We have now been in Gila Bend for one month. It seems like a short time. The first picture above was taken by the owner, Donna, at the Christmas dinner. The picture is not the best quality, but what is one to do. Maybe it’s the subject. The couple standing with us is Wayne and Marge Bishop from upper Michigan. They, so they tell us, spend six months a year in their motor-home and the other six months living on their boat in the Great Lake, I forget which one, Michigan or Huron, or maybe Superior. Whichever it is sounds like a life of luxury! We met another fellow camper, or RVer, in the Laundry Room this morning (Friday is our preferred day for laundry) from New Hampshire. They have a fifth-wheel also, and like us, prefer it over a motor-home because it has more living space, and a whole lot less expense. They spend nine months each year in New Hampshire at an RV Park and the other three months in Arizona. They have been doing this for the last nine years. The last three years they have been here in Gila Bend for the Winter.
By the way, although the terms seem to be interchangeable, there is a difference between a “camper” and an “RVer,” so we have discovered. A “camper” is one who takes an RV out to the lake, the woods or a recreational area for a vacation, or a weekend. An “RVer” is one who makes the RV a home for all or part of a year. You can understand the confusion in people’s minds since the paths of the two cross and occupy the same area for a time during the year. We, as you know, are “RVers.” As such, we have to carry our life’s goods and entertainment. The second picture above is how I have tied down our Dish Antenna and tripod to keep the strong desert winds from blowing it over again and again. You know the trouble we have had with the Dish already, if you have been reading. If you haven’t been reading, shame on you! Here I am working my fingers to the bone trying to keep you up-to-date!
Did you miss me? Of course not. You didn’t know I was away, did you? You thought I was still here doing my “fingers to the bone” thing. Right? Well I took a break. We took another one mile walk in the desert. We are now trying to walk three miles each day, a two mile walk in the morning and a one mile walk in the later afternoon. After the walk, we decided to go down the road and get some needed propane gas for the RV. Since we were there, we decided to get a Subway sandwich for Supper at the near-by shop and take it home. When we got home we had to eat it. Then it was time for the National News, so we had to find out what was new in the world outside Gila Bend. Now we know. Now I’m back. Aren’t you glad?
As some of you know, I have been doing a lot of research in genealogy. Since we now have time, I am getting into some of it again. I am from West Virginia and West Virginia was mostly settled by Parsons. Before WV split from Virginia, my ancestors were pioneers in opening up the western territory. I don’t wish to bore you with all this, but in reading a book called “Pioneers of Jackson County” (that is Jackson County VA/WV) by John House published 102 years ago in 1906, I discovered an interesting story concerning my great, great grandfather Charles Parsons. It also includes his brother, my great, great uncle, “Captain Billy” Parsons (a name he received from military service). My great, great grandfather was also know as “Devil” Charles, or “Devil” Parsons. Now why he was called that I haven’t yet discovered. I hope it is nothing bad. Anyway, here is the story as John House wrote it.
“Charles Parsons and his brother, Captain Billy, would often hunt together. One of them would follow around the hillside, and through the coves on the Little Creek side of the ridge, the other on the Big Run side. Whenever one heard the other shoot, he was to go to the top of the ridge and ascertain if he had killed game, and if so, help to dress and hang it up out of reach of wolves. Thus, they would follow round the hills, sometimes over on to Trace Fork and Sandy water, until evening, taking a packhorse the next day, to bring in their spoils.
One day while thus engaged, probably about the winter of 1824, Charles, when around near the low gap, heard the report of his brother's gun in the opposite cove. Being a clubfooted man, it took him several minutes to reach the top of the ridge. When he gained the summit, a strange sight met his gaze. Down the hillside a short distance, he could see through the underbrush, the form of a large buck, with its head down, rearing up partially, and churning down with its forefeet.
Seeing there was something wrong, as indicated by the peculiar actions of the deer, he hastily raised his rifle and fired, the ball passing through its body, near the heart. With the report of the gun, the buck reared to his hind feet, bringing up the redoubtable Captain Billy, a man of full two hundred pounds weight, hanging on to his horns, and pitched off down the steep hill, in the agony of death. Billy's hunting shirt was cut into strings by the knife-like hoofs of the deer, and he carried marks of the encounter for many days.”
So that is the story. Do you think the name “Devil” had anything to do with his clubfoot? Perhaps I’ll find out some day.
Since we have been RVing everyday is Saturday. We can do as we please. Get up when we want. Go to bed when we want with no fear of being late for anything the next day. It is very pleasant after some 64 years of having to live with a schedule. Nice! We have time to sit and enjoy the beautiful sunsets here in the West. We can take the time to watch the color spectrum change every so slowly into lavenders, gold and deep red. We can enjoy the whole changing color spectacle. We hope you will take time to enjoy the sunset where you are. I hope you can see a sunset where you are! I really hate to rub it in, but the last two days we have enjoyed temperatures of 74 degrees with brilliant sunshine and not a speck of moisture.
