RIP Harold Simmons (1924-2009)

Can't believe three consecutive posts have marked someone's passing, but it's been one of those weeks . . . Today, I offer condolences to my brother-in-law who is mourning the loss of his grandfather. The obit from the Greenville [SC] News:

Harold E. Simmons, 84, of 305 Trotter Road, husband of the late Leecie Owens Simmons, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009, at Richard M. Campbell Veterans Nursing Home.

Born in Pickens, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Ernestine Hendricks Simmons.

Mr. Simmons was retired from Sangamo Electric Co. and was a member of East Pickens Baptist Church. His career began with schooling from Packard Marine School while serving in the U.S. Navy. There, he mastered the trade skills necessary to advance him to Plant Engineer at Sangamo. After retiring, he raised cattle and used his skills in repairing small engines. He also was a member of the South Carolina Farmers Association.

Surviving are a daughter, Carolyn Ross and her husband, Roy, of Easley; a sister, Joy Simmons of Pickens; six grandchildren, Angela R. Dalton (Spencer), Cristal S. Day (Chip), and Autumn S. Clark (Johnny), all of Easley, Keith Simmons (Alice) of Mt. Pleasant, Shana R. Dalton (Jason) and Alex Simmons (Stacy) of Pickens; and 13 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by a son, Gary Harold Simmons; a grandson, Jason Roy Ross; four sisters, Inez Littleton, Emroy Kelley, Ruby Byers and Betty Gillespie; and two brothers, William Frank Simmons and Carl Hendricks Simmons.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2009, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Dillard Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens. The Men's Sunday School Class of East Pickens will serve as honorary escorts.

The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.The family is at the home of the daughter, 130 Camelot Court, Easley, SC 29640.

Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com

Memorials may be made to Richard M. Campbell Veterans Home, 4605 Belton Highway, Anderson, SC 29621.

Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Simmons family.

Ye Palmetto State

So, after a later-than-I-would've-liked start to the day, I-95 did eventually carry us out of North Carolina this morning.

For ye socks who have never enjoyed that experience, you're missing out on several thousand entertaining Billboards by Pedro along the way.

Bypassing all the tourist schlock, I figured a stop at the South Carolina Welcome Center was in order.

I though--rather foolishly, as it turned out--that someone there might be able to give us some suggestions as to where would be a good place to kill a few hours since ye rendezvous in Mount Pleasant wasn't scheduled until late afternoon. You know, maybe a town within easy driving distance of 95 or 26 that had some historic site, some decent restaurants to choose from, etc.

The recommendation: "Well, um, I 'thank' they's a Shoney's in Dillon . . . they's got a buffet . . . it's only $4.95!"

I do not have a poker face, which evidently led to the second recommendation: "Maybe, you'd like Florence better?"

Florence, for ye socks unfamiliar with this little corner of . . . well . . . South Carolina, is a fairly decent sized town. There weren't any of those brown and white signs one usually sees along the roadway to point out interesting historic sites. But, it was full of a bunch of national chain restaurants, hotels, and gas stations. Just great, because we don't have any of those in Orlando . . .

So, lunch was had at the Cracker Barrel. (Chicken and rice for me, thank you, followed up with a chocolate cobbler.) Not altogether the unique traveling experience I was looking for, but it did fill the void and carry me thru to this afternoon's rendezvous.

Spending the night here east of ye olde Cooper River at my sister's place, chillin' with the Simmons clan. I'll try to get a few pictures posted. If not here, then on facebook.

Happy Trails!

It's been so nice having my sister and her family come home to Orlando, even if only for one week.

Today, though, they hit the road on their way back up to South Carolina.

Safe journey, Simmons clan!

Come back soon and often, and try to avoid all the crazy holiday travelers on the interstate!

The Magic Kingdom will never be the same

Not after these two mousketeers get a hold of it!

According to my spies, their parents are having a pretty good time, too.

Mom has ridden Space Mountain 7 times since the gates opened, and is back in line for another go-round.

And, Dad is riding the bumper cars at Test Track to hone his driving skills for the trip back up I-4.

Fun times in this little corner of heaven today . . .

The Princess

Oops! I'm afraid I was a little remiss in my post from yesterday, in that I only featured a photo of my nephew.

Lest my niece get jealous, here's one of her, too!

I think at the time the picture was snapped, she was engaged in a hands-free fly-catching competition . . . something she undoubtedly learned from her dad's side of the family.

WD stands for . . .

Well, it doesn't stand for my favorite grocery store. ("Winn Dixie")

Nor, unfortunately, does it stand for "Walt Disney." That's where I wish I had been today. But, some of us have to work around here, I guess.

And, oh, what a day it was, ye socks.

So, that's why WD stands for "Work Day" or "Whatta Day" or "Well, damn" in this little corner of heaven today.

It's hot. It's humid. Everybody's cranky. And, it seems like there's a severe lack of pacifiers around here . . .

Maybe, that's why my nephew was making that face. (Or, maybe, it's because he just takes after his uncle way too much . . . I mean, check out that ball cap shielding a furrowed brow full of fop sweat!)

But, at least his WD did stand for "Walt Disney" today!

The Orlando Science Center

I took an unplanned PDO today to accompany the Simmons clan of Mount Pleasant to the Orlando Science Center. (Web site: http://www.osc.org/ .)

If ye socks have not yet visited this awesome little attraction by Loch Haven Park, I can highly recommend it.

Especially if you have kids in tow.

But, big kids will enjoy it, too.

For one thing, it's entirely air-conditioned, a claim the big theme parks around here cannot make.

For another thing, the IMAX theater is amazing. (We watched "Roar," a film about a pride of lions from Botswana.)

Check it out if you ever find yourselves in this little corner of heaven!

Welcome to Moe's!

That's the greeting you always get when you walk into our favorite semi-fast-food chain around here, whether you fully appreciate it or not.

Today, though, was more special than most, because this was the rendezvous point established by the Simmons clan of Mount Pleasant.

Yep, they're gracing us with their presence for a couple of days!

I couldn't believe how tall my niece has gotten.

My nephew looks like a little man with his new "big boy" haircut.

I had forgotten how striking my sister's different colored eyes are, especially now that she has a "big girl" haircut.

And, my brother-in-law just never changes.

Anyway, after scarfing down some calorie-laden delicacies, I took them over to the new/old house on Elizabeth Avenue. We couldn't really get a full appreciation, as the estate sale crew is in full swing right now. But, we did have a nice walk down to Lake Ivanhoe and back up nearby Harrison Avenue.

A fun day!

My niece "graduated" today

From pre-school.

I put the "graduated" in quotation marks, because I'm not sure if that's really the proper term.

I guess it is a big deal to move up to the Kindergarten level in South Carolina.

Kinda like it was a big deal to have an 8th grade banquet where I grew up in West Texas?!

At any rate, eyewitness accounts at the event report my niece actually leapt from the stage after receiving her recognition.

I hope someone caught that on camera.

But, getting pictures out of that neck of the woods is about as easy as finding cheap gasoline . . .