i spend so much of my life afraid but i’m not much different from anybody else that way. snakes, tornadoes, lightning, spiders, criticism by gwyneth paltrow–it’s a wonder i get out of the house at all. and for a number of years, i didn’t. there are other, shared fears which these days mostly revolves around random violence . but there was an earlier, more innocent time when i was growing up when it was just the prospect of the world ending in less than twenty minutes.
if you remember doing this as a kid, we share qualifications for aarp membership and a fond memory of a crush on at least one member of the brady bunch!
in the early sixties, nuclear shelter was all the rage because america had done something that infuriated the soviets or maybe it was that the soviets did something to make us all pissed off. trouble was, we both had a-bombs and h-bombs. the united states government devised a plan to whisk away the president and congress and the essential folk of government in the event of nuclear armageddon. these bunkers were elaborate and would represent the best chance for reclaiming civilization once the radioactive dust cleared.
my adoptive father don patrick even owned a business that built private bomb shelters. we had one in our basement.
on my travels, i stopped at the greenbrier club. on the surface, a nice hotel with a pool, golf course, casino from which ben affleck has yet to be barred from for card counting. beneath, however, is where congress would alight when the soviets finally got their temper tantrum on.
at the greenbrier there is a tour of the bunker which has since been decommissioned. it got me thinking that i need to get myself a bunker. well, maybe i just need to get myself a safe place where i can be happy. i aim for north carolina next which may turn out to be where i will end up staying.
arlynnpresser 
June 19th, 2014 at 4:59 pm
It’s the “human bombs” we all REALLY have to look out for – certain types of unscrupulous people. There are days when I wish I had a bunker to run to whenever one of THEM comes along. Just try to give as good as you get, Arlynn! 🙂
June 21st, 2014 at 2:13 am
I just had to write after seeing you were in West Virginia, and moreover had been to the Greenbrier. I was about to ask whether you knew of it when arriving in the state but then saw this latest post. My wife, son and I were there over Memorial Day where these were taken. He had his first exposure to water (besides a bathtub) at the outdoor pool you mentioned. A couple of the young ladies working there were from the Philippines and asked if they could hold our little Zach who is now 17 months. I got take out for dinner each time thinking he wouldn’t last long at any of the restaurants. But we did stroll by the main dining room while the orchestra was playing and at least felt serenaded. We also found a huge ballroom where he tried out his newly embarked upon running. Thirty years ago I stayed there with my parents (while then living in Blacksburg, Va.) at the time the Washington Post revealed the existence of the bunker. You should read some of the comments at the time from people like Bob Dole who was mortified his perk was discovered. White Sulphur Springs is about 4-5 hours from the D.C. area. Did you leave Illinois for good? Did you need to get further away from that Winnetka un-dynamic duo? Are you trying to acquire a twang. I’ve always loved going to West Va. To family and friends who live in New England, I’ve called it “our New Hampshire.” If you come up this way and don’t let me know, try to be sure I don’t ever find out and thereby become heartbroken. John
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 16:24:12 +0000 To: jpsvirginia@msn.com