of trouble.  I hear Lincoln has freed the slaves, war or no war.  Of course, they don’t know just what it means yet, but it will get around and some will give us troubles.  It’s hard to tell what will happen.

     Mr. Hammond paused a bit and then continued more deliberately.  “I just don’t see how I can go away at this time; everything depends on my being here.  I am willing to pay any man “1,000.00 to go in my place, or these one hundred and thirty acres which would sell for that much.  How would you like to go in my place, Little”[i]

     Pappy was shocked.  “Well, I ain’t caring a thing about going back and anyway that couldn’t be done,” he mumbled.

     Mr. Hammond stared steadily at Pappy and said, “Oh, I don’t know why not.  This bunch I am to go with is leaving from about six miles from here and everyone keeps his mouth shut about it.  Since no one knows either you or me, they don’t care who answers the call.  How about it, Little?”

     “I don’t know.  I just don’t know,” Pappy said.  “I’ll think about it though.”

     They both rose from the log and as they studied each other for a moment, Mr. Hammond cautioned, “This is between you and me.”

     Pappy walked home very slowly.  As he came up on the porch where Ludie and Mother were sitting he was weak and shaky.  He sat down and leaned back to rest his head against the wall of the house.  “Are you tired?” Mother asked him.  Pappy just nodded.

     That night after supper, he went to bed early-something unusual for Pappy.  But two hours later when Mother went into her room for her comb, he was still awake. 

     When the family gathered for breakfast the next day Pappy was not there.  The children said, “Gee, Pappy sure went hunting early this morning.”  Mother was surprised but didn’t say anything.

     Pappy came home at noon and told the children to go out and play as he wanted to talk to Mother and Ludie.  He told them about Mr. Hammond’s offer.  They were speechless.  They knew better than to try to change any plan he made at the time; he always had his own way in the end anyway.  Mother and Ludie were afraid to argue with him and his ugly temper, but Mother spoke up now.  “Green, you may never come back and then what good would the land be.  You may not be so lucky the next time.”

     “My mind is made up,” said Pappy firmly.  “Tomorrow you and Ludie are to meet Mr. Hammond at the courthouse.  He will put $1,000.00 in your hand to buy the land.  I’ll take no part in it, so if I don’t come back it will be easier for you to do business.  He will be at the courthouse ahead of you and have the papers all ready.  You are to talk to no one.”

     Mother protested, “Oh, I will be scared to death to have so much money in my hand.  Must I go?  I don’t want to do this.  I can’t, I just can’t.”

     On the day of March 24^th, 1863, in the County of Randolph, State of North Carolina, May Little, wife of Green Little, bought one hundred and thirty acres of land.

     Mr. Hammond was very abrupt and businesslike and rushed out of the office as quickly as possible.  Mother and Ludie walked home from town in silence.  When they came to the clearing and could see the house, they saw pappy walking up and down the porch with his hands locked behind him.  The children were all scared.  They seemed that something was wrong.  Mother had never gone to the village before.  Pappy was so cross, and Ludie was crying in her apron and had the rag tied around her head as she did whenever she had a headache.  What could be the matter?

     The few days before Pappy left were unhappy ones.  Mother sewed carpet rags on the porch all day; Pappy and the boys cut wood; everyone was so quiet it seemed like somebody was dead.

     It was about a week after Pappy left before things seemed to be running as usual.  John spent many hours on the porch and playing his father’s old Jews’ harp.    Caroline said it sounded mournful and wanted Mother to make him stop.  There were always arguments, it seemed, when pappy was not there.  The boys kept asking Mother if they should start clearing some of the new land, but she always put them off.  Mother just couldn’t realize it was her land and somehow she just couldn’t get interested in it.

