December 31, 2010. Canyon Lake, Texas. Past and Future.

I am so grateful for our past.  Our plans of many years ago allows us to enjoy our present.  Many friends and acquaintances speak to us about our life style and our homes and family, not really aware that it has all been in the grand scheme.   For instance, friends have mentioned how fortunate we  own a place where the children and grandchildren enjoy visiting.  We  agree with them that we are very fortunate,  but what they don't seem to appreciate that even though they are wealthier than us, they chose not to prepare a place for the family to gather.    We are grateful for our past actions that allow us to enjoy our today.

Today, on New Year's Eve, we look forward to our future, realizing that we are foraging into unfamiliar territory.   I have spent my life around a lot of people.   As a child, I was accustomed to a busy and hectic environment.  As a teacher I was always surrounded by children and other teachers.  Raising the children and as a graduate student I had a host of friends for support and  friendship and of course as an agent and a manager I basically talked all day.   I thrived in that busy  milieu.  Now my life will be different.   Our homes are in isolated spots and I will not be surrounded by friends all the time.  Life will be different but I feel sure the year will provide me with much pleasure.   I am counting on it!!

December 30, 2010. Canyon Lake, Texas. Leaving Again.

Yesterday late afternoon everyone left the ranch except Ken and me.   They all left to return to San Antonio as David needed to put in a full days work today to finish up his year.  The ranch is very quiet without those children so Ken and I spent all evening at our Top house reading our books and getting used to the silence.  I have heard of parents welcoming the departure of the children and grandchildren after a holiday season but I have never experienced the sensation, perhaps because we always stay in our own place.  This morning we drove to the lake to organize our belongings for our return to Mexico on Saturday.

Our life is complicated, always getting clothes packed or unpacked.  We keep clothes in every house plus we leave supplies with David and Suzanne just in case we stay  with them for a few days when we first arrive.  We  put Allison out of her room when we stay with them.  She says she doesn't mind, but I mind putting her out of her room so Ken and I have decided to stay at a hotel quite close to them when we remain in San Antonio.  It is much cheaper than buying a condominium!!   For the number of nights we stay in San Antonio each year we could stay fifty years before we have exhausted the down payment.

Tomorrow we will all be together and celebrate the New Years.  It's going to be a dance contest on Wii.  Andrew and Christina and the girls leave early Saturday and we do too.  Poor Suzanne and David and the girls get to pick up the pieces.

December 29, 2010. Harper, Texas. Jan Miller.

She is older than me yet she runs the ranch all by herself.  Today she took us on a tour of her property and let the girls feed all her animals.   The seven girls were charmed by it all, along with four adults, especially the small goat being bottle fed by hand in her kitchen.   Her land is lovely with a stream running through the middle.  In the Hill country, streams are hard to come by especially streams that run all throughout  the year.

Jan. is a kindly soul and provides a good home for her animals.  It takes her over two hours each day to feed them.   She has many many goats along with several horses and burrows, three dogs, numerous feral cats,  ten emu's and eight llamas, also a dozen fancy ducks, all housed on her three hundred acre ranch.  This is the first year since her husband died that the ranch has been profitable.  

Her goal is to able to have the ranch sustain itself, so she is pleased for this year of success.    Her peach crop was large and she sold much of the fruit to a local market.  She regularly takes the young goats to the auction for sale and she sells the young llamas too.    And that is the extent of her income from the ranch.  But she is happy working hard around the ranch and she works hard to keep healthy.  Many people would not enjoy her life style, living alone in a remote part of Texas, but she loves it.  Her children who all live in Colorado think she is daft, but she wishes to work herself to death rather than rusting out from lack of activity.

She is a good neighbor and I am pleased to have gotten to know her since we moved to Texas.    Each of us left with an emu egg to take home and eat.  The eggs are dark green in color and 6 6o 8 inches long with very hard shells.  Each egg will feed four adults, the eggs are so large.  What a surprise.

December 28, 2010. Harper, Texas. The Fire Pit.

Everyone loves an outside fire.  Sitting watching the fire is endlessly enjoyable.  I am not sure why.   Tending the fire is another source of interest.  First thing in the morning,  when they return from hunting, either David or Andrew will make a fire in the fire pit and keep it going all through the day.   Throughout the day groups of two or more gather for conversation or rest.   It is one of the most enjoyable spots on the ranch.

The area is shaded,  which in Texas is an advantage.  Also you can watch the sunsets.  The former owner, Pete, put in the bonfire area, and at first I thought it daft, putting the fire pit under the live oak trees.  I felt sure we would start the trees on fire.  We did burn down a couple of branches, but now we know he did a good thing.  Also a smoker is right adjacent so we cook there too.  It is a great spot, enjoyed by both children and adults.

