A Top Ten of Blessings for 2017
Four generations come together to celebrate three birthdays. Photo-Newvine Personal Collection
Looking back on the year, I find it helpful to reflect a handful of things that turned out rather well.
A top ten list helps focus some of the most important things that happened in my life in the year. In no particular order, here is my top ten.
1. In March, four generations came together at our home in Merced to celebrate three birthdays. The birthdays were for my oldest daughter, my father-in-law who turned ninety, and my sixtieth.
2. Due to a change in a living situation that brought my in-laws under our roof as permanent residents, my wife and I did a staycation week in July. We did a series of day trips in Merced and surrounding counties. We saw San Luis Reservoir, San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, and Oakdale Cheese while exploring the countryside.
3. I played at least one 9-hole round of golf every week throughout the year.
4. California Back Roads – Stories from the Land of the Palm and the Pine became my eleventh published book.
Country Music Singer and Songwriter Bill Anderson met my wife and me prior to his October show at the Gallo Center in Modesto. Photo- Newvine Personal Collection
5. I met one of my country music heroes, the legendary Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, before his performance at the Gallo Center in Modesto.
6. The presentation of my lecture of Soft Skills for Hard Times was done for both the spring and fall sessions of Love Plus, a life skills training program of Love INC Merced.
My trustworthy Chevy Cruze purchased new in Merced six years ago, turned over the 100,000 mile mark. Photo- Newvine Personal Collection
7. My car turned over to 100,000 miles after six years of service on the main highways and back roads of California. This is the second car purchased new in California that has made that six-figure milestone over the past thirteen years.
8. My grandson, who will be three in January, visited California for the first time in 2016. I saw him again when I flew to Colorado for Thanksgiving.
5 K runs, like this one at UC Merced, helped keep me healthy in 2017. Photo- Newvine Personal Collection
9. I woke up every day to reasonably good health. I owe a big thanks to my doctors, my wife, and daily runs through the trail network in my neighborhood.
10. A great neighborhood makes a lot of difference and we have that here in our cul de sac in Merced. Whether it was a Fourth of July picnic, the gift of strawberry preserves or something from a garden, or just knowing we could pick up the phone and ask a favor, we’ve got the best of everything in our little corner of the world.
My best wishes to you for this holiday season and 2018.
Steve Newvine lives in Merced.
He’s published California Back Roads, available in paper and e-book editions at Lulu.com .
Steve will be the lead guest on the December 23rd edition of Community Conversations at 6:05 a.m. on radio station KYOS 1480 AM
California Back Roads. A preview of my new book
California Back Roads is my eleventh book
California Back Roads is my eleventh book. I’ve taken about three-dozen essays, many from my regular column here on MercedCountyEvents.com, updated each with new information, added a few essays from other publications, and included some never-before-seen material to create this book.
The book starts with an explanation of the “where the palm meets the pine” phrase we often hear about Central California.
MercedCountyEvents.com webmaster Brad Haven told me my January 2016 column on the palm and the pine was among the most popular essays I’ve done in terms of web hits, shares, and visits.
That seemed like a good phrase to use in the title and a good start to the book.
places
people
heroes
golf
music
...And postscripts.
The places section includes stories about the All Souls celebration in Hornitos and the Port of Stockton.
The people section includes the story of Joe and his 1953 Chevy: a car he’s held on to since he drove it off the new car lot over sixty years ago.
The heroes section remembers the brave men who defended our nation in the military as well as the people who go above and beyond in their support of our armed forces.
The essays on golf include my farewell round of golf at Stevinson Ranch from a few years ago.
The music section features a popular piece I wrote last summer about the Central Valley’s connection to the legacy of Tony Bennett.
Every page in the book connects to California; most of the stories relate to my experiences here in Merced County.
This drawing is included in the children’s fiction story The Giant Bulldozer, co-written by my wife Vaune. The story is based on the real giant bulldozer at United Equipment Company in Turlock
There’s also something new to my writing- a collaboration with a writing partner.
My wife Vaune joined me for a children’s short story I have included in this collection. We present The Giant Bulldozer, inspired by the real thing at United Equipment in Turlock. Here’s a preview:
The next morning Kasper bid goodbye to Mommy and Daddy as they left for their vacation before they ate breakfast.
During breakfast Gram said, “Gramps has a surprise for you Kasper.”
“You do Gramps? What is it?”
Gramps laughed. “Have you ever seen a bulldozer as big as a house?”
“No. That sounds silly.”
“Well after breakfast we are going on a ride to see it.”
After breakfast was cleaned up, Gram strapped Kasper into the child seat in Gramps car. Then all three of them headed off to see the great big bulldozer.
They drove to a place called United Equipment Company where Gramps turned off the car, got out, and unlatched Kasper’s seat.
“Take my hand,” Gramps said. “Let’s go find that bulldozer.”
After a short walk through the parking lot, Kasper spied the giant bulldozer. His eyes grew large with wonder. His mouth opened wide. He was speechless.
“What do you think?” Gramps asked him.
“It’s as big as a house!” Kasper exclaimed.
Gram and Gramps laughed.
I hope you like this book. Thank you for taking the time to read the columns posted here on MercedCountyEvents.com.
My best wishes to your family and you in this holiday season and happy New Year in 2018.
Steve Newvine lives in Merced. California Back Roads is now available through this link:
To explore Steve Newvine's complete collection of books, simply click on the link below.
CLICK HERE
Steve is also open to delivering speeches for service club programs and other public speaking engagements.
Contact him at: SteveNewvine@sbcglobal.net