-- Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is Special
On Sunday, one day before leaving Washington DC for home, Patti and I went downtown again to visit a few special places. Patti wanted to see the American Indian museum and the Newseum too. I wanted to see the Air and Space Museum again. I can never see the airplanes, the rockets, or the science enough.
At the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, there were whole sections, such as the exhibits about aircraft carriers, that I had not previously visited in depth. Each time I visit I learn more about the history and accomplishments of our military. As dramatic as the U-2 plane was, as it related to "spy" missions, against the Soviet Union, it was just as exciting to see the Wright Brothers flyer, which got all of us into the air, to begin with.
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READ my Blog "The Books of Richard F Wright" (Books, Bookstores, Writing)
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-- American Indian Museum
This museum was beautiful. The four floors were filled with stories about the various tribes that populated America when the white man first arrived and went into extensive detail about what happened to the American Indian as a result of the white man's influence.
Of particular interest to me was the clarification of the role of Pocahontas and the Trail of Tears, which was the forcible removal of the Indian tribes under the direction and leadership of President Andrew Jackson. (See related story below) Any visitor to this museum will certainly come away with an improved understanding of what happened to the American Indian and what is happening up to now.
-- Returned to Massachusetts for CDR Retirement Roast
Carey D. Rhoten, CEO, and Owner of The Hope Group officially retired this year and a gathering was held at Allora Restaurant to salute him on the occasion of his having finally sold the company to KLX Aerospace, recently acquired by Boeing. I drove back on Monday from Washington DC to be sure and attend the gathering as it was my final chance to wish him and his wife Pat well in retirement. As he had sold the business I had made it known I would not continue with the company after he finally left. We thought the sale would have happened by 2015, as originally planned, but it stretched into 2018. Pat and Carey will continue living on Cape Cod and in Florida where their new condo is being completed.
-- Petersham Country Store
Patti and I spent Friday on the road visiting apple orchards and leaf peeping. We got to three orchards during the course of the day - and naturally managed to stop at The Salem Cross Inn for lunch. Our day started by following 122A until we got to our common launching point: The Country Store in Petersham. We often buy groceries, puppets, jewelry, coffee, lunch, snacks, wine, books, games, maps, and more snacks.
It's a great shop and perfect for launching us on our way across the western part of the state to find colorful leaves. While the leaf peeping was not as good as hoped, we managed to find a few places to take pictures.
-- Touring Apple Orchards
Our other major stops were the apple orchards. The three we got to before the day ran out was Breezeland Orchards in Warren, Red Apple Farm in Phillipston, and Brookfield Orchards in North Brookfield. We chose these locations today because we didn't want to collect apples off the tree, but knew they had baked goods including cinnamon donuts, pies, and dumplings.
We loaded up as we knew we would be having company visiting in the next few days. In most cases, the "picking" season was over, but the farms all had large selections of apple, maple, and other products.
-- UMass Daily Collegian "Cape Cod" Reunion
On Saturday, I drove to West Barnstable to join my fellow UMass Daily Collegian alumni at a gathering hosted by Dan Smith. Earlier this year, the students at the Daily Collegian hosted an event which brought back many former staff members from the region to attend a special event on campus.
Someone got the idea that we could hold a mini-reunion on the other side of the bridge to make it easier for "Capers" to attend. It was great seeing everyone and talking about the old days.
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| Break Speed of Sound |
At the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, there were whole sections, such as the exhibits about aircraft carriers, that I had not previously visited in depth. Each time I visit I learn more about the history and accomplishments of our military. As dramatic as the U-2 plane was, as it related to "spy" missions, against the Soviet Union, it was just as exciting to see the Wright Brothers flyer, which got all of us into the air, to begin with.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
READ my Blog "The Books of Richard F Wright" (Books, Bookstores, Writing)
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-- American Indian Museum
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| Outrigger Canoe |
Of particular interest to me was the clarification of the role of Pocahontas and the Trail of Tears, which was the forcible removal of the Indian tribes under the direction and leadership of President Andrew Jackson. (See related story below) Any visitor to this museum will certainly come away with an improved understanding of what happened to the American Indian and what is happening up to now.
-- Returned to Massachusetts for CDR Retirement Roast
Carey D. Rhoten, CEO, and Owner of The Hope Group officially retired this year and a gathering was held at Allora Restaurant to salute him on the occasion of his having finally sold the company to KLX Aerospace, recently acquired by Boeing. I drove back on Monday from Washington DC to be sure and attend the gathering as it was my final chance to wish him and his wife Pat well in retirement. As he had sold the business I had made it known I would not continue with the company after he finally left. We thought the sale would have happened by 2015, as originally planned, but it stretched into 2018. Pat and Carey will continue living on Cape Cod and in Florida where their new condo is being completed.
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| Carey D. Rhoten retirement roast Oct 15 2018 |
-- Petersham Country Store
Patti and I spent Friday on the road visiting apple orchards and leaf peeping. We got to three orchards during the course of the day - and naturally managed to stop at The Salem Cross Inn for lunch. Our day started by following 122A until we got to our common launching point: The Country Store in Petersham. We often buy groceries, puppets, jewelry, coffee, lunch, snacks, wine, books, games, maps, and more snacks.It's a great shop and perfect for launching us on our way across the western part of the state to find colorful leaves. While the leaf peeping was not as good as hoped, we managed to find a few places to take pictures.
-- Touring Apple Orchards
 |
| Red Apple Farm |
We loaded up as we knew we would be having company visiting in the next few days. In most cases, the "picking" season was over, but the farms all had large selections of apple, maple, and other products.
-- UMass Daily Collegian "Cape Cod" Reunion
 |
| Heidi joined remotely |
Someone got the idea that we could hold a mini-reunion on the other side of the bridge to make it easier for "Capers" to attend. It was great seeing everyone and talking about the old days.
Reading Update: I finished reading Andrew Jackson, His Life and Times, by H.W. Brands. It wasn't until Andrew Jackson was elected President of the United States that America had its first, real Democrat; that is, someone who thought that the "citizens" of the country should have a say in how things are run.
If Washington, Adams, and many others had their way, it would only be the elite, white, male, propertied citizens with the authority to pick elected officials. Jackson was the breakout man. When he got elected it showed that popularism had taken root.
