March 31, 2013. Flint, Texas. Allergies.

The pollen has descended.  The ground is pale green.  The cars are covered with the pollen.  It is hay fever time in Texas.   At first Ken thought that he had caught a cold but he now thinks it may be mainly allergies.  Even me, who is not normally allergic, am spluttering and sneezing.  This morning we had a big storm, when rain, thunder, lightning and wind came through the area.  That should clear out the pollen.

But tomorrow we will leave the area and drive to Canyon Lake, where there are fewer trees.  East Texas is full of pine woods and the pollen comes directly from the pine cones.  When the wind blows you would think that someone is dusting the trees with clouds blowing off the trees, and of course, arriving right to our nose.   Allergies are interesting.    For instance, I have never been allergic to anything until about 15 years ago.   Now I suffer along with everyone else.  Even my voice is different.   The human body changes every minute.  Tomorrow we will leave this resort and hope that the allergies are better.

March 30, 2013. Flint, Texas. Housebound.

Today, Ken and I did nothing valuable.   We took no walks and we took no drives.  All we did was read, watch basketball and eat.  We were as happy as clams.    Had you told me years ago that Ken and I would be happy doing nothing  all day I would never have believed you.  But here we are, enjoying ourselves and never leaving our little log cabin.  Of course, we have a good television set with all the channels, and we have Internet access so both our i Pads work as well as the computer, so we are ready to go, without going out the door.  Ken at least took a shower and is dressed.  Me on the other hand, am still in my night shirt.

This resort where we are staying seems to be full, I suppose due to Easter.   It is called The Lake of the Woods Wilderness resort.  It has log cabins where we are staying, plus RV parking and camping sites, so there are lots and lots of young families.  Today, the resort hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for the kids.  Tomorrow, we may get a bit more adventuresome and check this place out.  They have nature trails and of course, a big water front area complete with docks and boats.  But for today, we are recovering and enjoying ourselves being lazy.  I am getting good at it.

March 29, 1013. Flint, Texas. Cute.

It is not fancy but it is  cute.  We are staying at a Time Share, called  Lake of The Woods, in a small town named Flint, just south of Tyler.  It is a nature preserve.  Ken and I are staying in a small, rustic cabin, complete with everything we need to function well, except we have almost new food.   The log cabin has only one problem.  We have no view.  The resort is situated on a lake but we are not anywhere near the lake.  What were they thinking?   The place has been owned by the same family for three generations and I think that people were not so demanding sixty years ago.  I was looking forward to sitting on the porch looking over the lake,  and reading.   Instead, from my porch I can see six cabins, all looking exactly like mine.   And to top it off, there are no chairs on the porch.


Our drive today was easy, a total of almost six hours.  We will enjoy our stay here but I have already urged Ken to have us leave on Sunday.  He says no.   He seems to have an infection so he needs a bit of a rest.  Our plan is to stay here until Tuesday or Wednesday but I will be surprised if we do.  After all, we are driving to the lake house at Canyon Lake and we know all about that view!!

March 28, 2013. Jackson, MS. Celebrations.

I like to celebrate.  And Ken humors me.   Today we celebrated by eating lunch together at The Saigon Restaurant, with Andrew, Christina and the girls.  Any excuse is worth a celebration.  Today we were celebrating two events.  First and most importantly, Kate seems fully recovered from her dental surgery, which certainly is worth celebrating.   Her color is back to normal and she is eating regular food, although very slowly and in small bites.  And she is taking no medication so we all declared Kate to be normal.  The second cause for celebration is that Ken and I leave tomorrow for Texas so we were all saying goodbye.  We don't do sad goodbyes.   "See you in a month", we say to each other and we all drive away.

Now the car is almost totally loaded, except for Ken's bags.   The only thing to do tomorrow is to load the cooler and we will be gone, heading for Texas.   Ken and I don't much like bunnies and eggs so we  decided to be by ourselves this Easter.   I must be a bit of a scrooge about Easter.  When the boys were young, of course we did easter but it came as a big surprise that gifts are given to children at Easter, along with loads of chocolate bunnies.   This year, we will eat no Easter eggs and be grateful.  But we will celebrate Easter morning and be grateful that we do not have to play and sing at a sunrise service.  That is cause for celebration!!

March 27, 2012. Jackson, MS. The Internist.

