Dunning, Dunno, Done - Laughter is a Precious Commodity

We discussed the necessity of leaving Yorktown on the 11th or staying an additional day and enjoying life at a relaxed path for a few hours It did not take a lot of convincing that both Bill and I needed to stop and smell some Rosemary. It is a good thing that we did.

We had such a grand time with John and Pam Dunning that we couldn't entertain the idea of not staying for the new day. We had a rain day built into the schedule and decided to use it. Good move!

Bill and I rode to Yorktown while John and Pam wrestled with the airline problems of schedules and cancelled flights. (Turned out to be a disaster with future loyalties unknown - a totally new story within this and best told at another time.) After the visit to the battlefields and the town square, we went to Newport News ship yards and sutveyed the area. That was folowed by a ride past a house I lived in during the 70's. Then a ride across the James River Bridge and back, along with the steel grated surface in the middle ( a challenge) and a gaggle of runners n a charity event and we returned home.

We were tired. We were worn out. It was hot all day.

After a little rest, John and Pam and Bill and I went to a restaurant on the York River and partook in oysters, crab, and great beer.

The most memorable thing about the visit was the copious amounts of laughter as we recalled great moments from the past and the future to come. It was as though no moments had traveled in space during the time we had not been sharing stories from the past. Pam was exhausted fro her travails with the airlines. So the guys told some lies and shared some lessons learned. We all ended up in the rack and thankful for that.

John and Pam are great friends who share their home with pleasure. They seem to share their love of the birds with me as well and their appreciation with a pond. They have had to deal with a great blue heron as I have had to deal and they have created a wonderful backyard that nestles up to a canal where John can launch his boat when he so chooses.

I am eternally grateful for the friends I have found in my life and I don't know if I can truly express my appreciation for these friendships. At times, in my more solumn moments, I wish I could embrace them all and fold them close to me and somehow let them know how much they mean. But I am weak at letting others know how I really feel.

John comes from my far Air Force past but he seems to be ever the youngster we all were once. What a great time we had with Pam and John on this short, unplanned visit. We must plan it the next time.