My Toyota

Back in December the wife and I bought a Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V6. We had heard a little about the Toyota troubles but we really did not worry about them. So far we've drove it a bit over 2,000 miles and we still don't worry about the gas pedal problems.

We usually don't buy a new vehicle very often, for instant. In 92 we bought a new 1992 S-10 Blazer 4 X 4 V-6. In 2002 we bought a Jeep Laredo Grand Cherokee 2 wheel drive with a V-6. In that year we could not find a 2002 Chevy S-10 Blazer on a car lot, if we had we would have probably bought another Blazer S-10. We had drove the Jeep a bit over 100,000 miles, never rightly had any problems with it, but we always like the 92 Blazer S-10 better. In fact I'm still driving the old 92 S-10 Blazer. Before buying the Toyota we looked at the Chevy Colorado, but we could not find on anywhere close to us that we cared for. I've been told they stopped making them. I pulled up the picture of the Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V6 on my computer and my wife liked it as did I. We went to a dealer and looked at one and bought it.

As for us we are still at ease having bought a Toyota. It has not given us a moments trouble. The just wish it got a bit better gas mileage, its not near as good on gas as our Jeep or Blazer.

The wife and I was wondering is the problem some are having as bad as they say it is. Is the problem really with Toyota? And just how many out there is having this accelerator problem. With Toyota being the number one seller it would not surprise me if the big three was not back to their old games. You know, back in the old day they did all they could to push everyone out of the automobile business in order to make more money for their selves. With the position they've been in just the last few years it would not surprise me if they have gone back to their old ways.

Maybe some Toyota owners will happen by here and tell me their experience. I might mention this. I asked my wife the other day, does it seem like the brake pedal and accelerator pedal are a bit closer together on this Toyota than they were on our Blazer of Jeep. Like me she thought they were. I would prefer for the brake pedal to have been just a bit further to the left and not so close to the accelerator pedal giving my feet a bit more room. It would not surprise me the least bit that some of those who had trouble were pushing down on the brake pedal with both feet while pushing the accelerator pedal down unknowingly at the same time, thus creating the problem their self. Perhaps us Americas have larger feet than those of Japan, especially where wearing boots of which many Americans wear.

All of this said I would like to know what other Toyota owners think about this. If you've made it here and got this far I would appreciate if you would leave some thoughts on this. Our is the 2010 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4X4 V6 4.0 V6 DOHC 24V VVT-i 236HP Engine with the Sport package.

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Joshua 24:15

Nashville Trucking

There must be some old hands out there who once drove for Nashville Trucking Company running out of Nashville, Arkansas, owners were C. C. Couch & Hansford Ray. I know of some of the old hands from those days have past on, Roy Swint who we called Number 9 & John Jones who was known as Big John, and Hook Byers and I can't remember his CB handle, there there was Buck Boler, can't remember his CB handle either at the moment. I drove for them from about 76 to 81.

For the 1st few months I ran east unloading. Quickly I found out I did not care for that, especially those A. G. Shore loads that most of the time we had to run all over the east coast nearly having to pedal those loads off of the back of the trailer in order to get rid of them. Plus those loads seem to take 4 to 5 days to get off the trailer. Anyone who has ever went east with a A. G. Shore load will know about how bad those loads were.

Quick as I could I got to running the west coast, that was much better than running east, at least for me it was. running east we had to detour ever scale house for most of the time we were either overloaded plus most of our trucks were just a bit to long for the 55 foot limit from Tennessee to the east coast.

And A. G. Shore load was not to much better one the west coast, for they generally had 20 or more pickup's and we got no pay for pickup's nor drop's.

