Today is our 26th anniversary of the date we met…An unusual plan to celebrate tonight…

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This was Tom around the time we met in 1991. (Photo of the old photo).

Tom and I met 26 years ago at a popular nightclub and dance bar in Bloomington, Minnesota. Stonewings was known for being a place to meet the more mature types. I was 43 years old, and Tom was 38. 

I’d been on a blind date with another guy and ditched him when everything about him revolved around lies he told me to get me to go out with him.  It didn’t take long for me to run as fast as possible and call a girlfriend to join me for some “fun” at Stonewings.

Walking into the busy nightclub, I took a seat while my friend went to the restaurant next door to have a bite to eat. No more than a few minutes after I ordered a drink, I spotted him…Tom that is. 

He was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt with a button-down collar with tight black jeans. He didn’t look like my usual “corporate type,” wearing a Hugo Boss suit, a 100% pinpoint cotton long sleeve dress shirt, a subtle Armani tie, a pair of Cole Haan shoes, and socks with dots. Nope, he wasn’t my type.

His shock of dark hair, his bright white toothy smile, and his crystal blue eyes had me smitten in minutes. Another man approached me, announcing, “Hi, my name is rockin’ rollin’ Bob, and I’m the social director here tonight. I’d like to know who you’d like to dance with.”

Jess and Tom in 1991.

I paused, contemplating the peculiar announcement for only seconds. I pointed at Tom and said, “Him!”  Bob escorted me to Tom’s table, introduced me, and left. In moments, we were engaged in lively conversation.  Within 30 minutes, we were on the dance floor, unable to wipe the smiles off our faces. 

By the end of the night, the sparks were flying. At the end of the evening, when the bar was closing, he escorted me to my car, asked for a kiss which I declined, and asked me to see him the next night. I agreed, but I invited him to my lake home for dinner in an unlikely moment of pure trust.

We had nothing in common. He was a “blue-collar” railroad worker, and I was a “white-collar” business owner.  We lived in different worlds, mingled with different kinds of people, and had nothing in common. He liked rock music. I liked disco.  He was from a large family. I was not.

He grew up in the hood and spoke slang language. My friends joked that I was the queen of proper diction and elocution. He purchased his Wrangler or Levi jeans at Fleet Farm.  I wore designer jeans from Neiman Marcus. 

When I looked deep into his ocean blue eyes, I knew this would never last, nor did I want it to.  I thought, “This guy will be fun for the summer.” The following night when he drove up to my house on the peninsula with its lush green manicured lawn, he thought (so he says), “We have nothing in common, and soon I’ll be out of here in no time and head back to Stonewings.”

See…he does “clean up” nicely wearing a tuxedo. 

But it didn’t happen that way. He hated the food I’d made and the drink I served: blackened swordfish, couscous, and grilled baby asparagus with a crusty baguette and bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. He somehow managed to eat the food and drink the wine. 

The conversation flowed with ease.  We laughed, talked, and shared personal stories not necessarily befitting a “first date.” When he told me he’d taken his mother, who was going blind, to see the Pope in Italy and visit Ireland using his entire one month of a year’s vacation, I truly believe it was a stepping stone to my falling in love.  Who does that?  This must be one special kind of guy.

This sexy bad boy was much deeper than I’d expected, and I let my guard down and let him into my world.  It wasn’t an easy four years until we were married in 1995. He had to rid himself of his bad-boy ways, but somehow we managed to stick together and grew more and more in love over time as we both grew and changed.

We met 26 years ago tonight, and here we are, living a dream we never knew either of us had ever imagined.  Here we are, more in love than ever, sharing a commonality of interests that often baffles us. How did we get here?

But, rather than question it, we’ve blended our ways. He still doesn’t like blackened fish or red wine, and I don’t eat (and never have) Planter’s cheeseballs or McDonald’s burgers and fries. I’ve been to parties in garages and bowling alleys, and he’s worn a black tie to social events. 

He knows what fork to use at a formal dinner table, and I can snip a nightcrawler (worm) with my long fingernails and neatly place it on a hook with nary a comment or concern for the mud under my nails. We’ve blended well.

In 33 days, we’ll be back “out into the world,” continuing on our world journey with a powerful sense of joy and contentment, knowing wherever we go, whatever we do, we’re genuinely a match “made in heaven.”

Tonight, we’re dining where Stonewings used to be, which is now a casual bar named “Poor Richards.” It won’t be quite the same, but we’ll be content, and we’ll celebrate this amazing life we share together.

Photo from one year ago today, June 28, 2016:

We’d expected the Vietnam Embassy to be guarded and much larger. As often is the case, many embassies are converted to large homes. We’d specifically gone to Singapore to get three much-needed visas at various embassies, visas we’d need over the two months we were spending in Southeast Asia.  For more details, please click here.

Ten days and countings…Fishing with the boys…

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Tom is standing outside the Bait & Tackle store in Plymouth, near the red SUV

How the time has passed so quickly baffles us. Is it due to our rapidly advancing age, or is it since we’ve been so busy with spending quality time with family and friends? Perhaps it’s a mix of both.

A container of “waxworms,” aka maggots.

As July quickly approaches in a few days, with July 7th as our Minnesota departure date, we anticipate the three weeks we’ll spend in Las Vegas will pass soon as well. Each time we prepare the “photo from one year ago today” at the bottom of each post, we’re astounded by how the one-year period of time seems as if it’s only been months, not a year.

Vincent fishing on the dock on Lake Johanna in Arden Hills.

This is true with most of our travels, especially when we’re living in an area we find particularly interesting and meaningful, as has been the case over the past month we’ve been in Minnesota.

Yesterday, a bit of nostalgia entered the mix of experiences when we brought grandson Miles out to our former Lake Minnewashta in Chanhassen, a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

It was a fantastic, sunny day with a few bathers at the beach on Lake Johanna.

We’d planned to fish with the boys sooner, but somehow the time got away from us. In these past two weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to go fishing with both grandson Vincent (Tom’s daughter, Tammy) and grandson Miles (my son, Greg).

Vincent caught his first fish, tiny but gratifying. The hooks are carefully removed to avoid injuring the fish, and the fish are tossed back into the lake. The kids have no interest in eating the fish they catch, nor do any adults care to fillet small sunfish or crappies (pronounced croppies).

As shown in today’s photos, both fishing outings were relatively successful, at least to some degree. Vincent caught three sunfish on Lake Johanna in Arden Hills last week, and yesterday, Miles caught 13 or 14 sunfish on Lake Minnewashta in equal periods. The bait used and equipment were identical. 

