A whirlwind time of year, yes, for us "retired" folks too...

Monthly column: "Connecting the dots".......The giving back of our retirement to the National Park Service was a decision made in the confines of our little house, beside our crackling fire at 51 Miller Road, Lake Zurich, IL, 22 years ago.  It was a decision made with the intent of "giving back" for the purpose of "making someones day" with our retirement.

Many years later, it was a warm sunny day in December, with the lighthouse "closed" for climbing.   Bill and I were "working" with 1 ranger volunteer and, time permitting, keeping the "base" of the lighthouse open, so that, at the very least, people could enter the 1st floor and look up inside this cavernous piece of history, that has stood 198 feet tall since 1870, keeping mariners safe.  Not a perfect situation, but for people who have traveled many miles to view the lighthouse (without checking the internet to ascertain it's hours etc), it was better than nothing.  As the "ranger" at this post, we get to have many and varied conversations.  I was engaged in conversation with a young couple from Philadelphia, who were accompanying a 5 year old girl named Katie.  Katie's parents explained that the family comes to see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse EVERY year, that Katie LOVES the lighthouse and cannot wait to be tall enough (42 inches-Coast Guard regulations) to climb it.  Katie's parents also said the lighthouse is inevitably closed when they visit (as they visit the same time period every year) BUT, that Katie absolutely adores the lighthouse, talks about seeing "her" for weeks, both before and after their visit.  You can imagine how this little girl felt upon discovering she could finally step inside this dear old friend, normally closed at this time of year,  due to our presence, providing the manpower to facilitate this unique opportunity! (As our visitors are blessed, so we feel blessed as well, for having the opportunity to help out in this way.)  As these nice young people and I drifted in conversation away from the lighthouse, Katie scurrying on ahead of us when the family finally began their departure (long awaited, as Katie had been relishing her time there).   Katie suddenly did an about face and bolted for the open lighthouse door.  As I turned to observe her journey, I said to the Mom...."so close and yet so far".  Mom smiled and said "she wanted to get one last HUG in".....  and that is just what Katie was doing.

Finishing our last days at Cape Hatteras

We enjoyed 1 final day of climbing.  "The Winter Climb" is free, sponsored by "The Lighthouse Society" on Dec. 13th.  I was given the pleasure of sweeping the entire lighthouse the day before  (257 steps, 8 landings 3.5 hours), 

while our fellow volunteer Ranger, Steve, mopped behind me.  The lighthouse looked great for the climb the next day.

The most interesting aspect of that climb were the visitors.  Usually people from all over the world, December 13th was, for the most part, locals.  It made for some very different conversations.

And speaking of "different".....here comes Joe and Stacy:  

Imagine the looks on our faces when, leaving work one of our last days, we are approached in the lighthouse parking lot by this monster RV.  To make a long story short, Joe and Stacey became new friends and camped with us for two nights before continuing their adventure.  They are "full-timers" from Canada who purchased their home (a Mercedes Benz 2000, 10 ton, 4 wheel drive, diesel power, 12 speed forward, dual range transmission, 147 HP) in Italy, because it is designed to go just about anywhere in the world, for the most part, self-sustaining.We steered Joe and Stacey toward our best shelling beach, and days later we found the evidence they had been there: 

Channel Whelk

Joe's calling card, a long series of Whelks

 left standing upright in the sand.

Knob Whelk

Joe and Stacey added a real dimension to the end of our Cape Hatteras tour.  

As did, in our last 2 weeks there, Jennifer Pierce, our new "boss".  Jennifer was a great conversationalist

and, in Mobey, Tessa has a new friend as well.   

It was Jennifer who alerted us to the local school play, in which Peyton (our other bosses 11 year old son) was holding his own as one of the lead characters (most of the other thespians were High Schoolers).  "A Place Called Christmas"  turned out to be one of our most enjoyable nights ever!  Peyton stole the show, and most of the laughs, he's a natural.  In the future, look for the name Peyton Cabral on theatre marquis.  

Thanks for the invite Jennifer!  Good luck in your new position.

Our last, but not least, function was the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Volunteer dinner.  Quite simple in its presentation, yet elaborate in it's character.  A simple meal followed by some VERY nice, and unexpected volunteer thank you gifts.

As well as, Certificates of Appreciation, Cape Hatteras National Seashore Volunteer mugs, keychains and 2 National Park annual passes.  Not all parks can afford to show their appreciation to this extent.  Sometimes we are simply the recipients of a hearty clap on the back, and a "Thanks".  And that's OK too!  We're not in it for the glory!  So long Cape Hatteras...we may see you again someday:-)

Then, on December 14th, we headed south for Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge.