I was trying to think of the truck numbers, can't remember many of them, I do remember Number 9, Roy Swint, who had his own truck for most of the time I was there, his truck was Number 9. I do remember # 7, # 64, # 62. Seem like the truck Fish Hook who has passed on drove was # 65. Some of the other hands went by Kidnapper, Paper Boy, Little Phantom, Bingen Bum, we had 2 Grasshoppers, Blue Boy, Grave Digger, Slow Poke. Maybe later I will think of some more of them and edit this entry to add them to it. That has now been about 28 years ago, so my memory has gotten a bit fussy.

We had mostly regular stops we made going and coming from the west coast. I feel sure I can't remember all of them either and I feel sure many of those truck stops have been gone for several years. Cunningham Truck Stop at the 380 marker west of Fort Worth, Texaco at Midland, Texas, there is one at Odessa but I can't remember its name right now. Sometimes stopped at one just west of Abilene, McClain's at El Paso, one at Rockwell, Texas. the Texaco at Tucson, the Texaco at Colton, CA., 7th Standard Road just north of Bakersfield. Of course there were a few others some of stopped at once in a while. During that time they built those Iron Skillets just west of Forth Worth and east of El Paso, I did not stop at them all that much.

I may think of more that I can add to this later, but I was just thinking of those west coast days, wondering if some of you hands were around anywhere. I do have about 4 more whose faces I can see right now, but I can't think of their names nor CB handle. I went by Flintstone. If any of you happen to come by here please take time and leave me a note, would love to hear from you. And who knows there were many other hands out there that we ratchet jawed with on the CB, run up and down the super slap with many a mile and stopped and had coffee with, it would be nice to hear from you as well.

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Josh 24:15

Blytheville Air Force Base Forum

Blytheville Air Force Forum has been up and going since January 5, 2005 and we have had some good success. We now have 328 members and we have quite a few post made on our board most every day. We've had 2 reunions held at Blytheville with our 3rd Annual Blytheville Air Force Base Reunion coming up October 9, 10, 11, 2009.

During the 1st year or 2 it was slow going, but once some of those who had served at Blytheville Air Force Base which was later called Eaker Air Force Base more and more of those who served there begin to find Blytheville AFB Yahoo Group it started taking off. When 1st starting Blytheville AFB group I debated on what message board to use. I finally selected yahoo because is simple and easy for those who are new to the internet to use and find. About 2 years back I started thinking about moving Blytheville AFB group to another board because of the number of members plus the number of post. Last week I finally did this, choosing Yuku Forum. So now we are in the slow progress of moving to our new Blytheville AFB Forum.

Our group is made up by those who served in the United States Air Force Base, by those who served there is the Civil Service, and by family members of those who served at Blytheville AFB. If you had a part in Blytheville AFB you will probably find our forum interesting. For in our discussions we talked about most every aspect of our old Air Force Base and the city of Blytheville.

If you had a part in Blytheville AFB, later named Eaker Air Force Base, please come by and check us out at our new home. You just might find some of your friends from those by gone years. Even if you don't they might just show up at any time for we are constantly gaining new members. During the mean time you can enjoy discussing many different topics with people who you have something's in common with.

May the Lord Bless,
Jerry

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful
works to the children of men! Psalms 107:31

Blytheville AFB Reunion: 2009

 

  On October 7,8,9, 2008 we held our 2nd Annual Blytheville AFB Reunion at Blytheville, Arkansas. All who attended our 2008 reunion enjoyed it so much they wanted to have a 3rd Blytheville AFB Reunion in 2009. We have set the date for our 3rd reunion to be held October 9, 10, 11, 2009 at Blytheville, Arkansas.

 

  If you were ever stationed at Blytheville AFB, later called Eaker AFB, please try and attend our next reunion. You just might get to meet once again many of those airmen you once served with at Blytheville AFB.

 

  I was stationed at Blytheville AFB from June 1966 till May 1969. For the 1st few months I worked in the engine shop, but soon went to the flight line and spent most of my time there working in the engines of the B-52's & KC-135's. I would love to see some of those airmen I worked with at our next reunion.