Our Internist is a specialist in Geriatric Medicine.  At first, we were startled but now we like it.  She knows the dates when you no longer need more tests.  For instance, today she told me that at age 75,  you no longer need a mammogram, unless of course you have had breast cancer.  And at age 75, with a clear colonoscopy, you never need another one.  Getting old has benefits after all.

I passed my examination with flying colors.  All numbers were down, including weight, and cholesterol.   Vitamin B is up.  I am hale and hearty and our young doctor said I look great.   I talked her out of any more mammograms as my risk at this point is almost equal with the norms.  Same with a colonoscopy and bone density.  I don't think she realizes I have been a salesman all my life.

For Ken, it was a mixed examination.  He is doing well and has had no infections this winter but he is concerned about the tremor in his right arm, so our internist wants to have him see a neurologist, which he will do in Fredericksburg.  Ken will see the same neurologist as I did when I went loopy.  Dr. Stotz will be delighted to see me still talking and walking and he will figure out what is the matter with Ken.  And then Ken wants him to fix it!!   We have been investigation all the options as to why he has a tremor in his arm but we will await the informed opinion.

Ken is pleased to be visiting the doctors.  He fully expected to die young.  It is a lovely surprise.

March 26, 2013. Jackson, MS. Aunt Miriam.

When my sister Carol died, many pictures were sent to Dave and Irene.   Marion and Mary Kay carefully sorted and separated the photographs so each family received a pile.   The Buckley stash were sent to Dave and Irene.  They in turn sent the appropriate pictures on to us.    Several pictures were taken at the wedding reception of my niece Wendy, in the home of  Dave and Irene in 1980.    Several of the pictures are of my Aunt Miriam.

Aunt Miriam was three years older than my mother and was always very proper.  She was very pretty as a young woman but did not marry until her mid fifties.  In fact, I was her bridesmaid.  The photo of me in the wedding is now in the upstairs hall of the old farm house.   We never lived in the same city as my aunt, until we moved to Toronto and by then I was too busy to pay much attention to her.   My father actually never much liked Aunt Miriam as she liked to tell my mother what to do.  My aunt was a very able, gracious lady.  She was in charge of the women's services for Canada for The Salvation Army.  When she retired, she took a position as Chaplain at the Grace Hospital.

At that anniversary event, the family became aware that Aunt Miriam was getting senile.  In the pictures she is smiling but looks frail.   The whole extended family was there, and Aunt Miriam was enjoying herself.  We all thought she was doing well, until she turned to Irene and said "I am having a wonderful time.  Of course, I have no idea who all these people are, but they are nice to me and I am enjoying the afternoon."  Oops, we said to each other.  Aunt Miriam had slipped.  It was not long before Aunt Miriam was in Grace Hospital herself.  Those pictures reminded me of the old story.

March 25, 2013. Jackson, MS. Chick Fil A.

Molly loves to eat at  Chick Fil A.   Last week, when the ladies were trying to figure out where to go  to dinner, Molly always piped up with "How about Chick Fil A?"   She made the same suggestion ten times.  I suggested to her that we do not eat dinner there, just lunch,  so she finally gave up.  But every time we were discussing any restaurant,  Molly always told us that her favorite restaurant was Chick Fil A.  Ken and I have never eaten at one of their restaurants, and neither has Andrew but Molly loves it.   The staff are always friendly and helpful and the food comes in separate packages which pleases her.  And they serve chocolate milk in a bottle.

Tonight we fooled her.  Ken and I picked up Ken's new glasses and even though we were not intending to dine with the family tonight,  on the spur of the moment, I called and asked Christina about going to dinner at Chick Fil A.   Molly came on the phone so I asked her if she would like to go to dinner at her favorite restaurant.   She answer "Yes please", and gave the phone back to Christina.

I can see why she likes it.   They give a toy or a book to each child,  but after they had eaten, the child can turn the book or toy back, and then get an ice cream cone.  Molly loves the fact that she is in charge.  The food was good.  The staff was child friendly.  No wonder it is her favorite restaurant.   Tonight,  the grandparents broke with the custom of not eating dinner at Chick Fil A.  Instead we indulged out youngest granddaughter, and she was thrilled.

March 24, 2013. Jackson, MS. Entertaining.

