First, and once again, allow me to apologize for the scarcity of my blog updates. My excuse is that the passed few weeks has been a whirlwind of events that has culminated with me sitting here at 8:00pm in Penduka Compound, somewhere near Windhoek, Namibia writing this update.

Getting here wasn’t easy.

I believe the last substantial post I made to this blog detailed my trip to see my daughter in Tucson. That was an eventful trip and completely enjoyable. My son drove in from Oceanside, CA and we celebrated my birthday just having a great time in each other’s company. Of course, club hopping in downtown Tucson helped a bit too. 🙂

My kids are wonderful and gave me a send-off I’ll not soon forget. Nothing illegal (that I’ll talk about), but fun.

I flew back to Orlando for all of one night, then jetted to Philadelphia, rented a wreck (Really! It’s called Rent-a-Wreck and the cars are old, but cheap to rent) and drove to Baltimore to see family and friends.

My sister put me up for 5 days. (Thanks sis!) From there I visiting family and friends, like the evening I spent with my long time friend, Marlene.

Marlene picked The Rusty Scupper, situated in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, an area I used to live in when I was a teenager. I had drove pass the Inner Harbor on several of my visits home, but I never had a chance to really take a look at it, but I did notice that each time I visited there were distinct changes.

I got there early and while I waited for my friend to get through rush hour traffic I took the opportunity to check the harbor out. I immediately recognized the The Constellation, a corvette class schooner that’s been moored there since what seems like forever, and what used to be the Maryland National Bank Building hiding between two newer and somewhat taller structures, but that was it. Federal Hill wasn’t easily visible before, but now almost the whole park can be seen just pass the beach volley ball courts(!) and playgrounds right beside the harbor.

It took me a while to see that the modern brick building standing where the old McCormick spice factory was was actually an updated McCormick building, but now it’s called The Royal Sonesta. (They should have kept the McCormick name.) And it took me a while to locate the Domino Sugar sign that was always visible at night, but it was there just as big and red as always. The rest of the harbor is new and exciting. There was a Festival of Lights taking place, people everywhere, ON A CHILLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT! It is definitely a showplace.

Dinner was fantastic! Baked cod topped with crabmeat. MMMMmmm-Boy! And the company was amazing. Though I’ve known Marlene for over 20 years the woman does not age. We chatted like we haven’t seen each other for a few months instead of a few decades. Such a good time.

The next day was spent trying, ultimately without success, to hold on to my mobile number. I’ve had that number for years and didn’t want it recycled because I won’t be using it for two years. AT&T was NO help. They ran me in circles with one suggestion after another, none of which panned out. I talked to other mobile vendors and they gave me similar songs and dances. I finally settled on a company called Tossable Digits who offers a number ‘parking’ plan for $4 a month. Basically, they take your number and make it virtual, you then get their cheapest plan, which happens to cost $4 a month. As long as you pay your four bucks then your number stays in existence even if you never use it. So, I did that.

Special Note: Those of you who have my 3465 number please hold onto it. I’m getting an in-country number tomorrow and will advertise it here.

Speaking of numbers, I’m currently textable IF you have an iPhone (via iMessage) or have WhatsApp installed. My WhatsApp user name is VernGzr.

Thursday evening was spent with my sisters Zelda, Vicky, and Alethia. They treated me to a crab feast that brought to mind similar family feasts when I was a kid. Paper on the table, steamed corn on the cob, beer.

And steamed blue crabs! Few things taste better.

My family wasn’t done with me yet. My cousin, Stephanie, called aunts and cousins to gather for another send off.

I’m ashamed to admit that I hadn’t gone home since 2011. Doing so was always on my list of things I neended to do each year, but somehow it always slipped off. So, this was a mini family reunion, all focused on me. Sometimes you don’t realize how much you need your family until you are in their presence and you bask in the warmth of memories, acceptance and love. Just the hubbub of congenial conversations punctuated with laughter was enough to permanently etch a smile on my soul. It made me wonder how I could have stayed away for so long. Even my ever busy nephew, David, and his family made it. It was a fantastic evening.

