e started walking for exercise in
1974. A note on February 24th gives the information that we walked three
miles that day. I know we started earlier than that date, because we gradually
worked up to that distance. I entered it in his little book. I think I was
probably proud of the fact that we had reached the goal we set in the beginning.
But Troy deserted me when spring came and he became busy with his gardens,
lawn and berries. When we were home he either worked outside or on the house
several hours each day. He never really got back to walking but I have tried
to discipline myself to walk each day. I vividly remember walking two miles
one day when the temperature was down to twenty degrees. At the end of a
mile I stopped at a friend's home to thaw out before starting back to the
Glen. Probably Margaret Hollar thought I was crazy!
We started to Florida on May 26th. Elma flew to Staunton and we picked her
up there. The women were all wearing wigs at that time and Troy remarked
that he would like to have a wig. I encouraged him to buy one, so we ended
up in a wig shop on the 28th. I entered the shop, with Troy right behind
me and Elma bringing up the rear. A clerk asked if she could help us and
I replied "Well, this gentleman wants me to marry him and I have told him
that he would have to wear a wig, or I wouldn't marry him." She said "I think
we can help him." So Troy had a beautiful iron gray wig when we left the
shop and he was not a bit bashful about wearing it the next two or three
years. Strangers never suspected that he was wearing a wig. Once when we
were in Akron he was helping with communion service in Ted and Blossom's
church and one of their friends said to Blossom. "Your brother has a beautiful
head of hair." She did not enlighten him.
This was the year that we took the trip overseas -- July 27th to August 16th.
A Bible professor from the Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg was
our host. He had spent two years teaching in Jerusalem and this was his eighth
trip back as a tour guide. It was a wonderful trip; one we had been looking
forward to taking for several years. We had our luggage practically packed
to go when the Six Day War occurred in 1967 and the government canceled al1
trips to the region. We flew from Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. to Kennedy
Airport in New York and from there to Athens, Greece.
The pilot of our overseas plane told us that it was 4,925 miles between New
York and Athens. From here we flew to Cairo, Egypt. We knew we were really
in a foreign land when we reached Egypt.
Much of the apparel worn reminded us of the pictures of Bible times. There
were a lot of beggars-on the streets, but Dr. Lehman had warned us not to
start giving or we would be so surrounded by beggars that we could not move.
It was so hard to resist the little children!
We went by bus from Beirut, Lebanon to Damascus, Syria. We reached Damascus
on Saturday and Dr. Lehman secured a lounge for the group's worship service
the next day. Troy had the honor of preaching in this city which was so meaningful
in the life of St. Paul. The city was so ill kept. The streets were littered
with paper and other trash. It was the dirtiest city we were ever in!
We went from Damascus to Amman, Jordon and from there to Jerusalem. Four
full days were spent in Jerusalem before going on to Tiberias. Everywhere
we traveled we saw the usual tourist attractions and had special guides.
One day from the bus we saw a man winnowing wheat just as they did in Jesus'
time. We flew from Tel Aviv to Rome, Italy. Everything in Italy was so very
expensive. I bought a plate in the other seven countries we visited for my
plate collection. I think the most expensive one was $9.00, but in Italy
one would have been $25. Elma had brought me one from there a few years earlier,
so I made that do for my collection.
An especially nice experience was the boat trip from Tiberias to Capernaum
across the Sea of Galilee. We had a beautiful worship service. Four of the
younger women in the group sang, "A Stranger of Galilee." It was a touching
and meaningful hymn for all of us in that environment.
We flew home from Geneva, Switzerland. Marion and Joy were in Singers Glen
to greet us. When they got into the house they found that something had happened
to the thermostat in the wall heater in the bathroom and the entire house
was hot enough to pop corn. They managed to cool it off some before we arrived.
Howard and his family came the day before Christmas and left on the 28th.
They brought Drew and Jonathon and left them and Beth for a little visit.
Robbie had to go home with his parents because he was supposed to work. But
before they left Troy took the children to Canaan Valley so they could play
in the snow. Canaan Valley is a unique valley high in the mountains of West
Virginia.
I think you grandchildren will also remember that you were invited for several
hours of fun on the Simmons farm. I believe Mary Ellen had you for a meal
with her children and that all of you got to ride a horse in the afternoon.
Raymond and his wife adopted three children. The girl was a full blooded
Navaho Indian. I know it was a fun day for you for you talked excitedly about
the unusual things you did, such as playing in the hay in the barn.
On New Year's Day we took you children
to Camden, S. Carolina and Joy and Marion met us at the bus station there.
We secured motel rooms and the next morning went our separate ways.