Another catch for Vincent, equally small but enough to elicit a partial smile.

Since it made no sense for us to get fishing licenses or purchase equipment, we helped both grandsons with their fishing line issues and bait. Over two years older than Miles, Vincent needed little to no assistance, while Miles, only nine, needed a bit of help on a few occasions, to which we happily obliged.  

Miles is ready to “toss a line.”

Tom had stopped to purchase easy-to-use bait in both cases, the popular wax worms as shown in the photo.  These are now priced at $2.28 per container of 25 “maggots.” When we lived here almost five years ago, they were priced around $1.50 per container. Inflation, I guess. 

Yesterday’s cool (under 70 degrees) weather prevented any interest in swimming at the beach on Lake Minnewashta.

Where can one get hours of enjoyment for a paltry $2.28?  They each had a good time. Then again, so did we.  How could we not be reminded of living on the lake and fishing with the grandchildren? As we sat on that public dock yesterday afternoon, did we miss the lifestyle as we overlooked our former lake?

Miles and his well-stocked tackle box.

Yesterday, we freely spoke as to the answers to these questions while we watched Miles fish. We’ve missed the interactions with our kids, grandchildren, and other family members and friends, but not the limitations of a structured lifestyle. 

The line’s in the water.  Let’s see what happens.

We’re totally convinced this nomadic lifestyle we live was meant for both of us.  How odd that sounds. Neither of us ever dreamed of or ever mentioned the prospect of “living in the world,” let alone being “homeless” and traveling with no end in sight, health providing.

Family and friends have asked, “Aren’t you happy to be home?” We’ve smiled and answered, “We’ve loved spending time with the family and friends. Nothing compares to that.”

Miles’ first catch of the day with another 12 fish following as we carefully kept count.

Where is “home” to us these days?  Often people refer to where they grew up as their “home.”  To us, these adages seem to apply:

“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.”–   Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.  

Also, for us, the following applies:

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.”–   Maya Angelou.

And also, the following:

“A house is made of walls and beams; a home is built with love and dreams.”–   Author Unknown.  

The dock to the public fishing area on Lake Minnewashta.

And, when we leave Minnesota in a mere ten days, and then Nevada, a mere three weeks later, we carry all the love and warmth we’ve experienced in these nine weeks in the USA, well into the future as mentioned above, “Home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.

We continue on…

Photo from one year ago today, June 27, 2016:

The swimming pool at the Hilton Garden Inn located in Denpasar Bali is much larger than most hotel pools. We stayed one night while awaiting the next day’s flight to Singapore. For more details, please click here

A children’s theater production…Shrek and company…Not so good dining experience…

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Madighan, Camille, and Maisie at The Stages Theater in Hopkins where the four of us saw a local production of Shrek.

By the time we uploaded yesterday’s post around noon, it was time for me to go back upstairs to our hotel room to change clothes and head to Greg’s home in St. Louis Park for a children’s theatre event.

Camille had purchased four tickets for us and Maisie and Madighan to see the new production of Shrek at the popular Stages Theatre in Hopkins, an often sought venture for kid celebrations and special events.

It was odd but the theatre didn’t have a parking lot in downtown Hopkins, a sleepy town known for its annual Raspberry Festival which my sons and I attended 40 years ago when we lived in nearby Minnetonka in the 1970’s.

“Hopkins Raspberry Festival

The Hopkins Raspberry Festival is an annual event in Hopkins. The Hopkins Raspberry Festival was founded in 1935 as a way to boost business during the Great Depression of the 1930s. A date of July 21 was chosen to hold the event to coincide with the peak of the raspberry-picking season. The festival now takes place the third weekend in July every year.
The Raspberry Festival is overseen by a board of directors supported by many additional volunteers and local civic organizations each year. Most of the volunteers return from year to year, with some being active for as many as 20 years. Since its inception, it has evolved into a dynamic community celebration with activities including music, sporting events, royalty coronations, craft fair, and parade.”

Hopkins, only consisting of four square miles (with a population around 18,000) is also known for it’s highly rated high school, low-priced movie theatre and of course, the Stages Theatre.

The Shrek production was well done with performers skillfully singing and dancing throughout the musical production. The storyline was light, as the case for most children’s productions and of course, it had a happy ending.

Madighan, Camille, and Maisie at the Stages Children’s Theater.

When the production ended, we made our way back to Greg and Camille’s home where I dropped them off, stopping to say hello again to Greg and Miles who was busy working on one of Greg’s vehicles. 

Back at the hotel around dinner time, Tom and I jumped back into the red SUV to head out to dinner to a restaurant where we’ve dined for no less than four prior occasions during this past month we’ve been in Minnesota. 

There were few diners on a Sunday evening in the now-familiar establishment. Waiting for a table for five or six minutes at the hostess stand, we wondered when we’d be served, noting many open booths and tables.

Asking for a booth, the hostess stated they were no available booths and yet, we had a clear view of two booths that only needed to be cleared. Tom pressed for a booth while I waited patiently curious to see how this situation would roll out. 

With an added level of insistence, Tom finally got the hostess to see we were serious about getting a booth.  Their wooden high-top chairs aren’t comfortable and we wanted a booth. Had there not been any available booths, of course, he wouldn’t have pressed the issue.

The small intimate theater was freezing in today’s cold weather.

The hostess finally agreed to clear one of the booth’s tables explaining we’d have to wait  for “several minutes.”  We waited quietly and finally were escorted to the booth, handed menus while graciously thanking the annoyed hostess. We rarely make any type of fuss in any types of venues but felt insistent in this particular case.

Each time we’ve dined at this restaurant, we’ve ordered the same items off the menu. Perusing the menu for other options, we still ended up ordering our usual items which had been perfect on all of our past visits. We waited for 30 minutes for the food to finally arrive. 

The restaurant continued to be quiet with few tables filled. Tom’s food was cold (obviously from sitting under the lights and not being served promptly and mine had the wrong type of meat and was missing items. 

I’d ordered the shredded beef for my chop salad and they brought a chunk of badly charred steak that was grossly overcooked. Waiting five minutes for the waitress to return to the table to explain our “issues,” she finally whisked away our plates, returning 10 minutes later with a new hotter dish for Tom.

Another view of Paulette and Mark’s beautifully landscaped lake property.

Again, my order was wrong. All they’d done was cut the burnt steak into tiny cubes and delivered it with the salad on a separate plate which I’d requested. There was no way I was going to eat those burnt little chunks of beef. Again, she returned my plate to the kitchen while I insisted Tom eat his meal before it got cold again.

