Merry Christmas 2022

 

How do you know it is Christmas in Florida???

When the Temps fall to or below freezing...   Yes, while most people in the nation is facing sub-freezing temperatures...we are shivering at 32 degrees...31 when we woke up.  Today's high, perhaps 44 degrees.  By Thursday, perhaps Friday, we will be sweltering again at or around 80 degrees.  Gosh, it is so tough living in Central Florida.

 

Had a picture of Mom sent to me...I blew up the portion of her so that you can see the big smile on her face.  Now what do you suppose would bring on that smile????

A visit from my son Michael (not in picture since he was taking it), who brought my daughter Stephanie (left), grand-baby Adeline and daughter-in-law Anna (foreground), and the kids mother Shelley (see next picture).  [Notice I did not point out where the baby is, I know my faithful readers know a baby when they see one!]

Yes, actually got permission to put this picture on the blog, along with this next one.

Michael did not tell mom about Shelley and Stephanie coming along, so it sort of confused her at first.  "I knew Stephanie right away," she told me..."But they had to tell me who Shelley and Anna were...once they said their names, I knew right away who they were."   Life gets that way when you approaching 93 years old.

No, this is not Adeline, this cute little guy is Marcia's Great Grandson Blandon, who was born just a few weeks before Adeline was born.  Isn't that a cute picture?  He lives in North Carolina...perhaps one day we will make it up there.

It was three years ago today, Christmas Eve, that we lost my little Skruffy Girl.  This is one of my favorite pictures of her, sitting between Mom and Dad in our First Motorhome back in 2012.  Lost dad on Thanksgiving three years ago, and then Skruffy less than a month later...it was a hard year, and did not get any better with the onslaught on COVID just a few months later with its draconian rules and regulations that followed.  Some say those laws saved lives...some say it put us in the position we are in today...you decide, I just don't want to hear about it.  Enough is enough! 

Enjoy your Christmas...we will, but with that faint tear in our eyes.  "Indy, come here baby, I need a big hug and lick on the face!"

Four Generations, All My Children, and Mom with Aunt Mary and 2 Cousins

 

Four Generations.  My mother, in the car, at age 92.  Me, in my mid-60's.  My son Michael in his mid-30's.  And our new 'Baby A'.  (Again, the parents do not want baby's name or close-ups of the baby out on the net.)

Here is the proud father bringing Baby A out to meet Great-Grandma and Grandpa (that's me)!

They are a lovely little family, and Baby A will be well taken care of by Anna and Michael.

We then headed over to a nearby park and met my daughter Stephanie (sitting), son Ryan, and his wife Kaelyn.  This was the first time mom had the opportunity to meet Kaelyn.  They were out in Sacramento over Christmas, but one of them (Ryan/Kaelyn) tested positive and had to isolate the entire time they were here.  We all stayed at a nice social distance for outside, which is good because mom tested positive yesterday...and thank goodness she is doing ok so far.  Covid is going through the Assisted Living Facility like the fires are going through the forests here.  We are lucky this is her first case, and that the current Covid is not nearly as dangerous as it was two years ago.

A little over a week ago two of my cousins, Stephanie and Yvonne, both daughters of mom's youngest brother Paul who died a couple of months ago, came through town.  We all met down at our cousin Debby's house, where Aunt Mary lives.  Now you have to remember, Mom and Mary came from of family of 11 children, all born from the same parents.  Mary is # 8, mom is # 9, and they are the last of the 11 children.  I knew their mother very well, but their father died in 1942.  They had one brother, Jimmy, who died in the war (WW2).  I knew each and every one of their other brothers and sisters.  Cousin Stephanie is who I adored her name so much that I convinced Shelley, the mother of my children, to name our daughter 'Stephanie'.  Cousin Stephanie is a year younger than I, and Yvonne is nearly four years younger than I am.  I have not seen Yvonne since sometime in the 1970's.  I last saw Stephanie in 1980 at a family reunion in Santa Cruz, where just about everyone of my Uncles and Aunts were in attendance, except Uncle Jimmy, of course.  Grandma was there too!  I can remember about a half dozen of these type of reunions in my lifetime...that was the last one I know about...Grandma only lived a couple more years.

