Chincoteague Island, Virginia—Pony Swim, Etc.

How many of you have read “Misty of Chincoteague” while growing up? I remember reading it as a teenager and was fascinated by the history of the ponies. Legend has it that the original ponies were shipwrecked off of a Spanish galleon and swam to Assateague Island where they have remained to this day.

Charlie and I were on Chincoteague Island the day of the annual pony swim and pony penning. Although we were too late to be witnesses of the pony swim, we were able to see the ponies, which were penned up at the carnival grounds. The ponies are rounded up earlier in the week and penned up on Assateague Island in preparation of the big swim, which occurs on the last Wednesday of July. Around 7:30 a.m. the “saltwater cowboys” drive them across the Assateague Channel to be auctioned off to benefit the Chincoteague Fire Department. Not all ponies are sold. A particular lot is selected, based on various factors, not the least of which is ability to adapt to a change of habitat, as well as their age and health situation.

It is interesting to ride around on Chincoteague Island. First of all, it is as if you are transported back in time to a less hectic era. The original homes still maintain the heritage from which the town grew. Seafood is big business here at all the restaurants, drawing diners, as well as the casual muncher. We, too, enjoyed our share of the fruits of the sea.

God has been very generous to Charlie and me, providing friends who invite us to come for overnight visits. Our friends, Ernie and Evelyn, are gracious with their modest accommodations and have eagerly invited us the past two years to be their guests on Chincoteague. Ernie was Charlie’s best friend during high school. They became reacquainted two years ago during their 50^th high school reunion, and we have enjoyed their friendship ever since. No one can convince me that this is not the hand of God, bestowing little gifts upon us. I know that both Charlie and I feel doubly blessed by God with constant reminders of his love for us.

According to Judy

A Beautiful Day

Today was an unexpected blessing for me. What with unusual events of the past couple of weeks, including my son’s surgery, I have been experiencing a great deal of weariness. I’m not sure why our brains do not keep up with our bodies, but it is a fact. In my mind, I am still young and viable. However, the years have taken its toll on my body. Excess weight combined with arthritis has been a real detriment to my doing all the activities I once enjoyed. Perhaps some of you have found this to be true also.

Anyway, why was today a blessing? Let me explain. Charlie and I were scheduled to join some friends on a bus trip to Atlantic City. The reservations were made well ahead of time and everyone but me was excited about being together and having some fun. As I mentioned above, I have been extremely weary and just wanted to “veg” out, instead of all the walking I foresaw for the day. I knew it would be a stretch for me to be companionable and upbeat during the long day this bus trip would entail.

This is where God, with his wonderful compassion, stepped in. He created some emergency circumstances that resulted in our having to cancel our trip to Atlantic City. The other two couples were able to continue with their plans, but Charlie and I had a more relaxing day. I was able to make some necessary phone calls, take a nap and gather my wits a little bit, while Charlie visited with his son Tom who had flown in from Dallas, Texas.

Everyone can fairly well comprehend God answering prayers when there is a major crisis situation. However, I have found He is there for me in small helpful ways, i.e., giving me a day off. Perhaps you, too, can relate some small instance where God has worked a small miracle for you. Let me hear from you how God has worked in your life.

According to Judy

Farewell, Rosemarie

Today a wonderful woman was laid to rest. Rosemarie Seydel McCloskey, born May 24, 1930; died August 11, 2008 was a wife, mother and grandmother. According to her family, she was a very loving woman with a great deal of faith in God and her religion.

I knew Rosemarie as a member of the Gateway Club of Catonsville. For the last year and a few months of her life, she was the President of Gateway. During this time and the previous year or two, Rosemarie experienced many serious health issues, wherein her inner strength, fortitude, hopes for the future, and her love of God were tested. With the loving care of her family, Rosemarie rebounded time and time again, surprising everyone with miraculous recoveries. We all marveled at her keen memory and easy humor with which she met each of these obstacles.

Rosemarie’s husband Bill never gave up on her. He was her knight in shining armor, her spokesman when she could not speak for herself. He fought alongside of his beloved wife until the end. Their six daughters and their families were guardians at her bedside as she kept fighting to keep hope alive.

There is no doubt that Rosemarie had legions of guardian angels accompany her as she made her way to heaven. She continues to inspire us to be better human beings. Her memory will not fade away as the love, which sustained her, continues to burn in each of our hearts. May God bless her family, her friends, and all who had made her acquaintance during her 78 years on earth?