Finally, my meal arrived but the salad was missing the avocado and bacon. I didn’t bother to mention this at that point. Since I don’t eat bottled dressings, I’d asked for sour cream when ordering. It still hadn’t been served. 

Again, I waited, this time for the sour cream which arrived in the tiniest of containers, way too small for the amount of lettuce in the bowl. It was comparable to putting one tablespoon of dressing on a huge salad.

At last, the waitress brought me a reasonable portion of sour cream. At this point, we’d had enough and I asked to see a manager. We waited for 10 minutes for her to arrive.  When she approached us, she immediately mentioned she was aware of our “issues” and was going to”comp” our dinner while apologizing profusely for the food and the service.

Paulette and Mark’s view of Ham Lake from their yard.

We appreciatively accepted her apology and the “comp” and finished our meals. Will we go back?  We’ve loved this restaurant on all of the prior occasions. We’ve agreed to give it another try but not on a Sunday when a lighter staff may have contributed to the problems with the food and service.

We haven’t mentioned the name of the restaurant since our comments aren’t intended as a bad review.  If all turns out well after our next visit to this establishment, we’ll write a good review. Why tarnish their reputation over one bad experience?

Today, Miles is with us for the day. Soon, Tom will pick up Sister Beth in Blaine to take her to the airport for her return flight to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was her second visit to Minneapolis since we arrived and was a surprise intended for Margie’s birthday party on Saturday night. 

The end of the day from Paulette and Mark’s yard in Ham Lake.

On Friday, while Tom attended the “Back to the 50s” event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, I collected Sister Beth at the airport and drove her to Patty’s home in Blaine. I never mentioned it in Friday or Saturday’s post for fear of spoiling the surprise element.

That contributed to mine and Madighan’s driving time on Friday, including dropping Tom at the fairgrounds and picking him up later in the day during rush hour. She was quite the trooper when we spent nearly five hours in the red SUV.

Today, after Tom returns around 1:00 pm, we’re taking Miles fishing. It will be another pleasant and busy day.  We hope you have a good day as well!

Photo from one year ago today, June 26, 2016:

It was business as usual with Tom wearing a sarong as the required dress to enter the monkey temple. He had a hard time managing the steps. He just didn’t have the same experience as women who’ve worn long dresses, knowing when to hold up the hem for ease in walking. For the final figures as we wrapped up our first two-month stint in Bali, please click here.

Tom’s family sure knows how to throw an 80th party…Happy birthday, Margie!

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Margie with one of her two birthday cakes.  This photo was taken by nephew Joe’s wife Donna before our arrival around 4:30 pm. The party had started at 2:00 pm, and by the time we arrived the cake was cut. Thanks for the good photo, Donna!

The birthday party invitation read the event was starting at 2:00 pm. Knowing how late Tom’s family can stay up to have a good time, we decided to head out a little later to get a few things taken care of in preparation for our upcoming departure from Minnesota in a mere 12 days.

 With few daylight hours together at the hotel (other than while I’m preparing the day’s post), we did some laundry while I began the process of taking all the tags off Tom’s new clothing, neatly folding each item into a tidy pile.  Sure, he could do this himself, but there are just some things better left to me. So, he did the laundry while I snipped and folded.

When I met Tom three days short of 26 years ago, I attended a party in a garage for the first time in my life. I’d never heard of such a thing but now all these years later it’s the expected location of his family parties in my mind. Many lingered inside Paulette and Mark’s home and around their exquisite lakefront yard with the huge group.

The shirts, tee shirts, socks, and underwear, all overly tagged and wrapped in excess amounts of cardboard, plastic, and paper, took longer to prepare than I’d expected.  What’s the deal with all this “packaging?” A simple price tag stuck to the item’s promotional tag is all that’s required.

Those little plastic tags that, once snipped, leave a “T” shaped piece often caught in an unreachable spot are quite annoying.  If it weren’t for those, I’d have been done in half the time. Leaving one of those items behind is a huge annoyance for the wearer when these little buggers hurt and scratch until they’re found and removed.

After we were done, we packed our handy Celebrity Cruise Line shopping bag (I don’t own a handbag) with iced tea, tea bags, and zippered sweatshirts. It’s been cool these past several days, and a party in a garage could become chilly as the day wore on. At the moment, at 11:00 am, it’s a chilly 57 degrees in this area.

Tom’s blind brother, 24 years his senior, and his daughter Kathy who is a big help to him in his day-to-day life. Every day Tom sends our post to Jerry after deleting the photos.  He has a computer with text-to-talk technology suited to the blind and enjoys “hearing” our daily posts.

We’d expected hot weather while in Minnesota in late June. I guess we’ll have to wait for warmer weather until we arrive in Las Vegas soon, where at 9:00 am, it’s already 100 degrees with an expected high of 112 today, a little cooler than last week’s record-breaking 117. Wow!

The drive to Ham Lake didn’t take as long as we’d expected, with light traffic on Saturday. With the help of the navigation system in the red SUV, we quickly found niece Paulette’s lake home.

Kaitlin is Tom’s sister Margie’s great-granddaughter which makes her Tom’s grandniece. Oh, gosh, how can I keep up?

We hadn’t been to their home in years, and after extensive remodeling, we hardly recognized it at all. We couldn’t help but admire the attention to detail, quality design, and amenities. 

But, oddly (or maybe not so oddly), we imagined (and easily recall) the commitment and cost required for the upkeep, maintenance and constant cleaning, an aspect of most people’s lives we gave up long ago. No longer do our weekends revolve around a trip to Home Depot and the time required to complete one project or another.

The party was held at Tom’s niece Paulette’s (husband Mark) beautiful lake home in Ham Lake, Minnesota. The food and drinks were abundant and delicious.  I was happily able to eat some roasted meats and munch on nuts.

Recently, when we stopped in a market for a few items Tom noticed the giant bags of water softener salt. He couldn’t stop smiling over how hauling those 50-pound bags was a part of his long-ago past.  

 Tom recalls waiting until the salt was on sale and subsequently buying eight or 10 bags, loading them into his vehicle and bringing them into the basement.

Both white and chocolate cakes were served along with giant muffins.

Now, in this simple life we live, the only salt we haul is a little hand grinder filled with pink Himalayan salt to season our food. Ah, life is not only good, but it’s easy. Relatively.

No, we don’t have any negative feelings or perceptions of those who live a busy and fulfilling life of home ownership, of entertaining guests, or of spending time on projects they find meaningful and enjoyable. We did that. At the time, it was all we knew. 

Tom’s two sisters seated here are Margie and Mary.   Margie is talking to son-in-law Ken, Tom’s niece Ann’s husband.