Andrew and Christina entertain very comfortably.   Tonight, Nelson and Katie came for dinner with their daughter Sophie.  Nelson is Christina's elder brother so we were all family so Andrew and Christina served hamburgers and chips.  The food was delicious and easy so no one slaved over the stove preparing the meal.  As Andrew and Christina were relaxed and not tired, everyone else was relaxed and enjoyed the evening.  It was a great way to entertain.  The children ate in the TV room while they played a dance contest, which was won by Molly.   For dessert we ate carrot cake and tangerines, brought by me.  It was a lovely, lively evening.

Ken and I served brunch to Andrew and Christina and the girls today.  Once again, it was easy.  Bacon cooked by Ken, quiche, fruit bowls of strawberries and blueberries and small cinnamon buns.  Delicious.  I enjoy entertaining but I don't enjoy spending hours in the kitchen so I just find some easy food to serve to guests.  My assumption is that the guest are visiting to spend time with the hosts and each other, not necessarily to eat the best meal of the year.  The conversation is more important than the food, is what I am saying.  I wonder what the guests think?

It was an entertaining kind of day, enjoyed by both children and adults.

March 23, 2013. Jackson, MS. March Madness.

We have gone mad.  All last evening and all today we watched college basketball.   Our condo has no TV so we watched at Andrew and Christina's home.  Plus, I have an app. for my i Pad so I can watch every game.   I felt so modern, watching the game on my i Pad after we came home.  Last evening I watched until there were no games to watch, while I was sitting by myself in the living room.  It was great sport.

It does not matter to me who will win.  I just like to watch a good game.  And, as does everyone else, I like the underdog small schools to win and knock off the higher seeded teams.   But no matter who wins, I love to watch college basketball.  You just never know what is going to happen.  Tonight Butler lost to Marquette.  In my bracket, I had Butler going all the way to the final four but now they are gone.  Heck.  I chose Georgetown to win the whole tournament, and they lost in the first round.   It is a good thing I am not a betting person because I would have lost it all.

Many years we do not see many games but this year we are in good shape and are thoroughly enjoying the games.  Let the March Madness continue!!

March 22, 2013. Jackson, MS. Wisdom Teeth.

Just when you think your teeth problems are over, along come the wisdom teeth, and the dentist tells you the bad news.  These so called wisdom teeth must be removed.  It is so irritating  because you feel nothing in your mouth and nothing is hurting.   Evidently, it all comes from having a small mouth.  It seems so unfair.  Ken never had wisdom teeth removed, nor did Christina.  But both Andrew and I had them out.  Now it is Kate's turn.

We were all surprised to find that Kate's teeth were all straight so she had no need for braces.  But now her wisdom teeth came out today, all five of them.    The dentist told Christina that if they did not come out, her teeth would no longer be straight, so out they came.  First thing this morning was the surgery.  She spent the rest of the day sleeping and resting and drinking protein drinks and milkshakes, all the while wearing a contraption the holds ice close to her jaw.  This evening she came out to watch a bit of basketball with us so we were pleased to see that she was walking and talking.    In a few days she will be fit as a fiddle but in the meantime, she will lay low.  Soon she will barely remember the whole procedure.    It is another part of growing up that is good to have behind you.  Cheers to Kate.

March 21, 2013. Jackson, MS. Solstice.

Yesterday was the day when night was equal to day.   It is interesting to me that in the modern world, we never really notice the number of hours of daylight.   We notice going to work in the dark during winter months and we like the late daylight when the clock spring forward for day light savings, but unless we look at the calendar, we are not aware of the changing hours in the day and night.

The Mayans paid a lot of attention.   When you visit their ruins, you see that the edges of the huge pyramids are lined up for the days of the solstice.   And the under ground room with a statute of a cougar in the center is only reached by sunlight on the longest day of the year, the summer solstice.  They must have paid a lot more attention to the seasons than we do.  And how did those edges line up with the sun?  It was very impressive to know the level of understanding for the buildings to be engineered just right.

Our life is very different to those Mayans of many years ago but the seasons do not change.  We just don't notice them so much.

March 20, 2013. Jackson, MS. Old Times.

It seemed like old times.  Last evening we took dinner to Andrew and Christina and the girls.   Christina and I talked on the phone in the morning and she invited us to dinner, but I suggested that she take the evening off and let us bring dinner, which she thought was a wonderful idea.    Monday evening we stayed home in our condo and about 6:00, Andrew called to tell us that we are always welcome and that we were always welcome but Ken and I do not wish to be a burden so we stayed home.