Headquarters is a lovely, relatively new building, situated between Conway and Georgetown, SC.

We dropped the RV off, and left it there pending our January 5th, 2015 return, after our visit home.  

This was a sad sight along the way:

People, please do not throw your cigarette butts out the car window.

The first stop toward Christmas Joy was in Knoxville at my cousin Betty's house, where she provided a fabulous meal, comfy bed and memorable conversation.  Never have enough time with her:-)

Arriving home the next day, 1st stop, my BFF's house for Audie hugs.

Then on to Tam & Brett's B & B.

 Bill's oldest has been providing a warm and inviting crash pad for us during our wintertime stays in the frozen north.  Thanks Tam, Brett and Natalie!  What amazing hospitality!

Our week then became a whirling dervish of friends, family and fun...both traditional and non-traditional, old and new:

                Cousin Lee settled in her new home...Cat  comfy as well.

Touring Brett's new remodel.

Quiet night  at Whetstones, saying goodbye to this abode.

 The very next night, all of our besties together as Kevin and Beth near completion of their whole house remodel...they won't be leaving the "Hood" soon.

  Lunch with sweet sister Kathy, who named her new friend "Lucky", and he is to have Kathy for a Mom:-)

A day out with Tam & Brett...going to Milaegers and Tenutas, the BEST outing every Christmastide.

 On Sunday, after church at CCC in Zion, lunch with brother Dave and sister Joie, and Joie's husband Bill, and niece and nephew Deb and JJ,.

 

Angela, Vince and I

Later in the afternoon we joined my Italian homies for dinner!  Tenuta's wine always a big hit with this crowd!

The annual Macy's day with the Sullivan's followed on Monday...this year with Natalie (Johnny's girlfriend). She became a godsend when she broke the 3 way tie choosing Mom's annual Christmas ornament surprise. 

 And, NO, Natalie did not choose Johnny's! 

We all lucked out with a seat right at the base of the tree (for you non-Chicagoans THIS is a BIG deal)

The Shutterfly book was a great hit!

                               Just a little friend the girls and I made for Papa

My BFF Audrey enjoying her Christmas present...a Shutterfly book honoring our years of friendship!

Seeing our two youngest grands, and having a late birthday celebration

for 2 year old Moira.....

                            Lessons in Sea Turtle life being passed along.

Which brings us to Christmas Eve service at Willow Creek Church....Pastor Bill Hybels, clearly an anointed man, reminding us of the Reason for the Season:  Jesus Christ

For unto us is born this day, in the City of David, a son, who is Jesus Christ OUR Lord!

May His peace, the peace that passes all understanding, be yours this season and throughout the New Year!

Mixed emotions

I finally had to leave Bill in Yorktown, VA to stay for his Hyperbaric treatments

while I went back to Buxton, NC to work.  The hardest thing I have ever done (cept for that time in 1979).  The load was lightened when he texted me the insurance company had done another about face and were going to allow his treatments, after a mid-stream denial.

While at work today in the museum I was visiting with a woman who had a fairly strong accent, which led me to the question "where are you from?"  Answer "Canada, I'm Canadian".  I smiled and said "where were you from before that?" Answer "Scotland".  I laughed and said "You sound like several members of my family, so I knew you weren't originally from Canada".  I then said "My family is from Ayr and she laughs and says "along the coast, it's where we vacationed when I was a girl...I know it well!"  At that moment her husband entered the room and she said  "I married a Canadian" and smiled.  We spoke of Scotland for a few more minutes and I was again reminded how small the world really is.

Yes, the insurance  company did another about face and the Hyperbaric treatments began again 5 days later.  The GOOD NEWS.....instead of needing 40 treatments, Bill has been released in 10!  PTL (Praise The Lord)!  So instead of driving to Yorktown and having to leave him there on Weds, so I can get back to work, he will be able to come with me, THUS saving me from that "fate worse than death".

We'll be back next week to spend Thanksgiving with these excellent friends who have put up with us for these last 3 weeks.  THANKS Tom and Linda!

Work has been VERY slow, not a bad thing.  It has allowed me to work on Christmas presents.  This years focus is on "memories", which seems to me, to be the best gift of all!

Speaking of Christmas, the coming season signals an end to our time here at Cape Hatteras.

As we prepare to bid adieu and bring our home down to rest, temporarily without us, at Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge while we travel back to Illinois for Christmas, we are struck by the intensity of our feelings about this ICONIC national treasure!  There will be more on this topic in future entries.

