Christmas letter 1998
Ron's Highlights of 1998.
This year I finally realized that I'm a rolling stone. I will never again stop traveling for more than one season. Astounding that it took me only 50 years to realize that I'm totally incompatible with a stationary lifestyle. Other "biggies": I strongly prefer sleeping outdoors under the stars every night. When I need to do my own projects, I'm really a loner.
"Home," my 1982 Dodge van, carried me through 37 states this year. She suffered no breakdowns, breakins or flats. I didn't lose my keys. I was amazed by the improvement in handling that accompanied four brand-new radial tires. No more "skating" on rutted roads.
My life was enriched by quality time spent with 13 family members and cousins, two new genealogy cousins, and 37 close friends; many of whom were shocked when I insisted I'd be happiest sleeping outdoors .. in their back yard .. without a tent.
Marsha and I finally embarked on our long-awaited RV retirement trip .. and called it quits two months later. The most memorable moments were in Chaco Canyon, hiking on Georgia O'Keefe's Ghost Ranch and crossing N. La Veta Pass in a blinding blizzard on April 30.
It was great to spend May, June and July in New Mexico and September and October in New England, seeing friends, hiking, camping, and working on my genealogy program.
My sister scheduled the Rambo family reunion in Illinois on July 25, just two days after her birthday. Sneaky, but ineffective - no additional presents, and she gave away door prizes.
In August I took Marsha's furniture to her in Portland, visited friends in the Northwest and Canada, and descended a 17% grade on a detour of a washed-out forest service road.
I spent around $2,600 between August and Christmas, somewhat more than $5,000 all year.
The cheapest gas was 59.9 in New Jersey. The best scenery was in Idaho & New Mexico.
I ate tons of ice cream, ran many miles and failed to get fit. What a struggle! Don't give up.
It was 70 degrees on December 20th in South Carolina (I saw motorcyclists in tee shirts), and still 66 degrees warm entering Kentucky after dark, but I drove into freezing rain in Paducah an hour later. It has been often too cold and too icy ever since.
Biggest genealogy find: the deed wherein Francis Mechem sold his father's land in 1748.
New Year's Resolutions: more hiking, more motorcycling, more basketball, and genealogy.
Best to you and yours in 1999.
Click here to return to Ron Beatty's home page,
These links are on all my web pages:
Eve's Garden Organic Bed and Breakfast, a wonderful, eclectic, artistic papercrete alternative living learning mecca in Marathon, Texas
Rambo family genealogy, Bankston & Bankson family genealogy, the Camblin family genealogy, the Dorsey Overturff family, cousin Jean's Schenck and Hageman genealogy, and