After a visit to the grocery store, we arrived with chicken, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, bean salad and dessert.   Andrew laughed when we opened the packages and reminded us of when we brought food once a week to them in Bethesda.   I had forgotten but he was correct.  I stole the idea from my friend Alana but when Kate was born,  I asked Christina if we could bring dinner once a week, to see them and Kate on a regular basis.  She thought it a grand idea so we continued the practice right until they moved to Jackson.  Ken and I brought chicken or Pizza or Chinese food, on a rotating basis.  Our dinner last evening was just like the Boston Chicken food we used to bring in Bethesda.  

We enjoyed a happy dinner hour.  Molly especially enjoyed the cheese cake with strawberry sauce.  Mary Frances cut up and mashed the strawberries.   She did a fine job. especially as Christina had no potato masher.   I still don't know how MF did it, but the sauce was great.   There were good times all those years ago and there are good times now.   Ken and I are grateful for our wonderful family.

March 19, 2013. Jackson, MS. The Painting.

Ann has been a friend since 1971.  We met at the YMCA outdoor pool in Bethesda.   Our children were very young and our husbands worked long hours.  I met Gill at the same time.   Their husbands worked in the same lab.   We all joined Picnic Group and have been fast friends ever since.

Ann in her past life was a biological illustrator.   Her first paintings were of flowers and trees.   When we all went to the beach together,  Ann painted while we talked.  Everyone has one of her early beach paintings.  She and her husband moved to Dallas, and she had two more children, but she kept painting.  And she kept getting better and better.   We have always kept in touch and have always felt as if we were good friends.

10 years ago, Ken and I flew to Mew Mexico to see her work at an art show.  We bought a lovely picture  of butterflies, also smaller paintings for the twins and one for David and Suzanne.  In addition, we commissioned another large painting, as we wanted both boys to have one large painting by Ann.  Every time we spoke, we both mentioned the new painting, but nothing happened until now.  Now it is almost complete.  David and I commissioned the painting together.   I am retired and am short of extra wall space and extra cash so David was keen to do it together.   It will be delivered at the end of April in Texas or if Ann is too busy,  will just bring it to the 55th at the ranch.   We are very excited about the new painting, especially as it was painted by our friend Ann.  You can look her up  Ann Smith from Dorango, CO.

Sausage

Painting in Progress

March 18, 2013. Jackson, MS. Sausage.

Making sausage is a big deal.... hard work and time consuming, but when it was all done and put away in the freezer, everyone agreed that it was worth all the effort.   Our role, as ladies of the family, was to get out of the way and cheer.   Christina and I along with the three girls did a fine job with our task.   The heavy lifting was done by Andrew with assistance from John every now and again, and Ken, who helped whenever a two man job was needed.    Each freezer bag has five large sausage links and they have forty two bags in the freezer.

Andrew started with 75 pounds of deer meat, plus 20 pounds of pork fat.   The first task was to thaw the meat overnight.  Saturday,  Andrew ground the meat and the pork, then seasoned it, all according to a recipe he found in a book.   I overheard something about grinding freezing water into the meat, but I was gone by then.  We left at 12:15 and returned after dinner when the kitchen was all clean.   In our absence, they stuffed the links with the meat.  Ken's task was to twist the links.  

The sausage were left in the fridge over night.   After brunch,  Andrew and Ken took all the sausage links to the smoker, which is in John's back yard.  First the sausage must air dry for an hour, then be lightly smoked in the big smoker for two or three hours.  We ladies arrived home from evening church to see all the packages of sausage just ready to be placed into the freezer.  Molly helped Andrew count and store the sausage.  By Sunday evening, Ken and Andrew were tired.  Ken commented to me on the way home that you have to enjoy the process in order to put up with all the work.   The sausage is wonderful.   "Not too spicy," said Molly.   Andrew loves the sausage but he especially likes the fact that he did it all himself, starting with shooting the deer.    He was very pleased with his sausage.

March 17, 2013. Jackson, MS. Lady Preachers.

This weekend, I learned something about the Presbyterians.  They do not ordain women as ministers.  Kate mentioned quite casually that their choir sang at an Episcopal church in New York and that the preacher was a lady.   She said that it was a scandal.   I just laughed and pointed out to her that my parents held joint commissions as Salvation Army Officers, and that my mother was a better preacher than my father.   Further more, I told her that the Salvation Army was the first organization to recognize the position of women in their organization.  My opinion to Kate was that the Presbyterians were behind the times.

