“How hot was it?” "It was hotter than a nanny goat in a pepper patch."
It was the third hottest recorded summer in Wichita. I can honestly say it was miserable. At times reaching highs of 103-110 actual temperatures and the heat index reaching 110 t 114 some days.
The city of Wichita held a professional golf tournament for the Nationwide Tour, The Wichita Open. We had five of the players staying in our campground while the tournament was being held August 5th-8th. I had the good fortune to meet Daniel Summerhays a nice 27 year old man from Farmington, UT. He was down to earth and not stuck-up like the others I met when they pulled in with their expensive units. Daniel was nice from the get-go and even nice enough to give me four tickets to the four day event. They were good all four days. I was able to attend opening day and the last day. The other two days I had to work. I gave two of the tickets to Frank, my golfing partner and kept two for myself. I became a one-man groupie following Daniel around the course and rooting him on. And why not, he was very likable and nice to me. You couldn’t help wanting him to do well because he was such a pleasant young man. It was my first time attending such an event and it was a blast. I even had Daniel give me an autograph and asked his caddy for one too. I believe he started out number 14 or 15 on the money list and the last time I checked his status sometime in October, he was up to number 4. He is doing great this year.
On August 10th Rocky had another milestone. Rocky had his 89th birthday and celebrated it with his girlfriend of 23 years, Georgette. Rocky has become a good friend and I truly enjoy being around him and talking with him.
Baby Jack enjoying his breakfast
Mid-month we traveled north to Iowa. My son, Ted was taking his wife Connie on a surprise get-away for their anniversary. We watched the grandsons (all three of them) while they were gone. We had a really good time and Brady the oldest of their children was very helpful to Pa-paw and Miss Rhonda. And a big slap on the back goes to my oldest daughter who helped more than I can explain here. It worked out for everyone to have a good time and Pa-paw was able to do some bonding with the boys. We had a great time visiting family. I was able to golf with Mike, and his two oldest boys.
Brady, Kyle, Baby Jack with their cousin Lily
We came back to their lake house where I had my first experience with tubing. An activity that's better suited for the younger generation. I thoroughly enjoyed it but it just proves there are things you should do more in your younger years of life rather than in the latter years. The one activity that my number 3 grandson,Luke is really good at is fishing as this picture indicates. Oh yeah, he also won his football league’s championship.
Luke with one of his prize catches
Arriving back at Wichita it wasn’t long before we had the motor home at the Goodyear Tire Shop to have her re-shoed (new tires). Total bill after buying tires, mounting, balancing and labor was $2,589.53. Then to complete the day we topped off the gas tank and two five-gallon containers we keep for emergencies for $97. The grand total for us this day was $2,686.53. This was the first half of my wages earned at USI.
Rhonda and Estella
Now for that shining moment I mentioned last month concerning my second half wages at USI. They are going toward our new set of wedding rings. We went into the jewelry department at J.C. Penney and a sweet lady helped us throughout the whole process of picking out the rings and the sizing. Her name is Estella and she was a real sweetheart for us to work with. We picked them out on August 28th. The exact date 7 years ago when I bought the motor home. I didn’t realize it until I started writing this.
The last two days of August had highs and lows. August 29th our family fantasy football league had its draft. I did terrible and the results of the season show it. August 30th was my birthday which indicated I was now eligible for Social Security and I was another year older. Okay, forget about the highs – I just had some lows. Wait a minute! – there were a couple of highs.
Rhonda gave me the new John Grisham book titled, Ford County for my birthday. He is my favorite fiction author. On the nights we work we make a nightly round throughout the park. We have a regular routine we go through and one of the last stops is to check the laundry room. As soon as I open the door and turned on the lights, six smiling faces yelled out in unison, “SURPRISE!” And let me tell you it did surprise me.
It’s only the second time I’ve been caught off guard. I didn’t see this one coming. The owners, Keith and Sheila, along with the other two couples we work with Frank and Sondra; and Mike and Joann were in attendance. This was all set up behind my back by Rhonda. We all went over to the rec-hall celebrating with a DQ ice-cream cake. All three couples had given me nice cards. Frank, my good old golfing buddy gave me a golfer’s calendar for 2011.
My youngest daughter, Katie told me, she had a present for me but I would have to wait 7 more months before I could have it or hold it. She must have seen (anticipated) my bewildered look, because she said, “I’m having your tenth grandchild, Dad.” Now how could I get any higher? So if I have to turn another year older it's not a bad way to finish up the month of August.
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