Finding History

December 2014.
I measure homes for remodeling and then model them in a program called Vectorworks. Last week I was at a South Bay Area home in CA and as we were measuring the huge backyard we came across some hedges that were in a rectangle formation. As we got closer to the hedges we noticed a rusty metal door/hatch. I asked what do you think it is? I tried to open the hatch to no avail. My co-worker then helped and we got the hatch opened.

You go down, no you go down, You weigh 150lbs less than I do you go down. He decided to go down.

He gets to the bottom rung and notices the floor is covered in water. I had rained most of the week and was raining during our adventure. I through a rock down to only notice that the water wasn't at all deep. I told him to go check it out and gave him the camera. He then decides he has seen enough and comes back up. I said when are you ever gonna get a chance to go into one of these again. He said he didnt care and got out. So then decide to go down. Gloves on, flashlight in hand, hat on. I step over the hedge, then make my way down. I was a little spooky not knowing what to expect.

It goes around the corner? Greeeeeat. So I buck up and take the step my coworker refused to take and turned the corner.

No natural light in this place once the hatch is closed. The flash of the camera did a nice job showing the walls. 

As I stood and looked around at the concrete walls, survival water and grain. I thought what drives a person to build something like this. The owner later told me the owner before them built it in 1961. That year was the Cuban missal crisis. The threat of a nuclear attack became real for many in the US. Because Cuba is so close to the US. The owner moved by fear or the idea of being prepared had it built. Today it is just a time capsule. I hope the new owners leave it or even add things from the 60s down there. Could someone actually survive a nuclear attack in this bunker? I have a feeling you couldn't. 

But what an adventure to go down into one and see one in person.

IN MEMORY OF FRED A. WYMORE

So yesterday I was helping put away the tree in the garage and my mom and I came across some old papers in the garage that were my Grandpa Wymores. We decided to take them in. Inside three pieces of bright pink paper caught our eye, It was a poem written about my Grandfathers Father, IN MEMORY OF FRED WYMORE, by my grandmothers sister, Darlene Burgess. The interesting thing is my great grandfather died on Jan 9th 1957, yesterdays date 57 years ago.

“IN MEMORY OF FRED WYMORE.”

If we could tune our sets in on Heaven,

I’m sure it our banish our tears;

To see what Brother Wymore’s enjoying,

And will through eternity’s years.

I’m sure as he reached Heaven’s portals,

Jesus must have drawn him to His breast,

And said, “Well done my faithful one.”

“Enter now into the rest.”

As they walked on the shored of Heaven

They sat down to talk awhile.

Jesus said, “The reason I called you home

I wanted you here with me, my child.

On earth you were so very faithful

I was proud of the stand you took

Although trials and problems came your way.

Your God, you never forsook.

Your faith in men never wavered,

I heard your every prayer.

And while on earth I watched you,

You were a testimony everywhere.

So many times, I spoke to your heart for I knew,

Your consecration was true.

For I knew when I’d call you would listen

And do what I asked you to do.

You gave generously for your time and money,

More than was required of thee.

I knew in the spirit you helped others,

You did it as unto me.

So, in you sleep I transplanted you,

From earth to Heaven you see.

You proved yourself worthwhile below,

To rule and reign with me.”

Then our Brother Wymore speaks softly,

As he looks in our dear Saviour’s face,

I only tried to show how I loved you,

I’m just a sinner saved by your grace.

Those things I did, you layed on my heart,

You blessed me o’re and o’re.

You gave me such a sweet and wonderful mate,

And two children I loved and adored.

Then you blessed even more and sent grand shildren

They brought a lot of you to my heart.

You honored my prayers and you never failed

In our home you were so much a part.

And I feel quite unworthy

For you’ve done so much more for me,

But now my earth’s journey is over

I’m glad to be home with Thee.”

And Jesus His eyes full of fondness

As they arise and walk on their way,

Says, “Brother Wymore remember Enoch”

You were an Enoch of your day.”

 ---Written by;

             Darlene Burgess

(Frederick Ambrose Wymore went to heaven Jan 9, 1957)

Legends of the Autobahn - parking lot

As I drove down the side road to Legends, I was greeted with this sign. The Church adjacent to the golf course the event was held on had opened it's parking lot for parking lot, for a donation of which I was happy to oblige. The following are the cars I enjoyed out in the parking lot!

 Funny how the first time I get to see a 600 limo was in the parking lot of the legends event!!!

 Hey, I dont mind the after market wheels on this beauty

 Did the red Benz' all park together on purpose :)

 Three beauties!

 I got to drive my Pops SL, yes I left my Benz at home to get some sunshine it was so much fun, and fit right in, in the parking lot. LOL

Legend of the Autobahn 2013

I finally was able to attend this event during car week in the Monterey Bay area, Carmel. I even went by myself. Over all the car owners seemed to be very friendly. I got to see some cars that I had never seen before in person. Having been a member of Mercedes Benz Club of America this was my first event to attend. These are cars I enjoyed the most. In another post I will post the cars in the parking lot I enjoyed the most. It was a B-E-A-utiful day as you can see.