The children are having a wonderful time here at the ranch, and they especially enjoy the fires.

December 27, 2010. Double D Ranch, Texas. The Ranch.

We are so fortunate we were able to purchase the ranch.   Just this day itself  would have been worth the acquisition.  Nothing dramatic occurred, but every one was happy and engaged and productive, so at the end of the day, everyone said "we have had a great day".  

The men hunted in the morning and  Andrew shot a buck.   All the children slept in.  We had turned the dining room into a play room, with an old credenza serving as a toy storage unit.  Anytime any of the children are in the house, they play in that room and as the three Mississippi children have never seen these toys, they are delighted with the new objects.  The four Texas children are only at the ranch every-so-often, so the toys are new to them too.    Most of the time they play out of doors, especially on a beautiful day such as today, which means that when ever they are indoors, they are all happily engaged with the train or the doll house or the blocks.

David and Andrew built a fire just as they arrived back from hunting this morning  so the rest of the day we hung out  by the fire.  Robbie and Joyce came over to visit after lunch and chatted with us by the fire.  In the late afternoon  Abigail went out hunting with Andrew and shot a deer while Sarah and David saw the biggest deer they have ever seen, but he went back into the woods.  Sarah was so excited she missed her next shot.

Pat L. arrived to fix our refrigerator at the top house.  After he was finished, he stopped to chat by the fire.  He was born and raised in Harper, in fact, he lives in the same home he was born.   He is of German descent and somehow we got talking about smoking sausage the old fashioned way.  He described the process in Harper prior to refrigeration.  It was fascinating.  Also his accent is very country and very Texan, which I love.

The girls fed the fish and with Suzanne's help, fed the cattle.   A full day, but not dramatic.  Just good old fashioned fun.

December 26, 2010. Double D Ranch, Harper Texas. Excitement!!hewaspleasedtogoouthuntingwithDavid

Mary Frances is 10, a calm, cool and collected young miss.  Until today when she became ecstatic.   She shot her first deer.    David, her uncle,  gave her a Christmas gift consisting of a hunting license in Texas and a guided private hunt with him, along with the processing of the meat.  She was pleased with the gift, all beatifically given in a document meant to keep.  She never thought she would shoot her deer but she was pleased to go out hunting with David.

She and David went out to hunt at 4 this afternoon and by 5:30 they were racing in to tell me the good news.  Her face was beaming.  I have never seen her so excited.  David pointed out to her the fact that you only shoot your first deer once in your life and for her to shoot her first deer on the first time she went hunting was extra special.  He was proud of her, his niece Mary Frances.

It was an exciting day at the Double D Ranch in Harper Texas.

December 25, 2010. San Antonio, Texas. Christmas Morning.

Every year  gets a bit more organized.  As the girls get older they get more appreciative and seem to really enjoy and cherish each gift,  or perhaps I enjoy the process more each year.  This morning was a delight.  Seven granddaughters opening gifts one by one, thrilled with the gift, then looking for the next.  The part they enjoyed the best was giving their gifts to us and to their aunt and uncle, all carefully selected by them and in some instance, hand made by them. 

The girls slept in until 7:30 a.m.  By  the time Ken and I arrived at 8:00 they were just sitting down to the serious task of opening gifts and drinking coffee.  It was great fun.  All adults were pleased.  By ten we were ready for breakfast, Christmas casserole, hashed brown potatoes and cinnamon rolls, the traditional meal.   We sat around the living room admiring the gifts until noon, and since then all the girls have been playing the new WII games, having many many contests.  The kids beat the adults, which pleases the kids big time. 

The living room is still a well organized mess.  The furniture is pushed back to the walls.  Each child has an area for their gifts, carefully displayed for all to see for some girls while others just pile them up.  It is interesting to see the difference.   Sooner or later we will have Christmas dinner of roast beef, our favorite meal.  For now, all is calm.  The girls are playing, Molly is playing by herself in her new play castle, the adults are talking or reading, so all is well in the Dickie family.  Christmas mornings just get better and better!!

Some of the Family

The River

Dinner Location

December 24, 2010. San Antonio, Texas. Dinner on the River Barge.

It was an evening of magic, with twinkling lights  and excellent food.   And the cousins all together.   We ate dinner on a barge on the River Walk.   It was better than we anticipated.  Suzanne and I planned it months ago and a good thing too because the river was busy.   The evening was enjoyed by both children and adults which is often not the case.  But last evening, dining on the river,  had a special magic  that was  thrilling to all,  especially Molly.

