Hello again......it is Sunday afternoon on another dreary, chilly, rainy day. Been a fun past few days in Virginia and here's what's been going on...
Friday - we had breakfast with Bert and then he was off to work and we left for Lynchburg in the fog. Rain is in the forecast for most of the weekend, but today did stay dry, just cool and cloudy. We met Ryan at Panera for breakfast, got our passes and had a nice 45-minute chat. Mark and I scoped out the airport, checking to see about parking and how it was going to work with Bert and his wheelchair for tomorrow's show. The Lynchburg show organizers were very nice and we thought we were good to go?
Had lunch at Firehouse Subs and then met friends, Sue and Jud Knott from Clarksburg VA and their grandchildren Ashlynn (13) and Caleb (11). We spent January and February with Sue and Jud at Water's Edge in Okeechobee. Along with all the Blue Angel talk, we made a plan to meet in Lynchburg in May for the air show and here we are.
We rode together to the show and enjoyed the practice although it was a "low" show cause of the heavy cloud cover. So fun to be together and they thoroughly enjoyed the day!
After the show, we drove back to Roanoke, changed clothes and went with Bert and Michael (caregiver) to Bert's long-time monthly book club. We had a lovely evening in a beautiful older home with very gracious friends. This group (12 tonight) meets once a month for a potluck dinner, wine and book discussion. The food was excellent and we sat around the dining room table in this wonderful old Georgian brick home drinking wine, and chatting about "America - the Summer of 1927" by Bill Bryson. What a fun time.....our hostess, Ann was the daughter of a Blue Angels flight surgeon back in the 1970's. We highly recommend reading the Bill Bryson book.
Back home and oh-so-ready for bed...been a long, but fun day
Jud, Sue, Caleb, Ashlynn
Saturday - slept in a bit today and after breakfast, I rode with Bert, and Michael went with Mark - off to Lynchburg with umbrellas, jackets, etc. So.....last night in a very short time, Lynchburg received 2.5" of rain. Big change of plans for parking - too much grassy area and with all the traffic, moved the crowds to Liberty University nearby and shuttled them to the airport. Fortunately, with the help of a really great guy, he got the 4 of us on our own bus (handicapped accessible) and with an escort, took us down the runway and dropped us off to our Blue Angel Family and Friends area. We still had one more hurdle and that was getting Bert from the runway across a very wet grassy area and inside the chain-link fence where we would view the show. With the help of some nice folks in our booth, and going thru lots of mud, we finally got Bert settled. Mark, Michael and I went off in search of food, and said hello to Sue, Jud and kids who came back for the full show.
We were sooo fortunate that it did not rain for the air show and although it was delayed, all the acts performed and Blue Angels were just 10 minutes late starting. The sun did shine off and on and felt so good - we had our jackets off and on all afternoon, but today was a "flat" show cause of the clouds and so not able to do some of their maneuvers. But Bert and Michael were in awe of it all. Jud, Sue and kids left midway into show as they wanted to avoid the traffic. We got Bert across the grassy area again - his nice shiny motorized wheel chair was a sad site with very muddy wheels and splattered mud here and there.
Once he was back on dry pavement, we waited in line with the others for pics with the pilots. Ryan came over and got to meet Bert and chat a bit. After pictures, we walked the runway (too many people to wait for bus or shuttle) and finally we were back to our cars and saying our good byes.
Off to the show...Pat, Bert, Mark
Sue and I comparing our muddy shoes and jeans
Ashlynn, Jud, Sue, Caleb, Pat, Bert, Michael, Mark
Bert and Michael
Bert and Ryan
I want to share Bert's story.....he was a very successful Orthopedic Surgeon in Roanoke and he and my cousin, Clarine raised their 2 children there and were very active in the community. In October of 2008, Bert was critically injured in a bicycling accident (he was an avid biker averaging 50-60 miles a day). His brakes failed as he was coming down a steep hill near their home and he flipped over the bike and was severely injured leaving him a quadriplegic. He has been so amazing and such an inspiration throughout all his long, painful ordeal. He currently teaches other medical students and helps at the social security office reviewing disability claims. His specially equipped van enables him to drive, he can feed himself, walk the treadmill for 20 minutes and just totally amazing.
So, all these years, Clarine was Bert's caregiver (along with his nephew, Michael) and cannot begin to imagine all they have been thru. And then life handed them another whammy when Clarine was diagnosed in February, 2012 with brain cancer. She passed away this past November.
And now Bert is on his journey without Clarine.....but what a story.
We so enjoyed our time together - he is a fantastic role model for sure and who would have thought that Bert would be driving us around (using a joystick) just as natural as could be.
Bert Spetzler is one very special guy!!!
Mark and I were on our way around 5:30 and had planned to stay in Charlottesville overnight. But today was graduation at the University of Virginia, so.....either no hotel rooms available or $400+ per night. We stopped in Lovingston at Vito's Pizza - it was sooo good and then back on the road. I drove and Mark found one room available (just had a cancellation) at Holiday Inn Express in Culpeper. We were so tired and arrived just before dark.
Sunday - the folks in Maryland have had 3 solid weeks of rain and today was no exception. We had breakfast, packed up the car and left around 10 for Annapolis with rain all the way and temps in the 50's. Drove thru DC and very close to where Ryan hopes to live on his boat and work on Capitol Hill (about 1 mile apart).
Got to Annapolis around 2 and had lunch downtown at Chick & Ruth's Delly, an Annapolis landmark. Had to stand outside for a while as it's not a very big place but tables are close together and just a fun place with delicious food. We've always eaten breakfast here, but today had awesome Reuben's. We checked into our room (next 4 nights) and had a quiet afternoon of reading, computer stuff and a little nap for me. We went to 5:30 Mass (in the rain) at St. Mary's (historic district) and back to hotel Ryan and the Blues landed at Joint Base Andrews around 6:30 tonight. This is Commissioning Week (graduation) and a week-long celebration for the parents, grandparents, siblings of the graduates. They are everywhere and so neat to see them in their dress whites eating near us, walking the streets, in church, etc. Tuesday is Blue Angel practice, Wednesday is the air show and Friday, the Blues will do a flyover at graduation.
We are happy to be back in one of our favorite towns oozing with charm, history and culture.
+++all the good eating, shopping and old red brick buildings!!!
2 more days of rain AND, then we are supposed to see the sun shine on Wednesday???
Have a great week!