And, we admire those who bring meaning and significance into their world with their dedication and commitment to their homes, families, and friends. It’s in this same manner we admire those who branch out in their retirement and find a warm climate where they spend the cold Minnesota (or other states) winters in a second home or traveling the country in an RV.

Then, of course, some cannot afford an RV, second home, or winter escape. And yet, we find ourselves reveling in other ways that those retirees and others find purpose in their lives.

Tom’s sister Colleen is hiding from the photo but showing her adorable granddaughter, Ella.

Yesterday, while I sat at Jerry’s side during the party, he shared with me how he orders talking books through an organization for the blind read aloud on discs he inserts into his computer. It’s easier than trying to figure out and pay the outrageous fees for online text-to-speech books offered at various outlets. 

Daughter-in-law Tracy helps grandson Vincent hold Ella for the first time.

We’re so proud of Jerry, almost 89 years old, for finding ways to make these later years of his life enjoyable and with purpose. For him, this means of reading brings him considerable pleasure. And that’s why Tom never misses a day in sending him our posts with the photos removed. 

Jerry, you’re a great inspiration to us and Tom’s many other family members who celebrate life together regularly and with such enthusiasm. We find them all delightful.

Today, I’m off to a stage presentation of Shrek at a local children’s production company with daughter-in-law Camille and granddaughters Maisie and Madighan for a “girls only” afternoon. No doubt, it will be yet another great time spent with family.

Tom’s sister Margie with Kaitlin, her great-granddaughter, and Kaitlin’s baby Harper, who is Margie’s great-great-granddaughter, making Kaitlin Tom’s great-grandniece and baby Harper, Tom’s great-great grandniece. Whew!

We love all of you and are grateful for the efforts our family and friends have expressed in sharing valuable time with us during this memorable stay in Minnesota.

Thanks to Paulette and Mark for hosting the party and for all those who contributed food, drinks, and support for the large group. And, happy 80th birthday, Margie! It was a fabulous celebration so richly deserved by YOU!

Photo from one year ago today, June 25, 2016:

On our last morning in Bali, we had the joy of seeing this final “sighting on the beach. Wow! Was this Mother Nature’s way of saying goodbye? We were happily returning in two months for another two months after we visited Southeast Asia. For more Bali photos, please click here.

In Tom’s own words, “Great day at the “MSRA Back to the ’50s” classic car show with son TJ at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds…

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TJ’s 1954 Buick Special next to his canopy set up at the Back to the ’50s annual event at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Everything is set up under TJ’s canopy, including grill, chairs, coolers filled with food and beverages.

In Tom’s words:
Yesterday morning, after Jess dropped me off at the entrance gate to the Minnesota State Fair for the annual Minnesota Street Rod Association Back to the ’50s event, TJ met me to give me a participant’s button, so I didn’t have to pay the $12 entrance fee. 

Is this a Cadillac from the ’20s?

TJ’s classic car registration allows a number of guests to enter under his registration fee. He has a 1954 Buick Special and has shown it at this popular annual event over six or seven years.

Street rod, model unknown.

I was looking forward to spending quality time with TJ at this event. For TJ’s family, this is a weekend event with the show continuing over the weekend. Jayden (grandson), Sarah (TJ’s partner), and her parents were there as well.

1957 Ford Fairlane hardtop convertible.

Jess wanted to give TJ and I time alone together and was involved in her own busy day with granddaughter Madighan, spending the better part of the day with her. After I’ve dragged her (she says “willingly” for photos) to several classic car shows throughout the world, she was content to do her own thing for the day.

Unknown model, amphibious vehicle. Sorry about the blurry photos. I took all of them with my phone.

As soon as I entered the fairgrounds, TJ and I wandered to his designated area where he had two canopies set up, a portable gas grill, lawn chairs, a table, several coolers filled with beer, beverages, hamburgers, and hot dogs, and a variety of snacks and desserts.

Another pickup truck.

TJ and I spent three and a half to four hours walking around the fairgrounds, checking out the 12,000 registered cars, all of which were models previous to 1965. From time to time, we stopped back at his site for a beverage or bite to eat. 

1953 Mercury.  Tom’s brother-in-law Mike had one of these in the mid 50’s.

In total, I spent five hours at the event. It was a delightful time, especially having quality time with my son, TJ.  Thanks, TJ, for including me! Unfortunately, I never thought about taking photos of us during the event. 

GMC delivery van, year unknown.

Although the event continues over the weekend, we’re busy today attending my sister Margie’s 80th birthday party, starting at 2:00 pm at niece Paulette and husband Mark’s home in Ham Lake.

An old pickup truck, model, and year unknown.

At this event, we’ll have an opportunity to see more of the family members we’ve yet to see since our arrival almost one month ago. With time flying by quickly, this party is a good chance to catch up with more relatives.  No doubt, it will be another good time.

Chrysler or De Sota with a wooden canoe tied to the roof.
A late ’40s, or early ’50s Cadillac.

Jess had a busy day with granddaughter Madighan and transporting me back and forth to the State Fairgrounds. With road constructions and detours everywhere, getting in and out of the city takes hours to accomplish. 

Early ’30s street rod.
1955 Chevy Nomad.

I’m not the most enthusiastic guy in crazy traffic. Jess drove on the way back from the fairgrounds to the hotel during rush hour. I couldn’t help but be a “backseat driver.” But, Jess expects this and stayed calm and cheerful all the way back.

1957 Chevy Nomad.
1956 Chevy Nomad.

Jess says, “Thanks, Tom, for today’s contribution! We’ll be back tomorrow with photos from Margie’s party and…may all of our friends/readers have a fabulous weekend.

Photo from one year ago today, June 23, 2016:

Buffalos on the beach in Bali. Wow, we never stopped enjoying this daily scene! For more favorite Bali photos, please click here.

One of the busiest days ever!…Photos ops kind of sketchy!…

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After the boat ride, we drove past the new Minnesota Vikings US Bank Stadium (football) for this shot.

I suspected that at some point during the six weeks we’re spending in Minnesota, we’d eventually run out of photos. As much as we’ve continually searched for decent photo ops, we’ve fallen short and today’s photos may be lacking in originality.

It’s not as if we’re surrounded by wildlife and “sightings on the beach” such as our daily entries on each post during the four months we spent in the villa in Sumbersari Bali which I was reminded of when I posted the “year ago” photo of the scary bull below.

It was hard not to laugh out loud when I reread last year’s post of Tom’s second most frightening animal encounter since the onset of our travels with the Mozambique Spitting Cobra next to his feet on the veranda in Marloth Park South Africa as his first, definitely his biggest scare ever.

