SEPTEMBER

Havin' Fun!

Custom glass maker

Foot powered pottery

Country Singer at the festival

September is the beginning of the end of summer for me, and for western Pennsylvania. This last holiday or hooray of the summer … if you will, has been a very nice one. Saturday found me at the Greensboro Pennsylvania Art Blast on the Mon. This almost to West Virginia small-town-USA community puts on this gathering of art fans and those who just like the social event that is reminiscent of the old days when mountain men did their rendezvous’. The usual spattering of purveyors selling their wares filled the confines of the event. Everything from custom handmade marbles to portraits by hand was available to those with a few shillings in their pockets. After walking the grounds in the hot and humid conditions, a short stop at the food vendors found satisfactory outdoor-cooked-country-cuisine. The lack of Five-Star menu items notwithstanding, the dogs, pulled pork, and burgers hit the mark when so far off the beaten path of the city dwelling remote control obsessed couch potato. It was a fun and informative time to say the least.

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I would also like to advise you over there that a major hurricane, Gustav, is presenting approaching the New Orleans area. This is a major threat to the life and welfare of the residents in the area. I wish to extend my best wishes to all so affected, especially those who are overseas putting their lives in harm's way for their country, who have family members who are now in harm’s way back home.

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Photos:

1. A young girl having fun with an Alpaca.
2. A custom glass maker with handmade marbles in the foreground.
3. A foot operated pottery device in operation.
4. A country western song bird doing her thing.

(Note: I am not at my office yet, so I do not have my photo program to provide the properly sized images just yet).

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Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

BACK IN THE USA...

Nomad, my key to freedom on this day.

The buffeting from the prop wash made the aircraft shake in rhythm with the fast moving air. The opacity properties of the bubble canopy let the super bright and hot California sun rays penetrate the comfort zone within it, whilst opaque to ultraviolet. The shaking became worse just as the instructor gave the order, "Pull the release knob," I did, the tow line disengaged and the whole world changed. The ride went totally smooth with a silence that brought peace to a once violent world above. Our sailplane was now free to ride the wind; such a feeling of freedom is beyond the imagination of those without personal experience … one must do it. This was back in my Navy days (circa 1970) when I was single and in a pre-marriage lifestyle, not much different than on this day, Sunday, August 24, 2008.

Today, I finally got to get my Harley Low-rider out and on the American roads again after a long six weeks in Peru. I was on the Historical National Highway... Hwy 40, between Brownsville and Washington Pa. When I was riding the crest of Scenery Hill, I saw a sailplane in tow working the rising currents in the rare cobalt blue sky. I watched it until it released itself from the tow confines of the powered plane ahead of it. To honor the now free flying aviator above, I saluted he or she as we were now brothers in the wind; this was one of the most defining moments of my summer, of a boy a of summer. To feel and to appreciate the American roads, especially western Pennsylvania roads, is totally enhanced when returning from out of country from anywhere else in the world. The light traffic on this clear-blue-sky and sunny day made for the perfect ride. It was a break out day for one who has been in a country where traffic is a buzz saw without an off switch.

I was happy to be home and happy to soar like an eagle once again. The old cliché, America the Beautiful, rings with truth only when one sees her from the outside. It is easy to love the only thing that you have ever known, but to love her after seeing other places is a whole new level of love; this you will discover when you first walk again within the scope of her freedom. Come home safely and see for yourself.

This column will now start to get back on track with information, events and news for all of you over there. Believe me when I tell you ... you will appreciate the ride when you return like no one who never leaves, ever could! It is wonderful!!!

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania

Still out for overseas travels

I am still on the road. This column will be back in order in a week or so... Please check back for the normal weekly column soon!!!!

On the road column ... a few notes:

I am still on extended travels, but have a few notes to pass on.

Vets returning to or have done so recently may want to attend the annual “Welcome Home” Celebration for Operation Enduring Freedom/Operational Iraqi Freedom military vets. It is being put on by VA Butler Healthcare and Pennsylvania Careerlink on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. … the location at Belmont Complex, 415 Butler Road, Kittanning Pa.
Veterans can contact Bill Cress at 724-285-2493 or Tod Conner at 724-282-5583 for any questions or information that you may require.

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Vets running for congress:

There are twice the number of vets from the Iraq and Afghan wars running for office this year than in 2006. It seems that both parties are seeking out vets for their own agendas, and the vets have a lot to say from both sides of the isle.

The big race locally is retired Lt. Col. William Russell trying to unseat U.S. Rep. John Murtha, a very powerful politician seeking his 19th term in office; he is a former vet himself of the Vietnam War.

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I am still on the road, but will do my best to get a column out every week unless I am out in the field without contact.

Keep your head down,

Henry Hill, Plum Pennsylvania