Friday, January 24, 2025

2025 Jan 24~Line Dancing #NewToMeAt76

Three classes under my belt, and who knows where this will lead. I have my doubts that I'll be heading to Nashville to strut my stuff anytime soon, but I would at least like to learn to moves to the beat of "Achy Breaky Heart", and "Boot Scootin' Boogie". 

After the first 2 Beginning Line Dancing Classes, honestly, I wasn't sure what I had gotten myself into😗! The concept of line dancing(for me) sounded exciting. How hard could it be, right?  The reality of learning the steps, and gyrating my body to make me look like I knew what I was doing, without a face-plant on the floor........ made me question my sanity! I missed the third class. Before returning to the fourth session, I diligently practiced the foot work at home. Talk about 2 left feet!!!! I was able to remember the steps to ONE DANCE(The Bar Song). I watched a few YOUTUBE videos, and watched the video that my instructor had graciously put on facebook. REPETITION, REPETITION, REPETITION. My 'achy breaky' knees hurt. My 'boot scootin' lower back muscles twinged. 




The instructor, Anela Ferris Lancaster, is FABULOUS. She knows her stuff. And she has been successful in encouraging and instructing everyone in the class. 
So far the 3 hardest parts of learning to line dance for me: 1. KEEPING UP WITH THE BEAT OF THE MUSIC, especially with the faster songs. Yes, it was impossible to step-ball-change, weave and rock step that fast!😂 2. REMEMBERING THE STEPS, especially keeping track of all of the counts, and turns. 3. KEEPING MY BALANCE (I do not want to fall and get hurt!). 4. CONFIDENCE ON THE DANCE FLOOR (a little intimidating in front of others at first). I've turned the wrong way more than once. Thankfully the person behind me didn't give me THE LOOK!  
***I'm assuming my 2025 goals will eventually be accomplished, especially adding a few gyrating moves. Somehow, everyone's hips are swiveling smoothly while mine are either completely locked or going rogue like a washing machine on spin cycle😎. I wonder, if I will come close to doing this?

Admittedly, I am jealous............. of those cute young humanoids  that can move, shake, jump, and twist their bodies ALL AT THE SAME TIME. There are a few of us 'senior citizens' that look at each other and shake our heads. Thus far, though, we are laughing at ourselves😂. I've come to realize in 2 short weeks how important it is to have a rock solid balance stability. And with each week, I AM getting better and better!The third class was the FIRST time that the steps, the sequence, keeping up with the music, and keeping my balance encouraged me to KEEP ON KEEPING ON. 

I have to say that while I am in class, nothing else occupies my thoughts....my worries, my to-do-list, the news, ......nothing. What a stress reliever! Combining infectious energy and rhythms......that's what the dances and songs below do⬇️⬇️⬇️ . They are guaranteed to get you on your feet!  

The first four dances have ALMOST been learned.That "WOBBLE" is something else! OH MY GOODNESS! That may be icing on the cake for me! If/when I feel confident doing this particular dance, I MAY consider the cowboy boots. Thank goodness for my tennis shoes! No doubt, the leather soles let you smoothly glide across a dance floor, but for now stability and comfort are the better options for me.

Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT to create an image of a 76 yr old woman, with brown hair and bangs, wearing cowboy boots, trying to learn line dancing........ HAHAHA I should totally rock this look!

The line-dancing classes are held at the YMCA Tanglewood, Roanoke, VA. For me, as a member of the YMCA, the lessons are free. Each week, my confidence grows. Line dancing has been a new fun form of exercise for me. It gets my heart pumping and my brain working, all while being part of a social activity. 
The 5th class was.........well, let's just say my head was not cooperating with my feet😂😂😂. I was, however, successful at creating a new dance(THE FORGETFUL SHUFFLE). We learned a few new steps, and it threw me "off", which doesn't take much!

Determination is the key. Stay tuned for more line dancing in February! 



 


 

Thursday, January 23, 2025

2025 Jan 23~My Technical Hero

 The list of people in my life that have helped to shape who I am today.....is long. 

Part of who I am today is my love and desire to embrace 'technology advancement'. It has become a passion, and one that has taken me out of my comfort zone. Credit is awarded to my SIL, who has gone over and beyond in his instructions to teach me the ways of the digital world. *His patience has been duly noted😂 He wins the golden trophy for that!  He has been my technical hero(in addition, of course, to being a stellar husband to my daughter, and an awesome father to my grandson).....for years.  In fact, I think he would agree, he is the "tech guru" for his family!