We met at 5:45 in the bar of Saltgrass and boarded soon after and sat at  one long table down the middle of the boat.  Soon, salad was served and we were off,  marvelling at the millions of colored lights.  It really was a wonderland.    After  twenty minutes of quiet on the river  enjoying our salad we returned to have our steaks served.  Then we were off for an hour and a half of a river trip, eating our dinner and listening to the tour director.    I have heard the  spiel  several times but I learn new information each time or perhaps I just forget, but it was interesting  to all.  The journey took us to the north  area of the river, just newly opened which was very quiet as the regular barge trips never go.  We felt special.

Then we completed our river trip but did not finish our evening.  We had arranged to eat dessert in the restaurant, so we all trooped upstairs to tables prepared for us, with the girls at one table and the adults and Molly at an adjacent table.  The desserts were enormous, a fitting ending for our magical night.

Molly, who is three, loved it best of all.

December 23, 2010. San Antonio, Texas. Unusual Evening..

Here we were,  all of us in David and Suzanne's bedroom, watching TV.   Three girls and Suzanne stretched out on their stomachs on the bed and Ken, David and I in comfortable chairs, with Allison on the floor, all watching TV.  We were happy as clams.

David knows I like Antiques Roadshow but often can not watch it because I have no TV where I live, so he records it, and when we come to visit, we watch the old shows together, in his comfortable leather chairs in their bedroom.    After dinner, while the girls cleaned up the kitchen, we watched.  One by one, everyone joined us.  First Ken, then Suzanne, then all the girls when their chores were complete.

Another show David discovered  was American Pickers so he records that show too.  I had never heard of it,  so after watching one issue of Antiques Roadshow, David asked me if I would like to see  an issue and we did.  We all loved it.    One aspect of the show that we enjoyed was seeing these folks storing all this stuff, that the two Pickers then root through, trying to find the treasures which they then can sell.  The second thing interesting to the girls and me was that these two pickers make their living, ostensibly, from the sale of this stuff.   It is interesting what people do for a living.

Anyway, we spent a happy time, all together, in the bedroom, enjoying television!!  Most enjoyable.!!

December 21, 2010. San Antonio, Tx. Another Big Day.

First was pedicures for the girls and me.  Four girls and a grandmother all sitting in a row, having their toe nails done.  I am always interested in their choice of colors:  one blue, another purple,  one half gold and green and one  light blue.  I have the only red nails in the bunch.  The girls loved it.  Ken went to get his hair cut while we  beautified ourselves.

Next up lunch, a sandwich shop right down the street, so it was easy.  A favorite for the girls is  frozen yogurt for dessert, so we jumped in the car to find it.   The girls like this place, because you serve yourself, then add toppings, finally are weighed so you can pay.  It is clever, because you always take more than you can eat.  Three of us could not finish our serving, but it was great until we were full.

The last event of the day was a movie, a Disney production named Tangled, the Rumpelstiltskin

 story made fancy.  It was fun and silly and enjoyable.

Suzanne stayed home all day and wrapped presents.  Now she is taking two dogs and two girls for a walk while the two other girls are playing basketball out the front.

Being a grandparent is a wonderful thing.

December 20, 2010. SanAntonio,Texas. An Afternoon With The Girls.

Ken came too. Suzanne and the girls joined us at our hotel for an afternoon of exploration. We had been told that the River Walk was an area where new condos had been built, but neither Ken and I or David and Suzanne had seen them. We did not even know where they had been built. This afternoon, we found out. Our hotel, The Grand Hyatt, has ten floors of new condos, so we all went to see them. The girls did great and a great job evaluating each unit.

Then we went to another project just across 281, meeting up with Ann, the agent for David and Suzanne and we liked that place much better. Again the girls enjoyed the experience and are ready to move in.

Next up was a drink at our hotel bar, followed by a walk to the Needle for dinner. It was fun being a tourist. While at dinner, we circled the whole city. And the moon was full too. It was fun, enjoyed by all. David joined us for dinner. These girls are growing up.

December 19, 2010. San Antonio, Tx. The Sunday Before Christmas.

My Mother would be so pleased.  Sarah and Abigail acolytes at church and Allison and Samantha angels in the Christmas pageant, and all four doing their part so well.   We all four met at church along with the children and enjoyed the singing and the service, listening to the same words and singing the same carols from the time of my youth.

