I would like to start this posting with a big thank you for all the prayers for Laurie, Darcie, and the rest of the family. Everyone is home now – or at least out of the hospital. Soreness, stiffness, aches, and pains have set in for all involved in the wreck! We are just so thankful the injuries weren’t any more severe than they were! We do have a gracious and loving God!
The traveling duo was gone for a couple of days this week – in case you are wondering who has that title - it is none other than Bill and me! We had already put together a new post before the accident and decided to hold off and post “Blessings” to let John, Laurie, and the kids know we were thinking about them! So, now begins our July 29 -30 posting.
July 29 started off with us finishing packing for a
trip to Cincinnati. I would almost be safe in saying that most of you think we are going to a baseball game – wrong!!!! Since spring, Bill has gotten hooked on watching tennis matches on the tennis station. He knows most of the top ten men and women by name and face – I’m still trying to figure who is who! He ordered tickets for the men’s professional tournament being held in Cincinnati. Many of the top ranked men were planning on participating (the top 44 were part of the 64 participants). We had no idea as to whom we would be watching Wednesday night. Bill was hoping it would be one of the top seeds.The match was to start at 7:00. We got to the stadium around 5:30 so we could eat a bite before watching the match. We found us something to eat and ventured over to a large white tent that had tables and chairs set up. We found a table and sat down to eat. The tent was also host to a live band that made very loud music. They were playing “oldies”, so the songs were fine, but the level of the music was 20 decibels too high for these old folks!! I’m sure the folks at King’s Island could have heard the music and them being a mile away!
We finished our sandwiches and ventured away from the tent toward the area where we to go to our seats. There was a large crowd and the heat was unbelievable! Bill went to the restroom before we went to the stands, and when he came out of there he looked as white as a ghost! He barely could move one foot in front of the other. He made it over to a railing and hung on for dear life. I ran over to him, and he told me he felt as if he was going to pass out – he looked as if he were going to as well. I found a chair, and he sat down. There were some good Samaritans who stopped by to offer their help. They got an ice pack for us to place on his neck, and a young boy gave him a bottle of ice cold water. He was suffering from heat exhaustion. He did not drink as much water as normal because he didn’t want to stop every fifteen minutes and go to the restroom. Between lack of water, the extreme heat, the anxiety of being in the large crowd and loud noise caused him to hyperventilate and almost pass out on me right there!!! It scared the daylights out of me and him! I told him if he upped and died on me I would not talk to him ever again!!!!
I was ready to take him to the hospital and head back to the hills of WV. But no – he came all 
that way to see a professional tennis match, and he was bound and determined we were staying! I relented when I saw the color coming back to his face and him assuring me he was feeling better. We were going to be able to watch the number 6 seed, Andy Roddick. Bill had watched him on TV – usually when I was at Mom’s – thus the reason he knew the tennis players and I didn’t. He decided he was able to walk – he was weak – but we found our way to our seats. By the time we sat down, Bill’s knees were as weak as dishwater and so were mine – mine was from fear! Our seats were bleacher type seats, but were in a great location. We had a great view of the stadium and a good breeze was blowing which helped Bill tremendously.
that way to see a professional tennis match, and he was bound and determined we were staying! I relented when I saw the color coming back to his face and him assuring me he was feeling better. We were going to be able to watch the number 6 seed, Andy Roddick. Bill had watched him on TV – usually when I was at Mom’s – thus the reason he knew the tennis players and I didn’t. He decided he was able to walk – he was weak – but we found our way to our seats. By the time we sat down, Bill’s knees were as weak as dishwater and so were mine – mine was from fear! Our seats were bleacher type seats, but were in a great location. We had a great view of the stadium and a good breeze was blowing which helped Bill tremendously. Maybe the shirt he has on contributed to this episode - too many hot chicks - more than he saw at the beach! :):):):):)
As we settled in to get ready to watch the match, Andy Roddick took the microphone to make an announcement. He was withdrawing from the tournament due to tightness in his neck and shoulders. He didn’t feel as if he could play with this tightness.
Okay – do we go home now since the top seed we would be able to watch was not going to play?
No, we stay – partly because Bill was still a little weak and partly because we had come a long way to watch a tennis
Have no idea how to pronounce that last name, but he was the one who won the match. Jun was the one who replaced Andy Roddick, so he probably wasn’t as ready to play. It ended up being a really neat game to watch - they were both great players.
The next game was to be a doubles match. Two Americans against one American and a Korean were going battle it out on the court. We stayed and watched the first set with the two Americans winning. It was interesting to watch them as
they tried to set up a play – similar to volleyball. While watching these four play, we did notice a major difference from the first match - the announcer “ssshhhh” the crowd. The entire stadium got quiet, and I mean quiet – a lot faster than a gymnasium full of kids! It was unbelievable! He would also say “quiet” and “time” with the reaction of the players and the observers being immediate. Adults would slink down if they were going to their seats when the announcer said quiet.
We left after the first set and returned to our motel with no problem. Bill was still weak, but we didn’t have to walk that far! After a good night’s sleep, and me coaxing him to drink water, he felt better the next morning (he also got a Frosty from Wendy’s). We had tickets for the 11:00 match but opted to come on home. The heat index was to be extremely high, and we felt we had already had one too many episodes of heat exhaustion.
There were a couple of other things that caught our eye – one was a sign that said “Oooops, you just missed us – Motel 8 exit was the one behind you!” We though this was hilarious! Another sign said “Church for people who don’t like Church.” We’re not sure what this one means – anybody’s guess could be correct.
The price of gas was another interesting thing we encountered. We saved almost $8.00 for a tank of gas when we filled up before leaving Cincinnati. Gas was $3.569 a gallon!!!!!!! When we left home, we passed a station in Lavalette that had gas listed as $4.09 a gallon!! It is just a little too far to go back when we need to fill up the tank!
These two travelers are glad to be home and with all feeling better – especially Toby, who got a tennis ball from Cincinnati!
Till next time, love to you all!
The next game was to be a doubles match. Two Americans against one American and a Korean were going battle it out on the court. We stayed and watched the first set with the two Americans winning. It was interesting to watch them as
they tried to set up a play – similar to volleyball. While watching these four play, we did notice a major difference from the first match - the announcer “ssshhhh” the crowd. The entire stadium got quiet, and I mean quiet – a lot faster than a gymnasium full of kids! It was unbelievable! He would also say “quiet” and “time” with the reaction of the players and the observers being immediate. Adults would slink down if they were going to their seats when the announcer said quiet.We left after the first set and returned to our motel with no problem. Bill was still weak, but we didn’t have to walk that far! After a good night’s sleep, and me coaxing him to drink water, he felt better the next morning (he also got a Frosty from Wendy’s). We had tickets for the 11:00 match but opted to come on home. The heat index was to be extremely high, and we felt we had already had one too many episodes of heat exhaustion.
There were a couple of other things that caught our eye – one was a sign that said “Oooops, you just missed us – Motel 8 exit was the one behind you!” We though this was hilarious! Another sign said “Church for people who don’t like Church.” We’re not sure what this one means – anybody’s guess could be correct.
The price of gas was another interesting thing we encountered. We saved almost $8.00 for a tank of gas when we filled up before leaving Cincinnati. Gas was $3.569 a gallon!!!!!!! When we left home, we passed a station in Lavalette that had gas listed as $4.09 a gallon!! It is just a little too far to go back when we need to fill up the tank!
These two travelers are glad to be home and with all feeling better – especially Toby, who got a tennis ball from Cincinnati!
Till next time, love to you all! Toby is chasing his new tennis ball - it's a larger version than the regular tennis ball! He chased it all over the room.
JD and Darci