     Nan Dean came over often now that Pappy was gone.  Nan was always so slow you could make three beds and wash the dishes before she got across the clearing.  She just loved to talk and didn’t mind a bit if she had to follow you around to do it.  She didn’t miss a thing that happened for miles around.  Pappy had always said, “She’s a good woman.  She just knows too much.”  They were glad to see her come because she usually brought some news about the war.

     Bob and John went to the village once or twice a week to get news about the war.  One afternoon, about the middle of July, Mother was taking her afternoon nap and Ludie was rocking on the porch when they heard someone shouting, “Oh, dear, we are losing the war.”  The boys were running toward the house, faces red, almost out of breath, and both talking at once.  They were trying to tell all that was going on at the village.  They said the streets were full of people; ladies were crying; and there was a long list of names of all the dead on the courthouse wall.  All they could gather was that there had been a big battle up in the North someplace and everybody got killed.

     “Oh, not everybody, “ Ludie interrupted.

     “Well, that is what Mr. Bulla said[ii].  We looked for Pappy’s name, but it was not there.”  Mother was standing on the porch now very silent and pale.

     “Of course it would not be there,” Ludie insisted.  She couldn’t believe it could be this bad with General Lee at the head of the Southern Army.

     The boys were so upset by what they had seen and heard in Asheboro they both started crying.  Mother said gently, “Go to the river for a little swim in the cool water and you will feel better.”

     Nan Dean came early the next day to confirm the bad news and told them the great loss was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, but all was not lost as the boys thought.  She was sure Lee would come out all right.

     Mother was worried as to the weeks and months went by with no news from Pappy, good or bad.  Almost every night she dreamed about him, always the same dream.  She was sure now that she loved this man she had spent so many years with.  There had been times when she had doubted it.  Pappy was a good man, she was sure, but he was so cross.  If the house was not just as he thought it should be or the nightlights in readiness, he went into a rage.  He would bang the doors and pound the tables, and one time he had pounded her over the shoulders with the butt end of a large turkey wing that was used to sweep the heart.  His tantrums were a thing to be afraid of and you never knew when to expect one.  No matter what she said, she never said one single word to defend herself or try to explain.  At the end of every outburst, Pappy would take down the musket and powder horn and go hunting.  He was always so angry at that stage, they thought he might shoot them.

     The winter went by with good and bad reports about the war.  Some said there were no supplies for the soldiers; others said don’t believe it we will come out all right.

     In the spring Mother was upset again.  So many of the sheep were dying and she couldn’t find out what the trouble was.  They were getting ready for shearing and everyday Bob came in with a higher count.  He kept saying over and over, “All that nice wool gone.”  Ludie got the idea she could have some of it the hard way.  She got some baskets and coaxed John to come along to pick the wall off the dead sheep.  Mother heated rain water lukewarm and put the best soap in a tub.  As the wool was brought in they washed it and put it in the sun to dry.  When it was dry, they carded it into bats about eight inches square.  The bats were like little white clouds ready to use in all kinds of bedclothes.  Every morning Bob and John went to the woods to bury the sheep that had died.

     It had been a year since Pappy had gone away and not a word from him.  Mother was worried.  The children thought if he was dead it would be posted, so they went every day into the village to look at the list.  They always came home with a smile; he was not listed.  Another year passed with still no word from Pappy.

     Then one morning in early April, the Little’s were awakened at dawn by a  confusion of noises in the woods behind the house.  The woods were full of horses and soldiers.  After several hours of peeking out of the windows trying to figure out what was happening, Bob and John ventured out to talk to some of the men.  The soldiers told them they were camping there waiting for orders.  Mother was afraid to let the girls go out of the house.

     On the following day there was a big uproar.   Some of the soldiers were swinging and swaying and singing loudly, “Home, Sweet Home.”  The war was over.  Lee had surrendered.  Mother could hardly believe it, but the soldiers began to leave in droves.  Some left their packs and all left their horses.  Bob and John rushed in shouting excitedly, “We’re rich!  Look at all the horses.  The soldiers said we could have them.”