As for being home, we will leave Waccamaw on December 15th and travel to Knoxville to spend the night with my cousin Betty :-)  Before heading to Lake Zurich on the 16th.  We are so excited to be back in the groove of traveling with the Sullivan's (and any other GRANDS we can talk into going)

on our annual journey to Macy's, Chicago.  This is scheduled for Dec. 22nd.  December 21st is also booked.  We will be in the area December 17 thru 28th.  If you would like to see us, please let me know so I can lock a date in for you.  Thanks!

As we fill these last few weeks with the mundane tasks of the everyday...

AND the not so mundane moments squeezed in....

We begin this busy season wishing you quiet moments, time with loved ones and the PEACE of Jesus Christ!

Thanks for reading!  Jan & Bill

WOW, How neat is this?

And then AMAZING things happened and my spirits were lifted even higher (if that's possible).

Coupla days ago I was manning the Ranger desk in the visitor center with the 2 Eastern National (Concessionaire) ladies, Martha and Ann (very nice).  It had been waxing and waning all day but at that moment the joint was empty.

Then the doors opened and the flood came pouring in, maybe 40 people, mostly children.  From the t-shirts it was apparent this was a "Christian" group, and we had an instant connection.

I stood and observed the shopping and discussions over our display cases.  When I overheard a Mom with 3 little girls discussing the contents of the glass case, I drifted over to see if I could add anything to their day.

I ended up talking for 10  minutes about Skates and shells, telling them where to look to find the best shells, and HOW to find the best shells.  They were on their way, and I didn't give it a 2nd thought.

Fast forward 3 hours.  I'm at the Ranger desk, talking to a woman, when a little face, wearing spectacles, bounces up next to her and stands there fairly glowing and about to bust out of her skin.  I acknowledged her and continued my conversation with the lady, while trying to wind it down.  Little Bit is patiently waiting, while glancing from me to the lady, me to the lady and bouncing up and down on her toes.  The lady finally bids me adieux and I attend to short stuff.  "Hi, how you doing"?  Her hand, previously held tightly at her side, flies up like it's been released by a spring and her little enclosed fist releases its treasures to the counter top, while she stands there BEAMING at me.  

Her Mom and sister approach and say "she couldn't wait to show you these"...."we finished shelling, and she said,  'Mom I have to go back and show these to the Ranger'......she insisted we stop".

I look down at 2 perfect "Scotch Bonnet" shells, pick them up and admire them.  Mom continues on telling me about the "Lettered Olive, Sand Dollar, Whelk's etc" they found.  Mom said Little Bit was jabbering the entire trip along the beach, explaining each find, naming them etc.  When Mom said "how do you know all this stuff?...I don't even know this stuff"  Little Bit said, "Mom, the Ranger just told us all about it, didn't you hear her?" And THAT'S what it's all about!

Or is THIS what it's all about:  So is THIS how God works?  This time I was in the museum taking a phone call at 4:30, we close at five. Guy on the phone wants to know about getting a beach fire permit. He can get one, but it has to be picked up before 5 o'clock.  This man advised me that he was  still two hours away. So, I offered to bring a beach fire

permit home with us, telling him he can could come by and pick it up ay our place.  I then provided him with my cell phone number.  Sometimes you just have to trust people. I realize this was way above and beyond the call of duty, but he had touched something in me and I just wanted to be a part of helping him give his son a good time. As Bill and I sat by our own campfire at 7 o'clock in the evening, my cell was finally ringing.  Moments later I was guiding this total stranger into our driveway. It didn't take long for the connection to be made.  Wayne turned out to be a police sergeant from Newport News Virginia. Small world, so happy I could help out a brother in blue. See you again Wayne:-)

Could the world get any smaller?  YEPPER!  

I return us to the Visitor Center on the day after connecting with Wayne.  I was again meeting and greeting and connecting with a young woman, who's parents were making a purchase.  She happened to mention that her parents were visiting from Wisconsin, just as they approached us.  I then steered my attention to Dad and said "Oh, where in Wisconsin?"  Dad says, with doubt in his voice that I would have any clue, "Door County".  Recognition shines in my face when I say "where in Door?"  Now it's his turn to look surprised as he says "Sturgeon Bay".  I'll spare you the rest, but suffice it to say, David and his wife attend the same church (Bethel Baptist-http://www.bethelellisonbay.org/#/welcome) Bill and I do when we are in Door, we have several mutual friends, AND he is connected to a coalition which is supported by some of our Door County buddies.  
We will follow up on his invitation to help them out next summer when we are volunteering at Camp Zion in Ellison Bay.

Now comes the biggest challenge of being a FULLTIMER and traveling constantly....medical care.

We have been very fortunate to find good doctors whilst on the road.  In almost 3 years now we have had the occasion to have 4 surgeries between the two of us.  It has worked out every time and we thank the Lord for provision of good docs and supportive friends.

