I tried to write this yesterday but somehow lost the post and unable to find it so will start over. So much has happened. I was writing about Uncle Bill having a heart attack and dying yesterday morning. My poor mother-in-law losing her last brother, just her and Aunt Eula remain, 97 and 99 years. Now today more horrible news, Doug lost his brother Verl. He's been in the hospital about three months, was going in for a biopsy on his bladder and suffered a stroke. Doug has been there over two weeks and was going to come home on Wednesday  when Verl suffered a relapse and passed this afternoon. My heart just aches for Peggy and for Arletta who yesterday had to tell her, her brother died and today has to tell her, her son has passed also. I don't know how you live through such sorrow and heart ache. The tears will continue for a long time.

It's 1:30 in the morning and I can't sleep. I lost my brother John on June 9, 2019 and some nights the tears just won't stop. And the memories, how they hurt. I remember seeing you in the funeral home and kissing you good bye and you were so cold, you hated being cold and I can't forget. We'd go over to your home this past winter and you'd be sitting on your couch wrapped up in an afghan that mom had knitted for you many years ago. I now have that afghan in my home put away for safe keeping, I don't remember who but I told someone the other day that I just want one day where I don't cry at least once. I've lost Dad, Mom and Judy but this is harder, maybe because I'm more involved than I was with theirs. I found a card that you had kept that Doug and I sent you thanking you for handling everything concerning Dad's passing. I wrote how you had made it stress less for us. I'm now understanding some of what you went through. I've heard people say that their hearts hurt and I never understood but I do now. The day I picked your ashes up at the funeral home I felt such pressure in my chest that all I could do was scream and try to ease it as I drove along the freeway. If anyone driving along would have looked in the car they would have seem a mad woman clutching the steering wheel, screaming. You died alone, I wasn't there with you holding your hand, I should have been there, you were suppose to wait for me. A week from today we'll place your and Judy's ashes with mom and dad in the flower bed, I wish I believed in God and that the four of you are together looking down on us, but I don't, all I know is that you are gone and I miss you so much. And someday I want to stop crying.

January 28, 2017 How time has flown

April, 2013 last time I wrote on my blog, don't remember why I quit. Got up this morning, made coffee and read the newspaper then decided to look at this BLOG and had fun reading Doug some of the things I wrote years ago. This is just a fast catch up for me concerning the last two and half years. Sold our home in Richland, WA thinking we would move full time to Sarasota, FL but soon realized we wouldn't want the humidity of the summer, plus Todd and Shannon decided to move back to the PNW (Spokane). We ended up moving to Lake Havasu City, AZ,( thanks Dave and Lori Peterson) after selling our Sarasota home. Closer to family in WA and Canada so see them more.  Don't miss the drive twice a year between Richland and Sarasota but do miss the family stops along the way. Of course Mom has moved from Carnduff, Sask, to Cranbrook, BC and Jim and Claire are moving from Prior Lake, MN to Seattle, WA. now if only we can get Verl and Lynda out of Maud, TX and closer 🙂
We return to Sarasota once a year as we bought our friends, Jack and Maria Burrows, time share on Lido Beach. It's fun to visit with old friends there and our two grandsons who remain in the area. Adam is now married to a very nice young lady named Gen and they are expecting our third great granddaughter some time in June, they live in the Tampa area. Aaron is still in Sarasota but tells us he has plans to move in the near future to further his culinary career.  April lives in Renton, WA with our first great granddaughter, Kloe (can you believe going on 14 yrs in June) and  her partner, Ryo, a very nice young man. Amber and her husband, Tony, live in Little Rock, Ark with 2nd great granddaughter, Adalina 14 months. Maya and Evan still live at home with their parents as they are still in school, Maya 9th grade and Evan 6th.
Since I wrote about the grand children and their families should mention about our pride and joys, their parents. Todd and Shannon live in Spokane, WA where Todd is employed by Comcast Cable and Shannon at Boeing Credit Union. They love being back in the PNW but I think miss being close to the kids. Bryan and Michelle are still in Kent, WA. Bryan is still with UofW but in another area, he works for I-TECH which has to do with Global Health and Michelle is teaching a split 4/5 grade class in Renton.
Think I'll try and keep this up a little longer than I have in the past not that our lives are all that interesting, but it will help with my memory in the years to come.

April 4, 2013

Leave Sarasota, FL heading for Richland, WA. First day drove 534 miles and spent the night in Pensacola, FL. Stayed at the Comfort Inn.