Bonnie and Wade invited us to brunch right after church,  along with six other friends and their children for a total of ten adults and eleven children.  I appreciated them inviting us along with David and Suzanne, especially because I love  their lovely old home.  It was especially beautiful decorated for Christmas.  The food was excellent, all made by Bonnie which was impressive.  Then home to David and Suzanne's for a relaxing afternoon, napping and watching football.

We left Ken at home, while the seven of us went to an Open House at some friend's home.  Thirty minutes of chatting and we were gone.  After we ordered Chinese food from the car, we drove around to see the Christmas lights.  Finally home for dinner and watching a football game prior to returning to the River Walk at half time.

It was a lovely day being with the girls and Suzanne and David for the Sunday before Christmas.   Lovely spirit in the air.

December 18, 2010. San Antonio, Texas. The River Walk.

It seemed like a good idea, staying for a week on the River Walk, so Ken exchanged our fractional ownership place in Mexico for a place on the River Walk in San Antonio.  What we got is a hotel room in The Grand Hyatt.  It is a nice room, but it certainly is not an apartment with a kitchen. As Ken commented, we have never stayed for a whole week in a hotel room.  But of course, we will be staying during the day with David and Suzanne and the girls both here  downtown  and at their home.

Ken and I came down around five to check in.    Then we went for a walk.  This River Walk is surprising in that every time we come down, a bit more has been developed.  We walked for an hour, enjoying the lights and the decorations.  As out  walk continued, the crowds increased.  The barges were jammed.  For dinner we selected  the Las Canares, a fancy restaurant held in a small hotel.  We were very casually dressed, jeans and T shirt but they welcomed us anyway and ate their three course dinner complete with their wine.  The food was excellent and quick, so we enjoyed dinner even though every one else was dressed up.

Walking home was a delight and a horror.   The lights were magical  and the barges kept coming full of people and decorations.  The whole atmosphere was festive and exciting.  But I hate crowds and I hate edges, so here we were,  walking back to the hotel full of people on the River Walk.    The River Walk is beautiful with trees and plants and flowers and walkways, with water on both sides.  So here I am, surrounded by people walking right along the edge of the river.  I was pleased when we arrived home to the hotel.

We will enjoy this place and I hope the children will too.

After the Frost

Paradise Neighborhood

December 17, 2010. San Antonio, Texas. The Basketball Team.

They can't shoot and they can't dribble or pass, but the sixth grade basketball team won their game  16 to 9.   Abigail is 11 years old and in real life  is quiet and polite but on the basketball court she is tenacious.   It was amazing to watch her in action, especially her rebounding.  Now she is my granddaughter so perhaps I am biased but she clearly loved to touch the ball.    She just goes after the ball  at every opportunity.  When Abigail was on the floor, she got the ball and they scored.  It was so much fun watching the team play.

It is clear those girls have not played much basketball, but they played excellent defense, which means they have been well coached and they did score 16 points.   Their percentage of shots made to shots attempted must have been less than five percent and even though they stole the ball many times, no player on the team can shoot a lay up.  But they are trying hard and I am told that they are much better than they were a month ago.   It was encouraging to watch their play.  The opposing team had only five players but they had five good players and two who could actually shoot the ball through the hoop.  Our team actually won because of their defense and by Abigail's rebounding.  Eventually some of their shots fell and they won their game.

I love watching young people play hard.  It was worth coming to San Antonio early just to see Abigail play basketball.   She has the potential to be a good player, if she chooses.

December 16, 2010. Mexico. Getting Ready.

Today we must load our stuff back in the lockers as tomorrow we leave for San Antonio for the Christmas season.  It is always exciting thinking of spending Christmas with the children and the children's children.  This year we will all be together.  Ken has arranged a time share on the River Walk from the 18th to the 25th  as David's house will be a bit crowded.  We hope we can all make use of the River Walk  apartment in the week before Christmas but we will have to play it by ear.  First off we don't know the size of the place so until we see it, we can not plan ahead.  The lights on the River Walk are spectacular over the holiday season so at the least we will go for long walks along the river.

Now we are organizing and sorting and packing.  Also doing laundry.

I am finished with Moss Hart.  He died at 55 from a heart attack.  If it were today, he would have had better treatment for his heart disease.    Treatment for his two heart attacks consisted of bed rest for up to four weeks, just like my father, the opposite of todays strategy and treatment.  And  just as my dad, the third one killed him suddenly.   It is interesting to think of the creative process.  Moss Hart suffered all his life being a manic depressive, but he was treated with psychotherapy.  When he was in the active phase, the creativity just oozed out in prodigious amounts.  It almost makes you think that the creative process is connected with depression.  I know very little about the theater but I enjoyed thoroughly reading those two books, especially reading them at the same time.