( I shall preface this next paragraph by saying the insurance company has changed their mind about this treatment, so Bill may be going home much earlier)

Bill and I are currently apart (kinda) while he has a skin graft surgery and 40 days of Hyperbaric treatments in Chesapeake, VA.  He is staying with friends in Yorktown, VA for the time being, and I am traveling back and forth from Buxton, NC on my days off.  This will take us right up to the week we head back to Illinois for Christmas (and store the RV somewhere down south in preparation for the start of our next assignment at Waccamaw NationalWildlife Refuge-http://www.fws.gov/waccamaw/).


We will start winding down further very soon.  We leave Cape Hatteras on Dec. 14th and take the home down to S.C.  Leaving it there we will head home for Christmas, staying at Tami & Brett's for a week.

I leave you with a little fun we had at the North Carolina Aquarium, where we saw 2 Sea Turtles being rescued.

Be Flexible

That is a good motto for Bill and I...one we have always lived by.  Especially good to keep in mind when full timing!  It came in quite handy during our trip to New York to visit Kelly (daughter) and Michael (her significant other) the 1st week of October.

And WHY did we take the Eastern Seaboard route to avoid Washington DC?

Before even arriving downtown, we discovered that you should just plan on everything in or around New York (well, the East coast in general) to take twice as long as you thought it would.

Took me 3 days to get this shot...if nothing else, you can't say I'm not stubborn :-)

We had a great evening with Kelly and Michael, parting ways after good Italian food and wine, with plans to go the "the Met" the next day.  The next morning Kelly called to say she had spent the night in the ER.  She is fine, just tired and sore.  So, Bill and I (being flexible) changed our plans.  We made a valiant effort to see "Ground Zero," but were unable to secure parking of the monster truck.  Instead we drove around the "Ground Zero" site, saw the sculpture being worked on (beautiful),

found and old fashioned hardware store in Kelly's "hood": 

http://garberhardware.com

Now, to know Bill and I at all, is to know that THIS (old hardware stores) kind of place gets us very excited!  We spent an hour roaming the place.

New York is great for many things, and not so great for others....but, it's capacity to present neighborhoods that feel like neighborhoods is unmistakable, and witnessed  twice on our second day there.  After leaving the hardware store, we paused outside on a bench with Tessa on her leash.  Shortly, a local woman, on a stroll with her dog, stopped to chat.  45 minutes later we were passing our business card along to her and feeling like we had made a new friend.  

Before leaving this conversation, our new friend had directed us to a nearby restaurant which would allow us to sit outside to have a drink, with Tessa by our side (more importantly, she gave us the inside scoop on keeping Tessa outside of the fence for it to work).

 And, as luck would have it...it was a "country" restaurant!  Like our friend Tom said "leave it to Jan to find a "country and western" bar in New York City!  So we sat, snaking, watching the world go by when here comes Michael, striding briskly towards us, a happy smile on his handsome face.  Michael had been dealing with their movers (that day Kelly and Michael's movers arrived to pack all their belonging up in preparation for their move to L.A.), taking care of a sick Kelly and presiding over several work meetings all day.  Yet, as it would happen in any neighborhood, he "walks across the yard" to join us, pick up pizza and we all headed back to their apartment together.  It was the New York version of  a "Thornlindywood" (our close knit neighborhood back in Illinois) night.

We made an early evening of it, and Bill and I retired, excited to be going to The Statue of Liberty the next morning.  As it turned out, flexibility would need to be tapped into once again.  In the morning we roamed the streets of New York for two hours seeking a parking space, so that we could visit Miss Liberty.  Alas, we now fully realize, parking spaces for 1 ton Chevy's with duallys do not exist in New York, and with great disappointment, we abandoned our plans and pointed the monster truck south.  The greatest disappointment of all that day was not getting that one last hug from Kelly :-(  Lesson learned:  next time, rent a small car and leave Tessa at the hotel.

Still, it was worth the trip just to see, even briefly, the Baby Girl

Heading back south, as we had done on the way north, we overnighted with our friends Tom and Linda in Yorktown, VA.

 Though we arrived just in time for a wonderful repast provided by Linda and a comfy bed, we squeezed out enough time in the morning to catch breakfast with them at a local favorite "Pappys" and visit Yorktown Battlefield:

Too soon our visit came to a close as we were due back at the Lighthouse for the final "full moon night climb" of the year.