April 5, 2013

Left Pensacola and drove 496 miles to Shreveport, LA. Went to Shreveport Boardwalk and had dinner at Joe's Crab Shack.  After dinner went to Boontown Casino for a little gambling but filled with cigarette smoke and decided not to stay. Stayed at Howard Johnson and it was horrible. Dirty (towels on floor in hallways), security terrible (doors to rooms left open), unsafe (toilet seat moved sideways every time it was sat on). We also had no washrags so used hand towels to wash with. Called corporate office and lodged a complaint.

April 6-7, 2013

Drove 98 miles  to Verl and Lynda's in Maud, TX. Surprised by Alex coming over from Tulsa, OK to spend the week end with us. Brittny came by on her way to work on Saturday and had a nice visit. Sunday Brittny came back over in the morning and visited until Alex left to go home. Spent the rest of the day just relaxing and talking.

April 8, 2013
Left Verl and Lynda's and drove 500 miles to Amarillo, TX. Stayed at the Baymont Inn and went out for Mexican dinner.

April 9, 2013

Slept in until 8 a.m. got up had breakfast and then drove out to 8410 Wilshire Dr. our home while living here back in the 70's. Drove around looking the old neighborhood over and drove by Gene Howe Elementary School. Doug took lots of pictures and later will add them to the blog. We then drove to Gallup, NM 426 miles. Stopped at Fire Rock Casino and donate d $20 each. Spending the night at Comfort Suites.

11/25 thru 12/3

Day after Thanksgiving-Black Friday. Up early to buy lanai chairs and coffee table at Home Depot and a refrigerator at hhgregg. Arrange to pick up the lanai furniture on Tuesday and a Tuesday delivery of the frig, then on the road to Suwanee River. Spending the week end with Alan and Diane. Friday night we go to the restaurant/lounge for cocktails and dancing to Justine Case, fairly good music. Saturday we're off to Okefenokee Wildlife Reserve, our senior National Park pass gets us in for free (always a good thing). Most of the reserve burnt this past summer so we take a boat tour to have a look see, the water is very low so can't get as far down the channel as they generally go but that is okay as we saw lots of alligators but only one bird. Sunday morning we take a four mile walk around the RV park then head back to Sarasota. Figure it will take us X amount of hours but didn't count on a fender bender that had traffic backed up and slowed down for many, many miles. Took almost an hour to go ten miles.

Monday morning we get up, drive to our regular parking spot at Starbucks on Fruitville and Honore and then walk 4 miles to weight watchers. Surprise, after Thanksgiving and a week end out we both lost weight. Don't know how but very happy. Monday Al and Diane get into town and doug and Al go pick up our lanai funriture.

Thanksgiving

Today was a great day. Started with a trip to Starbucks for coffee and to read the newspaper. Afterwards we drove to the Legacy Trail and did a 21 mile bike ride in two hours. Got home and after getting ready went to Todd and Shannon's for Thanksgiving dinner. When we arrived Amber and her husband Mark were there to visit and watch football on TV, also there was Aaron and his girl friend Adriana. Later Adan and his girl friend Samantha arrived and we all sit around visiting and watching football. Todd was outside preparing the deep fryer for the turkey, unfortunately the fryer didn't work. Aaron drove to Wal-Mart and bought another so the day was saved. Todd also cooked a turkey in an Infra-ray cooker and it was very good and a lot healthier than the deep fried (which was also delicious). Home now and getting ready for tomorrow when we will go to the Suwanee River to spend the week end with Doug's cousin Alan and his wife Diane.

Day before Thanksgiving

Yesterday was a complete relaxing day for me. Doug went with Amber for the inspection of the house she and Mark have put an offer on, Mark had to work. After they had lunch Doug went for a haircut and Amber came to our house for the afternoon. The three of us went to see Puss in Boots and to be truthful it wasn't that good but the popcorn made up for it.

Today it was up, drink coffee and read the newspaper afterwards we did 30 minutes of Bob Harper Boot Camp workout DVD. Went to the store and got all the items need to make a low-fat pumpkin pie, hope it taste okay. Tri County Air Conditioning and Heating was out for our yearly check up on our air conditioner. No problems so good for another season.

Doug has gone to Sam's to pick up his medicine and when he gets back he will BBQ some salmon for supper and I'll cook a butternut squash. Our day will then be ready to wind down and it will be early to bed as we will get up around 6 for a bike ride before dinner at Todd and Shannon's.