 

  If you would like more information about our reunion please stop by Blytheville AFB Group, while there you just might find some of those you served with in our group. We have a few over 300 members and almost every day we have someone who served at Blytheville AFB joining our group.

 

  If you would like to see a picture of some of those who attened our 2nd Annual Reunion just click on and it will take you to it.

 

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

 

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye
will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Josh 24:15

Christian Woman Needs Computer In the Philippians

I have a Christian friend in the Philippines who is in need of a computer. Jenny is her name and she has not asked me to do this. She is a member of a group which I am and you can see her post at OnLine Baptist.

I just feel like there is someone out there with an old computer that still works real good that could give this Christian woman a bit of help. If you could help this Christian woman out I know she would greatly appreciate it, plus it would be a great act of kindness. If you need help in contacting her please let me know.

May the Lord bless,
Jerry

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalms 107:31

Texarkana Baptist Orphanage

 I posted the picture I have from Texarkana Baptist Orphanage on July, 2007, with great surprise the Debra, daughter of one of the girls in the picture found it on the net.

 Now I know who some of the people are in this picture, plus I have talked to her and her daughter on the telephone. We had quite a wonderful conversation. She could remember me and my brother, as well as things about the orphanage which I could not. Of course at that age I was a bit to young to remember things.

 Her name if Joann Clark Jones, she lives at Texarkana, which is about 50 miles from me. I have hopes that one evening in the future we can meet up and talk about old times. This is just unbelievable to me.

 In the picture her sister Gale is setting to my left, them Dale is setting next to her. The setting right of me is her sister Norma, setting by her is their brother Jimmy Don, setting by him I Joann Clark Jones who I just talked with on the telephone.

 Joann remember both my brother E W and me. This is so great, after so many years. How proud I am that I posted this picture on the internet. but I never dreamed of getting in touch with anyone in this picture after so many years.

 Joann and some of her brothers and sisters grew up in the orphanage, some were adopted out. She told me which ones, but I surely fail to remember. I will find out and post it on here.

 But what a great day July 17, 2007 has been. If this has happened, there is hope of other getting in touch with past friends and or family on this inter-net. If you have a picture of friend or family member post it on the net, be sure to but tags on it that is associated with something your friend and or family member might search for on the net. Debra found this picture of her mother by searching for "Texarkana Baptist Orphanage 1948."

 I send hugs to Joann and all of her family, my prayers are that each one of them shall always have loved ones to share their life with, I rejoice that I now know them, this has been a great blessing to me.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tent of wickedness."
Psalms 84:10

2nd Annual Blytheville AFB Reunion 2008

October 10,11,12, 2008 we're having our 2nd Annual Reunion for Blytheville AFB. I know they're many people out there who served at Blytheville AFB that would love to attend this reunion it they knew about. Hopeful posting it here on my old blog they will come across it.

I served at Blytheville AFB from June 1966 thru May 1969, I was in the 97th FMS working out of the engine shop. We kept those jet engine on those B-52's & KC-135's whining.

We had our 1st reunion last October and it was a success and everyone who attended wanted to have another one this year. I hope we can keep it going, I really enjoyed going back to Blytheville seeing friends from long ago and having another look at that Air Force base and the city of Blytheville as well.

I started a Yahoo Group for Blytheville AFB in January 2005. Anyone wanting any information on our upcoming reunion please come check out our group, all updates on it will be posted. Even if you can't attend check out our group, you may well come across some of those wonderful people you served with at Blytheville AFB. We now have a bit over 250 members and have been steadily growing in numbers. Even if you were a civilian come check up out, We have several members who were civilians who worked on the base with us who are members of our group. We reall have a wonderful time talking about those days we worked at Blytheville AFB.