     “Calm yourself,” Ludie said.  “What will you feed them? They are so poor and skinny; they are ready to drop dead.”

     The boys were stunned by this abrupt shattering of their dreams.  “Well,” Bob asked dejectedly, “There is one mule there that looks the best of the bunch.  May we keep him?”  Mother agreed but wondered how they would get rid of the others.  Ludie decided they should go out and get some long sticks and shoo them away deep into the woods.  She  was sure they would all die.

     In the village there was so much excitement, Bob and John were frightened as they went into town to read the names on the list.  The men were all standing around in groups and talk was thick about soldiers coming and going and the gripes that they had.  Everyone was saying this was ruination for the South.  They discussed the different battles and wondered what could have went wrong.  Many said they should have stopped it a year ago.

     The children were heartened by the thought that Pappy would surely be home now, so they started for home.  When they arrived, Ludie was asking Mother if she should get some of Pappy’s light clothes out and freshen them up as it was getting hot.  Mother agreed it would be a fine idea and sent Ludie after the thing shirts which were kept in a  box in the loft.  Everyone was busy when Mother looked up and saw a soldier walking slowly across the clearing towards the house.  She called the children to come quickly.

     “Look, can this be Pappy?” she asked uncertainly.

     “Oh, no,” John shook his head.  “That’s not Pappy.”

     “No, “ agreed Bob, “That’s not his walk.  He never walked that slow.”

     Betsey Jane ran out of the house to take a look.  “Oh,” she exclaimed, “It must be David.”

     As the soldier came closer they saws that they did not know him.  Fear chilled Mother’s heart.  As the young man came up to them, he asked Mother, “Are you Green Little’s wife?”

    “Yes, I am.” Mother answered.

     “Allow me to introduce myself, Mam.  I am Jim Jackson.  I was with your husband in the army, that is, up to the battle of Gettysburg.”  Mother was so scared she was speechless.

     At last Ludie broke the silence asking softly, “Where is Pappy now?”

     The soldier walked deliberately towards the porch and sat down.  He saw they were stunned and dreaded to tell his story, but he began.  “Mrs. Little your husband was killed on July 2^nd of last year in the Battle of Gettysburg.  I was sure you would not know about it.”  The younger girls rose and went to their room as they always did in case of any trouble.

     Ludie, with tears running down her cheeks said, “Please tell us about him, sir.”  Mother sat very still staring ahead of her as though she had turned to stone.

     “I am just returning to my home, but I stopped her to tell you about your father,” he addressed Ludie.  “He spoke so well of you.  We sat together on the night of July 1^st on a hill our company had been assigned to and were waiting for orders on the A.M. of the 2^nd.  The night was hot and we were tired and hungry.  While we were waiting for food to come in on the wagon train, we talked about the setup there in Gettysburg.  We didn’t like it.  There seemed to be so much confusion everywhere.  As we talked about the coming day, Green said to me, “Jim, I think this is my last day on earth.”  I was surprised at this remark as he had always been so cheerful.  So, I said, “Man, how silly you talk.”  Green went on saying, “My family have seemed so near to me today; it is just like I can reach out and touch them.  I feel so blue and so scared that even my breath is short.  I have never felt like this before in my life.”  I told him, “We are all scared before a big battle.”  “Yes, I know” he said, “But this is different with me.  I am sure I will never get through tomorrow.  I have my ring and knife and this little bottle; I would like you to take them home to my wife if you get through.  I’ll tie them up in this handkerchief.”

     “Here they are,” Mr. Jackson ended as he pulled a little package out of his pocket and placed it in Mother’s hand.  Mother made a movement to untie the handkerchief, but her eyes closed and she fell back in a faint.  They carried her in and put her on the bed.   Some cold towels and a little fanning brought her back to her senses again.