That’s not to say I haven’t been rattled a few times myself especially when encountering frightening-looking venomous insects throughout the world. But, now with my preoccupation with taking photos of nasty creatures, I’ve been able to allay my fear into a more productive mode of, “Hm…this will make a nice shot for the blog.”

Speaking of the word “blog” I find myself referring to ours as more of a website than a “blog.” When I notice other blogs I find most authors only post now and then, as opposed to our current number at 1,793 over these past five-plus years. 

The entrance to the Minnesota Vikings US Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

Where has the time gone and how the heck did we ever get to this high of a number? We often shrug our shoulders when we make note of the number of stories/chapters/posts. 

When people often say, “You should write a book!”  We laugh.  We’ve already written a book with 1,793 chapters that are already online for the “free” taking of any enthusiastic reader who attempts to tackle it in its entirety. Brave you! Have at it!

Are we gluttons for punishment, hell-bent on continuing this relentless documentation of our daily lives, even when such lives are quiet, uninteresting, and mundane? Sure, we are. 

Why wouldn’t we be when it rarely feels like a task or obligation? Although, I must admit it’s been tricky on the days when we’re picking up a grandchild at 8:00 am who’ll hang out with us for the day which has been no less than three times per week.

Never wanting the “grandchild of the day” to be bored and antsy while waiting for me to upload the post, at least three times a week, I’ve completed two posts in one day in preparation for their arrival. 

Only once, this week, did I find myself in a quandary with no choice but to prepare the post while one of the kids was here. We’d been out late the prior night and I had no steam left to do it.

Vikings design on the exterior of the stadium.

Even then, I hurried through it and was done in half my usual time continually stopping to pay attention to how Miles was doing to ensure he wasn’t impatient or bored. It worked out fine. We had a great day.

Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on myself. On the days I’ve done two posts, I’ve done one in the morning and the second at night after we’ve been out for dinner and I’m sitting in bed in my nightshirt.  On a few such occasions, I fell asleep in the process, startling myself awake. On a few other occasions, Tom did his usual “waving a hand over my eyes” to see if I’m dosing or awake. Irritating? Yes. Effective? Yes. It wakes me every time.

With today’s outrageously packed day which will require no less than four hours of driving time after picking up Madighan at 8:00 am, last night at 8:00 pm, Tom and I were situated in the hotel lobby (where we usually work online), yet to have dinner.

We’d picked up Vincent again at Cardboard Camp and taken him to see the movie, The Mummy. He loved it!  I liked it! Tom hated it. Tom and Vincent shared a giant popcorn while I snacked on a bag of nuts which sat in my gut like a rock. Tom’s appetite was iffy after eating at least of third of the giant bucket of popcorn. We never went to dinner.

Multiple bridges view from the riverboat on the Mississippi.

I scheduled this post for an automatic 11:00 am upload at which point our outrageously busy day will be in full swing.

We’ll be back with more details over the weekend, which is also packed from morning till night including an 80th birthday party for Tom’s sister Margie starting at 2:00 pm on Saturday and a full day on Sunday with Camille and the two girls for a “Shrek” production downtown, followed by a visit to the Sculpture Garden.

You’d think amid all these activities, I’d be taking tons of photos. But, I’m so distracted with the precious time we’re all spending together, I keep forgetting to look for photo ops. I suppose, in the realm of things, that’s a good thing. We promise to make up for it later.

Enjoy the day and we’ll be back for more.

Photo from one year ago today, June 23, 2016:

In Bali, this buffalo snorted and stomped his feet ready to charge at Tom when he went for a walk while I stayed busy at the villa. For more on this frightening story, please click here.

Comforts in this temporary life…A dose of Vitamin D…Final Mississippi River photos continue…

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Southeast Steam Plant, aka Twin City Rapid Transit Company Steam Power Plant.

The days and nights whiz passed us in such a flurry of activity they tend to blur collectively in our minds.  Although I have an excellent memory, I had to think twice about what we did yesterday this morning.

Startled by the momentary memory lapse, I reminded myself of how busy we’ve been and how little sleep we’ve had some nights over this past almost month in Minnesota. 

The water-filled lock comparable to water rising in a bathtub, as we explained to the kids.

Not that I’m complaining (or “whinging” as they say in Aussie or British speak), but it’s easy to find ourselves a little flustered with this new pace of activity, so “foreign” to us compared to our generally slower pace of “living in the world.”

We rarely watch the clock or set the alarm (except for travel days). The pace of our current daily activities in itself has required a certain degree of adaptation which surprisingly came back to us more quickly than we expected. 

At one point, we could reach out and touch the lock wall comparable to our experience on a much larger scale when we entered the Panama Canal.  See this link for a live cam of traversing through the Panama Canal. See this link for our traverse through the Panama Canal in January 2013. We’ll be going back through it again in five months.

Then, of course, there are certain comforts we’re enjoying; using a phone and able to text (not possible outside the US, to the US); air conditioning; no venomous insects inside; a comfortable bed; a new SUV with voice-activated commands and navigation which recognizes my phone and uploads my contact list for hands-free calling; no meals to cook, no dishes to wash, no cleaning; free, fast WiFi while at the hotel; and it goes on and on.

An enjoyable aspect of our visit to Minnesota (of course, besides spending delightful quality time with family and friends) has been the ability to replenish our wardrobe with well-fitting, durable clothing at outrageously affordable prices. 

University of Minnesota Medical Complex, located along the Mississippi River.

Surprisingly, Macy’s has been one of the most practical of resources, when I was able to purchase $98 capris (that fit properly) for less than half price and dressier type shirts for Tom (brand name) for under $20 each, regularly priced at $68.

Yesterday, his shipment of five pairs of shorts arrived, all fitting perfectly, all on sale for around $20 each, regularly priced in the $60 range. We’ve never been able to find such bargains or properly fitting items outside of the US.

Formerly, the Northern Pacific Railroad #9 bridge is now used only for walking and bike paths.

All we have left to round out our wardrobes are a few more underwear items for me and insect repellent-infused shirts (BugsAway) for both of us, which we’ll most likely purchase while still in Minnesota since there’s no sales tax on clothing. 

Today, after uploading the post, we’re heading out to visit Tom’s brother Jerry at the nursing home in Coon Rapids, where he’s recovering from a recent hospital stay. We’ve made a point of seeing him several times since we arrived and hoped to do so again before we depart. 

Several Bald Eagles flew overhead during the boat tour.