This weekend, I investigated the subject with Christina and discovered that the Presbyterian have several different groups, with differing customs for women.  But Kate was correct.  The First Presbyterian Church, where they are members,  do not allow women to be ordained as ministers.  Horrors.  I stayed on my high horse for quite a while.

Poor Kate.  Not only my mother, who was a lady preacher but Ken's mother also, before she married,  was also a Salvation Army officer and preached!!  Ken's grandmother too, much to the chagrin of her family.  So it is in the genes.  I certainly could never join that church, nor the Catholic church and for the same reasons.   Once upon a time it was a man's world and my mother always objected.  Me too.

March 16, 2013. Jackson, MS. Ladies Night Out.

We chose a fancy restaurant for our Ladies Night Out, and we were sure to go to a restaurant that was new to us.   Christina, Molly, Kate, Mary Frances and I went out to dinner at  Biaggio, in the Renaissance Shopping Mall.   We invited no men.   It was fun and it was festive and both children and adults enjoyed the event.    Molly was entranced with the outside fountains so after dinner the children played, enjoying the twenty fountains.  Much to my great surprise, Molly did not fall in although she did get splashed.

The reason the ladies ate out is because Andrew was making sausage today.   He had 75 pounds of meat to be made up and we decided to clear out.   I accompanied Molly and Christina to a birthday party in the afternoon, while Kate and Mary Frances ate lunch with Linda.   After picking up the big girls, we five decided to make it a ladies night out, hoping the work would be done when we returned.   We even brought dinner home for Ken, Andrew and John who had been working like bees.  

By 8:30, the kitchen was clean and everyone had eaten.  Next up, the sausage must be smoked but it will be done tomorrow.  The day was a great success, both for the ladies and the men.  Next year, the ladies will do it again when the sausage making is being done.  It was a good idea.

March 15, 2013. Jackson, Mississippi. A Trip.

Can you believe it?  Ken and I have planned a trip that includes five months away and five cruises.   We still can't believe we have done it.   One good idea led to the next.  The plan is to leave from Texas December 28, 2013 and return late in May from Vancouver, all operating out of one small suitcase each.  We also wanted to see if we could avoid planes and driving.

It started with Dave and Irene's invitation to celebrate their 60th anniversary on a cruise of the Caribbean,  including their children and grandchildren.   That starts and ends in Fort Lauderdale.  Our friend Gill is taking a semester sabbatical in New Zealand, starting in January 2014.  We promised to visit her there but early January is too early in the year so Ken and I will stay two weeks in Florida, then cruise through the Panama Canal, ending in Los Angeles.

We checked the 13 hour air journey and decided to take a cruise from San Francisco to Auckland, arriving February 25.   We will be in New Zealand for three weeks, two weeks on a private guided tour and one week in Christchurch with Gill.  Next we take a cruise of New Zealand and Tasmania, ending in Sydney, Australia on April 3.  And finally, after ten days in Sydney, we cruise to Vancouver,  arriving in Vancouver May 11.   It all seemed like a good idea at the time.  We just hope we enjoy the cruising!!  Some days, we think we have gone mad.

March 14, 2013. Jackson. Mississippi. A Book.

What a life I am leading.    All day today I have been reading.   I am still wearing my nightshirt.   This morning I did laundry and changed the sheets but the rest of the time I was reading.   There was food in the refrigerator and we had no appointments, so while Ken ran two different errands, I read, all day.  My i Pad ran out of juice just as I was finishing the book, so I must wait until tomorrow to read the grand finale.

This morning I read all the political e mails and articles from the Internet, then after lunch I read from my novel, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand.   I was surprised to find that the author lives in Brooklyn as the  book  takes place in Surrey, on the coast  south of London.  Her name is Helen Simonson and she certainly knows Surrey and the English habits.   It took a while to become interested in the book as I am always irritated at the English way of dealing with the world.   The book grows on you as the characters must deal with the world of the England right now.   Irene recommended the book to me and I have enjoyed getting to know these people but this is not a book that Ken would enjoy.  But for me, I will miss these folks when I get to the end.

March 13, 2013. Jackson, Mississippi. Children.

