2017 The Year In Review - Part 1
In recent years I've struggled with deciding if I'm going to send Christmas cards. It's not about NOT wanting to. I still want to. Two years ago I sent an electronic card and letter. Last year time got away from me and I didn't send cards at all - although I intended to. It seems many folks are not sending cards anymore. I've loved hearing from friends - even once a year - and see the pictures they include in their holiday greetings, so I have decided to continue to send my greetings, with one change. My "letter" will be here on my blog. Last December I was busy getting ready for a celebration in Mexico and then leaving Rhode Island for the winter on Christmas day, I received many cards and holiday letters from family and friends afar...and I loved getting them. So this year I ordered the photo greeting below...and decided to try to recap the year I've had. And on so many levels it has been an amazing year!
The card you see below went in the mail this week. I wish I had ordered more...because I didn't have enough and a few friends will get this greeting via email. I would be REAL curious to hear how you feel about sending and receiving Christmas cards via snail mail or email?
So I'm back this year, and I am taking the easy way out. I find this blog to be an easy way to stay in touch. I'm trying to write more as I travel. But somehow my discipline is VERY lacking and I find weeks go by and I don't get back to this. I'm always disappointed in myself and always promising to do better.
The photo in the Christmas greeting this year might surprise some. Now that I live in Rhode Island...I'm available to join Mike and his family pretty much all the time - and John came in for Christmas as well, so it was a big family gathering! This was taken at Mike and Shelagh's home and John and Tim were in town and we all had a great celebration. Chevy Chase and the movie Christmas Vacation has been a holiday tradition for us and I surprised everyone with t-shirts that were quite funny. We had lots of laughs recalling different lines from the movie. Emma and Will have lines from the movie memorized - "why is the carpet all wet, Todd?" "I don't know Margo!" ... and on and on.
Standing L to R: Shelagh, Mike, Don, Pat, Tim, John - and Emma (11) and Will (8)
Christmas day I traveled with Don to Mexico. Don's family was already in Puerto Vallarta, and we were all celebrating Don's 75th birthday. What a grand time we had with his two daughters and their families and his son and wife and two children. They traveled from Seattle, Denver and Northbrook. All told there are seven grandchildren and everyone had a wonderful time!
After this amazing week in Mexico, we flew to Houston to bring in the New Year and pick up the RV, which was stored there in late November to get it out of snow country! After a couple days in Houston we drove west with Arizona being our final destination. We stopped in San Antonio and enjoyed the Riverwalk, enjoyed driving thru New Mexico and then on to Tucson, Arizona. Smooth sailing all the way! I love the west! Seeing the San Antonio Riverwalk was on my bucket list, and it was beautiful!
Once in Arizona we pulled in to an RV park where friends Cathy and Rick have stayed during the winter for years and we we were not disappointed. The first week there we decided to stay for the entire winter! There were so many things to do and places to see and we had a great winter stay! Being a coast/ocean "girl" I never thought I would love Arizona as much as I did!
Our parking site looks out on Superstition Mountain in Apache Junction. It was a beautiful winter. Even the chilly days of January or February were welcome!
Meridian RV Resort is located in Apache Junction, AZ...just east and a little south of Phoenix.
As a co-pilot in the RV, I enjoyed taking pictures of beautiful scenery along the road. I'm VERY impressed with Arizona's designs on overpasses, railings, posts, along highways, etc. I have an entire collection of photos taken along highways! Too many to post here, and I'll try to start a new post soon with some of the beautiful road art!
The photo addiction I have goes on and on. This passion has been asleep deep inside me - for years. I've always loved taking pictures, starting way back when I was a kid. Raising the boys, I made sure I took pictures of them as they grew up and I've treasured those pictures. With digital photos it is is easy to snap and delete and save the best...and edit and enhance and make gifts. This is what I love to do no matter where I am.
Yes, I drive the motorhome. It's a 40 ft. Tiffin Allegro coach home...and we tow Don's Honda CRV...which makes for a very long vehicle - almost 60 ft - we're just about as long as the semi's on the road.
Some favorite Illinois friends also live in Arizona or spend the winter there and we had fun visiting with Joan DeRango, Shelly and Fred Brostoff, Steve and Judy Goode, Marilee and Tom Lonze, Jodii and Peter Anderson, and Joy and Larry Johnson. My friend Whin lives in Prescott and I was able to visit with him a few times during the winter. Also, it was fun to see Pam Pocklington - a friend from my life in Moraga, California. Pam’s daughters live in the Phoenix area. We were on the go a lot and also made several really nice new friends at the RV park. We had an amazing visit to Wickenburg to visit with Don’s daughter Geri, her SO Shawn and Shawn’s parents. Four wheeling in the hills was a thrill!
