Garden Tour 2016

Good morning folks! Yet another beautiful day to enjoy and rejoice. 

This morning I took a short video of "the grounds" around here, where Bill and I have resided for the past ten years.  Ten years already?  Wow, time does fly when you're having fun and believe me folks, our life is not dull and has not been dull since we made the Big Move to Delaware.

Every year I like to take at least one "garden tour" video our one acre (actually .98 acres) "estate" where we live here near Rehoboth Beach.  

As I mentioned in the intro video, I grew up living in a second floor apartment. I remember walking the three blocks to school on Washington Avenue, envious of my classmate who were so fortunate to live in houses that had real backyards.  Now I know there are those of you who hate yard work but me? I've always found a sense of pure sensual pleasure working outside, in nature in my yard, creating a natural a habitat for the birds and bees and even the uninvited guests like rabbits and ground hogs. Long sentence there folks, but I am passionate about this wonderful aspect of my life.

The apartment building our family lived in for my young years - our apartment was on the second floor front - this photo was taken in 2002 - still looks the same all those years after we moved in 1954 but I bet the rent isn't $22 a month like we paid

I was 16 years old when our family finally moved into a house with a backyard.  Our home was a ranch house on 3 1/2 acres of land outside Downingtown, Pennsylvania. I loved finally having "land" but it wasn't mine.  I never felt comfortable having a garden on any part of that acreage because my father was a gardener also. He grew vegetables. He thought growing anything your couldn't eat was a "waste of time", which he often told me.  

My parent's home 2005 - oh yes, I put the pink flamingos out there (my father had died 2000)

I only lived in that house with a backyard for a year. After graduating from high school, with a six month detour to have an operation to correct a problem in which I failed my first physical to join the Army, I joined the Army for three years.  

After getting out of the Army I then went on an many year odyssey of securing a job and a life.  First an apartment in Coatesville, PA.  Then I met Bill and we lived in an apartment in Pennsuauken New Jersey.  Then we moved to an apartment in Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA.  Then a row house with a little, tiny, teeny back yard that didn't receive enough light.  Bill built me a roof deck on our town house in Center City, Philly to satisfy my need to grow flowers.

Me and Bill on our roof deck at our townhouse in center city Philly - 1974

Bhudda on our roof deck - I still have that Bhudda, it is our backyard now!

Who is that man? Oh!  It's me in 1974 with my marigolds on our roof deck.

In 1976 we bought a parcel of wooded land in Cheter County, Pennsylvania, outside of Downingtown, PA.  For the next twenty-five years I attempted to have a flower garden, with minimal success.  The deer and squirrels thought my garden was a salad patch for them.  

Our beautiful wood home in Chester County, PA shortly before we moved in 2006.  All the charm is gone now because the new owner cut down all the trees and bushes. .  Yep, he sure did. 

Finally in 2006 we bought this one acre lot in Milton, Delaware.  The whole lot was cleared, no trees or bushes or deer.  A clear slate  

So fast forward folks and this is where I am now. Oh, I have rabbits now which provide a challenge but no squirrels to eat my tulip bulbs for deer to munch away on my shrubbery. 

This folks is the 2016 garden tour of Casa Tipton-Kelly.  Enjoy!

Bike Fall

Taking a fall

Yep! I did it.  I fell off of my bike last night.  

I was warned (Dr. Spo).  Thank goodness no serious injuries were incurred by moi.  

So here is what happened.  Late yesterday afternoon I decided to take my second ride down the two and a half mile stretch down Oyster Rocks Road.  Where I encountered a problem as at the dead end of Oyster Rocks Road.  There were three vehicles down there, fishermen.

I attempted to make a left (cool) turn on the gravel (ah ha!) road.  Yep, you guessed it.  My bike wheels slid and down I went like a 170 lb. sack of potatoes.

My first thought was not to brace my fall, I didn't want to break my wrist or arm.  

I fell right into the gravel.  My bike pedal indented into my right shin. My left knee, yes the one I injured by severing my quadricep muscle last February 17th.  I didn't severe a quadricep this time but I did scrap my leg.  I was more embarrassed than hurt although I was in some pain.

One of the fishermen came over and asked "Are you alright?"  I told him I was but I was glad I had an audience.  He said "Hey buddy, we've all been there."  

I slowly arose from my gravel strewn spot on the ground, and checked to make sure I didn't break anything. I didn't but I did have a HUGE bump on my leg.  And it hurt.  That bump is down now but I do have a crease there.  Wow.  I just checked and it's gone now.  

