Carlisle, Kentucky, a giant step forward (or backward depending on your line of sight)

I finally made it to Carlisle, KY and within minutes I was knee deep in information about the Walls family. WOW !!! It's one of "those things" that requires a person to get up off the chair and and go "in search of ...". The people here have been most friendly and hospitable as well as helpful.

Going backwards: my dad (DeMarquis Walls)was born in Cleburne, TX, his dad (Edgar Walls) was born in Joplin, MO, his dad (Zachariah Walls) was born here in Nicolas, Co., KY and his father (Thomas Walls) was from Richmond, VA (but I'm not sure of his actual birth place as yet and I'm estimating that it was circa 1770). I hope soon to have his birth information, now that I have broken through the wall.

Along the way I have experienced some pain due to a tooth that I irritated by bighting down on something too hard. This morning I went looking for a dentist but the pain was making it difficult so I went for lunch at a tiny, family diner. As I was preparing to pay my bill the lady at the cash register was talking to a guy and telling him about a tooth she was having trouble with. I asked her if she new a dentist close by and she pointed me in the direction of Dr Branden Allen (just one block away). He was able to see me right away and, would you believe it, he is from Baker City, OREGON !! He checked out my problem, wrote an Rx that will allow me to continue my road trip and I am already feeling much improved. Isn't it funny how that kind of thing works?

Lastly, this area is beautiful, even in these last few days of winter. I have seen photos of what it looks like in the summer and fall and I know that I will return ... someday.

Good bye Texas .... for now ....

After leaving San Angelo State Park I headed to Waco to have lunch with my sister Charlsie. Then I headed for Seymour, Texas to visit my sister Bobbie and her husband AB. We had a nice visit although we were all suffering from a cough that just wouldn't leave us alone. I left this morning and the cough is almost totally gone. It was good to see my sisters again again.

My next stop today will be Shreveport, LA to pay my respects at my mother and stepfather's graves. Then I will be heading to Elkmont, AL to visit with Margie and Mason.

The storms of west Texas

From the old song El Paso by Marty Robbins "One day a wild young cowboy came in, wild as the west Texas wind". I really got to experience that west Texas wind first hand over the last couple of days. I decided to pass on Big Bend National Park and opted for San Angelo State Park to weather the storm. Now, I'm back on the road, the sky is clear blue with white fluffy clouds.

Our lives change like the weather ...

It has been an uneventful few days on the road except for a little bit of weather pushing me around. I have been avoiding too much people contact and it has given me time to reflect on how our lives change like the weather. My plan to visit Big Bend National Park was put off today by a storm moving in from the south. I will stick around the Pecos area to see if it clears but it doesn't look like it will. I will probably continue eastward tomorrow.

Just a little too late ....

My road trip starts tomorrow and today as I made one last trip into town for food for the road when I got the call from my cousin Kay that dear Ivy had passed away. Knowing that her health was failing it was my hope to have one more visit with her but it just wasn't meant to be. I will pay my respects to the family as I pass through their respective areas. She was a dear, sweet lady who brought much joy to the world in song and in every aspect of her life. She will be missed and remembered fondly by many. I believe that she is with the Lord as she always knew she would be. Ivy, I am so glad that I knew you.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=ivy-walsh-eskridge&pid=140344128

Road Trip 2010 ...

The stars have aligned and all is right with the world. I will start Road Trip 2010 on Wednesday March 3rd by heading south toward San Diego. Then on to Texas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky and possibly Virgina. I have some good leads on the Walls family's whereabouts in 1850 and maybe that will lead me to the previous generation in Va. Some genealogy just has to be done in person.

DeJ has arrived !!!!!

Finally, after years of waiting, my dear nephew DeJ has arrived in Oregon. He and his mom flew in from Houston yesterday and we are all so very happy. He is eagerly embracing the Oregon ways; walking through rain with no hat and a smile on his face, enjoying all the sights and sounds of rush hour traffic and in general, getting his feet wet.