Closing Out 2025

A Few "Saved Rounds"

Every time I think there’s nothing more that needs saying on these posts, something comes along to stir another memory. Yesterday it came in the form of a Christmas card from Jackie Jones Dodge in our home town of Hayesville, NC; surely Ed Ashe and the gang won’t mind my sharing.

Our grandfather, “DaddyDent”, had an old blue Dodge pic-’em-up truck just like Santa’s. He used to roar around our mountain roads with it’s hemi engine spinning wheels, laying rubber, and scaring the natives. A delightful memory on which to close out the year.

Another reminder of olden times: my close friend, another dairy farm boy, called to reminisce about how much fun (?) we both had milking cows in the early mornings in winter. Since he lived up near Syracuse, NY, his winter mornings started back in September while ours usually arrived much later on the calendar.

I vividly recall going to Dr. Joe with two blackened little toes that apparently came from standing on wet concrete wearing cotton socks inside un-insulated rubber boots while trying to stay warm in the dairy barn. Neither one of us was sure what to do about frost bite, but somehow we got by.

On Christmas Eve, we always started evening milking early, washed up quickly. and piled into Granny Groves’ kitchen for dinner and opening presidents. Every year she laughed at the “anticipation” of what was inside the packages, and always had as much fun as we did with the festivities.

Afterwards, we headed to DaddyDent and MamaDent’s house for celebration with aunts, uncles, and cousins on Mom’s side of the family. The cousins always fussed because they had to wait for us to arrive for everyone to open presents.

One of those young cousins writes poetry, and shares it on Substack. Lauren’s style is different, but she always nails the message. Recommend you paste this link into your browser to check her out: https://substack.com/@laurenraye

The wreaths were laid at Arlington National Cemetery and across our nation again last Saturday. The little snow falling on Sunday morning did nothing to distract from their dignity during my morning walk yesterday.

Old Glory barely stirred in front of Arlington House atop Arlington Ridge overlooking Washington, while the tiny buds on the tree near the flag pole gives us promise of better times to come.

Walking away, my eye caught this image made outside Arlington House in July 1861, shortly after Union soldiers occupied the Custus-Lee plantation.

This final resting place for so many of our nation’s veterans reminds me once again that the ultimate cost of freedom is always borne by families.

Coming full circle, the card from the Naval Academy Foundation hit the common theme of the season.

(Bill the Goat looks to be celebrating Navy beating Army, AGAIN.)

We sincerely appreciate all our subscribers and wish everyone a most Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the front porch on Groves Farm!