HOW GOOD IT IS! We Just Don't Always Know It.

Over the years I have kept small journals of my adventures in life.  There are solo canoe expeditions to the North Woods, a 600 mile hike on the Appalachian Trail, trips down the Ohio River, back packing the west coast of Ireland and others.

My son Mark has asked for those journals when I no longer need them.  I am taking them down to the Lake with me today.  I plan to incorporate them into a bit of writing I hope to do this summer.

One journal was open to the date of 9-30-02 and a trip by Julie and I to Myrtle Beach.  She recorded that we left home at 4:30PM, a late start but it looks like we only travelled to Charleston, WV probably to enjoy a visit with her brother, Jimmy.

The beach from our penthouse suite in Garden City, SC

HOW TIMES CHANGE!

Jimmy who lived at Campbell's Creek, WV is now deceased and, from such a small, isolated community, we have made the acquaintence of what has become a dear cousin, also from Campbell's Creek.

Cousin Cheryl, Walt & Julie in a 1600's era Cabin

Julie has always kept a record of our costs.  At the time I'm sure we were "put out" at the prices of everything.  It gave me a chuckle today.  Maybe you would like a chuckle also?

$123.81     21  12 ounce Strip Steaks and 2 Pork Chops from
                  Bennett's Fine Meats in Canton, OH.
    24.00     17 gallons of gas at $1.36 a gallon.
    14.81     Dinner for two at House of Hunan, plus $2.00 tip.
    64.00     Lodging at Super 8 in Fort Chiswell, Va.
                  Included was a "very nice" breakfast of muffins, juice,
                  coffee, french toast, pancakes and sausage gravy
                  & biscuits.
    22.50     Gas at $1.41 a gallon at Ft. Chiswell.
      9.50     Lunch at Subway.
        .27     Coffee for Walt at McDonalds.

Today a 12 ounce strip steak from Bennett's costs nearly $15 each.  Gasoline is nearing $5.00 a gallon.  And, with a senior discount, a small cup of coffee from McDonalds costs $0.85.

BY COMPARISON, WE HAD IT GOOD THEN BUT DID NOT APPRECIATE IT.  And, No!  I did not make a lot more money in 2002, I made about the same as I make today.

Just for the fun of it, I checked out the price of gas on another trip.  Travelling to the North Woods on a solo trip with my airedale, Jake, in 1997 I paid the following for gasoline.

$15.00     13.4 gallon at $1.119 a gallon in Fairlawn, Ohio.
  15.60     12.5 gallon at $1.259 a gallon in West Branch, MI.
  14.50     11.7 gallon at $1.239 a gallon in Marquette, MI.
  14.00     10.2 gallon at $1.299 a gallon in Duluth, MN.

LOOKING DOWN THE ROAD A FEW YEARS, GASOLINE AT LESS THAN $5.00 MAY BE A GREAT DEAL.  The next time you fill up, maybe you should give a shout of joy?

NO, I'M NOT GOING TO SHOUT FOR JOY, EITHER!

We should, however, count our blessings!

God Bless!