Hey folks, lesson learned.  Bill warned me about riding on gravel. And me, hard head that I am, didn't pay attention.  You can be sure I'm paying attention now.  

I made a mistake yesterday.  But you know folks, I always try to make something good of it.  Lesson learned.  I just have to be much more careful.  

And by the way, don't tell Bill I fell.

Me ready to embarked on a bike ride yesterday.

Great Medical News!

Me with that umbrella over my head

Good news this morning folks!  I had my appointment with my oral surgeon doctor at 9:00 AM.  

For the past two weeks I've been living under a dark cloud.  I've been carrying an umbrella over my head, hoping to stave off yet another medical situation.  Try as I might to go about my daily routine, that dark cloud over my head (tongue cancer) followed me around over my head.  That dark cloud disappeared this morning when I received the results of the biopsy of my tongue that was taken last week.  

When I went into the doctor's office this morning, fifteen minutes ahead of time.  Checking in with the woman behind the glass window, "Ron Tipton here for my 9:00 AM appoint with Dr. T.......", I was on the lookout for any sign that they KNEW.  All smiles.  Was that good?  Bad?  Reminds me of the times I went into a medical facility for the results of my HIV test (four times).  Every time I was a nervous wreck, a bundle of nerves; sure that they KNEW.

All smiles this morning though.  All smiles. 

I sat for about ten minutes playing with my iPhone, not really focusing on anything I saw on my iPhone.  Then came the CALL.  "You can come back Mr. Tipton."  

Oh oh, was that a smile?  Yes, it was.  I saw no pity in her genuine smile.  

As I turned the corner to my box waiting room and that hobby horse thing that they have you sit on while you wait for the doctor.  

I had a few more minutes to contemplate my future without my tongue or worse, a diagnosis of terminal cancer.  At first I considered living my life without my tongue (hard to imagine).  Then living what few months I would have left unable to eat nothing but smoothies, ice cream and water ice. 

Ron's Pie Hole

How long would I continue to live my life this way?  When should I make plans to sell my house and move to California, which now has a Right to Die law.  Yes, that is my plan folks.  If and when I ever receive such a diagnosis, I will not end my days in an assisted care facility, exhausting whatever funds I have left to the bottom profit line of said chain of assisted care facilities.  Spending my finals days being administered my pain killer pills by minimum wage, mostly female workers. Just another patient on the doctor's rounds. Eventually ending up at a hospice for the Final Exit.  No way folks.  No frigging way.  Not me, not now, not ever.  But then you never know because my longtime friend Bob McC. often told me the same thing but that is exactly the way he ended his days.  Going through his $100,000 plus life savings in little over a year, being spoon feed his medications by those same minimum wage workers, and being restrained like a prisoner in his own body.  

All these thoughts were soon dispelled when my oral surgeon doctor came through those glass doors.  His assistant was still smiling.  

The doctor sat down and brought out a sheet of paper.  He said "When I read the results of a biopsy like yours I always go to the last line because that is what my patients want to hear."  He looked down at the paper, put his glasses on and read this:

"No evidence if malignancy is seen"

Do you read this the same way I read it?  Yep, 

NO CANCER

He paused so I could take in this information. Then he said "Now for the rest"

Folks, I won't bore you with unfamiliar medical terms but basically why I had a problem was that I had a callous on my tongue.  Callouses are formed on your skin during trauma to protect the skin (something I never thought about).  The doctor agreed with what I thought initially thought, I had bitten my tongue so hard in a short period of time last month, that my tongue had developed a callous.  Plus, I'm using my Water Pik too often at too strong of a strength.  

FREE OF CANCER FOLKS!

Oh what a beautiful day!  And I will live to see the first woman president (oh yes, it will happen you Hillary Haters).  And maybe I'll live long enough to see Elizabeth Warren elected president at the end of Hillary's two consecutive terms.  

Hey, did Ron just bring politics into this blog?  He sure did!  

Yes folks, I will be here to continue to annoy.  

Life is good.

Daffodils from my garden which I will see bloom again

Bike Ride

Good morning folks!  I just got back from my longest bike ride in over thirty-six years. As regular followers of this blog know, I recently purchased a "previously owned" bike from a neighbor a few weeks ago. After having this bike overhauled and adding bells and whistles (literally), I've been taking daily rides only throughout the development here where Bill and I live.  This morning I decided to go for the whole enchilada and took a ride all the way down to the end of Oyster Rocks Road to the Broadkill River. 

