Galveston, O Galveston ...

There was a time in my life when the music of Glen Campbell played often on my radio or stereo.  I couldn't help but to hear him sing as we drove the short route south from our RV park to the city of Galveston.

We had one full day to visit, tour, shop or relax and we decided since it was only about 50 miles away it might be fun to drive to the coast of Texas and see Galveston.  As we drove along the interstate the weather turned bad and it started to rain - no pour is the better word.  This didn't deter us - we kept going thinking if nothing else we'd have lunch and drive back to the park.

What was most concerning along the way were the number of motorcycles traveling in the opposite direction - heading north towards Houston.  After a couple dozen or so bikes and groups of bikes, I began to wonder if something was going on in Galveston that weekend.  A quick google search gave me the answer.  The Lone Star Rally.  A huge, yearly motorcycle rally in downtown Galveston.  

Our riding juices started flowing and we looked forward to seeing how Texas does motorcycle rallies!  This was a weekend rally that started on Friday.  It was now Sunday afternoon, so we figured the biggest crowds were probably dwindling by now and we should be able to park and walk around without too much hassle.  

Sure enough, parking was easy and we strolled along the streets of vendors and people.  At first glance this didn't look much different than other big rallies we'd been to - Sturgis, Daytona Bike Week, Midnight Ride in Chicago, etc.  For a small city, Galveston really put out the welcome mat for bikers.  Main street was closed to traffic for several blocks and bikes were parked up and down for about 6-8 city blocks.  

Galveston is a very old city and the buildings along Main Street have been preserved to protect the charm and character of the late 1800's, early 1900's.  There is lot of shopping and restaurants and outdoor seating.   The Port of Galveston is one of the busiest ports on the Gulf, and several cruise ships were parked.  Some of the largest cruise ships you might find.  

Although the sun didn't come out at all for our afternoon stroll, we enjoyed the rally and did a little shopping before heading back to the car and drive north to the RV.

Christmas Cards - Or Not...In JUNE?

The subject line in this email might have caught your attention.  Through the years I’ve had fun with “Christmas in July” sales.  This year I find myself finishing my 2016 year in review note!  I decided not to send it to friends at this time, but instead to post it here.  I looked thru the notes and cards that arrived last December and I feel a little guilty that I didn't send greetings.  With those thoughts, I decided I would go ahead post this on my blog.

  

You might wonder why I’m doing it at all?  Well, I have been keeping a notebook, yes - a three ring binder - of yearly notes.   It’s sort of been like my diary or journal.  I like doing it.  I like looking back at the notes and seeing things happen from year to year.  And I have to be honest here - they help me remember WHEN I do look at them - what happened from one year to the next.  That becomes more important as I get older!

In 2015 I decided to post my annual letter on my blog.  That seemed to get some attention but I haven’t been good about keeping the blog current - so I didn’t want to do that this year.  When I finally got back home to Rhode Island this spring and made up my mind that I HAD to write this and get it off my “list,” I thought I’d try a new program on my Mac - Pages, to write it.  I found it very challenging - and I’m not sure I’ll use it for 2017.   Maybe I’ll switch to Powerpoint?

I’m struggling with the idea of continuing to send - in the USPS - Christmas/Holiday greetings.  I see the number of cards and notes I’m getting are diminishing.  Not sure if that is because of the internet or because with time some friendships change.  I have to admit - I love getting the cards.  I usually display them around the house and during the holiday season I see them and enjoy them and then I save them in a big pile in a "safe" place - until next year.  Then I look at them again as I get ready to create my holiday greeting.  But in December of last year, I started and never finished a letter.  When I returned home from winter travels in May I found a stack of Christmas cards in envelopes - UNMAILED!  They were waiting to have a letter inserted in them!

It’s been fun to stay in touch with you!  Some of you send wonderful letters and some have pretty cards printed with pictures of the family.  They are all sitting right here next to me right now, in a basket!  I love receiving them.  For this reason you’re getting this almost mid year note from me.  I was feeling guilty that I didn’t get cards or notes out in Dec 2016.

So here it is.  NO NEED FOR A RESPONSE.  Just file it away if you’re wondering where in the world Pat Michaud is and what is she doing!  Some of you are on Facebook with me and none of this will be news to you.  Sorry about that!