     While the younger girls were caring for Mother, Ludie thanked the soldier and asked him to wait a few minutes on the porch until she could see if her mother was all right.  She told the children to stay with Mother.  She wanted to talk to Mr. Jackson alone.  “Please tell me just what happened, “ Ludie said as she returned.

     “Well,” Mr. Jackson began, “It was a terrible battle, you know.  I suppose you heard all about it.  We were given orders to charge.  We had a good half mile to run under heavy cannon blasts.  Your father was running ahead of me when a large piece of shrapnel hit him in the face and almost cut half of his head off.  He fell right at my feet.  I jumped over him and then bent over him a second to look at him.  I saw at once that it was all over for him.  No one can imagine what that battle was like and the next day it was worse.  The ground was soaked with blood; I might say North Carolina blood, so many were killed from here.  I was wounded myself, but I’ve recovered.”[i]

     The children all gathered around Mother’s bed as she made another attempt to open the knots in the handkerchief.  As it came open, the girls cried out, “Oh, Mother, your empty scent bottle that you accused us of taking.  See, we didn’t tell you a story.”

     “I know,” Mother said softly, “I believed you.”

     “Well, you didn’t act like you did with the look you gave us when we said we hadn’t seen it,” they persisted.

     Tears filled all eyes at the bedside as they took the ring and knife[ii] in their hands and gingerly passed them to one another.  Mother sat fondling the bottle in her hand and she thought of their love for each other, and her heart was filled with joy for a minute.  To think, he had cared enough for her to take the little musk scent bottle that she kept on her bedroom shelf.

     John interrupted her thoughts, “Mother, why are you smiling at a time like this?”  She did not answer, just leaned back on her pillow with the bottle in her hand and closed her eyes.

     Ludie asked softly, “Mother, have you thought how much this afternoon has been like the dream you have been having since Pappy has been away?”

     “I thought of it, dear child, as the soldier came across the clearing.  That’s why I was so scared.  I knew Pappy was dead.”

     Ludie prepared a light supper.  She knew no one would feel like eating.  The boys went up to bed early.  They didn’t know just what to do with themselves.  The quietness of the upper floor seemed to give them comfort.  They could cry or swear and no one would ever know.  The girls sat in a  row on the side of their beds whispering.  Lucy Ann said, “Gee, I hope Mother don’t get married again like that Mrs. Thomas did.”  Caroline hushed her, “Oh, Lucy Ann, you don’t know what you’re saying.”  “Oh yes, I do,” Lucy Ann went on, “I hear that old man that she married beats the kids with a long stick.”  “Well, don’t worry about that,” Caroline said.  “I just hope Ludie and Mother can quit crying.”

     Ludie washed the dishes and set them on the table.  She felt so weak and lifeless she couldn’t walk over to the cupboard to put them away.  She sat down at the table where she had sat with her father the night of his return from the army and tried to recall their conversation.  All she could remember was that she had complained of her worn out clothes and being called white trash.  Oh, why had she said all those things to him?  She knew now that was one of the reasons he had accepted Mr. Hammond’s offer of the land.  Pappy had given his life for them.

     The thought seemed more than she could bear.  She went to the drawer and got out the old cap Pappy always wore when he went hunting and held it to her breast.  It was so much like him.  She could hold her grief no longer.  She started to scream, “Oh, Pappy, why did I do this to you?  Why can’t I be more like my mother, weak and uncomplaining?  Why am I so much like you?  If I had only kept still, you would have been here with us today.  Oh!  How can we live without you?  What good is this worthless land?  I hate it!”  She was walking around and around the table waving her hands as tears streamed down her face.

     Mother came out of her room and gently helped Ludie to a chair.  “Calm yourself, child,” she urged.  “You will be sick.”

     “Oh, Mother, I can’t bear it.  What shall we do?  If I live to be a thousand years old I will never forget this night or forgive myself,” Ludie sobbed.  Mother god down the whiskey jug and mixed a good drink with a cup of hot water.  This was the only medicine in the house.  It was used for all sickness, for the old and very young alike.  She put cold towels on Ludie’s aching head and fanned her read and swollen face.  Mother put a shawl around her own shoulders and they walked out onto the porch to talk.