May the Lord Bless,
Jerry

Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

2nd Annual Blytheville AFB Reunion: October 10,11,12, 2008

Blytheville AFB June 66 to May 69
97th FMS Propulsion shop, flight line
TDY 4133 Bomb Wing, Anderson AFB, Guam Sept. 68 thru Jan. 69

United States Air Force

I served in the United States Air Force from January 1966 thru May 1969. I attended Basic Training at Lackland AFB in early 1966. I was in BMTS 3703 flight 209. During the time I was there we had a young airman in the barracks next to us die from spinal meningitis. I believe he was in flight 210. We were under a quarantine for a while and my flight along with some others went to Amarillo AFB to finish up basic training. I have a picture posted of flight 209 that can be viewed on Flickr.

I attended Tech school at Chanute AFB, IL, I was in the 3368 Student Squadron, we were training to work on jet engines, particularly on the B-52 & KC-135's. We graduated on June 8, 1966. If you click on 3368 Student Squadron it will take you to a picture of us take on the wing of a fighter. Some of the people in that picture besides my self are, Chad Kail, Carl Tapper, William Sands, William Scales, and Norris Stay. this is not in the order they appear in the picture. I am the 2nd from the left standing.

After Tech school I went PCS to Blytheville AFB, AR, 97th Bomb Wing SAC, working out of the 97th FMS. I served my time out there working on the engines on the B-52's and KC-135's except for a 120 + day TDY to Anderson AFB, Guam from September 1968 thru January 1969. Back in January 2005 I started a Yahoo group for Blytheville AFB. This month on October 12,13,14 we had our 1st Annual Blytheville AFB Reunion. It was a success and everyone who attended wants us to have another one next year, so we are in hopes of having one each year as long as there is an interest. We now have about 200 hundred members in our group. If you had any part in Blytheville AFB come by and visit us, you just might be able to get in contact with some of those you worked with on Blytheville AFB. And if you can, try and make our next reunion which should take place sometime in 2008.

I would love to heard from any of you I served with. In fact I putting this on my blog and posted those pictures with hopes that some of you I served with might come across them and contact me. Above all please come and check out our Blytheville AFB Group, at this time we've got just over 250 members and almost daily someone who served at Blytheville AFB finds us.

May the Lord Bless,
Jerry

Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved

Why & How Could They?

I have one picture of myself while I was in the Texarkana Baptist Orphanage, its a group picture. Just so happens I posted it on the internet and the daughter of one of the girls in the picture happens to find it. Also I have a picture of my mother, Elizabeth Carter Davis.

Since that time I have talked with Jo Ann Clark on the phone and we have exchanges a few e-mails. But Joann also has brothers and a sister in this picture, Gale Clark, Dale Clark, and Jimmy Don Clark.

I to have a brother in the picture. I believe he is setting on the arm of the couch but I can't be positive. Hopefully in a couple of days I will know for sure.

But Joann and her brothers and sister suffered somewhat the same fate a I. Their mother died and their father put them in this orphan home. As for me, my mother, brother, and sister died in a house fire about one mile west of Cotton Plant, Arkansas in late 1948, 30 days later my brother and myself were in the orphan home. My sister Dixie Jo lived with a family at Cotton Plant for about 6 months, them she to was put in the orphan home.

But how can a father put there children in an orphan home? I fail to understand that. I understand hard times, but giving up your very own children, I can't understand that.

Which as for my birth father, he had already threw away one set of children. When his first wife died, he gave away all 6 children by that marriage, the youngest 6 months old. Them with us he does the very same thing.

I don't know about Joann's father, but my birth father loved to drink and chase women. I feel sure we children would have been in his way after our mother died. So the way I see it, he got us out of his way so he could enjoy his favorite pastime.

I feel like they are many others out there who have had this happen to them. I really wonder how you feel about it. I had an opportunity to see my birth father when I was a teenager, but I refused. I had no feeling for him. I did not care to lay my eyes on him. The man and woman who raised me from age 5 where my father and mother. They were the ones who held me when I was sick, they were the ones who put food in my mouth, clothes on my back. I have never regretted refusing to see that man, because he is not my father, most any man can father children, but it take more than that to be a father.

