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~Buried Jewels~ *Blue* |
------------~~~~~Buried Jewels~~~~~----------
*****Part One*****
---The Legacy---
chapter I
Julie Marie Tracy grew up in a small rural town in Virginia. When she was a child; Her dad had been stationed in Norfolk until he retired from The United States Navy. Due to her father’s Naval career as a family; they had moved frequently to several states in the US. and overseas. But her favorite and the only place she had ever called home was a small town on the outskirts of Roanoke.
Her only sibling; a brother Michael had been in the center of heavy military combat in the heart of The Mekong River Delta during The Vietnam War when she and her family received word, he was Missing In Action.
Her father; Frank became obsessed with finding his son., while his disappearance had devastated the family, Frank’s continued heavy drinking tore the family apart, his obsession further alienated the family, inevitably Frank and his wife Joyce Michelle Claridge. Had divorced, Joy taking Julie back to Santa Fe, moving close to her family.
It had been well over twenty years ago, still never any closure. As children; Michael and Julie played in the old abandoned mines and caverns near the house upon the hill from they’re home. Michael looked after his Younger sister by ten years, he had always been protective of her.
Julie remembering Johnny Dawson giving her trouble in school, When Michael had came to the school’s cafeteria one afternoon during her lunch break., she thought Michael was going to scare him to death, rather then beat him every inch of his life.
Johnny never so much as looked her way after that but neither did any of the local boys either, they were all afraid of what her Older brother might do to them Her first date had been with Alan Travers.
The celebration had ended in humiliation. Julie remembered well, when Michael had came home for Christmas, Alan had brought a gift for her when he sat down after her dad had handed him a glass of eggnog.
Poor Alan, spilling it all over her dress, then trying to clean up the mess made matters worse, he dropped his dinner plate and then stepping on Jonah’s tail; they’re German shepherd. The dog went nuts, barking wildly at Alan.
She thought Michael was going to burst from laughter. It ended in disaster, Alan had left embarrassed. They all left later that evening, she and Michael picking out a Christmas tree, then decorating it., stringing the holly and mistletoe and all the lights on the tree, hanging streamers.
Stringing Icicles and candy canes, decorative Ginger Bread houses, red ribbons draped over the balcony while pots of Poinsettia‘s trimmed in Gold and Silver wrapping lined the stair way .
CHAPTER II
Every year they went all out for the Christmas Holiday., lighting all the lights around the house, barn even the main fence row and all the White Pines along they’re drive. Christmas carols filled the house…that evening going sleigh riding, hitching Kate and Jake a beautiful pair of American Saddle horses to the sleigh.
They all had bundled up to keep the cold out. Recalling the stars in the sky that night were beautiful. They had stopped by the Nolan’s house picking up neighbors children along the way.
Riding through pure white snow over the country side singing carols. Julie remembered ringing bells, they all laughing and singing, lighting a bonfire inviting friends and neighbors over for a festive dinner that evening.
It was the happiest they had ever been as a family and the last time they were all together. The following Christmas, Michael didn’t come home, they had received word on that Christmas Eve, he went missing. Life for her had never been the same.
So many memories came flooding in., she remembered as she gazed toward the old house upon the hill behind the main house., Julie had heard all her life, according to the local townspeople; the place had once been the site for some of the heaviest hand to hand combat in America’s History.
Indeed, according to Records from The National and State Historical society, The area had been the site during The Roanoke Valley battle, "Hunter’s Raid" of 1864, of which took place where Peters Creek empties into the Roanoke River. It was an important prelude to the Battle of Hanging Rock, near Salem, becoming a Confederate victory.
Union General David Hunter, notorious for his hatred of slave-holding states, was driven to retreat. The Battle of Hanging Rock in Salem is marked by a monument on Rt. 311. Confederate forces under General John McCausland won a substantial Southern victory here against General Hunter, who was ultimately beaten in Lynchburg.
With such a history, it filled Michael and Julie with curiosity and fascination as kids, they’re adventures and riding excursions took them throughout the valley, deep into the heart of The Shenandoah and Rappahannock. It all seemed like yesterday as Julie stood on the steps leading to the house that had once been her home. Her father’s funeral brought her back to Roanoke.
Though Julie had reunited with her father several years prior. Growing up, she had always deeply felt the loss and absence of her father and her brother. Julie met with her father’s attorney three weeks after the memorial service. Upon the reading of her father’s will, she learned she had received an inheritance and with it inherited the old farm, the house and its surrounding grounds and with it.
The old house upon the hill where she and Michael had played as kids along with various farm animals an old farm tractor among an assortment of antiques, various other items and her brother’s 1965 Red Stingray, her father had kept in mint condition.
Julie made a modest living as a writer reporter for The Santa Fe Tribune upon graduation from the local college. Having been employed with the newspaper firm for seven years. Although after she and her dad vacationing at the beach last Summer following her broken engagement with Stephen Saunders, Julie had decided to move back to Roanoke to be closer to her father, when he suffered a sudden heart attack. Three weeks ago his second heart attack, fatal.
Though Frank Aaron Tracy had never remarried, he lived a quiet fulfilled life, but neither had her mother married again, perhaps regretting her decision to take Julie, leaving Virginia moving back to New Mexico. Upon retirement, Frank held a command position at The NNSY in Portsmouth, Virginia.
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard or NNSY being one of the largest shipyards in the world specializing in repairing, overhauling and modernizing ships and submarines. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility belonging to the U.S. Navy.
Some habits were hard to break. The Navy was in Frank’s blood, so was sailing. Julie had inherited his as well as his brother Sam’s love for the sea. Often taking out the Anne Marie named after Julie’s Grandmother Anne Marie Martinelli-Tracy
Had the weather been better, she would have went out in the schooner today, it wouldn’t take her mind off events of the past few weeks, maybe at least it would serve as a short distraction but the waves were choppy, clouds rolling in, looking more like rain today.
Her long time friend Tresa Robertson called, informing her she would be taking a flight out of Santa Fe, her plane arriving in the morning at 10:00am. After they ended their conversation, Julie sat down at the dining room table, looking through a stack of mail.
There was the recent Birthday card she had sent to him as well as cards from various family members and his friends…when she found underneath an assortment of bills; a faded yellow envelope. The handwriting seemed familiar to her, when she opened the letter, she recognized the handwriting………
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*******After This Story is Completed, Every One Can tell me Whether You Believe This Story is Truth or Fiction******* |
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| Alias | Date | Reply |
| Wise |
3/14/2006 6:38:00 AM |
Stage is set...wonder where it goes.... and I think it is Me Kong Delta..... 8-) thanks my friend. |
| ky_bluebird |
3/14/2006 7:08:00 AM |
Thanks Brother., hope you enjoyed this part...You don't want to know what my Friend Frank calls it, it's not very nice I'll say that much...T/C |
| Epox |
3/16/2006 4:43:00 PM |
Sis, I'm looking forward to where this story takes us. I liked your description of the history of the battles. Nice work! |
| ky_bluebird |
3/16/2006 7:55:00 PM |
Thanks Lil' Brother, I'm so glad that You like this!! ~Hugs~ Sis....T/C |
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