We hope the new year is starting off just right for each of you. Until next time………keep good thoughts.
By the way, although the terms seem to be interchangeable, there is a difference between a “camper” and an “RVer,” so we have discovered. A “camper” is one who takes an RV out to the lake, the woods or a recreational area for a vacation, or a weekend. An “RVer” is one who makes the RV a home for all or part of a year. You can understand the confusion in people’s minds since the paths of the two cross and occupy the same area for a time during the year. We, as you know, are “RVers.” As such, we have to carry our life’s goods and entertainment. The second picture above is how I have tied down our Dish Antenna and tripod to keep the strong desert winds from blowing it over again and again. You know the trouble we have had with the Dish already, if you have been reading. If you haven’t been reading, shame on you! Here I am working my fingers to the bone trying to keep you up-to-date!
Did you miss me? Of course not. You didn’t know I was away, did you? You thought I was still here doing my “fingers to the bone” thing. Right? Well I took a break. We took another one mile walk in the desert. We are now trying to walk three miles each day, a two mile walk in the morning and a one mile walk in the later afternoon. After the walk, we decided to go down the road and get some needed propane gas for the RV. Since we were there, we decided to get a Subway sandwich for Supper at the near-by shop and take it home. When we got home we had to eat it. Then it was time for the National News, so we had to find out what was new in the world outside Gila Bend. Now we know. Now I’m back. Aren’t you glad?
As some of you know, I have been doing a lot of research in genealogy. Since we now have time, I am getting into some of it again. I am from West Virginia and West Virginia was mostly settled by Parsons. Before WV split from Virginia, my ancestors were pioneers in opening up the western territory. I don’t wish to bore you with all this, but in reading a book called “Pioneers of Jackson County” (that is Jackson County VA/WV) by John House published 102 years ago in 1906, I discovered an interesting story concerning my great, great grandfather Charles Parsons. It also includes his brother, my great, great uncle, “Captain Billy” Parsons (a name he received from military service). My great, great grandfather was also know as “Devil” Charles, or “Devil” Parsons. Now why he was called that I haven’t yet discovered. I hope it is nothing bad. Anyway, here is the story as John House wrote it.
“Charles Parsons and his brother, Captain Billy, would often hunt together. One of them would follow around the hillside, and through the coves on the Little Creek side of the ridge, the other on the Big Run side. Whenever one heard the other shoot, he was to go to the top of the ridge and ascertain if he had killed game, and if so, help to dress and hang it up out of reach of wolves. Thus, they would follow round the hills, sometimes over on to Trace Fork and Sandy water, until evening, taking a packhorse the next day, to bring in their spoils.
One day while thus engaged, probably about the winter of 1824, Charles, when around near the low gap, heard the report of his brother's gun in the opposite cove. Being a clubfooted man, it took him several minutes to reach the top of the ridge. When he gained the summit, a strange sight met his gaze. Down the hillside a short distance, he could see through the underbrush, the form of a large buck, with its head down, rearing up partially, and churning down with its forefeet.
Seeing there was something wrong, as indicated by the peculiar actions of the deer, he hastily raised his rifle and fired, the ball passing through its body, near the heart. With the report of the gun, the buck reared to his hind feet, bringing up the redoubtable Captain Billy, a man of full two hundred pounds weight, hanging on to his horns, and pitched off down the steep hill, in the agony of death. Billy's hunting shirt was cut into strings by the knife-like hoofs of the deer, and he carried marks of the encounter for many days.”
So that is the story. Do you think the name “Devil” had anything to do with his clubfoot? Perhaps I’ll find out some day.
Since we have been RVing everyday is Saturday. We can do as we please. Get up when we want. Go to bed when we want with no fear of being late for anything the next day. It is very pleasant after some 64 years of having to live with a schedule. Nice! We have time to sit and enjoy the beautiful sunsets here in the West. We can take the time to watch the color spectrum change every so slowly into lavenders, gold and deep red. We can enjoy the whole changing color spectacle. We hope you will take time to enjoy the sunset where you are. I hope you can see a sunset where you are! I really hate to rub it in, but the last two days we have enjoyed temperatures of 74 degrees with brilliant sunshine and not a speck of moisture.
We hope the new year is starting off just right for each of you. Until next time………keep good thoughts.
1/10/08
ReplyDeleteThe temperature here is unusually warm broke a record set back in the 1800's but for the past two days it has been raining. All the storm have missed us though.
Kids are back in school and Dan and I are back to our same dull day in and day out routine. His mother is still doing fine although, she is more forgettful and get confused easier it seems.
All in all the both of us are doing well though.
It's so good to read your blog sorry about your "boney fingers" I suppose they are down to stumps by now I know mine would be. It's so enjoyable reading about all of your escapades. In a sense I guess I sort of envy you all. But I could never ride that much since setting whether riding or just setting is quite painful at times. But I'm fine really.
Until next blog take care. Back here in Tennessee we love and miss you guys.
martha