Now on to San Antonio.  From the airport we take a cab straight to Abigail's basketball game.   I want to be in at the beginning because I bet those girls will play a lot of basketball over the years.

December 15, 2010. Mexico. Our Schedule.

The mornings are the best.    We just wake up.  No clock radios.  No alarms.  No 'to do' lists.  We just wake up at what ever time we have had sufficient rest.  We just wake up.   I don't remember, day after day,  ever being able doing that before.   Ken makes coffee and brings me a cup in bed, where I read.  And I stay in my night shirt.  And read.   This morning, before getting out of bed, I watched the TV channel giving me the highlights of the games from last evening.  I have never done that in my life but there I was, drinking coffee and watching TV.   All the hockey games of the past day or so were on this channel, probably designed for all the Canadians.  It was fun.  I am beginning to understand why people like this retirement idea.

In the middle of the afternoon we head down to the water.  Today we sat on the beach, the first time this trip.  I am not in love with sitting on the beach.   I'm always afraid I will drop my Kindle in the sand.  After an hour of reading on the beach, we adjourned to the pool, our normal spot, where we chatted with a couple from Toronto.  She is seventy and had just learned to swim.  Yesterday she was practicing by herself.  I watched her and talked with her a bit.  She has grandchildren coming for Christmas and she wants to surprise them.  I started to talk with her yesterday after her swim because several times she struggles to get herself upright in the water and I was afraid I was going to be forced to rescue her.  When she floats on her back, she must roll over on her stomach in order to stand up.  After she was finished, and we talked, I suggested a better way and we bonded.  And I told her to never swim alone.  Today we met her husband.  Interesting couple.  Never a dull minute, even without  a schedule.

December 14, 2010. Mexico. Schedules.

We have been tied to a schedule all our lives.  Now we are not.  Friends and family are wanting  to know where we will be and when, but we don't know for sure.  We will keep our schedules loose, except when we must fly to Mexico, when we must plan ahead.

In general our schedule will be to spend summers in Nova Scotia, probably July, August and September.   Stop at the farm for October.  November and December in Mississippi and Texas and the winter in Mexico..  Then we will reverse ourselves.  March, April and May in Texas and Mississippi, June at the farm, then back to Nova Scotia.

This year we will be in Mexico for two weeks in December, then to San Antonio for Christmas with the whole family, then back to Mexico for January and February.  We fly straight to the farm for a couple of weeks to get ourselves organized, then south to Mississippi and Texas for April and May.  We hope to just wander around from one place to the next but will try to take one trip a year to a new place.  This year we will take a river trip in France, in October.

So that in a nut shell is our schedule.  We would love to have you visit us, either at the farm, or Nova Scotia or Texas.  It would be fun to see you.

December 13, 2010. Mexico. An Interesting Walk.

It started out innocently, late afternoon, to take a walk.  The weather was perfect,  seventy-five degrees with a bit of a breeze.   We elected to walk left out of our condo, along a  road with a wide boulevard in the center and trees covering the sidewalks.   Our intent was to walk for about an hour so we were wearing sneakers rather than sandles.    First we walked down along The Ocean Terrace, an older  resort that is building another two buildings.   Along that road toward the beach I spotted the largest ant I have ever seen.  It must have been well over one inch long and was very thick.  I watched him for quite a while and never did find his home.   While heading back to the road we found two sad horses, also many birds, all social flycatchers.  Great name.   After another fifteen minutes of walking, the trolley came by, so we jumped on for a pleasant drive around the marina.   To be sure we walked enough, we got off the trolley when we got on, not at our resort.  We must be honest about our walking!!.

We crossed over to the other side, because a new restaurant had opened and we wanted to see their menu.  Our intention was to return home  for an early dinner of salmon, cooked by Ken.   Now it is five-thirty and while chatting with the working people, they suggested we try their tacos and a glass of wine, which we did.   It was fascinating to talk to them.  The young man rents this space from the owner, an old man we had met before and who was there for dinner.  The old man also own and runs the wonderful restaurant down the road, at least his two sons run the restaurant.  Now this young man has studied in the U.S. and has cooked all over the world.  Now he has a dream to run a restaurant serving real Mexican food.    He found an old Mexican recipe book and has spent hours translating the ingredients into modern language, then cooking the food and serving it in his restaurant.  It was early for dinner in Mexico, so we were the only ones there, so we got to chat with all the working people.  It was a fascinating talk, right at the beginning of a young man's dream.