I know better than to ask a question to a child , but I did it anyway.   Molly was playing in her bedroom.  I walked by on the way to put in my eye drops.   Foolishly, I asked Molly if it was OK if I used her bathroom to use the mirror.   Molly look at me and grinned and said "It would be better if you used Kate's bathroom."   So I went across the house to use Kate's bathroom, realizing that I had just asked a foolish question.

If our conversation had been over heard by Christina, Molly would have been corrected, but as I had asked the question, I had to agree with the answer.  What Molly was thinking, I suspect, is that Kate has been away in New York, so her bathroom was tidy while Molly's bathroom was definitely not tidy.  Also she knows that normally I use Kate's bathroom and Molly is a child who likes routines.  She likes everyone in their proper place.   Often, we switch seats at the dining table.  That does not please her at all.   So I suspect that in her mind, I am supposed to use Kate's bathroom every time.   I chuckled but I knew that Christina would not be pleased to hear Molly's response to my question.  But I never said a word about it.  I just laughed.    "If you don't like the answer, don't ask the question," I said to myself.

March 12, 2013. Jackson, Mississippi. Condo Meeting.

Being a part of a new group is always interesting, but my first meeting of our condo association was definitely not what I had expected.    We have owned this place for about three years but the annual meeting in the past were held when we were out of town so we sent in our proxy vote and assumed that all would be well.  We knew that an activist board of directors had taken over two years ago and that they had been making improvements.  Also they have enforced the bylaws.   I suspected that unpleasantness would arise at the meeting tonight, and it did.  It was fascinated to observe.

They did something tonight that I had never seen before.   When tabulating the votes for the new board, they read aloud each ballot, in front of the group, a total of 79 ballots.  I could not believe it.  It took 35 minutes, while everyone sat quietly and listened.  What a waste of time.   The lady sitting beside me told me that this was the second time this had been done.  Two years ago, folks were upset with the results and accused the volunteers recording the votes of cheating, so last year they did the tabulation in front of everyone.   That was a first for me.  

Until the last two year, the meetings were calm and boring, according to my new friend Barbara.   I suspect that the old timers don't like the changes.    But I like this board.  The grounds look lovely although more sparse than before and the trash system is vastly superior but I could tell that the President does not suffer fools and he was short with his answers.   Being the President of a condo association is a thankless job.  He should quit after this year, when all the changes are put into place.   I even had to gather the sense of the meeting together myself in a short speech,  even though no one knew me.  Then I moved that the meeting be terminated, and it was.

March 11, 2013. Jackson, Mississippi. Spring.

It is Spring in the South.   We arrived just in the nick of time.  The trees are covered with white blossoms and are up and down all the streets.  Our condo grounds have thousands of daffodils covering the flower beds.   And pansies are everywhere.  It is lovely.   Ken even sat outside even though he would have preferred a warmer temperature.  Today it was 60 F.  so he wore a jacket.

Molly is enjoying being the only child at home.  Kate and Mary Frances are in New York with their church choirs.  Of course they are having a blast.   Molly does not miss her sisters at all.  It is interesting to observe her shine in the only spotlight.   We always enjoy being here and visiting with Andrew and Christina and the girls.  Molly loves it when we are there too, especially when she has my undivided attention.  Tonight, Ken and I ate dinner with them.  Christina is a good cook and we ate curry chicken and rice, along with a green salad.  Home made baklava for dessert.  They spoil us!!

Molly is definite with her routines.  She like to go to bed after we leave for our condo.   Normally, she goes to bed at 8:00, which is when we leave.  But today Molly missed her nap so by 7:00 she was tired and she whispered to her mother about when we were leaving.  Of course we all heard and laughed.  Then Molly got a lecture about not pushing guests out the door!!  It is fun watching these little girls grow up.   Ken and I did leave right after 7:00.  We were tired too.

March 10, 2013. Jackson, Mississippi. Groups.

For a short time, our fellow passengers travelling from Dallas to Jackson became a team.   Our journey took us from Puerto Vallarta to Dallas, and after clearing customs and a two hour lay over, waited at the gate for our flight to Jackson.  Sitting waiting were 12 young people from the navy, all in neat uniforms, all about college age.  The rest of us were just passengers, in other words, we were paying no attention to each other. Our plane was a very small American Eagle.
  
