Turning Points
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
Life is a journey. It has a beginning and it has an end. All along its path are events, places
and people who are turning points. Here, I relate some of these turning points in my own
journey. Hopefully, the stories will illuminate and maybe entertain some of those who care
enough to read.
| Paducah June 30, 2006 |
Very occasionally, Daddy’s new job with the
U.S. Customs Service in Louisville took him
to Paducah to register a newly built river
barge at the Ohio River boatyard there. He
made the trip in a black government car with
a big badge-like emblem on the side door.
A few of these trips included me as he would
snatch me from a day of school to ride with
U.S. Customs Service in Louisville took him
to Paducah to register a newly built river
barge at the Ohio River boatyard there. He
made the trip in a black government car with
a big badge-like emblem on the side door.
A few of these trips included me as he would
snatch me from a day of school to ride with
___________________________________________________
| And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV) |
| Copyright © 2005 leoshoemaker.com |
him on the long drive down U.S. 60. This was before the interstate highway system was built and I
don’t know how we made the 170 mile drive down there and back in a single day but we did. His
actual duties at the boatyard were quickly cared for while I waited in the car as he made a physical
measurement of the barge and filled out some forms.
The car didn’t have air conditioning so the windows were open in warm weather and I loved to
play with the little home made wooden propeller spinning on a stick that I held out the window.
There were no fast food places then and finding a roadside restaurant where we could get lunch
was a roll of the dice. But I don’t remember any bouts of food poisoning.
One such trip took us to a smaller river where the crossing was via a ferry. Daddy took me into the
pilot house where the boat captain let me steer the ferry across once. He loved to tell the story
many times over about the snake trail our wake resembled under my time at the helm that day.
Another trip involved a detour to the Kentucky Dam, which formed the largest man made lake.
Standing high upon the dam we watched fearfully as a slumbering fisherman in a rowboat far
below discovered nearly too late that he had drifted into some very dangerous whirlpools at the
foot of the dam. He wasted no time after getting his reluctant motor started again in speeding
away from the danger. That was pretty exciting for a 8 year old.
Our family didn’t have the money for annual vacations or really much of any paid recreation. But
those trips with Daddy to Paducah were as memorable for me as any Disneyworld or Six Flags
today.
don’t know how we made the 170 mile drive down there and back in a single day but we did. His
actual duties at the boatyard were quickly cared for while I waited in the car as he made a physical
measurement of the barge and filled out some forms.
The car didn’t have air conditioning so the windows were open in warm weather and I loved to
play with the little home made wooden propeller spinning on a stick that I held out the window.
There were no fast food places then and finding a roadside restaurant where we could get lunch
was a roll of the dice. But I don’t remember any bouts of food poisoning.
One such trip took us to a smaller river where the crossing was via a ferry. Daddy took me into the
pilot house where the boat captain let me steer the ferry across once. He loved to tell the story
many times over about the snake trail our wake resembled under my time at the helm that day.
Another trip involved a detour to the Kentucky Dam, which formed the largest man made lake.
Standing high upon the dam we watched fearfully as a slumbering fisherman in a rowboat far
below discovered nearly too late that he had drifted into some very dangerous whirlpools at the
foot of the dam. He wasted no time after getting his reluctant motor started again in speeding
away from the danger. That was pretty exciting for a 8 year old.
Our family didn’t have the money for annual vacations or really much of any paid recreation. But
those trips with Daddy to Paducah were as memorable for me as any Disneyworld or Six Flags
today.
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