It turns out, the old man comes every night for dinner, eating whatever the chef has decided to serve to the staff.  Last night it was flounder and risotto, delicious when they gave us a sample.  I told them. in the future,  we are coming for dinner,  and will dine on staff food.

Dinner/Grapefruit

Pick Your Color

December 12, 2010. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Moss Hart.

"The Life and Times of Moss Hart"  by Dazzler and "Act One" by Moss Hart makes for an interesting read when read in the same period.  I am enjoying them both for several reasons.  I have always been interested in the question of success especially those born into poverty as was Moss Hart.  It has always fascinated me to observe how some good folks seem to rise above their surroundings while others do not.  So the book by Moss Hart, outlining how he did it,  is fascinating.  "Act One" ends when he is forty and has made it into the world of the successful, both on Broadway and in Hollywood.  "The Life and Times" deals with the theater of the early half of the 20th century, an era full of talented people who seem no longer to exist now, so I have never understood how this happened.

The part that is fascinating is the information Moss Hart leaves out or changes in his autobiography.  According to the biography, Moss Hart sketched out a musical outlining the development  of a playwright, but it was never produced.  Several years later,  Bennett Cerf published the story as the autobiography and has been in print ever since.  I have read in a review that it is still the bible for aspiring writers trying to get ahead.  It is a great read.  But I don't understand the problems with his memory.  I suspect that his goal was to present the issue concerning with development of success and left out or changed the story that did not fit the model.  Even his aunt died in his book at the date that is inaccurate by many years, even where he was living when she died.  And this was a beloved difficult aunt.

Both books are worth reading but together they are a better read than either by themselves.

December 11, 2010 Mexico, The House of Ruth

The House of Ruth

To the outside world it housed a group of people who have reached a skill level in their craft of the likes the world has never seen.  To others it was a money machine whose numbers had never been reached.  A dominant force in the industry to say the least.  One becomes a dynasty in football with 3 – 4 Super Bowl wins in a decade.  One becomes a monopoly with 5-10 years of dominance.  When one dominates for twenty years , well … you are Ruth Dickie.

To us on the inside it was not a house but a home.  This is where we went for knowledge, solace, companionship, a safe haven.  When she walked into the office the energy would double She always made sure that everything was in its place, all ready for whatever the day would bring.  Nothing fell through the cracks, a system was put in place for every contingency that could happen.

We all had our jobs.  She never asked for more than we could give yet it was enough to keep us engaged.  Everyone was made to feel that they were an integral part of a finely tuned machine.  No matter what our roles, we all played a big  part in making the whole better.

To Ruth we  all felt special.  She truly wanted all of us to succeed, not just in Real Estate but also in life.  Some time ago she realized that to make us better in one area of life you have to make it  in all life areas.  This is the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3, rule of Ruth.  And it works.  Some of her greatest achievements had nothing to do with Real Estate but made our lives so much richer.

Her knowledge and quest for it is amazing.  All those “Real Life” stories subtly made us better.  Her demand for the best training and most up to date methods all made us wiser but it was the coupling with integrity that made us even better.  Some days when she would talk about “Scientific America” it was puzzling but she was after the whole person – not just the real estate.  (Where do you find Scientific America?  But I know whenever I see it I will smile).   Whenever you had a problem, Ruth would say, “let’s sit down and talk it through”.  At the end you walked away thinking that you had solved the problem and it was so nice for Ruth to be the sounding board…she truly is amazing.

All these are nice traits but the greatest is she always put us first.  Everything she did was geared to making our lives richer and more productive.  She truly wanted only the best of everything for us.  It is better to ask for forgiveness than ask permission really only works when its for others.  Ruth just did whatever it took to make our lives better, and for that I am ever grateful. 

As I go down the path of life that she has paved with petals I only hope that someday I will be half the person Ruth thinks I am.  Enjoy,   A Grateful Agent.

December 10, 2010. Mexico. Another Tribute

When I retired,  the agents sent me many letters of thanks and good wishes and for that I was grateful.  One agent sent me a birthday card along with a three page letter describing what it was like working in the office all those years.  Now, we must remember that we had a two way street in the office.  The agents affiliated with the office because they were serious about making money as well as giving good service to their clients.   I and the other managers and staff were then required to provide excellent training and information for the agents along with every technical upgrades possible.  And of course, all forms and supplies ready at their finger tips.  In other words, they expected to be successful as agents and we were expected to allow them to think only about their clients, never thinking about the office.  The amazing thing is that it worked for twenty three years.

I humbly, in my next wee web log, will put,  on the record, his letter to me.