Grandpa Violes Oscar Chapman

This is a photo of my grandfather Violes Ocar Chapman. He got make usually made out to VO Chapman. He also was called Vike. I think most people called him that.
He was born in a little town called North Keokuk in Lincoln County, OK. In the the year of 1917, November. He was the oldest of two brothers and a sister(who didnt make it to her 10th birthday, she may of died as a child, no one ever spoke of her, her name was Velma.) His brothers were named Arthur and Keith. Born at a time of unrest in OK, as farmers were voicing their discontent with the "talk" of war. His father didn't fight in the 'Great War'. He owned a farm on the outskirts of Stroud. This is where Violes grew up.

This is my grandfather as a young man. This was my grandmother's favorite photo of him. He was tall dark and handsome. He would laugh at this photo cause he said he put shoe polish on his mustache to make it look darker. There are no wedding photos as they were stolen in a house break in, his wedding ring was also stolen at this time.

He came to California to marry his bride, his squaw. Orange County, then up to Brownsville CA for a season. It didnt work out so they moved back to Orange Co and settled in Garden Grove CA. He became a carpenter and helped build a lot of the homes built in that part of the So CA.  60s, 70s and 80s. He was also a hospital chaplain and he so enjoyed doing this. I remeber visiting as a child and he would get up so early and my grandma would get up with him and make him a good hearty breakfast and then after he would leave she would go back to bed. in the 40s he worked for the Long Beach Ship yards. He could not be chosen to fight in WW2 as to a birth defect in his feet. His brothers also had this defect and couldnt serve either. So they were chosen to work in the ship yards.

He got saved in the 50s. His sons were not quite teenagers. He excepted Jesus at the Garden Grove Foursquare Church. And it was a radical salvation. Everytime the church doors were open they were there then he volunteered his family to clean the church on Saturdays. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and I used to love to hear him speak in tongues. He was some of the first people to go and hear Kenneth Copeland and Charles Capps when they would come to town to speak. He became a 'Word'man. I can still see him with his legs crossed sitting on his couch near the window reading his Bible.

He was a family man. He loved his brothers. His middle brother Arthur was put into a mental institution for having a nervous breakdown. This was early in their marriage. So they went back to OK and went and got him and brought him back to CA. The two brothers families never lived further than 4 of 5 miles apart. They spent a lot of time playing Uno, and dominos together.

I spent a good two weeks every summer with my grandparents. Usually around Aug. He took us to places after he was retired. Usually after I arrived he would take me to a toy store and get a toy I could play with while I was there, and then we would go to McDonalds. I had run of the TV during the afternoon, but at night He liked to watch, MASH, The Jeffersons, Maude, Archie Bunker, Matlock, and dont for get Murder She Wrote.

They used to have a poodle named Moose. I remember this wass grandpa's dog. He would sit with him while he watched TV. Then everynight Grandpa would carry him out to the garage. I remember when Moose, the poodles name. Was old and was getting sick. And he took Moose and came home with out him. What a sad day. He came home with water in his eyes and sat in his spot on the couch quietly the rest of the afternoon. Grandma told me to just give him some room.

Grandpa was a spiritual man. He had always called grandma Squaw, being proud of thier American Indian Heritage. At some point he really felt that the Lord told him that his wife is his help mate and the term squaw made it sound like he was over her and that it belittled her. He never called her that again. I do remember him  calling her Lover.

One summer they took me to Oklahoma to see the old "homeland''. And meet some new relatives. He stopped at every stateline so I could crawl out the back seat and take a photo of the states sign. He also was always grumbling at the rocks grandma and her mom were constantly collecting and putting in the trunk of the Cad. He grumbled a lot as he drove. And once and a while an @$#%^ would surface and then grandma would slowly say Viiiiike.

He liked to fish st streams and in the ocean. He also liked to go camping. He went with our family several times and the went to Yosemite like every summer for years.

He never really spoke about his parents that I can remember. I do remember him taking me to the old Chapman farm in OK and he walked around the grounds quietly remembering. The old farm house still stood at that time but was leaning to the left rather dramatically. He took me inside and tried to describe what it used to look like. Modest, nothing fancy.

He was a tall man about 6'1". Thin but not skinny. a strong man. Dont get in a hand squeezing match with him. As long as I was around he always drove a Caddy, and to work he drove a 73 Datsun Pickup. He took my and my brother to pick it up. It was yellow. 20 some years later who knew that I would end up driving that old pickup.

The affects of working in the ship yards and as a carpenter, asbestos filled his lungs and at the age of 73 he breathed his last breath. I still miss him. Love you Grandpa!

Christmas Programs...

I only remember one 'Christmas' play at school. It was in the first or second grade. Our class had to memorize the poem, Twas the Night Before Christmas. I thought it was a big deal. I had no special part to play in it but I remember the 'buzz' we felt and the excitement.

Now at Church that was a different story. From the moment memories could be made I was involved in the Church Christmas Program.

I have been a singing sheep, donkey. Ive sang about puppies and How you get to heaven, it's not with roller skates by the way.

I guess being a pastors kid, you had to be in the programs, and being the 'ham' I was I ate it up.

My daughter is now in programs, she is almost 'aging out' of them. But I think she shares in the memories I have of being part of the team, the group, and having a goal of learning something and doing your best to present it.

GTO pt2

The previous post was a 64 GTO this is a 65. Either year will do, however Im partial to the vertical headlights. :)