Oyster Rocks Road is the road that leads into our development.  You might say I decided to spread my wings and go for the whole enchilada.  That I did and what a wonderful experience it was!

Many, many years ago, when we lived in center city Philly, I used to ride my bike all the time.  My usual route then was up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Kelly Drive (formerly "River Drive", renamed after John Kelly - brother of Grace Kelly - died while jogging on that same River Drive).  I thought nothing of traveling those long distances.  Of course I was much younger and limber them, the year being 1976.  Hey, I just did the math and that was FORTY YEARS ago!  Wow, I am constantly amazed at how fast time goes by.  Especially when one is having "fun" like I am.

So I took the turn out of our development and bicycled the 2 1/2 miles down to the Broadkill River.  I would have taken a video of my ride but I didn't want to take the chance of falling off my bike while trying to handle my iPhone 6S Plus.  Instead, I just stopped my bike and took the video at the beginning of this post. 

Folks, I have to tell you that the experience of driving down Oyster Rocks Road to the Broadkill is so much different than riding down that same route, which I often do with Bill - for our "daily ride", than driving in a car.  In the car I don't hear the gentle breeze.  I don't smell the faint whiff of the wild honeysuckle vines growing along side the road.  I don't hear the in nature sounds of the birds looking for their breakfast in the wetlands that surround Oyster Rocks Road.  Riding my bike on that road, I felt so free.  I literally was "one with nature."  

Yes indeed, this morning was indeed a good morning. 

Have a great day everyone!

Muhammed Ali

Muhammed Ali - "The Greatest of All Time"

Another sad day folks, a legend has passed.

Muhammed Ali, The Greatest,  died yesterday at seventy-four years of age.  He had been in failing health for many years.  His death was not unexpected but still comes as a great feeling of loss.  

Muhammed always loudly proclaimed that he was "The Greatest!"  And you know what folks, he was.  

I "almost" met Muhammed one day. The date was sometime back in the Seventies when I worked at Girard Bank in Center City Philly.  I was going out for lunch when I encountered a crowd at the corner of 15th and Chestnut Streets.  I didn't know what was going on until I passed around the crowd  that was making low mumbling sounds but being very respectful of the person they were surrounding. 

During my many years of working in Center City Philly I often encountered celebrities during my walks on Broad Street and Chestnut Street.  Celebrities like Tony Bennett, Anthony Perkins, and Agnes Morehead. Many political figures like Bobby Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey and yes, even Richard and Pat Nixon. But this crowd was different.  They weren't cheering or raucous but just wanted to see and be in the presence of this celebrity.  I asked someone in the crowd "Who is that?"  He said "That's Muhammed Ali."  I stopped and I looked, and I have to tell you folks, I was impressed.  Really, I was very impressed. I can't say the same for some of the other celebrities that I saw in person.

During my lifetime Muhammed Ali went from a revered boxer to a much hated man because he changed his name (he called "Cassius Clay his 'slave' name to the Muslim name Muhammed Ali.) and refused to be drafted go to war in to that wrong headed war against Viet Nam.  The first war this country lost, and believe me folks, regardless of government and media propaganda he did LOSE that war.  We should have never been there in the first place but I digress from the main subject of this blog posting.  

Muhammed Ali was proven right by his resistance to the Viet Nam war conscription. He has also been proven right by his stand on civil rights.  And he has also been proven right that he was indeed "The Greatest of All Time!"  

Rest in peace Muhammed.  Your memory will never die. 

Eric Fanning, First Gay Secretary of the Army

Eric Fanning, Secretary of the Army

Folks, now this is a day I never thought I would witness.  Eric Fanning was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the first openly gay Secretary of the Army.  Did I hear this right? An openly gay man as Secretary of the Army?

Wow.  Have we ever come a long way from the first "openly gay" situation comedy, "Will and Grace."  And even that was a very tentative move, casting a straight actor, Erica McCormack as Will.  Like there aren't enough gay actors around that could have easily filled that role.  Will's friend "Jack" role was filled by the really gay actor Sean Hayes, who had to be dragged kicking and screaming even to finally admitting he was gay in real life. God forbid that Sean should lose an acting job if he came out.  Courage is all too often in short quantity with too many gay actors, and that includes you Sean.