Eat and Drinks

Lunch, 2 for 1, and Kiscadee

December 9, 2010. Mexico. The Great Kiskadee.

The most unusual things happen, here at Paradise Village.  Yesterday afternoon Ken and I went  for a walk, just a simple walk down to the Hotel and along the marina, a walk we have taken many times.  It's about a mile or a bit longer.  While watching the boats I spotted these large birds and decided they were Great Kiskadees.  They are beautiful birds but we normally spot them at the golf course not by the marina, but there they were in all their splendor, among the rocks by the shore.  There must have been eight or ten of them.  We watched them quite a while and enjoyed every minute.  When we got home, I looked up my bird book and couldn't tell if I had seen a Great Kiskadee or a Boat-Billed Flycatcher or a Social Flycatcher.  I need a birder by my side.

There is a favorite bar down at the hotel that has a happy hour, two for one drinks.   We ordered one drink each and four drinks appeared.  Ken and I talked and drank and finally ordered some food, all sitting in the little bar.  We finally arrived home from our walk at eight o'clock, having had a wonderful time.  Living here is a constant series of unplanned events, all delightful.

December 8, 2010. Mexico. The Simple Life.

There are many aspects of living here in Nuevo Vallarta that I like.  Start with the weather, which is wonderful, at least when I am here.   I would not enjoy summers here.  Now in December, the air is pleasant and clear, neither too hot or cool.  I call it "inside-outside" weather, where it is just as comfortable sitting outside to dine or inside in the restaurant or condominium, of course with the windows open.  Next I enjoy the easy access to the restaurants and shops.  The variety within easy walking distance makes for easy exercise.  I like the trolley ride, that slowly drives around the whole complex, traveling to the other side of the marina as well as along the hotel complex along the shore.   Sometimes we take the trip twice, just to enjoy the ride.  It is a free trolley ride.

I like the fact that I have time to read.  Ken spends mornings on the computer while I read.  It is luxury.  Yesterday afternoon I spent down by the pool, swimming and reading and talking.  This was my first trip down to the pool and chatted with a couple from Salmon Arm, B.C., friends we met several years ago and now see each time we are there.  Last year they purchased a full ownership condo and have sold their ten week fractional ownership unit.  This year they will be here for five months.  They obviously enjoy the lifestyle here too.

I enjoy the variety of restaurants here.  Within walking distance there are  twelve restaurants from expensive to cheap.  And we can jump on the trolley to the other side of the marina for eight more.  It is all very easy and pleasant.

Many friends at home think we are crazy to come to Mexico at this time, with all the violence at the border, but this place is far away from the drug cartels.  I recall when D.C. was the murder capital of the U.S. and folks would wonder how we lived just outside the violence.  It is the same here.  This is a lovely quiet spot.  I just feel sorry for the Mexicans who depend on the tourist trade.  Most tourists are just staying away.  But not us.  We enjoy the simple life.

December 7, 2010. Mexico. A Birthday Dinner.

It was a lovely day. I read all day and did not get out of my nightshirt until I dressed for dinner. It was a lovely birthday. And to top it off, all my family and good friends called to wish me Happy Birthday. I was a happy lady.

One of the nicest aspects of living here in Playa Royale is that you can walk to everything. Last night, for my birthday dinner, we walked to an outside restaurant just up the road from our apartment. We had been there before and enjoyed the food and the service. This is just the second year they have been in business and as restaurants come and go we were pleased to find them up and running.

I ate scallops as an appetizer and tuna for dinner, both delicious. A young man sang and played all evening, a combination of mexican and english and italian songs. His music was quiet and tuneful, a pleasure to listen to all evening. Along with the bottle of red wine, the evening was perfect for a birthday celebration. The evening was warm. Dining outside is an added pleasure after hearing about the snow at my sister's house in Ontario. I am one lucky lady.

December 6, 2010. Mexico. Birthday for Ruth.

I love birthdays. It is certainly the most important day of my life, the day I was born. And now I have turned 73. My brother and I congratulated each three of us siblings on becoming older than our parents. I suggested the next goal was to become older than our grandmother Houghton, who lived to be 95. She was in excellent health until she fell on the ice and broke her hip and died from pheumonia. We might make it, now that I take myself out of the ice and snow each winter!!

Ken on the other hand does not like to celebrate birthdays, perhaps because he does not enjoy being the center of attention. He suspects it has to do with the birthday parties held by his Mother when he was a child. For me, I love the checking off of another year especially when in good health. The day is beautiful here in Mexico and I intend to enjoy every minute. Already I have read for an hour, heard the Birthday song on my cell phone from Nancy, amd completed breakfast on the balcony. Already the day is fine and it will only get better!!