Afterward, we’ll be picking up Vincent at the Cardboard Camp in Arden Hills (we wrote about this in yesterday’s post) and taking him to see the movie “The Mummy.”  This isn’t particularly Tom’s favorite type of movie. 

Then again, on Monday I watched “Cars” with Miles which he loved. Actually, it was rather adorable. I doubt Tom will say the same about “The Mummy,” but as a fan of action flicks, I’m sure Vincent and I will find it entertaining regardless of the poor reviews.

A white sandbar on the banks of the river.

Yesterday was an easy day when Maisie and I went to the massive pool at the Saint Louis Park Rec Center. I hadn’t sat in the sun in so long; I couldn’t recall, desperately in need of some Vitamin D and a touch of a tan.

While Maisie romped poolside with her friends, I stayed in the sun for about 45 minutes (without burning) and moved into the shade for the remainder of the day. She thoughtfully came and checked in with me every so often, giving me peace of mind knowing her whereabouts in the huge facility.

Today, another busy day is on the horizon. But, wait until you hear what tomorrow is going to be like! Whew! 

Have a great day, dear friends/dear readers!

Photo from one year ago today, June 22, 2016:

One year ago in Bali, we printed all the paperwork and documents we could need for multiple upcoming flights and visa applications required on paper at the various embassies. Placing each in its own unique envelope seemed to be the easiest way to find what we’ll need. Gee…we don’t like paper!  Also included were the necessary documents for both of us to apply online to renew our Nevada driver’s licenses. The blue envelope contains extra passport-type photos we purchased in Bali for applying for the three visas in Singapore. For more details, please click here.

An interesting and unusual day at camp…What’s cardboard got to do with it?…Tom, Tammy & TJ at Minnesota Twins Game…

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Grandpa and Vincent at Cardboard Camp.
Time is flying by quickly.  With a little over two weeks remaining until we depart Minnesota, we’re packing our days and nights full of activities with family and friends.

View of Lake Johanna at Tony Schmidt Regional Park in Arden Hills, Minnesota where we picked up Vincent from “Cardboard Park” yesterday.

Yesterday, after completing the day’s post and taking care of some online tasks, at 2:00 pm we headed to Arden Hills (35-minute drive) to pick up grandson Vincent from camp and to spend quality time with him.  

Vincent’s summers are action packed at a variety of overnight and day camps.  We didn’t expect his schedule to change with us here this summer but we’ve managed to work around his busy schedule and ours to be together.

The kids from Cardboard Camp at their end-of-the-day gathering with camp leaders.

Arriving at Tony Schmidt Regional Park, we easily found the location for the camp with the help of the excellent navigation system in the red SUV and a few suggestions from his parents, Tammy and Tracy.

We had no idea what to expect when we arrived at Cardboard Camp.  After parking at a distant lot, we hiked up a steep paved trail to find a wonderland of kid’s made cardboard castles, tools, play weapons, and structures intended as a concept befitting “Knights of the Round Table.”

This is a cardboard castle the kids made using slabs of cardboard, the theme of this summer day camp.

Here are a few of the details about Cardboard Camp from their website.  Please click here for more information:

THE ACTIVITIES:

All weeks of classic AiC include castle building, arms & armor, games and swimming whenever beaches are available at hosting parks. The terrain varies widely from park to park. Campers will have elective opportunities over the course of each week to customize their experience.

Building in the Armory

Build anything you want for your character or your Esteemed House. Usually, people begin by designing their own suit of armor and personal arms: The Realm can be a dangerous place! Work independently or collaborate with a team. Add spikes, fins, scales, plates, helmets, gauntlets, shields limited only by your imagination. Go classic or go mythic. Create your heirloom sword, ax, mace, halberd, spear or other deadly accouterments. Use and improve what you make in daily games of capture the flag.
Or… scrap the arms and armor and work instead on magical tomes, artifacts of power, hoods, capes, crowns, wands and rings of power!
Or… work on a farmstead and corral, a shop in the village, a tavern with games of chance, a forest hut for your sorcerer or a library for your wizened sage.
Each week will also have optional special projects with visiting local artists. Create a village, work on a giant maze, focus on siege engines, specialty bows or on more advanced live-action games.

Creating a Castle and Fortified Village

Design and build an actual castle or fortified village to inhabit, attack and defend with basic woodwork framing and large cardboard construction. Make walls festooned with battlements. Raise towers. Install a gatehouse with portcullis, arrow-loops, and drop-holes for defense.
Later in the week, this sprawling fortification becomes the locus for many role playing activities. It’s final size and the variety of activities that go on inside of its walls is up to our collective imagination. And for every person who manages to become Queen beware the Sword of Damocles that hang above your head
Vincent in front of one of the many cardboard structures.

Our mouths were agape over what we found in the lush green park with Lake Johanna across the road.  Plenty of camp counselors were busy interacting with the kids as they ran around the park, playing with cardboard and duct tape swords in hand, engaged in countless activities.  Who knew?

It was expected to rain last night which inspired the camp leaders to cover some of the structures with tarps.

We’d never heard of nor seen such an exciting environment where the kid’s own creativity and imagination would be at play as they built the cardboard castles, other structures and “tools of the trade.” 


They created a play world from another time in history providing them with an opportunity to literally (no pun intended) think “outside the box.”  The joyful look on all of their faces on Day 2 of the one week-long camp was indicative of how fun and interesting this concept was to each individual.
Cardboard camp rules.

The day camp ends at 3:00 pm, each of the five days.  While we waited for Vincent to collect his backpack, we had an opportunity to speak to one of the counselors about the exciting concept and the kid’s reaction to each day’s activities.

Cardboard Camp road block.

Vincent took us on a tour of the various cardboard structures while I’ll happily shot many photos as we wandered throughout their designated area of the park.  He was excited and proud to share the details with us explaining the meaning and purpose of the various structures.

Earlier in the day, Tracy dropped off Vincent’s fishing rod, tackle box and two portable chairs encouraging us to take Vincent fishing at Lake Johanna across the road from the camp.  We stopped for bait on the way to Arden Hills.

Many games and activities center around the camp’s theme.

Although the fishing wasn’t quite exciting enough for Vincent, he did catch a few tiny sunfish while we sat in the chairs on the lake’s dock, encouraging him along.  After an hour, we were on our way to grab some dinner at Wendy’s for Vincent and drop him off at home.  We returned all the fishing gear and visited with Tracy and Vincent before we took off for the next item on our busy agenda.

Many of the cardboard structures represent businesses to supply the needs of the participants.

On Monday next week, when Miles will be with us for the day, we’ll be taking him fishing as well at a lake in his part of town.  Good grief, there are over 15,000 lakes in Minnesota.  Everywhere one turns, there’s a possible fishing lake. 