My cousin, Stephanie, still wasn’t through with me and on Saturday she and my cousin, Michael, hung out, ate, chatted, and just enjoyed each other’s company.

Sunday I had to be back in Philadelphia, but before I left Baltimore I had to make one final stop, to see my nephew, Don. My eldest brother, Carl (who has passed on) was a huge positive influence in my life and Don is a spitting image of him. Don looks so much like Carl that it was a bit unsettling to talk to him. That I hadn’t seen Don in far too many years only added to the surrealism of my visit. His mannerisms are so similar to his father’s that I had to keep reminding myself who I was talking to.

I wish I could have spent more time with Don and uber-cute daughter, Noel, but I had to get to Philly in time for my first Peace Corps at 5 that evening.

Once in Philly the pace of my life seemed to speed up so fast it felt like Captain Picard had just directed the helm to take me to warp 6 and commanded, “Engage!”

I had a staging meeting all day Monday and Tuesday at 1:30am we boarded the bus that took me and my fellow volunteers to JFK airport in New York. We checked-in, then waited for our nearly 15 hour flight to Johannesburg , South Africa. I dreaded the flight because it was coach, but it wasn’t as bad as I’d anticipated.

We went through South African customs and then flew to Windhoek (pronounced ‘vin-hook’), Namibia. More customs, but on the far side of that were our Peace Corps greeters.

I’ll leave the story here for now and pick it up in my next post. I got meningitis and rabies shots and interviews in the morning.

Stay tuned,

Vern

I’m in Windhoek! Things are moving fast and WiFi is spotty so my updates won’t be as frequent this week. That will change once I into the groove.

More to come.

Stay tuned.
Vern

Quick update… just landed in Johannesburg, South Africa. I have another flight in 3 hrs.

15 hrs in the air… in coach! I have to say that it wasn’t as bad as I expected. I did nap a little, but right now I’m running on caffeine.

I’m going to write more once I get established, but for I want to thank my family and friends for all of your support, the wonderful send-offs, gifts, and well wishes. I am indeed a lucky man.

More to come soon. Stay tuned

Vern

I finally got on the road Monday around noon. Like most road trips, this one started out innocent enough. My car was packed full of what few remaining items I wanted to hold onto; some clothes, some memorabilia, important documents, etc. Ahead of me was 2000+ miles of road to cover at the end of which where my kids and grandson, behind me was a life I had grown accustomed to, people that I’ve grown to like and love, and my house, which someone else will live in. To say I was awash in a jumble of emotion would be an understatement if it were true. Truth is that I tend to avoid emotional turmoil by concentrating on the task at hand. So, as I drove away from my house, my friends and loved ones, my adopted city the only thing on my mind was deciding which podcast I was going to listen to first.

That single mindedness lasted almost until I reached the Mississippi border. (I know it’s odd, but enjoy spelling Mississippi.) The first crack in my shield against emotions came with the thought that there were so many things I had intended to do after retirement. Then there were thoughts of places I wanted to visit and people I wanted to visit those places with. By the time I crossed into Louisiana all that stuff I talked about in the paragraph above was flooding my mind. There was nothing to be done really, like the highway I was on, my life’s path has been laid out in front of me and there was no turning back.

Funny thing about roads, they take you places, but what you encounter along the way is what makes the journey interesting, or not. I saw a lot while driving I-10. Spectacular sunset in Mobile, beautiful sunrise in east Texas, and indescribable scenery no matter where I looked. Mid-Texas had gotten some rain and everything was green, not what I expected.

One thing I will say, driving through Texas on I-10 SUCKS!!! It seemed like it would go on forever! Its only saving grace, at least while I drove through, was the varied weather. Fog in in the morning in East Texas, overcast and breezy in mid-Texas, and a dust storm in West Texas.

That dust storm was the freakiest thing. There was a storm front moving through west Texas. As I approached the outside temperature dropped from 90 degrees to 80 degrees and the wind started picking up. Off in the distance there were several sizable dust devils. One had to be a thousand feet tall.

