A Good Time Was Had By All

Sometimes it just clicks to get away with friends for a weekend. Three of us had a conference & the other three just came for fun. After an afternoon of a mini-spa treat for some and work for others, we all met for dinner. The conversation was interesting, animated, engaging, funny, open, and heartwarming. Today's wind down and wrap up was informative and engaging. The company was unbeatable. Thanks, friends, for making it a glorious weekend.

August 18, 2009: Celebrating Our Wedding Anniversary

Today Butch and I celebrated our 47th Wedding Anniversary. We shared cards that were both funny and sentimental, we toured Eric's new classroom at Claremont High, we ate at one of our favorite restaurants, we talked about life in general and what the future holds, and we told each other once again how much we love each other. A sentimental day? Yes, but it was filled with joy and memories of times that I wouldn't have missed for the world. Would I change anything? Oh, yes. Claire would be with us in body and not just in spirit. But all the girls with "Claire" in their names keep her alive for us. We celebrate Mark & Maria and their families and we feel blessed by our extended families and "baggy relatives," as my mother used to say. Life is good indeed.

Family Vacation - A Not To Be Missed Experience

We've just had a wonderful vacation in Kansas with all of our immediate family. We played, we saw good friends, we played some more, we watched grandchildren laughing and running and playing together, we watched our "kids" enjoy being together, we played even more, and we had an absolutely fabulous time. And, oh yes, we ate a lot, too. Here some of us are at Claire's bench on the KU campus. The whole time was in a word: unbeatable!

Birthday Bashes

Today was the celebration of my birthday and a friend's b'day too, with a group of "wild women" who gather monthly to commemorate the birthdays of those reaching the annual milestone in that particular month. This "formal" gathering is held at The Los and everyone brings cards we've all had fun finding plus a donation to the charity of each honoree's choice. The camaraderie is great, the cards are a riot, the noise is loud, and the caring is almost tangible. What a treat! Thanks, everyone.

Landing On The Moon

40 years ago today Butch and I gathered with friends in Lubbock, Texas, to watch on TV as the astronauts landed on the moon. After viewing the event, we all went outside to look up at the moon in wonder and to talk about how we were "down here" and the astronauts were actually on that glowing moon. Others in the neighborhood were outside, too. It was phenomenal and created one of those captured moments in time that is as vivid today in my memory as it was that night.

"Church Basement Ladies" - The Musical

If you want to spend a delightful evening laughing at the antics and the goings on in the kitchen at a Lutheran Church in Minnesota, go see this musical. You get the inside scoop on how they plan for the various church functions for which they organize & often prepare the food. Get the lowdown on the "Dead Spread." There's a lot of good humor along the lines of "The Prairie Home Companion" and the stories about Lake Woebegon. Right now you can see it at The Grove Theater in Upland.

Going to the Beach

We've been to the beach for a few days. It was wonderful! The sky was blue, the ocean was sparkling, the waves were perfect, the air was clear, and the temperature was ideal. The grandkids loved digging in the sand and picking up "pretty rocks." Sure, there were a jillion people there, but that was okay. There was plenty of sand and plenty of water and plenty of room for everyone. Sleeping with the sound of the waves breaking on the beach was soothing - most of the time. We took a couple of side trips to my favorite nurseries - Roger's Gardens and Weidner's Nursery in Leucadia. What a treat it was just to roam through all of the gorgeous plants that love the coast and find our environs just a bit too hot for their liking - begonias & fushias, in particular. Butch survived and I love him for his patience - among other things. Friends whose generosity facilitated this are loved & appreciated & thanked from the bottoms of our sandy hearts.