We enjoyed a REAL Arizona Rodeo in Tucson, visits to the Desert Botanical Gardens, Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park, Tonto National Forest, to name a few. Day trips to Wickenburg, Prescott, Flagstaff, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Payson, Sedona, Superior, Roosevelt, Globe, Gold Canyon and Tucson.
In February we flew to New York and visited the Statue of Liberty and walked to the top of Lady Liberty, and flew to Florida for a reunion with old friends Pat Grohman and Marylou Gross. What a super time that was in Clearwater Beach!
Another winter break travel trip took me to Cleveland, Ohio for a conference with my photo organizing organization. While there I visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Before departing Arizona in April, I made a quick visit to San Francisco to visit with Andrew and Tim to celebrate my birthday! Happy Momma to see her two sons!
I was treated to a ride thru the Golden Gate and out to the Farallon Islands...be still my heart! I LOVE these guys! What an amazing day visiting with them!
Driving “home” (bringing the RV back to Illinois where it is stored for the summer) we made stops in Winslow, AZ, spent some time visiting the Petrified National Park, Sandia Peak/Mountain Wilderness for a tram ride up to the top of the mountain, and Albuquerque and then back thru the Texas panhandle, Oklahoma, Missouri and in to Illinois where the RV was parked for the summer season.
Painted Dessert, AZ
Even cloudy days on the road again area beautiful!
Upon returning to Rhode Island, it was time to turn in the convertible for a car that had a bigger backseat! A VW Toureg took the place of the fun top down car. Spending time with Mike and his family is the best and I’m getting adjusted to life in Rhode Island. It’s very different than any place I’ve lived and I would be telling stories if I didn’t admit it has been a big adjustment to feel “at home.”
May took me to NJ for a bridal shower for my nephew Andrew and his bride to be, beautiful Jennifer, and a quick flight to IL to get on my motorcycle and ride it across country with Don to Rhode Island. Back in Rhode Island I get to enjoy soccer games, basketball games and swim meets with Emma and Will. In July we traveled to NJ again for a beautiful wedding with my Andrew and Jen, the new Mrs. Nycz!
Over the summer I enjoyed visits with family and friends showing off beautiful Narragansett Bay, Block Island, Jamestown, and the Rhode Island coast.
In August I made a very sad trip to San Francisco to be with Andrew and Alicia as they said good bye to Alicia’s Mom. She lost her cancer battle and we all miss her so very much!
(More photos in Part 2 blog post)
Reunions of old friends is always special for me and spending a weekend In Salmon Idaho with Ginny Griffith and Kay Geary was no exception!
Following this fun weekend I got in the RV with Don and we began travels south and west. First stop Red Bay Alabama, where Tiffin coach homes are built for repairs, then travel west to Arizona. One great stop along the way in Texas to have dinner with my sister Gail and enjoy some awesome Texas music! Next, the RV was parked in Arizona and we flew back to RI until after the holidays.
In early November I traveled back out to San Francisco to spend a few days with Tim, Andrew and Alicia. I never tire of traveling to see them. This is what makes me happiest, spending time with my family. Of course it’s awesome that they live in such a beautiful place! On this trip I enjoyed two special things - walking out to the Point Bonita Lighthouse in the Marin headlands with Tim….and seeing Andrew’s performance with the Acapella group Scales of the City….in San Francisco.
In November I made a special trip to the Philadelphia area to surprise my girlfriend of 40+ years, Marylou, for her special birthday! Always fun to see her and what a bonus to join her daughter Natalie and family and her daughter Jennifer’s family! I knew Natalie and Jennifer when they were just wee ones!
Thanksgiving was in Rhode Island with Mike and family. I do enjoy travel but must admit I’m wanting to stay “home” for a while. Stay tuned on how that works out!
My “boys” are now grown men. It’s still a reality check for me to stop calling them “boys” and instead “men.” I keep trying. My grandchildren are growing so fast. Emma is now 12, taller than me and Will 9, will be taller than me soon! It’s fun to see them in school and sport events.
May this find you and your family and friends enjoying time together. I continue to feel so blessed to have the amazing family and community of friends in my life.
Health and happiness to you in the new year.
