Summer is slipping away, but it has been wonderful.
Both of our sons with their families visited us this summer. We made good memories and I took pictures. This is the second year my grandson, Kellen, has been driving radio control cars. At age three, he’s improved quite a bit. My two year old granddaughter, Sauvie, began her RC driving lessons during her visit this summer.
At Brandon’s request, I sold both of his old Chevrolet’s this summer. His ’62 Corvair was here for about 10 years, and his ’63 Nova for 15.
The Corvair sold first, a father and son team bought it. The son is 14, and hopes to be driving it when he gets his license.
He tried on the driver seat and steering wheel as he scanned the dashboard and interior. Spotting the window crank on the open driver’s door, he pointed at it and asked, “What’s that?”
That sale created an empty space in the shop, but like digging a hole in wet sand; it began filling in right away. The Nova sold about a month later, and with two empty bays, it may actually take a few weeks for the shop’s gravitational pull to fill those spaces.
My brother, Loren, rode his new Street Glide to Newberg for our Dressel Family Reunion. I put red lights on the garage floor – not so much as a guide to the landing/parking area, but as a Welcome.
He brought his new electric RC Truck. We were running two lap races on my back yard dirt track Sunday morning before church; I thought I had the home field advantage, but – he beat me five races in a row!
We also got to run our cars on the indoor AstroTurf track in Salem, RC Plus. That was fun, and while there I drove for the first time, my new Losi 3.0 buggy (thanks, Jason). I have two bodies for it, and the one I like best features my granddaughter’s likeness.
When I told her dad how quick that car can get around the track, he indicated that was fitting – quick like Sauvie. He asked if it also jumps a lot. Actually, the car does jump a lot. How did he know that?
I may have taken some of my best pictures this summer. The years of pictures I have taken of my kids and the pictures I am taking of my grandkids will always be my most treasured.
Other than family, my favorite photo opportunity is an event called “I Dragged The Gut in downtown McMinnville,” or “I Dragged The Gut” for short. I love taking pictures there, and I have developed a style I might call Dream Shots (that’s easier to say than low light exposure with slow shutter blurring that makes a still picture indicate motion). Click here to see more.
Also from this year, possibly my best car show pictures, and I was very happy with these fireworks pictures (some in this album taken earlier).
I saw the heart doctor to follow up on the EKG and stress test. He found nothing serious, and suggested I improve my diet, lose weight, get into better shape, and come back later for another look.
I saw a foot doctor. I don’t know why it hurt. I waited weeks for the tendon above my heel to get better, but it got worse, so – doctor – foot doctor – x-rays – MRI – Achilles Tendinitis – special boot and physical therapy. It’s getting better.
I saw the belly doctor. My sticking out belly button was getting worse.
It seemed I was constantly holding or pushing it back in, and sometimes it didn’t want to go back in, and one time after a reluctant push, there appeared red spots near it. So – doctor – belly doctor – Ultrasound – bowel in the button – surgery (scheduled for October)!
The air boot helps if you don’t mind clunking around wearing only one extra large ski boot, and the Lumbar lower back brace support belt frees up the hand that would be pressing the (belly button) hernia.
I saw the Oncologist, three terrific months had passed since my last visit, so – visit friends with needles (who draw blood) – tests – and my favorite test results: no change. I can live with that. I remain daily thankful to God.