The announcement told us that the flight coming for us was late.    Five minutes later, they announced a change in gate, so this small group heading down the concourse to gate 6.   The naval folks were in the head of group.  By now, people were talking to each other.   When we sat down, the information was correct, that Gate 11 was going to Jackson.  But it soon changed.  Now people were really asking each each other what was happening.  After ten minutes, a new announcement changed the gate yet again,  to Gate 12.  Now we once were at gate 11, which is about half a mile from gate 6.  Now we are heading back but this to get on a new plane.   It was festive.  People chatting and cheering when we boarded.  The naval folks had never been on a airplane that was so small so they were laughing and hooting at the size.  The whole boarding was noisy and fun.  No complaining.  Just wanting to go.
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When the attendant mentioned that we were leaving for Jacksonville, the passengers exploded with hoots and hollers.   Even the safety instructions had comments and laughter.  It was fascinating to be a part of a group that gets together and act as a cohesive group, if only for a short time. 

March 8, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta. Moving.

The locker is half full and all the laundry is clean and folded.  Tomorrow morning, we will load the rest of our belongings  and put them away.   Our time in Mexico has been delightful.   We have had visits from friends along with nine weeks of warmth and sunshine, all the while looking out at the Pacific Ocean.  Now we are ready to visit our families and begin our journey to Nova Scotia.

First we fly to Dallas, then on to Jackson where we will see Andrew, Christina and Molly.   Kate and Mary Frances are visiting New York with their church choir.   The girls were so excited.   I hope all goes well.  They will take the train to New York and stay right downtown.  The choir will sing at churches.  Also they will tour.  What a trip when you are 16 and 13.

We are ready for the next step.  

March 7, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta. Mexico. Hair.

My hair is easy to manage.   In the course of my life,  hair has not caused me grief.  Nor has it taken me much time.    When I see the effort and expense that others spend looking after their hair and compare mine, I realize that I am a very lucky lady, at least with my hair.   Of course, my hair never looks extraordinarily beautiful or extraordinarily awful.   No one ever looks at my hair and neither do I.  Once I shower and dress, I brush my hair and get on with my day.  I never look at my hair  again.

My Mother would not allow us to pay attention to how we looked from the outside.   When my sister, who had beautiful curls, was caught primping in front of the mirror, my Mother cut off all her curls. My sister was 6.  I know about it because my Mother always felt guilty, because my sister's curls never grew back.  Carol's hair was wavy, but it never curled.    My hair was always kept short, when I was old enough to look after it myself.   My sister brushed my hair for me so you can see that I was indulged.   I am very fortunate that my hair is easy to manage because I would have no clue about doing anything except washing and brushing my hair.  I was born with easy hair and I am grateful.

May 6, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Elise.

Elise is my grand niece, the daughter of my nephew Ken and his wife Anne.   They live in Vancouver, British Columbia, the city where I was brought up.  Both parents are scientists, actually physicists and her brother Eric is in graduate school in Engineering, but Elise wanted no part of the world of science.   She is studying literature at the University of British Columbia.   This semester she is studying at the Sorbonne in Paris.  Fortunately she speaks french.  Her clever mother has always spoken to Elise in french.

elisesurseine.wordpress.com is her blog.   I am enjoying reading all about her experiences.   But what I enjoy the best is getting to know her a bit better.  She is twenty and I have seen her probably ten times in her young life and always in a group so we have never actually had a conversation.  I always know what she is doing from Dave and Irene but it is great fun to hear what she is thinking about and how she responds to the stress of travel and to new situations.  It is very reassuring to know that she handles herself very well.  The next generation of children are going to do very well and I have been impressed by her energy and expertise.

Now I want her to post her blog on some time of schedule and to post them regularly.  These old folks are vicariously enjoying her semester at the Sorbonne.

March 5, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Endings.

I wonder if everyone feels the same way as I do or am I just peculiar?  I have even been told that when house guests depart, the hosts jump for joy.    Perhaps they have different guests or perhaps they fuss more than me when they entertain friends.   The house always seems empty and quiet and lonely when house guests leave.  Our condo tonight feels like being in a morgue.

Yesterday we had a happy last evening.   First a swim and hot tub for Marilyn and me while Ken and Richard talked.  Then we four had a drink at the two for one at the restaurant by the beach.  We talked until almost sunset, sitting watching and listening to the sea. Finally we rushed up to see the sun set from our balcony.  It was no time to break with a successful routine.

