Donald Young

Update February 2015

Before leaving Dallas, TX, Mick and Susan made contact with Don “Jim” Young and wife Sieglinde in Louisville, KY. Mick and Jim had emailed about the bucket list trip perhaps stopping in Louisville so the stage was set for a drive by visit in February. Jim and Mick discussed dates and followed the weather predictions for clear travel.

<> It happened that the weather was best of an exit of Dallas on Monday February 2 with the travel time of 9 hours to get to Jackson, TN. This would put the Burks in Louisville by 3:30 on Tuesday, February 3 which would be the same evening that the class dinner was being held at Perkins. Plans were made with Donna to call her cell during the time when the class could talk to Mick, Susan, Jim, and Sieglinde from Kentucky to West Virginia.
 
So while dinner time was observed in Moundsville, Mick called Donna and a phone conversation was had with all in attendance at both places. Donna's phone got too many buttons pushed and connection was lost so Mick called Dave's phone which had better reception.

There still seemed to be problems with the operators of the phone as it got passed around as buttons were pushed that shouldn't have been. New technology in the hands of old operators seems to cause complications everywhere so it happened with this experiment too.  We did all get to talk and share moments so it worked as best as could be expected without teenager's help, ha.

The meal with the Young's was an interesting experience for Mick and Susan. The meal was served “Raclette“ style which as a little heating grill in the middle of the table with things to cook on it available. So each could cook whatever they wanted to whatever degree their taste required. There was Chicken, meatballs, Pork, Shrimp, and Sauerbraten as the meats with Squash and Peppers to cook. Sieglinde had new potatoes cooked so we could heat some cheese under the grill top. Raclette was also the name for that cheese used on the potatoes. A side salad was part of the meal as well.
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Mick and Susan spent the night with the Young's so they had lots of time to get into some talking. Jim and Sieglinde’s travels to Germany and all over Europe were topics to match Mick and Susan’s western excursion. The Young’s had been in most of the places the Burks visited so there was much comparison incidents discussed. Since the Burk’s had their dog with them, she was topics of discussions as Jim took a liking to Athena.

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Jim has retired from employment again while Sieglinde recently retired and doesn’t like it yet. I said Jim retired again as he had already retired from the military before going into teaching Auto Mechanic classes in high school. All the while Jim maintained his enthusiastic efforts to hunt and fish along with home improvement projects as all home owners know is never ending. The latest project was the back patio/lawn care projects.  

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Mick and Jim had many stories to share and compare working in public education. Jim was quite successful with the technology programs that he developed as well as instructional relationship with inspiring young minds. He referred several times to that “Aha” moment when you can see a student finally catching the jest of intended instruction.

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WVU, Kentucky, and Louisville basketball teams played that night so the TV was switched around several times. Kentucky was blowing away Georgia, WVU was playing like a bad high school team against lower ranked Oklahoma, so lots of the time was spent watching the Louisville/Miami, FL. game which was close and exciting.
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So Wednesday morning was bright and the Burks were anxious to make the last leg home before the winter storm was to hit Wednesday night in WV.

 <>Thus ended a very pleasant classmate visit. Susan had been on Mick about “inviting himself in to visit” but he would expect you to give us a call if you are in the area and had time to visit. So Susan warns, “Look out for Mick inviting himself in for a visit if we are nearby you someday”.