The only one that I have ever really missed in my mother. She died trying to save my brother. See she was fixing to start the evening meal. She started a fire in the wood cook stove. My oldest brother E W was off somewhere riding his bicycle. Dixie Jo was setting on the front porch with me. Betty Sue and Bobby Dean were in the house/ For some reason the coal oil exploded. there was speculation and my birth father had gasoline in it instead of coal oil, but that's another story. When it blew up mother grabbed up Betty Sue and took her to the front porch. He told Dixie to take me and Betty Sue and go stand by the fence in the yard. She went back in after Bobby Dean, but Betty Sue run back in the house after her. After which I believe there was another explosion.

When help got there it was to late, least it was from mother and Bobby Dean. They did get Betty Sue out, but she was in critical condition. They took her to Little Rock, but shortly after arriving she died. In 1948 they could not help a person near as much as they can today.

I suppose I should say mother was with child at this time. they were all buried on one casket and put in one grave. They're buried at White Church Cemetery down south of Brinkley. Back in the early 90's when I found out where they were buried the wife and I went up there. It was quite a feeling after all these years to stand at the grace of my mother who was with child, my sister, and my brother.

I might add, I met my mothers last living brother in the early 90's, along with many cousins, nephews and nieces. That was a great event. According to some of them, my birth father would not tell them what he did with us.

But, how can fathers give up their children? Does it haunt them ever day for the rest to their life? I surely believe it would have me if I had ever gave up my daughter.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tent of wickedness."
Psalms 84:10

Texarkana Baptist Orphanage, Texarkana, AR

I know someone out there probably has pictures of the children who were in the care of Texarkana Baptist Orphanage. I only have one, and if you will click on this it will take you to it. This is the earliest picture I have of myself.

I was only in the home for a few short years. From late 48 to 50. But if anyone out there happens to have another picture with me in it, I surely would love to have a copy of it.

Plus I just got to talk with one of the people that's in the picture I have, Joann Clark. Her daughter Debra has been trying to find pictures of her mother in her early life for they have none except for the copy on the one I have which I sent them. Joann stayed in the orphanage until she was 18 years old. If you could help us in any way, I promise we would greatly appreciate it.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tent of wickedness."
Psalms 84:10

Texarkana Baptist Orphanage Picture

I posted the picture I have from Texarkana Baptist Orphanage on July 9, 2007, with great surprise Debra, daughter of one of the girls in this picture found it on the net.

Now I know who some of the people are in this picture, plus I have talked to her and her daughter on the telephone. We had quite a wonderful conversation. She could remember me and my brother, as well as things about the orphanage which I could not. Of course at that age I was a bit to young to remember anything.

Her name if Joann Clark Jones, she lives at Texarkana, which is about 50 miles from me. I have hopes that one evening in the future we can meet up and talk about old times. This is just unbelievable to me.

In the picture her sister Gale is setting to my left, them Dale is setting next to her. The setting right of me is her sister Norma, setting by her is their brother Jimmy Don, setting by him I Joann Clark Jones who I just talked with on the telephone.

Joann remember both my brother E W and me. This is so great, after so many years. How proud I am that I posted this picture on the internet. but I never dreamed of getting in touch with anyone in this picture after so many years.

Joann and some of her brothers and sisters grew up in the orphanage, some were adopted out. She told me which ones, but I surely fail to remember. I will find out and post it on here.

But what a great day July 17, 2007 has been. If this has happened, there is hope of other getting in touch with past friends and or family on this inter-net. If you have a picture of friend or family member post it on the net, be sure to but tags on it that is associated with something your friend and or family member might search for on the net. Debra found this picture of her mother by searching for "Texarkana Baptist Orphanage 1948."