December 5, 2010. Mexico. Tributes.

I am very grateful for all the e mails, sent to me by the agents, telling me of the years of successful times working together. Their comments were gracious and complementary and I thank them all for their kind words. At the retirement party, I requested no speeches but Jack, my boss just could not stand giving me a tribute. Fortunately, his words were brief. One thing he said was interesting and something he has never told me before. He said, "My wife Liz commented to me that of all the managers she has met, Ruth is the only manager I would work with if I was an agent, and that is because that she always has fun." Truth be told, that is true, but that attitude has gotten me into lots and lots of mischief and trouble over the years.

I have been giving the agents suggestions for twenty three years, and now I had a last chance to give advice.

1. Change is always beneficial even though change is difficult and stressful. Change is always beneficial.

2. Keep their standards high, even though doing it is not easy.

3. Remember to do their business with the three P's : pleasantly, professionally and persistently. Then all will be well.

I have never been afraid to carry the flag, literally and figurally. It remains to be seen what happens to me when I have no parade.

December 4, 2010. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Home.

It was a festive departure from Bethesda, being taken out to dinner with Sarah and Andy at Kenwood. Then it was home for a short night's sleep before leaving the apartment at four for the airport. Our flight was six o'clock. Our preference is always to leave on an early flight, so when things go wrong, options open out before you the rest of the day, but it does mean a short night of sleep.

We moved to Bethesda in 1970, expecting to be there for two years. We have been there for forty. By the time we return to Bethesda March 5, our belongings in the apartment will have been moved to the farm, so we no longer will live in Montgomery County. Both of us are ready to launch our new life, but I leave with mixed feelings, leaving my friends behind to fend for themselves. Fortunately, I believe that when one door closes, two other doors open up, and as I have great confidence in their ability, I will rest easy. It was a great run, living in Bethesda, now we have left it behind.

Coming back here is always a surprise. It is so beautiful. And the working people are delighted to see us, hugging us and calling our names when we get out of the taxi. It seems like coming home!!

December 2, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Farewell.

I did not really want to have a party. I wanted to sneak away quietly to Mexico for the winter. My friend Joe talked to me on the phone and what he said was that my attitude was not fair to all the agents in the office. Further more, he said that the agents wanted to see me and say goodbye to me, not just hear that I have retired. I was talked into the party, "The Mad Hatters Party", held at the Columbia Country for tea and an open bar and food. Everyone wore my ridiculous hats and looked silly. No crying, no sadness, just a celebration of a twenty three year run as a manager.

Joe was right. We needed to have the party. Maureen organized it as usual and it was a wonderful party. We even had Andy Funt's band play all evening, so people danced and had fun. Jack made a short speech and I spoke briefly, then Betty presented me a book with many tributes and thoughts from the agents, all heartfelt and moving. When everyone left just after seven, Maureen, Peppy, Sarah, Tom and I sat around a table drinking a last glass of wine and toasted each other for working together for all those years. It was quite a ride, those twenty three years.. And it was wonderful to see all the agents together one last time. They are quite a crew.

December 1, 2010. Chevy Chase, Md. Our Apartment.

Our apartment is lovely. As we live on the fourth floor, we actually live in a kind of tree house. It is only in the winter that you can see any other houses. All we can see from the windows of our place are trees. In years past, our building overlooked a railroad line to Georgetown, but the track was pulled up and a trail from Silver Spring to Georgetown installed called The Crescent Trail, which means we are now very trendy, living right beside the fancy well used trail.

And our location is convenient too, within walking distance of grocery stores and restaurants. The building itself is a bit funky and old fashioned, but it has suited us very much these past thirteen years. Now we do not need this lovely home any longer, so sometime in the new year we will put it on the market for sale. We have enjoyed living here but truth be told, we have not spent much time here. Except when Ken and I were recovering from our difficulties, we were never here on weekends. During the work week, I arrived from work after dark so never did get to enjoy the daylight, where the sun streams into the rooms. Now we will sell it to someone else.

We have learned to enjoy the large living room and master bedroom and of course the library, which is beautiful. I can brag about it because it was all completed prior to our purchase. The balcony we never use, which is interesting to me because I would never have purchased an apartment without a balcony. Having two full bathrooms I took for granted until we live in our Mississippi condo which has only one bathroom . Coming home to my own bathroom is a blessing. Now I am ready to leave it all on Saturday with the hope that it will sell before we return!!