Covering the structures with tarps in the event of rain is quite a job.

We intended to go fishing with the boys sooner but somehow time got away from us in the flurry of already planned activities.  We’ll post both boys fishing photos after Monday.


Tom wanted to attend a 6:30 pm railroad union meeting to see more of his buddies from BNSF with many of whom he worked for over 42 years.  Since they drink beer in the bar after the hour-long meeting end, the plan was for me to drop him off and pick him up later.  That’s me…handy designated driver, a title I’m happy to provide for Tom at any time or place.
Apparently, the urinal wasn’t working!

With about 40 minutes left until the meeting, we stopped at a restaurant/bar for a quick bite to eat.  The options for me were very limited and once again I opted for a chopped salad, this time with a chunk of grilled ahi tuna sitting atop the pile of bitter greens.  Not my favorite meal to date but what I eat isn’t all that important to me right now.  Tom had a Reuben sandwich with fries.  “Too many bad carbs,” she thinks with mouth shut.

Cardboard Camp requires a lot of planning and preparations in which the kids participate.

After I dropped him off at the bar in Northeast Minneapolis, I headed back to the hotel with the intention of preparing today’s post, at least in part.  With Maisie spending the day with me today, I didn’t want her to be bored while I clicked away on the keyboard in a frenzy to get done. 

Tj, Tom, and Tammy at the Twins game on Father’s Day.

Last night, when I returned to the hotel I was fully preoccupied speaking to my sister Julie in California.  We really hadn’t had time to talk lately during this busy period.  The time flew and before I knew it, Tom rang through, ready for me to drive back to Northeast Minneapolis and pick him up.

This was the first time in this past almost four weeks that I didn’t have ample time to do a post, at least in part, before spending the next day with the kids.  Luckily, this morning Maisie brought along an iPad and has been easily entertaining herself while I prepared this post.

Target Field in downtown Minneapolis holds 39,029 fans.

This morning at 8:00 am I hit the road again to pick up Maisie.  Luckily, the traffic wasn’t too bad and I arrived by 8:30.  After saying hello to Greg, Camille and Miles (Madighan was still sleeping), Maisie and I were on our way back to the hotel for breakfast. 

They had great seats in the 8th row on the first base line, priced at $102 each plus taxes and fees.

As soon as I’m done here, we’re hoping to be heading to the St. Louis Park Rec Center pool for a day of sun and fun at their massive pool.  Today’s weather, a very cool partly cloudy day, may make this outing impossible since the rec center requires temperatures to be at least 72F to open the facility.  So far, the temp is hovering between 70F and 71F.  We’ll come up with a Plan B if all else fails.

Tonight, we’ll both be attending Maisie’s soccer game at 7:00 pm, after which we’ll find a spot for dinner.  Busy days. Busy nights.  Memorable occasions.

The Twins lost.

Be well, dear readers and thanks for hanging in with us during this intense family visit.  More exciting travel stuff to come when we arrive in the travel mecca of the US…Las Vegas Nevada, in 16 days! 

From what son Richard reports, temps yesterday hit a record breaking 117F,  47C.  That in itself is rather interesting, eh?

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Photo from one year ago today, June 21, 2016:

Tom’s tuna, rice and veggie dinner in Bali.  He lost weight eating these plentiful and flavorful meals.  We’re looking forward to cooking our own meals again.  We’re both feeling a little full from dining out every night.  For more photos, please click here.

Boating on the Mississippi River on Father’s Day…Minnesota historical sites….

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Greg, Camille, Miles, Madighan, and Maisie on the Jonathan Padelford on the Mississippi River on Father’s Day.

On Father’s Day, Tom and I separately joined our respective families for the day’s activities. He went with Tammy and TJ to a Minnesota Twins game at Target Field in Minneapolis while I joined Greg, Camille, and the three children for a paddle-wheel boat ride on the Mississippi River.

A solitary duck was standing on the dock while our boat took off from the pier.

With only one camera and Tom off to the Minnesota Twins game, I was the only one of us in possession of a camera. He took some photos at the game using his phone, which we’ll share in tomorrow’s post.

We wished there was enough time in everyone’s schedule for us to be together with our families as events arise. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to work well, and we find ourselves in different directions several times a week.

The closest bridge is the 10th Avenue Bridge.  The bridge behind it is the I-35W St. Anthony Falls bridge, the replacement for the I-35W Mississippi River bridge, which collapsed on August 1, 2007, killing 13, injuring 145.  See details below. From this website:
The I-35W Mississippi River bridge (officially known as Bridge 9340) was an eight-lane, steel truss arch bridge that carried Interstate 35W across the Saint Anthony Falls of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. On August 1, 2007, it suddenly collapsed during the evening rush hour, killing 13 people and injuring 145. The bridge was Minnesota’s third busiest, carrying 140,000 vehicles daily.[ The NTSB cited a design flaw as the likely cause of the collapse, noting that a too-thin gusset plate ripped along a line of rivets and asserted that additional weight on the bridge at the time of the spill contributed to the catastrophic failure.
Immediately after the collapse, help came from mutual aid in the seven-county Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area and emergency response personnel, charities, and volunteers.  Within a few days of the collapse, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) planned a replacement bridge, the I-35W Saint Anthony Falls Bridge. Construction was completed rapidly, and it opened on September 18, 2008.”

It not that so much that we mind being apart for a portion of the day. It’s more about trying to experience both of us together with each other’s respective families when possible. Luckily, we’ve been able to have it work out on a few occasions, with hopefully more in our remaining 17 days in Minnesota.

As we entered the first lock on the river cruise. These locks are the most northerly locks on the Mississippi River.

When my two sons were young (now ages 47 and 50) and we were a one-parent family (I was divorced at a young age), on a few occasions, I took them on the Jonathan Padelford riverboat for cruises on the Mississippi River. I wish I could remember the last time we did this. 

The massive gates behind us closed after we entered the central area of the lock.  The water began to rise.

Most likely, it was before 1977 when I purchased our boat, which we kept docked at a marina on Lake Minnetonka during the short summer months. In the cold winter months, we stored the boat (we progressed in the size of the boats over the years) in an indoor storage facility in the country.

As the water was rising in the lock.

Once we had our boat, I doubt we went back on the river other than on a few group activities planned with friends, co-workers, or through school activities. With the cost and required upkeep of owning a boat, it was impractical to pay fees for other boating expeditions as a single parent.

