i arose after a good night’s sleep, a blessing for an old man. i had my usual list of chores to do around home: washing and storing clothes, washing and storing dishes, washing the patio cover. As usual, the preps and cleanup for the last chore required more time, primarily because i would return to my briar patch where tools are kept, mess around in there for a while, and return to the back patio, only to remember i forgot something.

But there was great pleasure in the outdoor work. i have picked up my walking both in frequency and distance and discovered my age-old tee shirt doesn’t cover a small strip around my neck and shoulder thereby giving me a sunburn. Well, i’m old and cheap and not going to get a high end collar to protect my exposed neck.

So, i went back home some 70+ years ago, evoking Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Bob Steele, and others. i donned a red bandana, tying it around my neck and…Voila, covered the sunburned strip. i played cowboy while, from a ladder, washing down and scrubbing the aircraft soot off the patio cover singing “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Happy Trails,” and “Cool Water.” Great Day.

Then, i, of course, napped.

After my routine nap, which has been a staple since my father and i would repair to the two sofas across from each other in our den after lunch in 65-67, i forced myself to finish the chores.

As i said, a great day.

i consider most of my days great days now. One source of my feeling good is in my home office. i have had some old family portraits for a number of years. Two came down from my father through his oldest sister Naomi. The frames are gone. i have had them wrapped trying to determine what to do with them. In my latest attempt to organize all of this stuff i have to make it easier for those i left behind, i unwrapped the two portraits.

Hiram Carpenter “Buddy” Jewell was my great grandfather. His wife, Sarah, was my great grandmother. Each morning as i go through my routine. i look at those two. The portraits are not framed. i may eventually frame them. Right now, the portraits sit next to a photo of my golfing buddies, Jim Hileman, Pete Toennies, Marty Linville, and me.

Buddy Jewell was an interesting man. At 18, he enlisted in Smith’s Tennessee 2nd Calvary in 1861 for a year and re-upped for three more years as a corporal in Smith’s Tennessee 8th Calvary, D Company while stationed in Bardstown, Kentucky. After he was paroled at the end of the war, he returned to Statesville and married Sarah. They had three sons, one dying as an infant. One of the other two was my grandfather Hiram Carpenter Jewell.

Sarah Jones Jewell was an angel. i remain awed by her caring. After they were married, they received a letter from Mary Jane Sutton. She had become pregnant from Buddy when was in Kentucky. Mary had John Jay Jewell in 1862. Family lore tells us William Carpenter Sutton married her after she became pregnant and John Jay was born after the wedding.

Regardless, the letter told Buddy and Sarah that her husband had died, and she was in poor health. She requested that John Jay come live with them. Sarah directed Buddy to go to Kentucky and bring Mary Jane and John Jay back to Statesville. He did and Sarah nursed Mary Jane until she passed away and raised John Jay as one of her own.

Now, each morning i look at those two portraits, dwelling on her. She is a powerful source of inspiration for me. i spend a minute wondering what life in Statesville, Tennessee would have been like for them. It is my quiet time before beginning my day.

Things like cleaning patio covers don’t seem so bad after that. Besides i wore my red bandana.