<> When Scott's old friend John
Galkiewicz settled down in Eastern Tennessee in 74 Scott found himself
with an old friend just a full day's journey
away. Scott knew he would always be welcomed though room was
usually sparse wherever John ended up living. The two always had things to talk about and do with John wanting
to keep up with what was happening in the Gulf, his old stumping grounds and Scott always interested in what a "break-away" PHI
employee was up to.
John recalls one occasion when Scott arrived on his new
motorcycle. "I thought he was a space man when he rolled in all
dressed up the way he was and with his black helmet on". The journey Scott had just completed was in inclement weather
and he was ready for it. Scott had dressed to the hilt for it and
not a rain drop or the bite of a chill could penetrate his motorcycle
outfit.
Because of the freedom John had with
his employer as a corporate helicopter pilot, John was able to take Scott along on a chopper ride to the
farthest out of 7 coal mines the chopper serviced. The view and
the straight scoop on just what Scott was seeing left Scott in
amazement. What probably surprised Scott most was the lay of the
land and the fact that there were just no real straight valleys in the
mountainous coal fields that ran all the way up to Pennsylvania.
By chopper the farthest out mine was 23 minutes away. That same
mine was 2:45 minutes by car for once behind a lumbering along coal
truck that is where
you stayed until he turned off and then you found
another one in front of that one. One comes by patience very
early in life in the coal fields.
On the return flight John swung by
"Hensley Settlement", which was nestled on the high top of the ridge
line that separated the coal fields from the farming land just to the
south. Hensley Settlement was the last
original hill billy
settlement in the U.S. Upward of 60 folks lived up there
throughout the W.W.II years in order that their children would not have
to go to
war. Hensley Settlement had been partially restored and is now
part of the Cumberland Gap National Park. Scott had no idea it
was there or the history around the settlement.
Scott made the journey to John's
several times. When John finally purchased a home of his own
Scott now had a place where he was both welcomed and one he could
easily use as he branched out to visit other areas. This
arrangement was not a one-way deal in the least. As fate would
have it John left flying and started a little home business around the cat
toy that he had invented. John soon found
himself having the pick of cat shows nation wide through which to sell
and promote his cat toy. With the big Houston show being 16 hours
away the 12 hour drive to Scott's and the promise of some fine eating
made for a perfectly timed layover for a day or two.
Now while at John's place Scott just
didn't sit around all day while John was at work. On one occasion
John had just secured a pile of wood that would have to be split for
winter use with the wood stove the home had. As you can see by
the picture Scott not only split enough for the next couple of days, he
split the entire pile of wood. He also did it in his good cloths
and without apparently breaking a sweat. Those were
the good old
days.
Prior to John's wedding Scott came
up several days early. As a makeshift bachelor party one of
John's brothers and Scott went with John to the local lake for a day of
easy living. With clear fresh water to swim in a real rarity in
Louisiana Scott made the most of his day at the
lake.
As John outgrew the weekend cat show
circuit Scott's position with PHI was also
growing in a different direction. Scott's
7 days in a row off were
turning more and more into a regular work week with more and more work
overs as his responsibility in PHI grew. Both Scott and John
became family men shortly after that. While lack of time and job
demand kept them apart the advent of the Internet pulled them together
again. And that's were it now stands. Both have now
aged somewhat and as life throws curve balls in both their directions a
word of honest advice is just a call or key stroke away. They say
one can count his or her really true friends on just one hand.
Should that be the case then John and Scott represent a finger on each
other's hand. Such is life.
and Scott always interested in what a "break-away" PHI
employee was up to. 
John recalls one occasion when Scott arrived on his new
motorcycle. "I thought he was a space man when he rolled in all
dressed up the way he was and with his black helmet on". The journey Scott had just completed was in inclement weather
and he was ready for it. Scott had dressed to the hilt for it and
not a rain drop or the bite of a chill could penetrate his motorcycle
outfit. 
where
you stayed until he turned off and then you found
another one in front of that one. One comes by patience very
early in life in the coal fields. 
Settlement was the last
original hill billy
settlement in the U.S. Upward of 60 folks lived up there
throughout the W.W.II years in order that their children would not have
to go to
war. Hensley Settlement had been partially restored and is now
part of the Cumberland Gap National Park. Scott had no idea it
was there or the history around the settlement. 
the cat
toy that he had invented. John soon found
himself having the pick of cat shows nation wide through which to sell
and promote his cat toy. With the big Houston show being 16 hours
away the 12 hour drive to Scott's and the promise of some fine eating
made for a perfectly timed layover for a day or two. 
sweat. Those were
the good old
days. 