Stephanie took these pictures of the get-together, and thankfully gave me permission to use them.  This sequence of five pictures above with Mary and Mom interacting is very precious.

Since Stephanie was taking the pictures, I did not get into one with her and I, but above left is one of Mary, Mom, Yvonne and I.  The picture to the right is my cousin Debby.  She is fortunate to live next door to her daughter Tara, along with Tara's husband and two girls.  Good support for help with Aunt Mary, and Debby also helps with Tara's children as needed.

This week is retirement week for sister Sandy.  After Friday, she is officially retired, and Friday is a personal day off, so Thursday is her actually last day of working.  Today they (her work) took her and about 30 other staff members she worked with over the years out to a nice Mexican Restaurant.  Since many have worked from home since 2020, they have not seen each other in person very many times the past two years.  She really enjoyed the honor they gave her...along with the gifts of coffee liqueur, sparkling wine (California's version of Champaign), some chocolates and some flowers.  Sandy has always been a hard worker, and I know they are going to be very sorry to see her go.

Speaking of going...we hope to hit the road by the end of next week to start our trip home.  Just hoping that I don't come down the Covid, because if I do, then Marcia is sure to also.  So far I feel fine, and have tested negative the past three days.

June Party, July Escape

At Bear River Casino, Loleta, Californi

On the last Saturday in June we had a family party, gathering, celebration...whatever you want to call it.  Essentially it was to celebrate Mom's birthday, Mom and Dad's anniversary, and Father's Day, all which had dad in the hospital or rehab when the actual days fell.  Happy to say, Dad is WAY BETTER, and it was party time.

Some folks, mainly Dad and Arny's mother Euleda, did not feel like being out in the 80 degree weather, so they stayed inside...but they both still got to eat, enjoy the party, and people came in and out to talk and wish them their best.

I was very happy that my son Michael and daughter-in-law Ana were able to come.  Michael was under crunch time at the State Capital as the Banking and Finance Committee in the Assembly, which is the committee he works for, has a huge Pay-Day Loan bill coming before the State Assembly and Senate to limit the amount of interest the pay-day loan sharks, I mean companies, (my son never ever called them sharks, those are my words and I will stick to them) who currently charge some of their victims 150% or more in interest.  YES, 150%!!!!  The bill, if passed, will limit it to the other type of loans in California which max out at 36%.  (Still too high coming from this former Arkansas where the highest interest is somewhere in the neighborhood of 22%).  To add icing to the cake, I even was able to have lunch with Michael on the 5th of July as he took an hour out of his day for dad.  Also, the girl bent over eating is my niece Kathryn who flew out for 9 days to see us all (lives in KC area).  It was so nice to see her, and she even had time to catch up with many of her school friends (she grew up in Sacramento) AND catch a SF Giants game to boot!

 

Of course, on Party Day we have to have food...ribs, tri-tip on slider buns, salad, fruit, and three different desserts.  Needless to say, no one went home hungry, and for many of us that was the only true meal of the day!  Arny does the BEST BBQs! 

Between the time that dad got home from rehab, and we left today, I have had some time to take a few fun pictures.  We always tease Arny that if he stops too quick, Bubba would be 'right up your butt'.  Well, this picture shows that scenario for sure.

One day in early June it rained and rained...the pictures above were taken on that day, the top one shows the huge water lake that formed on the patio.  Within 3 hours, the water was all gone, and it made for a nice sunset over mom and dad's old home.

And I took many bird pictures, these three are a few of my favorites.  In the last picture one bird is at the bird bath as another one just arrives.

Today, Sunday the 7th, we escaped Sacramento's heat (especially the upcoming heatwave where Friday is going to be close to 100), and we are sitting at the Bear River Casino in Loleta, California where we have stayed a number of times before.  We pulled out of Arny and Sandy's backyard and hit the road by 9:30.  Filled up our propane tank, emptied our waste tanks, and then headed over to mom and dad's to say goodbye to them and have a very quick visit with cousin Cassie and husband Rick who passing through on their way back home in Missouri.  (We had seen both of them while we were in the KC area for Ryan's graduation).  This past week was very busy for me getting shopping done, laundry (I do laundry on the road, Marcia does it at home but does sort and spot-clean as needed), groomed the dogs, packed up the car, took the driver front tire off the motorhome over to America's Tire (same as Discount Tires) because the stem would not hold air when I put the tire sensor on, changed the oil and checked and added fluids as needed to the motorhome, etc. etc.  For me it escaping the heat and the work...it was a very busy week before we left.

