Eventful Day

We packed two cars on Friday with Manta expats and zoomed north on a field trip to San Clemente. Linda and Bonnie were the drivers. They could not agree on the route so - race on! Linda is not normally a timid driver. She follows the old saying "drive it like you stole it". Linda knew Bonnie would be pedal to the metal the whole way and she wasn't about to lose the race. We got to the restaurant a minute ahead of Bonnie.

Miers, the restaurant owner, had lobsters in stock so 12 of us indulged in the $7 lobster lunch. A pound of the bottom feeder plus salad and a large pile of homemade chips. The real treat was a trip to the "back room". I stocked up on a couple of my favorite bad habits at fell off the truck prices. The rest of the group was crowded in behind me, either indulging in similar vices or just gawking.

Waiting for lobsters. No idea why I have such a stupid look on my face.

The trip back was uneventful until the last 50 feet. A crew of men was erecting an enormous sign on the other side of the sand road in front of Linda's house. Linda gunned the car up right in front of their truck and jumped out yelling in her broken Spanish "VERY BAD! STOP! GET OUT!".

I ran to the house to get Edger to translate some of the finer points. Meanwhile, with De Anne at her side, Linda picked up a big rock - still yelling. Edger arrived on the run and the men pleaded with him to tell the crazy woman to put down the rock. What the men did not know was that the rock was not as bad as it could have gotten. I was ready to instantly execute a duck and cover maneuver if Linda really got mad.

With great acumen the workmen quickly agreed to remove the sign. I think they realized just what they were up against. They had turned the power off for the whole beach since one of the workmen had unwisely touched the power line with a sign pole. Of course, we had to wait until after sunset for the power to be turned back on.

Finally, a bit of peace and quiet! I got my iPad out and started reading emails. Suddenly, the whole days' events paled. De Anne's sister De Linda sent an email about their Father passing away. De Vere was 86 and had just been put into a nursing home a month ago. He had Alzheimer's but died quickly from a stroke. I remember some advice my Mother gave me when she was in a nursing home - Have some fun now because you don't know when it will end. Words to live by and we are.

Obit to be published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Captain DeVere (Dee) Bunnell took his final flight on Thursday, Nov. 15th.  He rejoins his wife of 50 years, Opal “Dixie”, who predeceased him in 2000. Dee Bunnell was an Army soldier stationed in Austria during the European Occupation.  He returned home to finish college, learned to fly and became an Air Force cargo pilot during the golden age of large piston engine aircraft.  He was a veteran who logged many years of long Pacific flights, flying supplies to the Korean conflict and flying wounded soldiers home.  His military contribution was followed by 30 years of flying for Eastern Airlines, piloting large piston engine aircraft through the era of transition to modern computerized jet aircraft.  He finished his career as captain in the Airbus A300.  Dee retired in 1986 and enjoyed a long happy retirement traveling, boating and gardening.  He is survived by his son Alexander and three daughters, DeLinda, DeAnne and Denise and by seven grandsons.    His life will be celebrated on Sat, Nov. 24th, at 11:00pm at 5630 Queensborough Dr, Dunwoody 30338.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ALZHEIMER’S FOUNDATION OF AMERICA (www.alzfdn.org).