I send hugs to Joann and all of her family, my prayers are that each one of them shall always have loved ones to share their life with, I rejoice that I now know them, this has been a great blessing to me.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tent of wickedness."
Psalms 84:10

The First Picture I Have of Myself

I rightly did not realize it had been so long since I had been to this blog. Just now I thought about putting a link here to the first picture that I have of myself, and discover I had not even posted about my sister-in-laws death from Mesothelioma cancer, nor the death of my mother-in-law, nor the death of my friend John Jones.

Glenda, my wife's twin lost her fight with Mesothelioma on January 28, 2007. Them on February 7, 2007 her mother died, that was all quite a blow for our family, but we all made it thru this with God's help. My friend John Wesley Jones lost his battle with Pancreas Cancer March 9, 2007.

I recently loaded a picture of myself taken at the Texarkana Baptist Orphanage, it was taken shortly after my birth father left me there after mother, sister, and brother died in that house fire back in 1948. Them just a few days ago I out it on my Flicker site. If you will click on picture it will take you to it.

I'm the 6th boy from the left side of the picture in the front row. This is all the children who were in the orphanage at that time. I believe but I'm not positive that the first boy from the left on the front row is my older brother E W. E W lived in the home until he was 16 years of age. From them until he graduate high school he lived with us. The last time I saw E W was when I was in about the 10th grade.

In the back row to the far left is the man I lived with until I August of 1951. He and his wife had some marriage problems, after which they got rid of me after having lived with them for something like 2 years. The 2nd boy to his right is his son, James, thanks to him that I now have this early picture of myself.

A couple of years back I just happen to find him down in Texas, wrote him a letter and he sent me a few pictures which I appreciated very much.

I started once to just delete this blog, but perhaps someone who has gone thru similar things in life will happen upon it someday, if so, maybe we can share thoughts.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tent of wickedness."
Psalms 84:10

Doing A Bit Better

Glenda is doing a bit better, I suppose with this Mesothelioma cancer its going to be a situation where one is doing pretty good one day, but the next day not so good at all. But she is a bit better now

My greatest concern at the moment is that she seems to be doing just what the doctor told her not to. She is becoming a couch potato. Her daughter is waiting on her hand and foot.

We visited with her Friday night, she lives about 70 to 80 miles from us, we were there for about 3 hours I suppose, the whole time she got up one time and went to the bathroom.

One time she was wanting some coke, she asked her daughter to get it for her which she did.

This Tuesday she goes for her 3rd chemo treatment. Hopefully this chemo is doing some good. All we can do is pray for her and put her in the hands of God.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1

2 Family Members & One Friend With Cancer

I heard today, Big John who I posted about earlier is in the hospital at Little Rock, he has Pancreas Cancer, I suppose its getting him down. I understand he had his 2nd chemo treatment last week. A neighbor of his told me he did not even have the energy to make one circle around his lawn on his riding lawn mower last week, he had to get off and go back in the house and lay down.

My son-in-law's grandmother went to her doctor the other day for a check up. She had cancer in one eye and thus lost that eye a few years back. The doctor sent her a letter, it stated you now have cancer behind your other eye, come for an appointment in September and we will discuss what will have to be done. Later found out they sent her the report for another person, It nearly scared the poor woman to death.

Glenda was doing better today, she seems to think that some medicine she was taking in the early morning caused her some problems with nausea, she changed the time she took it, this has helped her much. Still hoping the chemo will stop the Mesothelioma cancer or at least slow it down a whole lot.

I have a 1st cousin who has prostate cancer, he had surgery, now he is having radiation treatments, yesterday marked his half way point with these treatments. His drive back and forth 4 times per week are costing him $60.00 in gasoline. Gasoline is way to high, the companies are making way to much money.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1

Two Concerns

Today Glenda has been sick, throwing up, plus running fever, about 101 degrees from what I understand. But on the good side right now she is feeling a bit better. What she needs is several good days of feeling good, and an appetite to go with it, them maybe she could gain some strength.

