John, I trust you are writing all of this stuff in your memoirs for the grandkids when they are old enough to read it! You have had a very interesting life. Yes, girls can fish and hunt and hike as well as boys. My dad always used to take me fishing and hunting with him. I had a younger brother but he was kind of naughty and wouldn't keep quiet while fishing and hunting, and anyway, by the time he came along I was already my dad's "boy." I have great memories of him showing me how to fish, bait the line, clean the catch and cook it. Hunting was mostly a hike in the woods, sometimes with the dog, sometimes without. I'm sure some of my love of the great outdoors and the woods is because of those early times with my dad. I don't remember he ever shot anything when I was with him but he let me shoot at tin cans on logs, etc., for practice. (Maybe we weren't really hunting...maybe we were having a hike together, but I thought we were out for shooting dinner.) My son, especially, has great memories of his grandpa. He spent a lot more time with my dad than my daughters did, having long conversations with a man who had plenty of time by then. By that time my father had past the time of hunting and fishing, but he was still a great storyteller. (Armstrongs seem to be able to spin a tale or two.) Armstrong dads are very good. I sure do miss mine. Cousin Marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Armstrong" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, October 02, 2006 1:58 AM Subject: [ARMSTRONG] wedding announcement > Dear List, > 42 years ago, today, in the hospital chapel, of the U.S. Navl > Hospital in Oakland California, Dixie A. Cummings was married to one > John D. Armstrong..................... but let me tell you the "rest > of the story"... > > > due to an unfortunate aviation accident I ended up in the U,.S. Naval > Hospital, at Oakland, California. Actually I was admitted on April > fools day 1964.. I was admitted through the emergency room and shortly > thereafter ended up in traction in a bed on the Orthopedic ward.. > > > I'm unsure as to exactly when, one of the ER techs, an Iowa Farmers > daughter, playing Nurse in the Navy wandered onto the Orthopedic ward > to visit the sailor, named Bill, in the traction assembly in the rack > next to me, She was a friend of his wife's and was checking to see if he > needed any cigarettes, magazines, etc from the PX.... But this > young lady wasn't Bill's wife, and wasn't even married, and so I asked > her if she'd like to go dancing with me..... at a local Infamous Road > house in Oakland.... she looked at me and smiled, then looked at my > chart hanging on the end of my bunk with all the metal frame-works > holding all of me in place... smiled and walked away... I thought > there was a little extra wiggle in the walk, but wasn't positive at that > time..!!! > > > about a week later she came back, ostensibly to visit Bill, and oh by > the way - I'd be happy to go dancing with you Sailor, when you get out > of traction...!! Ah... it's the old Armstrong Charm, works every > time... ;-) > > > In about 3 months time, I graduated from traction, to a wheel chair, > to crutches, And came that first weekend the Doctor, in a moment of > weakness (no doubt) granted me a pass... The ER technician said she > could whip up a picnic lunch, and if I would do the shifting, she > could drive my 1963 bright Red, Austin Healy 3000, and we could go on a > picnic up behind the hospital....in the Eucalyptus groves. Stop for > a moment and picture me, with my right leg still in a cast, on > crutches, setting in the passenger seat... She, with the seat moved > as far forward as it would go, commanding the steering wheel, clutch > and brake pedals, and gas pedal.. When I'd yell shift, she'd push in > the clutch, I'd shift to the next gear, and then she'd pop the clutch > and stomp on the gas, and we'd go like hell....!!! > > > Oct 1, 1964 in the Hospital Chapel, we were married... About a year > later, she told me she had a confession... I didn't want to hear any > confessions.. but she proceeded to tell me anyway, that when I had > asked her to go dancing, she had gone to the Personnel Office and > looked at my record to see if I was married or not.. Finding that I > was single (eligible) she hustled back to accept the date...!! So much > for the old Armstrong Charm... I had been caught in traction and > couldn't get away.. ...!! ;-) > > > Today the woman has a CDL (commercial Drivers License) and can drive > anything with an engine and a tranny...!!! (required to drive a school > bus in Alaska) but she still gets a little misty eyed when ever she > sees a little red sports car with a rag top..!!! > > > She gave me two great son's... and they in turn have given me 3 1/2 > grandchildren...!!! (that we know of) June was a good month for the > Armstrong boys as most all the kids on this line have been born in > March...!!! Except for the Son born on Christmas Eve... :-) .. > Grandma is hoping for another grand daughter, but I could care less as > long as the child is healthy.. Girls can fish as good as (or gooder) > than boys..!!! > > > Sincerely, > John D > A little SoWest of North and full of wild raspberry juice... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message