Not ONE picture of today's travels...we have done this so many times.  But as we passed by Clear Lake and saw how high the water level was, we wished we would have at least had the camera within reach.  Being the end of a long weekend, traffic was a concern, but most of it was headed the other way, and it was a long but uneventful trip.  Skruffy even cooperated by staying up on her bed for 75% of the trip!  Bubba, well, he is having 'missing Arny feelings', but little does he know that in 9 weeks we will be back for an even LONGER Stay.

There Be A ‘Doctor’ in the Family

At Blue Springs Lake Campground, Lee’s Summit, MO

There he is, my youngest son Ryan flanked by his wife-to-be Kaelyn (left), his sister-in law Anna (right) his brother and my oldest child Michael (far right) and his older sister Stephanie (far left).  LOOK at that smile…after graduating from the University of Arkansas back in May 2013, he has now completed his Doctorate in Chiropractic Studies at Cleveland University-Kansas City, and is now officially Dr. Ryan Burdick.  LOOK at that smile!  (yes, I know I already said that…but it is a true, full smile of accomplishment and relief).

Click Here for a YouTube playlist of his graduation, starting with him entering, then getting his hood, then getting his diploma, then the class taking the Chiropractic Oath, and then him leaving.  It takes about 3 minutes, and once you click it should just play all five in the proper order.  As for the graduation, it was around 40 minutes long, started on time, and was perfect…no politics, no “on and on” feeling…everyone did a good job, short, sweet, simple and perfect!

Proud mother Shelley talking with future daughter-in-law Kaelyn, with Stephanie and Michael in the background, awaiting the start of the program.

After the ceremony, it was time for pictures.  Pictured above is proud mother, Shelley, with our three kids.  As a school teacher, I give her all the credit for the education of our children.  Yes, I was a Librarian, more specifically Library Director, but SHE was the one who got them to do their homework, and she attended the Teacher-Parent meetings (I think I went to one or two).  Ryan is the first of my parents and I think Shelley’s parents children or grandchildren to get a Doctorate Degree.

Ryan’s lovely wife to be (May 2020), Kaelyn, will graduate in August with her degree…she will also be a Chiropractor.  TWO doctors in the family!  Currently, she is doing an internship in Washington DC at Walter Reed Hospital.

There are my three kids…so proud of each of them.

This was certainly Ryan’s day…we all went to lunch together at Q39 BBQ Restaurant in Overland Park, enjoyed the graduation a few hours later, and then had dinner at an Italian Bistro in Kansas City.  This morning Michael and Anna flew on to New York City where she is in a wedding on Sunday in Central Park.  Stephanie and her mother fly their separate ways on Sunday, and on Monday Ryan heads out to move some of his stuff into storage at Kaelyn’s parents place, and then move on to the DC area until his Fellowship at Yale starts in August.  So Friday was the day for all of us to get together…and we ENJOYED it all.  On Thursday the President of the University has a dinner for the grads…Ryan, Kaelyn, Stephanie and Shelley attended (each grad can invite three people), and the President goes around telling the crowd something about each graduate.  At the end he came to Ryan, and said that this is the first Fellowship at Yale that any graduate from Cleveland University – Kansas City (formerly Cleveland Chiropractic College) has ever had.  It sure put a big smile on Ryan’s face as Kaelyn told the story to all the rest of us at our lunch before the graduation.  He put a smile on all of our faces as he has finally achieved his educational dream…Dr. Ryan Burdick, Chiropractor.  