But from what I understand its hard to gain ground with this type cancer eating at you. But that is what I am praying for, some good days where she feels like eating, them maybe gaining some strength.

A doctor who is a specialist Mesothelioma cancer in Houston has looked at her case, he to is saying that he does not think surgery, removing the right lung should be done, which agrees with her doctors here in Arkansas.

There was 2 concerns he had, and area around her esophagus, and a spot in her left shoulder is showing up on the PET scans. He advise that these 2 places need to be checked closely.

So we shall have shall becomes of these 2 concerns.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1

Pancreas Cancer & Big John

I found out a friend I use to work with has this deadly disease, we drove truck for Nashville Trucking back in the 70 & 80.

I always like to run with him, he is quite a nice fellow, plus he stands about 6' 8" of so and ever one has to talk up to him. One always want the big fellow to be their friend.

Seems that Pancreas Cancer is forth leading cause of cancer deaths in our country, from what I read 32,000 people die from this each year. Since finding out this month that my wife's twin has Mesothelioma cancer, seems I'm hearing of sever people who has cancer. The owner of one of our towns 2 newspaper's wife has some time of lung cancer. She over come it once, but it came back once again.

My friend John, his mother died of this type cancer, John has 2 daughters, since he came down with Pancreas Cancer his daughters has been check, seems that the eldest came back as a suspect, she is a bit over 40, the youngest came back clean. I haven't read up on Pancreas Cancer but some have said it tends to run in families.

Back to John, I have drank many a cups of coffee with him at truck stops between here and California some times running the same direction, other time just happened to meet up at the same truck stop going different directions. Several of us usually always stopped at the same truck stops on those trips back and forth from Arkansas to California. But now many of those good truck stops that we liked are gone making way for the new modern truck stops.

I remember laying over with him at the Orange Show Motel at Colton a few times back in the 70's. We had a grill that we truck drives had bought and kept there, many time we would go across the street to a big store that sold about anything one could think of, and buy us some steaks and cook on the grill. Some good memories are left out there with some of my truck driving friends.

Remember once he and several others were laying over, we went down to a go-cart track, wow did we have fun on those go-carts. But the owner was not real happy with us, for we would bump into each other trying to pass one another. I remember one was a younger boy, he had on a cap, seems the owner picked on him more than anyone, I think that was because he did not like the cap he was wearing and could spot him so easily.

Lets see, Big John, Lazyboy, Grasshopper, and myself, Flintstone and several other was there. Oh, I even remember another one Dirty Dog, he use to live here and manage the local Fred's Store but move up around Forest City and starting driving for G & H Trucking I believe it was. Use to have so many friends out there on the open road, I do wonder what has happened to many of them. My main hope is they have found out the most important thing is not to get to the unloading dock on time, or have the fastest truck, or the shiniest truck, or the most chrome, or stop at the best truck stop, but to know Jesus Christ as ones personnel Savior. My prayers will go out to Big John and his battle with Pancreas Cancer and all my truck driving friends from days gone by.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1

Historic Wins for Mesothelioma Research Funding

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060815/latu009.html?.v=59

I just come across this article, maybe this will help find a cure for Mesothelioma or prolong some lives until a cure may be found.

With strong research, help for those who have Mesothelioma and or who may have it in the short future is a worthily project and well spent money.

Seems to me those companies who hid the health risk factors from everyone ought to be donating money to the research of this deadly cancer. For it is their fault many die at an early age for Mesothelioma and other related health problems caused by asbestos which made them rich.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1

All Cancers Are Bad

I just recently found out a man who I use to work with has pancreas cancer. The first person I remember having this type of cancer was Little Joe of Bonanza fame, Michael Landon and of course he lost the battle against it.

But with my friend I found out that his mother died of this type of cancer and it is said that it can run in families. Since he was diagnosed with it his 2 daughters have gotten check out for this. It seems the report for his oldest daughter, she is about 41 or 42 came back as suspected, what ever that means. I suppose this means she may have pancreas cancer or may not have it. His younger daughter report come back clear.