As I drove further west clear skies grew nasty looking clouds and the wind blew even stronger and the temperature to the mid 60s. The wind blew so strong that several trucks had to pull over or risk being blown over. I drove on and ran into the rain part of the front. Ahead of the rain clouds at ground level was a huge orange cloud. The rain clouds where pushing dust clouds ahead of them. I drove into that dust cloud and it was so thick that I could hardly see 100 feet ahead of me and I had to slow to 20mph and turn on my flashers, as did other vehicles around me. As quickly as the dust cloud formed, it dissipated. But the wind was even stronger and it rocked my car. Tumbleweeds streaked across the road. What rain that did fall was dust colored mud drops that splattered and caked on my windshield.

I’ll admit to being a little concerned.

By the time I reached El Paso much of the storm had passed and there was spectacular sunset. A great way to say goodbye to Texas. The rest of the drive was at night and pretty much smooth sailing, though it was windy.

I arrived at my daughter’s house at 2AM local time. I was beat.

More to come.

Stay tuned.
Vern

Those of you who know my plans know that I should be in Tucson right now basking in the presence of my daughter and her family while we await the arrival of my son, who is driving in from Oceanside, later in the week.

Well…, I’m not in Tucson. I’m not basking or waiting. I’m still here in Orlando. As I was mentally checking through my todo list late last Friday I realized that I’d forgotten to pick up the title to my car from the tax collector office, and a major reason from me to drive out to Tucson instead of fly is to deliver my car to my daughter, and she needs the title to register the car in Arizona. So, I have to wait for the tax office to open on Monday (today) to collect the title and be on my way, finally. This mishap wasn’t entirely result of an old brain at work (or not working), I had tried to pick up the title almost two weeks ago, but the bank had forgotten to remove the lien from the title after the car was paid off, a process that takes several days to percolate through the system. I had contacted the bank and initiated the process, I just forgot to follow up.

Initially I was more than a bit miffed at myself for forgetting, but I took heart in two facts:

0. I got a chance to hang out with some friends for a bit
0. I actually had a lot more to do to the house to make it ready for the renter than I realized

That first one was an unexpected pleasure, it’s always good to see friends and I really enjoyed their company. I will missed you all when I’m gone.

Most of the weekend, however, was spent dealing with things that I just didn’t anticipate. For instance, after sodding my backyard I noticed that water began pooling at the gate to the backyard. That meant that there would be a mud puddle there after every rain. Not good. So I installed a paver walkway. I also rearranged the garage to make better use of the space I’m using for storage. Basically, I had more time to do a better job of making my house better for my tenant.

So, it’s now 4 AM or there about on Monday morning. I’ve got the car packed, my bags packed, and the house ready. I’m anticipating arriving in Tucson sometime Wednesday. My son will arrive Thursday. My kids have said they have plans for me to give me a “proper sendoff”. I’m just hoping I don’t get arrested.

Stay tuned,

Vern

I just got a note from the Peace Corps. My address, at least for the first three months in country, will be:

Vern Seward

Peace Corps

 Office PO Box 6862
19 

Nachtigal Street

Ausspannplatz Windhoek, Namibia

I will have a new phone number too, but I won’t get that until I’m in country. Those of you who have my current number, please hold on to it. I have an unlocked phone and will purchase a new SIM card for the new number, and just hold on to my (US) number for emergencies, or when I visit, and when I get back at the end of my tour.

The Peace Corps also suggests that we use WhatsApp for texting and voice calls. I’m currently in WhatsApp, but it’s tied to my current phone number. My user name is Verngzr and I believe you’ll be able to find me that way when the number changes.

A friend who has been to Namibia and South Africa suggests that I also use Skype as it can be an inexpensive way to call and/or video call. I’m not sure many of you would want to see my ugly mug, my kids, however, have no choice. So, I will get Skype and use iMessage and FaceTime when I want to talk to my grandson.

Ain’t technology fun??

Stay tuned

Vern