Search for My Roots: A Collection of Short Stories #2

In my genealogy research of my family, I discovered certain subjects that required short stories giving further details and understanding into my life - including; my father (Fire Chief JB Cooley) and living in the Fire Station in the City Hall in DeRidder Louisiana, my early life adventures with friends living in DeRidder (1936-1960), events that shaped my life causing me to pursue a career with NASA, /GSFC in Maryland, and personal adventures living and working in Burtonsville Maryland. I recently lost my good friend and comrade "Chance" a Border Collie dog and included at tribute to him. I miss him very much. My friend Skipper Cryer also lost his dog '"Maggie" and he allowed me to include his feelings on her influence on his life. Included also is a DIY story on growing your own birdhouses, and garden tips on growing things in Louisiana. Of course encounters with, Abigaile, my imaginary friend is included detailing her helpful but sometimes annoying and embarrassing appearances in my life. I have included many photographs with the stories; including examples of gourd birdhouses and bowls and some of my oil paintings, mostly portraits of family and friends. Several details of my ancestry family paper research, and DNA study comparisons is included. I will be releasing several paperback books soon including: Little Berry Cooley - My Maternal Great Great Grandfather Nelson C Cooley - My Paternal Great Grandfather A Glimpse of My Life - from fire boy to NASA to gentleman farmer Already in paperback at Amazon.com is my description of my Paternal Grandmother's Father (Cpl. Dudley Sanders) little family notebook and some of his Civil War experiences, as I saw. The day began to break and the birds were starting to sing. A Blue Jay flew into a tree just above Corporal Hopewell and started to tell the world that he was there and that a human, bird, or animal was also near and perhaps danger was also. Virgil placed his perched lips on the top of his hand and sort of kissed it like he had the beautiful lips of woman he once kissed in school. The noise was a sharp birdlike sound that bothered the Jay. The Jay stopped immediately, trying to decide what it was? The bird again surveyed the men and decided it was not him and flew away, Cawing as he flew. They heard his bird friends in the distance calling to him. Cpl Hopewell spoke easy “Everyone ready to fire?” giving a command as the senior soldier in charge, not only rank but also age and time in rank. They all knew that and attempted to follow his lead and orders when it suited them. Discipline was not an important thing now. The youngest of the group, Everett raised his head slowly to view the enemy group, lowered his head and said “They starting to stir, if we gonna shoot them we should do it now, the quiet one said “or leave them and report our findings back to the Company Commander, like we supposed to do. “Seems everyone had something to say about their situation and a solution to the event. “I say we charge down there while they still sleepy and empty our musket on them. That’s five more that would not be trying to kill our boys.” ------- Time seem to stand still, then the Yankee man attempted to lower his gun and yelled loudly.” I’m not going to no rebel prison to starve and die so I’ll take my chances right here and now.” But his words faded out as three shots rang out, almost at the same time, but not quite – one shot resembled a rifle. The Yankee’s body quivered, his head dropped and he rolled further into the mud hole. Dudley was preparing to take a second shot, just in case, when Cpl Hopewell stepped from behind a nearby tree. “Looks like you got him.” Hopewell said. “You Ok”. Dudley lowered his gun, but was slow in answering. “Yeah OK, I think. Did the others get away?” “No, we got them and no one else shot, except _ broke a tooth when he fell over _.” Cpl Hopewell said with a little laugh. “Come on and let’s go round up the other fellows and head back to camp.”

Jimmy Earl Cooley was and employee of NASA/GSFC as a Space Scientists/Engineer developing space flight mass spectrometer instruments that measured Planetary Atmospheric gas composition plus overseeing the development of satellites spacecraft to measure incoming gamma rays into the earth’s atmosphere. Spectrometer measurements were made of the Venus and Jupiter atmospheres and gamma rays incoming from the universe to the earth. He retired in 1992. Since then he has done extensive genealogy paper research and DNA studies on his family resulting in two eBooks; “Little Berry Cooley” and “A collection of Short Stories.” The author spent 30 years at NASA and used his background, experience and training tools gained to interpret his thought into short stories and books on his family. He tackled the births, deaths, and marriages of family members much like the research discipline, analysis, and interpretation of recorded data from instrument flight data from earth and distant planets. The author's books and short stories reflect a lot of his early life adventures and upbringing in the deep south of the USA. After retirement from NASA, the author moved to Louisiana with his wife to Beauregard Parish, Louisiana where they purchased forty acres of land and become farmers. We raise vegetables, flowers, muscadine grapes, blueberries, peaches, and are beekeepers. My genealogy research and DNA studies have traced our family back to John Cooley who fought in the Revolutionary War from South Carolina. The DNA studies also traced the Cooley family to the “Clan Colla” in Ireland around 300 AD (Family Tree DNA). He is a volunteer with the LSU Master Gardener Program and a former volunteer with the Univ. of Maryland Master Gardener Program. He enjoys photographing the plants and wildlife around their farm and hopes, once again, to get his darkroom in operation. His personal achievements include: College Degree in EE and physics, employee of NASA/GSFC, volunteer fireman, private pilot, photographer, genealogy and DNA studies, Amateur Radio Operator (KA3BIO), Master Gardener, author, farmer, artist, and beekeeper. His wife enjoys the outdoors, growing flowers, visiting friends, eating Cajun food, and is an avid quilter, having won ribbons at the local Beauregard Parish Fair. She is a loyal, loving wife and special companion and friend and takes loving care of our health and well-being as we move into our senior years. He enjoys working with his tractor.