The "Will and Grace" cast, all straight except for "Jack" on the left and even he stayed in the closet all too long

I have all the respect in the world for a man like Eric Fanning who has lived his life as an openly gay man.  I respect people who live truthful lives and demand to be accepted for the person who they are.

I have to admit I am enjoying a bit (a lot actually) of schadenfreude at the thought of all those homophobes in the Army now who are just beside themselves now.  Who are they going to call "FAG!" as the ultimate derogatory putdown.

As regular readers of this blog know I joined the army fresh out of high school (with a six month detour due to me failing my first physical). I was 18 years old and scared to death but I felt I owed this obligation to my country.  And besides, I couldn't get a job.  And I didn't want to get drafted.

18 year old Army Recruit - Ron

So where should I end up?  Working for the National Security Agency (NSA) outside Washington D.C.  The problem?  I was assigned a Top Secret clearance.  I didn't ask for this job nor the top secret clearance.  My problem was that I knew I was gay but that I could lose my clearance at any time and be thrown out of the Army, thus ruining my life forever.  And one didn't have to be caught in doing any gay acts (no problem there with me, I was a complete neophyte at that time of my life).  One only had to be accused and one lost one's clearance and was less than honorably discharged.  Folks, for the two and a half years I lived and worked at the NSA headquarters at Fr. Meade Maryland, I had that threat hanging over my head. 

National Security Agency, Ft. George G. Meade, MD - where I worked for 2 1/2 years 1960-1962
Second largest government building after the Pentagon

While I was stationed at Ft. Meade I saw too many of my fellow soldiers losing their clearance and go through the ignominy of being discharged.  

I loved my job at NSA and could have easily converted my Army job to a civilian status when my three year term of enlistment was up.  Couldn't do it though because the U.S. government also had a ban against gays. Why? They say gays could be blackmailed and thus divulge U.S. secrets.  This is a classic Catch-22 because why could gays be blackmailed?  Because they were not allowed to serve in the U.S. Army nor work for the government in a classified capacity.  Stupid right? Absolutely.  

I had even considered making a career out of the Army.  I actually liked being in the Army.  But I figured out that eventually I explore the ways of the flesh and become involved with another man and thus be caught.  I did the calculation and figured the odds were not in my favor.  Thus, I reluctantly left the Army and my good job in January of 1963.  But one of the first things I did when I got out of the Army was come out to everybody.  And I mean everybody. 

I lost about half of my friends.  I was disowned as unclean and not worthy of being a friend, relative or whatever because I was "one of them."  You know, "them."  

To this day I am estranged from my family because I choose to live my life openly as a gay man thus causing them discomfort in their own lives.  "Gay Uncle Ronnie" doesn't play well in their conservative, insular lives.  I wonder what they think of Eric Fanning being named the first openly gay Secretary of Army. 

Me today, honorably discharged from the Army, retired and working part-time as a hotel front desk clerk. No big-time government pension for me like so many of my fellow gay retirees here (all former government employees who playinged for the U.S. government. 

Marilyn

Today would have been the 90th birthday of Marilyn Monroe.  

Happy birthday Marilyn!  

Me during our recent stay in Hollywood this past January on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with a Marilyn Monroe was figure outside a movie theater - Marilyn will always epitomize Hollywood and all its glamor

I remember exactly where I was when I heard of her death.  I was home on leave from the Army for the weekend.  I awoke on that warm, August, Sunday morning and heard the news on my transistor radio.

My first reaction was one of great sadness.  Profound sadness. For many reasons. 

Marilyn was a love goddess who died alone. 

I don't know anyone who didn't love Marilyn Monroe.  Everyone liked her and yet she had so much sadness in her life.  

I am forever thankful that I grew up in the Fifties when Marilyn lite up our movie screens. 

Didn't we all feel just a little bit protective of Marilyn?  Even me, gay as I was then and am now.  


My feeling for Marilyn wasn't sexual but I do know just looking at her made me feel good.

There are many beautiful women in Hollywood and the world but there were few who sparkled brighter than Marilyn.  

I've always considered Hedy Lamar the most beautiful woman in the movies but Hedy didn't have that special quality that Marilyn had.  That hard to describe quality that just made you feel good about yourself and being in the same world that Marilyn inhabited.  

On the next clear night, look up at the sky.  Look for the brightest star.  That would be Marilyn.

Happy birthday dear Marilyn.