What a year 2016 was!  And so far 2017 hasn’t been too different.  But you know what?  I’m starting the 2017 note next!  I promise you won’t get it in the middle of 2018!

So, fast forward to now...and I've had a lot of fun pulling together pictures of all my travel in 2016.  And there was a lot!  I found the note I had started last December and I'm enclosing it here.  I'm not gonna change anything I said.  

Here you go!  

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Christmas Cards – or Not?  (written some time in December, 2016)

After posting my Christmas note on my blog last year, I learned that I couldn’t print it, download it as a word doc, etc…and that didn’t make me happy!  I’m keeping a Christmas letter journal year to year – so I had to recreate last year’s letter as a Word document for my file. 

With baking, shopping and getting ready for some serious winter travel, I find myself in a time crunch and I’m thinking…do I REALLY need to send cards?  In this day of technology – are we all going to eventually migrate to electronic cards?  And letters?  I’m not really sure how I feel about that and for now I’m doing what I need to do to get this letter and good wishes out to you – in an email.  I’ll update my blog and begin a “year in review” soon so if you’re interested you’ll find more details there.

Happy holidays!  Whatever you celebrate with your friends and family – please enjoy each and every minute of the time you share this season. 

The year started out on a sad note for me and my family this year.  Shelagh’s father died the day after Christmas.   Sadly, she also lost her mother earlier in the year.  Both parents, within months of each other. Christmas notes should be full of glee, good things and happiness…and I’m struggling to get there this year, in spite of the great adventures and visits with friends that I’ve enjoyed.

So, I apologize for this bit of sadness.  

After the memorial service in New Hampshire, I traveled to Florida with Don.  He purchased motor home last year and our plans were to explore Florida.  It was an adventure, a learning experience and a great memory.  There is a steep learning curve to driving, maintaining, living and traveling in one of these RV's.  And our experience was full of lots of ups and downs.  

Just a couple of weeks after we arrived in Bradenton, Florida I received a call from Pennsylvania telling me my brother (57 years old) was found dead in his apartment.  Mark was divorced and lived alone.  He suffered with alcoholism all his life.   He was a kind, loving, giving, funny guy that I loved dearly, and this tragic news was devastating.  As the “next of kin” I traveled to Pennsylvania and I sorted thru his home and belongings packing some things to preserve for his daughters.  His body hadn’t been discovered for almost two month, so the scene was not pretty and a decontamination crew spent 4 days there before I was allowed in.   After about ten days in Pennsylvania, I traveled back to Florida.

Little did I realize at the time how much this experience would affect me.  Also, some of you might remember a fine young man, Will, who stayed with me for a while in Palatine after my accident.  Will was going thru a divorce and needed a place to live as he figured things out and my first floor guest room was perfect for him.  He was a chiropractor and wonderful person and we enjoyed a nice friendship. 

In March I received a note from Will’s family that he had committed suicide.  The combination of my holding my brother in law Bill as he passed away, along with my brother Mark’s death and then Will’s death created enormous sadness and grief that I continue to struggle with.

When I reflect back on 2016 those losses are fresh in my mind, still, and my heart still hurts and I experience waves of grief.  I know in time this too shall pass. 

The happiness in this year for me was in settling in Rhode Island and living near Mike, Shelagh and my grandchildren.  Emma is now 11 and Will is 8.  We have sleepovers at Grammy’s!  To be able to attend soccer games, school events and to drop in for dinner now and then is thrilling.  To live closer to my sister in NJ and enjoy more frequent visits is also a joy.  

In between last winter's travel in Florida and this holiday season I enjoyed a couple of visits to San Francisco to spend time with Tim and Andrew & Alicia.  I was also able to take a fantastic 2400 mile motorcycle ride touring around Lake Superior and into Canada in June, fueling that motorcycle passion that I have not been able to walk away from.

The summer was busy adjusting to life in Rhode Island and sharing the beauty with a few visitors and in October I enjoyed The Desert Trip music festival in Palm Desert, California.  Seeing Paul McCartney and The Rolling Stones was a lifetime experience!

As the year comes to a close I am hopeful that this finds you and your family making warm, loving memories.  Tell them you love them – often.  

Tomorrow is promised to no one.  Those words are more true to me than ever before so I'm trying to do what makes me happy and enjoy each and every day.  I hope you are able to do the same.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of the year.