     Mother tried to console Ludie, “Don’t blame yourself so much.  Pappy always made up his own mind about everything.  I’m sure he didn’t think we would lose the war, and if he didn’t come back he felt we would get along some way if we had more land.”  Mother asked Ludie if the cool night air didn’t make her feel much better.

     “Oh, yes,” Ludie said.  “I have been thinking while sitting here how strange it is that we were not notified of Pappy’s death.”

     “I have thought of that too,” Mother said.  “He must have been one of those they couldn’t identify.”

     “Yes,” Ludie went on, “Mr. Jackson said they buried hundreds in trenches not even three feet deep.  It is so terrible not even to know where he is buried.  If we had a grave to go and put flowers on, it would seem more real.  Just think, Mother, he has been dead almost two years.  Do you remember the day the boys came home all excited about the terrible battle and crying, “Oh, Mother, we have lost everything; everybody got killed!” How right they were.  I’m glad we didn’t know about it then.  We have had hope to help us through these last two years.

     It was almost daylight now and Mother said she would lie down for awhile and rest.  Ludie took the bucket to the spring for some fresh water.  She started a fire under the kettle on the hearth and made herself some coffee.  As she sat at the table alone drinking the coffee, she knew she could not go on at home as she had done in the past.  Waiting for Pappy was one thing, but now new plans must be made.

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[1] Green Little enlisted on June 5, 1861 into the 22^nd Regiment of the North Carolina Infantry.  He was discharged for medical reasons on October 15, 1862.  His return home was after this discharge.

[2] In 1862 the family included Green, his wife Jemima Davidson Little “May”, Louisa “Ludie”, Caroline, Lucy Ann, Robert, John, Elizabeth Jane “Betsey”, and David who was serving in the 22^nd Regiment of NC Infantry. 

[3] Ed Little is a name that I don’t recognize.  This may be John Little who was living in Fountain County, just north of Kingman, Indiana. David Little had gone to his Uncle’s Farm in 1865.   While there he met Hannah Maris, a daughter of John & Rebecca Maris, John Little’s next door neighbors.[4] The actual battle where Green Little lost his life occurred on July 1^st, 1863.  His unit, the 2^nd NC Battalion was attached to Daniels Brigade of Rodes’ Division.  They were advancing through uncut grass that was 3-4 feet in height.  The field where the advance occurred was approximately a half mile across (as described by Mr. Jackson to the family). The tall grass hid an unfinished railroad cut that Union troops (143^rd Pennsylvania Regiment and others) were waiting.  Additionally cannons had been placed in a camouflaged position that brought about an overwhelming enfilade fire.  Records of the battle state: “The Second North Carolina Battalion, of Daniel’s brigade, lost 200 of 240 men, killed and wounded, without yielding an inch of ground at any time.”

[5] The reference to Mr. Bulla is interesting.  In the Little-Hammer land transaction, B. Bulla was the probate judge.
[6] The knife referenced in the story may actually be the single edge razor that has been passed down in the many generations of Little’s.  According to my father’s handwritten letter of 1951, the razor was on Green Little the day he was killed at Gettysburg.  Green’s eldest son David (who was also at Gettysburg that day, attached to the 22^nd NC Regiment) gave it his grand-nephew Walter Little, who then gave it to my Father.  After my father’s untimely death my Mother gave the razor to me a week before I was married to Connie in 1976. 

                                                This may be the “knife” referenced in the story.

It is actually a single-edge razor

But, to the young Ludie, I understand why she would refer to it as a “knife”

Green Little (circa 1863

“The Man Who Gave His Life For a Thousand Dollars”

(Copied From the Original Tin-Type Photograph, Provided by Roseann Allen 2011)