I had a great time last night talking about WWII with the Dad of a teacher friend of mine. I first met my teacher friend, Joy, at the Duke Ellington workshop I attended in CT, during the summer of 2011. She teaches middle school social studies in Erie, PA. She had wonderful things to say about her Dad, who served during the war. I found out through Facebook that she was coming to DC with her Dad so that he could see the WWII Memorial. I couldn't have them be that close by, and not be able to see them. Luckily I was able to hook up with them in Arlington, VA after my Sunday [senior citizen] class was over. I drove down, and met up with Joy. We went out for a bit and caught up while her Dad rested a bit. The drive from Erie is 8 hours or so, and he wanted to stay awake the whole time to see the countryside. After catching up for a bit, we went out to dinner at the Capitol City Brewing Company in Arlington. I think we could have talked all night. I love being able to talk to folks of that generation (the greatest generation according to Tom Brokaw). I don't have that chance much anymore, with my maternal grandmother having dementia, and paternal grandmother just not being a nice person at all. So it was great to be able to talk to Joy and her Dad. He was part of the 3rd Armored Division in the European theater. He came in right after the Battle of the Bulge and stayed until the end of the war in Europe. He was very lucky that he did not get sent off to fight in the Pacific theater, given the fact that a lof of folks ended up going from one to the other. I just had a wonderful time, and hopefully will be able to do it again someday. I had a great time last night talking about WWII with the Dad of a teacher friend of mine. I first met my teacher friend, Joy, at the Duke Ellington workshop I attended in CT, during the summer of 2011. She teaches middle school social studies in Erie, PA. She had wonderful things to say about her Dad, who served during the war. I found out through Facebook that she was coming to DC with her Dad so that he could see the WWII Memorial. I couldn't have them be that close by, and not be able to see them. Luckily I was able to hook up with them in Arlington, VA after my Sunday (senior citizen) class was over.
I drove down, and met up with Joy. We went out for a bit and caught up while her Dad rested a bit. The drive from Erie is 8 hours or so, and he wanted to stay awake the whole time to see the countryside. After catching up for a bit, we went out to dinner at the Capitol City Brewing Company in Arlington. I think we could have talked all night. I love being able to talk to folks of that generation (the greatest generation according to Tom Brokaw). I don't have that chance much anymore, with my maternal grandmother having dementia, and paternal grandmother just not being a nice person at all. So it was great to be able to talk to Joy and her Dad. He was part of the 3rd Armored Division in the European theater. He came in right after the Battle of the Bulge and stayed until the end of the war in Europe. He was very lucky that he did not get sent off to fight in the Pacific theater, given the fact that a lof of folks ended up going from one to the other. I just had a wonderful time, and hopefully will be able to do it again someday.
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We spent the day at Landis Valley in Lancaster, PA. It's been far too many years that I've done this now, to remember. My parents used to take me when I was a child, and not it's great to continue that tradition with my own children. Unfortunately, my folks weren't able to attend this year because my Mom is still getting over walking pneumonia. We still had a great day and even had time to visit S. Clyde Weaver's store, Kissel Hill, and a stop at Cracker Barrel for dinner.
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B.D.SchmittHusband, Father, Archives
November 2015
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