Just before my second birthday, my mom’s brother was killed in a plane crash. He was an Air Force pilot and had mechanical difficulties as he was flying an older plane that was about to be retired. He crashed into a farmer’s field in Germany to avoid hitting a populated area. It was devastating to the family and they were never the same. Uncle Sonny has always been alive to me in the stories everyone tells and in the photos I keep.

Shortly after he passed, my great grandfather called my grandma to come stay with them for awhile. We all went to Mt Jackson, VA to stay in the big house at Strathmore Farms. Even though I was only two, I distinctly remember that house and have pictures of it.

Now, fast forward 55 years. Mr. Virgo and I always talked about having a B&B and he knew I wanted to move home. He had me look at the B&B’s for sale in Virginia and West Virginia. I saw this picture and my heart skipped a beat. It was my great-grandfather’s house, now a well-established B&B, for sale! I couldn’t dial the phone fast enough. Oh, my….wouldn’t it be a lovely ending to the story if we could have bought the place??? But, alas…the price tag is (still) almost $800,000 so unless I WIN Powerball, it’s not happening! Pretty neat story, though!

I’m in town at my cousin’s house. We will travel today to see another cousin who is ill. It’s what families do…we stick together whether we see each other once a week or once a decade.

I will tell you what…I will be getting internet when I move to the farm! No wifi…no cell service…I need to unplug a little, but this has been a real eye opener! The closest cell service is 12 miles away at the cemetery. Maybe there’s service back on the hill at the farm, but that would entail a hike and I haven’t had time (cough, cough). Farm life is going to whip me into shape!