257 up and 257 down

Now, to arrange an assignment near LA:-)

Back to work and exciting plans to FINALLY climb the Bodie

 and Currituck

The answer is "yes", there is a man flying a large kite from the top of the lighthouse!

lighthouses on our coming days off.  In March of 2013 we had visited both locations, but had not climbed. That was about to change.  We headed for Currituck

 (a privately owned Lighthouse) and found it as pristine inside as it was outside.   We



rather expected that.  BUT, what we didn't expect hit us hard the next day when visiting Bodie lighthouse (our sister lighthouse).  We did not expect to find a government owned lighthouse in such pristine condition as to shame our infamous Hatteras Lighthouse .  It left us embarrassed for the condition of Hatteras.  I am left wondering why the most famous and photographed lighthouse in the world has been let go until it is (at least inside) a mere shadow of itself.

The light alone tells the story:

Bodie Island original "1st Order Fresnel lens".

                                                            Hatteras spot light.

They both still warn Mariners for 20 miles, but the Hatteras light lacks the romanticism of it's origins.  AND, as far as money is concerned?  You can bet few National Park bring in the kind of money Hatteras does, and, THAT doesn't even begin to address the fact that Hatteras is the most famous and most photographed Lighthouse in the world!  Bill and I are now on a mission to correct this wrong.  Stay tuned!

So, it was back to work, with this hanging heavy on our hearts.  As the end of our season was at hand and a final "going away" partying in the offing, we did not have time to dwell on it.

This last party, sending the balance of the "seasonals" off, was a beach party.  We positioned ourselves at the Old Lighthouse Site where no artificial light would interfere with our view of the new Lighthouse location.  As usual, Bill was in charge of the fire, and by default, the cooking.

Hotdog anyone?

Smore's were being served up before the main course

IT WAS A LOVELY, BREEZY EVENING

 

A brief explanation of the previously used term "seasonals":

  Seasonal Rangers make up a majority of the workforce for our National Parks.  They do a fabulous job, under very trying circumstances.  Much like Bill and I,  Seasonals work at a park for 4 to 6 months, they scout around and apply for positions they are interested in, the competition is HUGE they are often posted far from their home, friends and family, live in "Government" housing (yes, it is as bad as it sounds)..... and all for the LOVE of the job!  BUT, unlike Bill and I, THIS is their PAYING job, their sole support.  They never know from one 6 month period to the next, where (or if) they will be working the next 6 months.  In many cases, on average, it takes 10 years for a Seasonal to attain a position as a "Permanent" Ranger.  These are highly educated young people and their sacrifice is great!  We applaud their dedication!

Monday was "Columbus Day", the last day for climbing the lighthouse this season (save the "winter  climb" December 13th).  The Visitor Center and Museum remain open year round.  Thus, when we returned from our days off, it was a very different job. With all of the "seasonals" gone....just Bill and I and one other volunteer running the show.  If we weren't here, themuseum

would not remain open, the Visitor Center Ranger desk would not be manned, and the "base"

of the lighthouse would be completely un-available, not even allowing people the small pleasure of going to the 1st landing and looking up (keep in mind that many of our visitors come from great distances to climb the lighthouse, other countries, or are making their third or fourth attempt as the lighthouse had been closed to climbers during their last visit(s)..... (maybe they had hit town when the lighthouse was being moved, or they had blown in during last years "hiatus").  Thus, getting "the base" open, for even a few hours a day, means a great deal!  Our job seems less important, until you hear some of the stories of our visitors efforts to see this iconic location, and realize, that if we weren't here, the visitor experience would be "a glass half full!"

With Bill driving to Chesapeake, VA (3.25 hours) to consult with a plastic surgeon, I was on my own Thursday, running the show.  I spent the day in the museum and had a GREAT many awesome conversations!

Have you ever met someone and had an instant "connection" with them, a conversation intellectually stimulating.  In which this person really gets what you're saying and continues to pick at your brain?  Leaves you feeling like you want to take them home?  I had that experience while in the museum on my 1st day back, post season.  Would it surprise you, as it did me, that this person was a nine year old boy?  His Dad was very patient while this little guy picked my brain for 45 minutes.  It made for a fulfilling day....the kind of day that makes all of our efforts really worthwhile.

That brings us to yesterday when, while working the VC (Visitor  Center) Ranger desk, Bill made a new friend, which will likely lead us to Rocky Mountain National Park at the end of this coming summer for a short stint.

PS:  we have been approved by the "committee" of Christ Community Church, and our assignment at "Camp Zion" in Ellison Bay, Door County, Wisconsin for summer 2015 locked in.  We are so excited about this opportunity to serve:-)

A few of my favorite random shots:

At the North Carolina Aquarium

Nuf said

Walking the streets of the West Village

Friend of ours

Blackbeard's Cohorts

Until next time:  GO WITH GOD!