Miscellaneous Thoughts and Facts

      Miscellaneous

1. Walmart Carts all roll smoothly without going clunk, clunk as you head down an aisle! (this is unheard of at Lake Elsinore Walmart)

2. Walmart has reserved parking for Veterans, for Wounded Warriors, and even expectant mothers (also regular handicapped spaces)

3. Between the house and Walmart I pass 6 churches. Many look like they hold 100 people or less.

This is Southwest Primitive Baptist Church

The cemetery dates from 1800's. (Here's a definition of Primitive Baptist: Primitive Baptists draw all of their beliefs directly from the 1611 King James Version of the Bible. If they can't support it with Scripture, they don't follow it. Their services are modeled on the early New Testament church with preaching, praying, and singing without instrumental accompaniment.)  I will come back and take more pictures when the trees are blooming and the grass is green again!

This is Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

(the building extends in the back, not visible in my pic. The porch lights are on all the time)

I like these church buildings because they are beautiful and quaint at the same time. Neither one of these churches have concrete parking lots or driveways.  There's tire tracks that start just off the road, and you drive right over the un-landscaped ground as seen in the foreground of my pics.

There are many, many churches here, some that look like these, and some that are similar to what I'm used to in California.  Even the kind that are held in warehouse or commercial type buildings.

4.  Near us is US Highway 17 North and South, and US Highway 24 East and West.  These highways go across the state and are often divided highways.  It felt strange for a while to stop at a stop sign, wanting to get on the highway and drive across the road to another stop before turning onto the road going the direction I want.  I used to look both ways watching for traffic until I remembered, the cars are only going one way! Silly me.  The speed limit around us on the highways is between 45 and 55 depending on what's around.  Unlike a California freeway, there are homes and businesses right on the highway.

5.  You know you live in a small town when...

Albert J. Ellis airport in Jacksonville, agreed to let the USO open a center at the airport, IF, they had volunteers at the airport information desk.  That's right.  During the center hours, there's always a USO volunteer sitting at the information desk for the airport helping to answer questions or directing people to someone who can help them.  This is the same desk the military people come to, to have their I.Ds checked and have access to the USO center.  How many airports would have volunteers running their information desk?   The ladies I worked at the center with introduced me to airport employees from the director's secretary to the housekeeper.  They are all "old buddies" now.  They knew all the ins and outs of working at the airport and the USO center.  Small town.