Specifically today, I salute my SIL! His well-deserved promotion in the Roanoke City Public Schools is applauded 👏👏👏👏👏. His new position is the Director of System Data and Reporting. "Previously, he served as an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher and a Social Studies Teacher." Photo credit to RCPS.


Congratulation, Andrew! 

P.S. Most recently I have embraced the use of AI and the positive aspects of its use. 

Thanks  Andrew, for encouraging me to use this learning tool. Here are some key benefits(as written by ChatGPT): 

Just for fun, I asked Meta Al to create his new office work place image 😁
And then I sought out Copilot:
Everyone deserves to have a technical hero in their life! 

I'm glad I've got the BEST!


Wednesday, January 1, 2025

2025 Jan 1~ Zachariah Wheat Family Cemetery and Ash Spring

ASH SPRING, located on Wheats Valley Road, Bedford, VA

Happy New Year! 

Ron and I recently revisited the Zachariah Wheat Family Cemetery, and Ash Spring in Bedford County, Virginia. It was a treat to be back for the second time (after I had the opportunity to learn more about the family's history). My goal for 2025 is to complete all of the necessary documentation to prove that Ron and I are fifth cousins! That's right! 5th cousins😉😃😁:


With the help of a friend, who is the archivist/deputy clerk at the Bedford County Circuit Court, WILLS were located for Zachariah Wheat, and his son, Hazael.  WHAT A FASCINATING READ! Zachariah's will, dated 1853, listed his sons, Forrest, Hazael, and Zachariah J, as well as his daughters, Nancy Watson, Polly Watson, Elizabeth Jennings, Lydia Sharp. His deceased children(Lucy Everett, and Edith Rebecca Logwood) were also mentioned. Zachariah's Will was 3 pages long(Will Book #15; pages 81, 82, 83):


    

Hazael Wheat's(one of Zachariah's sons) Will was not as extensive as Zachariah's; (Will Book #31, Page 16, 17). The Will was written in 1889. His daughters mentioned were: Mary Eliza Wheat, Mildred Edith Watson, Lucy Davis McClintock( LUCY DAVIS WHEAT WHITE MCCLINTOCK). His son Joseph Fletcher Wheat and Othy W Wheat were mentioned. 


"THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING", so to speak.These 2 WILLS PROVE the lineage relationship between Ron and me! Thanks again to my friend Karen, who helped me locate these wills!


OK......back to the cemetery! The path to the family cemetery started here:
To the lower right of this photo, began a narrow path, loaded with briers, twisted vines, and gnarly dense thicket, to the top of the hill. We knew we had located the cemetery when we spotted the stone walls! 
We made our way to the opening of the cemetery, but not without a few scratches! Hiking boots, gloves and hand clippers were part of our attire! 
Here is the entrance to the cemetery! 


 

Many of the graves mentioned in Zachariah and Hazael's WILLS were located. Many grave sites were not found. Below is a list of known graves in the family cemetery:


Numerous headstones were mere rocks, covered with moss, and revealed no name. Sadly, we were unable to locate Hazael's wife's marker. Her name was Eliza Mildred Tinsley Wheat. IT COULD HAVE BEEN THIS STONE.........OR NOT. 
Or it could have been this stone!!!

January 1st temperatures were FRIGID, and we were on a mini-mission to 'clean up' and photograph a few major tombstones. The first being the double headstones of Zachariah and Edith Chastain Wheat:
We carried some of the supplies with us that were needed to clean......... not an easy job.
Did I mention that this was not an easy job???? and did I mention that it was late in the day, and the sun was going to be setting soon, and we still had to walk back down the not-so-clear-path to the car🤪?

I suspect that we will return soon to finish the job that we started..... I want to be able to read the bottom lines ..... I THINK IT SAYS: "RESTING IN HOPE OF A GLORIOUS RESURRECTION"

Last headstone was easy to find and was located near the entrance. Hazael Wheat, son of  Zachariah and Edith Chastain Wheat. Easy to find, yes........but not as easy to navigate to get to the headstone!

Ash Spring was our last destination. It is located on Wheats Valley Road near the intersection of  Wheats Valley Road, and Overstreet Creek Rd, Bedford, VA

We will return to Ash Spring again! The family cemetery is located within a mile of the old house!
Onion Mountain is seen at the back of the house!
***********  HAZAEL AND ELIZABETH WERE SIBLINGS. Their father and mother were Zachariah and Edith Chastain Wheat.⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️