So Mesothelioma which my sister-in-law, Linda's twin has is not the only deadly cancer in this world.

The other day while searching for Mesothelioma I came across a message board where a 20 year old had posted asking questions about a tumor found in his brain. I did a search for this type of tumor the biopsy report said it was and I find that most people who have that type of a tumor in the top part of their spinal cord usually die from in about 2 years.

So I suppose the major difference in Mesothelioma cancer and others is all the lawyers who are chasing people who come down with Mesothelioma and hoping to make many dollars off of what they got because of the greedy companies who withheld information that asbestos was very dangerous where they could fill up their bank accounts while sacrificing people lives.

They knew very well if all of their employees found out how dangerous asbestos was many would no longer work in this hazardous situation plus the public would no longer buy their product and their bank accounts would suffer greatly. Yes, they were greedy and all they cared about was the billions of dollars they were making.

On another note, I heard yesterday in a town not to far north of us a grandfather was riding his grand daughter on his 4 wheeler. He had attached a milk carton to the rack on back of the four wheeler and his grand daughter was in it. He tied this carton to the rack with hay string from what I understand. Anyway the hay string somehow got caught up in the rear axle at the same time getting caught around this young child's neck.

When he discover this her head had been completely cut off with her body still in the milk carton. I am told that when emergency workers got there they had to back track a long ways from where he discovered his grand daughters head cut off to recover her head.

Can you imagine this happening, the hay string is tight around this child's neck and she is unable to holler out to her grandfather what is happening and the grand father is happily going along on his 4 wheeler enjoying his self while his stupid idea is killing his grand daughter.

They say most of the family had to be hospitalized from the trauma this has done to their minds.

Why do people do such stupid things that cause the lives of the ones they love? Yes, I call it stupid, for that is what it is. We people put pleasures ahead of safety just as the companies dealing with asbestos put their check books ahead of human lives. This has cause much grief and many lives.

Yes, death comes to all, but many people suffer an early death because of stupidly and greed of mankind. And the only answer for mankind's stupidly and greed is Jesus Christ.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1

Chemo Therapy Today, 2nd Round

The shots worked, Glenda's blood count was back up and she took her 2nd round of chemo therapy today. Plus they said the tumors on her lung seemed a bit smaller. Maybe this chemo therapy sill knock the Mesothelioma back for a while.

That is good news, maybe this will give her a little more time, hopefully more than the 3 months they once said.

Said she felt pretty good tonight, but maybe that is because of the pain medicine, today they switched her to oxycontin.

Wow, what humans must go thru at times, death sure is harder on some people than others. I think many time our fear of death is the pain we may go thru to get there.

Of course on the other side of death for the child of God is a place with no more pain, sorrow, crying, nor death. But for the others it is the lake of fire, eternal death, eternal punishment. But we each make our won choice and God respects that choice.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1

Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Thinking about this deadly Mesothelioma cancer that is caused by asbestos, I wonder just how much asbestos is still around. As much of this stuff that was sent all over the United States, even some 3,000 tons of it shipped to my small town from Libby, Montana makes me think there's lots of it still around and people are still breathing asbestos into their lungs.

Why would I question this, the main reason would be because even while the people who was making much money off of asbestos knew this stuff was dangerous they were hiding these facts. So we know they will put profits before peoples lives. So maybe its still making its way into peoples life.

I found this on one web site site non-friable asbestos is not regulated and still may be around many people. Its in cement, vinyl, asphalt, or some other type of hardening binder, transite (cement) siding, vinyl asbestos floor tiles, and asphalt roofing shingles.

So maybe many people are being exposed to it right now and a few of them in years to come will catch deadly Mesothelioma cancer.

May God Bless,
Jerry

"Let not your heart be troubled" John 14:1