Visit To Gastonia, My Other Hometown

Friday, January 28, 2011

Our visit to Gastonia has been short, but very busy. We arrived from the beach late afternoon Wednesday, and stopped at the Hampton Inn for a room. It was full, as often happens during week days. The Marriott Courtyard across the street had rooms, so we decided to stay there. After checking in, I decided to do a little visiting, so stopped by the Gaston Gazette to see Kevin Ellis. Kevin is the feature writer who did several stories about the walk.....all on the front page of the paper. We had a nice visit, and then next to Lawing Auto Repair, a local garage where I used to hang out while living here. They were good supporters during the walk, calling me several times while I made my way across country.

I left there and stopped in at Minges Printing to see Gene (the owner) and Anita, his right hand (wo)man. Gene and Anita printed the business cards and the posters displayed on the cart. Gene and I have known each other for many years, and always have lots to talk about.....this time was no exception. From there, back to the motel for an evening of TV and computer. Thursday morning I had breakfast in the motel, and headed out for more visiting. Rita needed the car to visit her Mother, so this was the first day I've had a good walk since last week. I walked downtown to the bank and to get a haircut (still get haircut in Gastonia), and then back to Minges Printing to order more business cards and posters for the grandchildren. I hung out there for a while, and then walked back to Lawing Auto for more visiting.

Visited there for a while until lunch time, then Rita and I went to Tony's Ice Cream for lunch. Tony's has been in business in Gastonia since 1915, and it feels like the 1950's when you walk in the place. After lunch, drove her back to her Mother's, and back to visiting. Stopped by to see my buddy, Mike Friday, for a while. Then back to Minges printing to pick up the order (they did a rush job for me since I'm leaving for VA tomorrow.) Then went to pick up Rita, and visit my mother-in-law for a while. She is in her 90's, living in an assisted living home, and struggles to understand exactly why I was walking across the USA.....I can only imagine. Then back to the motel to rest a while before dinner.

Jack Bradshaw had invited us to dinner with him, his wife Patsy, and Jon and Laura Childs. We met them at 6, had a nice meal and lots of talking about the walk, and happenings in and around Gastonia. Jack and Jon were two supporters of the walk......both came out on the road to visit and walk with me, and Jack and Patsy had me stay in their condo at N. Myrtle Beach. Both are "walkers" themselves. It was great to see them. After dinner, we stopped by the grocery store to get a supply of my soda of choice, Sun-Drop......can't get them in VA. Then back to the motel and start getting ready to head out tomorrow. It's always busy when we come down here.

We were up early this morning, ate breakfast, and headed out to run a few more errands. Then drove to Charlotte for the interview with Keith Larson.....which was a little disappointing. It almost appeared he wasn't expecting me or something, the interview was over before it really got started. Oh well, guess the walk is old news now! Then drove back to VA......it's the first time I've been home since late August. Some snow on the ground, but not much.....but it's cold. It'll take weeks to get all my stuff straightened out, so there'll be no time for "walk" lag for a while. It'll be nice to get back into some type of routine. Over the next few weeks I'll be visiting the students who have been following the blog, plus have been asked to speak to a men's class at a church in Cherryville, NC. So, still a few things going on that allows me to ease out of the walking mode, rather than stop immediately.

About the pictures:
Jon and Laura Childs, Jack and Patsy Bradshaw;
Gene and Anita, Minges Printing;
Charles Faulkner, Spindle Center Barber Shop;
Tony's Ice Cream.