Farewell from your earthly family! Welcome to heaven, Rosemarie!

According to Judy

Another Crazy Week

This is the week I was going to catch up with all the backlog of chores and begin relaxing a bit. This was not to be. God had other plans for Charlie and me.

There was a long period of time when I was not in touch with my only son John. What kept me going was that I knew he loved me and that he knew I loved him. Somehow a parent knows these things. After several years, we finally got back together and saw each other from time to time. John is 42 years old and has gone through some tough times, but he is now employed at a job he likes and he is taking college courses, optimistic of the future.

However, another minor setback has occurred in the form of basal cell carcinoma on John’s head. This setback offered Charlie and me an opportunity to play a role in helping John out a little bit. On Tuesday, we left the house about 4:30 a.m. to pick up my son and take him for outpatient surgery. He was to be at Doctors Community Hospital in Greenbelt by 5:30 a.m. for the 7:30 surgery. The surgery went well, but the pain was more than John anticipated. As my son is single, but living with his father, we invited him to recover for a day or two at our home if he wished. After returning home around 11:30 a.m., we pulled out the sleep sofa in the spare bedroom for him. Needless to say, Tuesday was a day everyone was sleepy from the early wakeup hour, and we all had a long nap. The next couple of days were kind of lost in a fog. John found it difficult to chew anything so we had to find things he could eat easily. He was in and out of bed, going from the bedroom to the sofa and back again. Slowly, the pain began to ease enough that today, Friday, John returned to his dad’s home. John admitted that he was still sleeping on a blow up mattress he had borrowed. This knowledge made me feel relieved that I had given him two new pillows and fresh pillowcases. At least, his poor swollen head would be comfortable as he recovers enough to return to work on Monday.

We know many of you also have had to pitch in with your grown children to help them through some tough times. It is heartache to watch your children deal with setbacks; however, it is a joy to see that they can handle themselves in a mature manner. This is a testimony to loving parenting that is a gift from God. God is guiding us, and we are grateful.

According to Judy

Two Restaurant Reviews

During the summer, many of us travel to the Eastern Shore of Maryland for sun and fun. One of the major activities we enjoy is eating in restaurants. Here are two great places to try. One is in Bethany Beach, Delaware; one is along the road to Chincoteague, Virginia.

When traveling to the Ocean City, MD area, continue a little further north and check out the Chalkboard Tavern and Grille at Route 1 Marketplace, Suite 116, Bethany Beach, Delaware. Charlie’s nephew, Bob Webster, who employs his family, along with other capable workers, to assist as bussers, waiting tables, etc, manages this delightful restaurant. Charlie and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch there with Bob’s parents. I wisely chose a grilled tuna sandwich, which was perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth. Charlie could not resist the soft shell crab sandwich. We also treated ourselves to the Tavern Fries. The Chalkboard offers inexpensive lunch specials every day, which are affordable for vacationers. For anyone staying in the area, ask about the VIP Club. For a prepaid $100 VIP card, members enjoy $125 worth of meals and are eligible for a free birthday dinner. Open for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Phone 302-539-7482 or check online at www.chalkboardgrille.com.

If you love “all you can eat” shrimp, head to Ray’s Shanty, 32157 Chincoteague Road, Route 175 East, Wattsville, Virginia, which is 1.5 miles off of Route 13 on the road to Chincoteague. Steamed shrimp are Capt. Ray Twiford’s specialty and each platter contains close to 2 lbs. of perfectly steamed shrimp. French fries, cole slaw and hushpuppies come with the meal; however, a baked potato or salad may be substituted. Three of our four diners chose the steamed shrimp and ate their fill of the delightful crustacean. Only one shrimp eater was able to ask for a refill. As is usual for me, I chose the marinated grilled tuna platter, which was so delicious that one might believe it came from a five-star restaurant. The restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Opens at 11:00 a.m. Phone 757-824-3429 or check online at www.RaysShanty.com.

According to Judy

Hi, Everyone

Dear Friends...

Due to an influx of family coming to visit and a couple of overnight trips to visit friends, Charlie and I have been out of the loop. However, do not despair! We will be back next week with lots of interesting articles about our recent activities. At least one will be regarding our visit to Chincoteague during pony penning week.

We are thrilled that you are still checking in with us to see what is new and are sorry if we have disappointed you in the last couple of weeks.

Keep checking our website. We think you will be glad.

According to Judy