Leaving California, Headed for Home

At Sister’s House in Citrus Heights, CA

We entered California four months and 15 days ago for our yearly visit.  This year, besides visiting with family in the Sacramento area, we visited the Santa Cruz, Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Alabama Hills, Carson City, and Truckee areas, along with a six week trip up in the Northwest portion of California, and Southwest portion of Oregon.  We celebrated Dad’s 90th birthday, Mom’s 88th birthday, both of their 70th anniversary, and the marriage of my oldest son Michael to his lovely bride Anna.  Tomorrow morning we head out…at this time tomorrow we will be somewhere in Nevada along I-80 headed to the Salt Lake City area to visit with my daughter Stephanie.  It has been a wonderful 4 1/2 months here…despite the hot hot hot weather, and the fires which are a yearly occurrence here in the west.  The Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys have always filled with smoke…accounts of early settlers talk about smoke layers due to winter fires used to keep people warm to wildfires which broke out from what is believed to be lightning strikes.  As a kid, I remember the heavy smoke from the burning of the dry rice straw left over from harvest each year on the western side of the Sacramento River, a practice which is less common now days.  And I remember many large wildfires, some in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and lower foothills, which others were in Southern California or along the Coastal Ranges.  It is a part of living in the west.

    

Sacramento is a wonderful place for flowers.  It is the Camellia Capital of the World…just ask the Camellia Society of Sacramento.  They use to have a Camellia Festival in late February or early March--which ran from 1955 to 1993 which featured a debutante ball, princesses and a parade with flower-covered floats.  I think in 4th grade we had to make a Camellia Poster as part of a city-wide contest to help promote the event.  My posters were only good enough for the trash can…  I don’t know why they stopped the huge festivities…but they do still have a yearly Camellia Show, this year was the 94th year, still held by the Sacramento Camellia Society.  Not sure, but I think the parade probably stopped due to the Naked Ladies.  All I know is that the Naked Ladies appeared again yesterday, and we are headed out tomorrow!

Naked Ladies are also known as Belladonna Lilies…and they appear each year in Sandy and Arny’s backyard.  In the spring they appear as a green, leafy plant, which lasts for 4-8 weeks before they seem to die off.  Then in July or August a single stem starts to sprout upward…and lily opens up.  In the picture above, the short ones will be as tall as the lily that is open in just a few days.  The lilies will last for a few days, then die off.  It is an amazing show…  I am glad we were able to see a few of them bloom before we leave.

     

These two fur kids are not going to be happy campers tomorrow…especially the one of the left.  Bubba (upper left) absolutely LOVES being at Sandy and Arny’s house.  Arny is Bubba’s best friend…and outside of our trip to Oregon for six weeks, and the three weeks we were sightseeing California, he has been here at their house for the past year.  However, we were here for all but three months of that time…this time we will be gone for 7 or 8 months…so Bubba is coming along with us.  Boy, he is going to be one depressed dog for a number of days…perhaps a couple of weeks…but he always adjusts to it.  We just hope that at 15 years of age, he has a few more visits back to see his buddy Uncle Arny, and also Aunt Sandy.  Skruffy, on the other hand, is fine as long as she is with me or with Marcia.  But she too LOVES Sandy and Arny’s house…the daily small treats of fried pork that I cook up and give them to hand out twice a day, the squirrels, the lawn, being in Sandy’s lap every now and then…she too will miss them.

  

For us it is a two-sided sword.  We have had some meals with mom and dad, including finding a great breakfast/lunch place called Annie’s right near to their Assisted Living facility.  We LOVE visiting family out here, we LOVE staying in Sandy and Arny’s backyard when we are here, we LOVE the sights we can explore getting here, short trips we take while here, and on the trip home.  We also LOVE our friends and family who don’t live here…and we miss our friends and family back home.  Next year my youngest son Ryan is graduating from Chiropractic School in the Kansas City area in April…and our plans will be to return to California sometime after that.  When, How Long we will stay is all up in the air for now.  But the Lord willing, we will return, and seeing family out here is always a wonderful thing.

Back to the map…this is our proposed route.  It will take us through Salt Lake to see Stephanie, through Kansas City to see Ryan, Aunt Vera and other relatives in the area, then down to Arkansas, and finally back to Florida.  I am not going to see my doctor until next March or early April since we pretty much will be going through Arkansas again on our way to Ryan’s graduation.  We decided to NOT go through the Chicago area, probably saving that for next spring.  Marcia’s driver’s license needs to be renewed in September, and they will require her to take a vision exam…otherwise we could do it over the Internet.  We want to take a bit of time going through the northern portion of Colorado, so we are not ready to set time periods for our Kansas City or Arkansas Visits as of now.