Although I haven’t felt nostalgic since arriving in Minnesota (other than seeing and spending time with the people we love) and when driving over the Gray’s Bay Bridge last week when we visited friends Connie and Jeff, I felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me as we made our way along the Mississippi River on Father’s Day.

The Stone Arch bridge, from this site, was “built by railroad baron James J. Hill in 1883. The bridge allowed for increased movement of people and goods across the river. It served as a working railroad bridge until 1985 but is still seen as a symbol of the railroad age. Rehabilitation of this National Historic Engineering Landmark began in 1980. Traffic on the bridge is now characterized by a much slower pace. Mostly used by walkers and bicyclists, the bridge is one of the best ways to enjoy the view of St. Anthony Falls.”

The familiar buildings comingled with the new buildings reminded me of the love I’d felt for Minnesota for over 40 years.  For Tom, this was over a lifetime since he was born in Minneapolis many moons ago. Minnesota is the only home our children knew, with Tom’s two children, Tammy and TJ (now ages 46, 42), having been born here.

Minneapolis is a world-renowned cultural center.  The Guthrie Theatre is recognized for its quality productions and thought-provoking artistic displays and renditions. Click here for more details.

My eldest Richard was born in California, and my son Greg was born in Bay City, Michigan. But, I moved to Minnesota when Richard was a toddler and Greg was an infant. It was the only home they’ve known. 

As shown, Greg still lives in Minnesota as a family of five, and Richard has lived in Nevada since he was 21 years old. Soon, in 17 days, we’ll be staying with him in Henderson for a three-week visit.

The famous Gold Medal Flour building has been vacated, and the flour production has been moved to another location. The building was sold to a developer to be built as future condominiums.

The kids enjoyed the boat ride with that precious child-like wonder we all find adorable with eyes wide open.  This wasn’t their first time on a riverboat on the Mississippi, but it quickly could have been based on the smiles on their faces and their diligent observation of everything around them. 

Later in the day, Tom and I reconnected at the hotel, after which, once again, we headed out for dinner at Champ’s, a local favorite at the moment. We’ve only found a few restaurants befitting my eating habits that stay within our daily budget during this period. Fine dining is not on the agenda during this period.
Tomorrow, we’ll be back with photos from Tom’s Father’s Day, Minnesota Twin’s game with Tammy and TJ. The remaining river photos will be posted shortly.  See you soon!
Have a great day!

Photo from one year ago today, June 20, 2016:

In Bali, one of our two cooks went outside to greet the peanut vendor to make a purchase. For more photos, please click here.

An evening to remember…Old friends…Memories of our old life…New memories to behold…

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Wild turkeys are everywhere in the metro area. Sue took this photo for us this morning of this proud male. Great shot, Sue! Thanks for sharing it!

I don’t know where or how to begin. Saturday’s night’s get-together of old friends who just so happened to be our old neighbors left us reeling with a mix of laughter and tears.

The many years we spent together living on the peninsula, socializing with the utmost ease, regularly, and often with aplomb and style, were intermingled with some of the most candid and revealing conversations we’ve ever had with friends.

A portion of the living room in Sue’s new home.

The laughter came quickly, along with in-depth conversations about life, love, politics, world affairs, current affairs, science, medicine, and technology made for lively times together. At times, we were all talking simultaneously and oddly, grasping every word spoken.

We came to know each other’s quirks and idiosyncrasies and yet, accepted and embraced them without judgment or critique, harshness or ridicule. That’s the way it was our friends on the point.

The dining area with a pass-through to the kitchen and custom-made cabinets for Sue’s exquisite glassware collection from all over the world.

Last night, when some of us gathered at Sue’s beautiful new home (Chip passed away in May 2012), we found ourselves laughing and crying as we relived memories of times since long past, of the commonality of our interests, of the fulfillment of our dreams.

Cozy banquette in kitchen.

Chip and Sue became our “role models” of how to spend retirement years, when they each found a comfortable place in their lives for personal growth and exploration, of new experiences they’d longed to incorporate in their pre-retirement lives, never quite having had the time. And, with a sense of adventure and sheer delight, they blissfully traveled together. We were intrigued.

When Chip passed away in May 2012, Sue chose to postpone the memorial service until friends and family could all attend to celebrate his meaningful and profound life. I was honored when Sue asked me to speak at the service.

The Monet-inspired decor was evident in the kitchen’s design.

Knowing how emotional it would be, I printed a copy of this tribute I’d written about him in a post dated June 1, 2012, which may be found here. Later, in July, I wrote this post describing the memorial service and the honor I felt in being asked to participate.

Chip’s sorrowful passing occurred after we’d decided to travel the world. The memorial service occurred only three months before we left to begin our journey. But, from there, both Tom and I experienced a powerful commitment to attempt to try to fill a tiny gap in Sue’s life by including hers in ours as much as possible.

Tom and I both felt totally at ease in Sue’s new home.

For all the fantastic times we’d spent as a foursome, we were left with a new series of memories in spending quality time with Sue every weekend before we left. If we could somehow, collectively share in the loss of this fine man and bring some healing to one another in the process, our leaving would become less painful. 

We’ve stayed in close touch with Sue and the other friends/neighbors during this past almost five years. We never felt as if we were too far away, and last night this was confirmed as we sat around that same gorgeous round table we’d all shared with Chip for decades as we all recapped our lives, our challenges, and the changes we’ve made as we’ve continued to learn and grow in these older years of our lives.

Nelleke and Dave brought craft beer made by our former neighbor at the Excelsior Brewing Company.

When Sue, Tom, and I finished the evening alone, filled with great conversation, appetizers, and drinks, the three of us poured out our hearts, unabashedly and unashamedly allowing the memories of times passed to flow, and the hopes and dreams for the future to fill in the hollow recesses of aching hearts. 

We’ve come full circle, and a new “normal” has emerged for Sue, Tom, and me. The healing has catapulted to a new level, and all of us are prepared and filled with a sense of abundance in carrying on, with memories of “old” firmly in place and “new” memories being built for the future.

Sue had saved a menu I created for a dinner party we hosted when she and Chip had returned after their winter holiday at their Florida home. We couldn’t believe she’d saved this!

We have another such night upcoming on July 1st when we’ll all meet at Jamie and Doug’s home for “happy hour” and a boat ride and then off to dinner at a local restaurant we all frequented in years past. We have no doubt, we’ll emerge from that evening with the same sense of wonder and gratitude we experienced last night.

Thank you, dear readers, for inspiring us to share these intimate thoughts in writing; of times, old and new, that will surely follow us well into the future.

Photo from one year ago today, June 19, 2016:

In Bali, the sunset view and reflection in the infinity pool. For more details, please click here.