Marilyn and Richard were here for only five days so we had not yet visited our favorite outside restaurant down the street.  I herded us all down for a light snack of baked stuffed potatoes.  It was fun and it was festive and we all four enjoyed our last evening.

But now they are gone and our place is quiet as a mouse.   Soon that will be the norm and all will be well but at the moment, I rather miss all our spirited conversations while we pondered the future and the past.  One thing we all agreed on and that is that we have been very fortunate in our lives.  And we hope it will continue!!

March 4, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. P.V.

The Malecon is one of the best places to talk a walk.   The good civic leaders of Puerto Vallarta  have done an excellent job of enhancing what is already a lovely walk right alongside the beach.  Today Marilyn and Richard and Ken and I took a taxi into Puerto Vallarta, just to see the Malecon.  It was worth the journey.

Ken and I have walked the mile and a half many times but each year it gets better.  Today there were two new bronze sculptures and several new sand castles.  The day was beautiful and the waves were crashing onto the rocks right beside where we were walking.  The Malecon is a paved boardwalk running right along the shore.  The road is free of cars so you can wander to your hearts desire, looking at all the sculptures along the way.

At the end of the Malecon we walked up along the River.  The trees are huge and charming.  We four ignored all the shops and ate lunch at The River Cafe.  We dined right beside the river and saw a huge iguana climbing a tree, two snowy egrets, and two green herons.  Great food too in a quiet spot made us all happy.   But as always, we were happy to get home.

March 3, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Sights.

You spy the most amazing sights, down by the pool.   It almost makes you get really, really thin.

Marilyn, Ken and I were sitting by the pool in the shade,  talking about important things such as women's life today verses fifty years ago.  Across the pool from us was sitting a man on a lounge chair wearing a bathing suit.   All I could really see of him was his round belly, which was as big as a basketball.  He was an astonishing sight.  He was sitting upright on the lounge chair with his legs sticking out in front of his belly.    The chair is not flattering so perhaps he looks better in a regular chair.   I certainly hope so!!

Then I went into the water.  It was late and most people had gone by then so I was the only person in the pool.  Marilyn and Ken were still deep in conversation.   I started my exercises in the deep water.  A lady came down to swim.  She was enormous.  She was the biggest person I have ever seen in real life. She took off her robe and got in the shallow water and did some exercises but never did get to the deep water.   Soon, she left and wrapped herself up in her robe.   It must be that she comes to the pool at this time when no one else is at the pool.   She was quite a sight.  You just never know what you will see sitting quietly by the pool.

March 2, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Cotton.

Marilyn purchased a shirt today.   She wanted one just like my shirt but in a blue color.   It cost her $25.  but she did not buy a blue shirt.   Hers is mint green.  It is identical to mine.   We could be twins.

Everyone who visits us wants to buy shirts made of the light weight soft cotton that is made in Mexico. The shirts launder well and need no ironing and are loose fitting, so the cotton along with the style is perfect for the life style in Nuevo Vallarta.   Suzanne from work has purchased many articles of clothing  here and Pat last year bought three shirts, she liked them so much.

T shirts are too hot here but the light cotton is perfect.   The shirts have no collars and are a bit low on the neck so when you wear these shirts you feel as cool as a cucumber.  It is a perfect souvenir.  Hurrah for Marilyn for being wise enough to see the value in these shirts.   It made her day.

March 1, 2013. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico.. Friends.

I am fortunate with my friends.   Marilyn and Richard are visiting us and we are having a good old time.   Believe it or not, this is the first time they have ever visited Mexico.  But as they have noted, this place is more like a resort than the real Mexico, which is true, but it is in Mexico.  It is not make believe.

It is fun seeing the place through new eyes.   It was wonderful eating lunch at the restaurant down by the beach.   The food is different enough to know you are in a different country but ordinary enough to eat it with pleasure.   During the rest of the afternoon they read on the balcony.   The best part for them was hearing the sound of the sea.   And of course, we watched the sunset.  

Marilyn has been friends since the days of living in Galveston, which must be over 45 years.  And Richard came on the horse back riding trip in Alberta 15 years ago.  We have always kept in touch with each other.  Now we all four reap the benefits of those connections.  I feel blessed and all it took was a bit of care over the years.    Life is simple when you look after the details!!