Tuesday I went to have my nails done since they had grown so long. Then we just hung out until it was time to go meet up with some school friends of mine. There were about a dozen friends who met for dinner and much reminiscing and catching up occurred over the next 3+ hours. We didn’t take any photos though! Donna and Cookie, my two kindergarten 1950 friends were there. Hard to realize we have been friends for 71 years! Karen who sat next to me in training at P&G in 1963 came too. That’s a pretty long friendship also. She followed us to the campground afterwards to see the motorhome because it was on her way home. She stayed for a nice visit which we all enjoyed. I love friends that can just pick up where you left off last time you were together.
Wednesday was family night for Ted. After scores of my relatives and friends, we went to his brother Kevin’s house, and what a beauty it is. His wife Barb has the eye, the talent and the energy to make everything she does turn out so beautifully. Her decorating, gardening, cooking! I don’t think she has the number of any handymen, painters, lawn guys, caterers, etc. She gets the job done herself! I now have some seeds to plant at home! Please Lord don’t make me tell her I failed at growing something!
It was Mexican night complete with Margaritas! We always have such a good time with his siblings and this evening was no exception. We were delighted to hear his priest cousin Fr. Terry (who said our 40th anniversary Mass 16 years ago and baptized granddaughter Morgan 17 years ago) was coming in from Chicago to officiate at a wedding in Louisville! Which brings me to the next evening!
We were due at Mahoney’s Pub at 6 pm to visit with Fr, Terry! There we found brothers Dan and Kevin, sister Kathy and Mike, cousins Jay, Jim, Kevin, cousin Julie (and spouse) and nephew Sam (plus date). The party was on! To add to the festivities the Reds were playing and winning and the awesome Field of Dreams game was playing too. Five hours and two Angry Orchard Talls later we headed home. I had ordered a quesadilla but Ted held out for White Castle on the way home! What a serendipitous evening!
Friday found us heading to Elk Lake in Owenton KY to see all the construction going on at niece Cindy’and Tim’s lake house, their permanent home for the time being. It is a tremendously big addition but will be awesome when it is finished. We eventually took a boat ride to see the changes around the lake. There is lots of tearing down and starting over on lakefront lots. Climbing prices have hit vacation homes too! Their son Ronny arrived in late afternoon because he was fishing with Tim the next morning in a tournament. The 5 of us went to Elk Creek Winery for dinner. I had made a cobbler for dessert but to avoid going back to their house afterwards we took it to the restaurant and no one there seemed to care! We took paper plates, held on to our forks and we ate the whole thing. Bad weather appeared to be moving in so I just took my empty dish home from the restaurant.
Saturday we relaxed while doing laundry and then went to church. We had dinner before heading to the casino in Lawrenceburg, IN. We are by no means gamblers but we each took $50 to play. I miss pulling the handle on slot machines, hearing the clank of coins into the tray, and carrying a tub of coins around. Pushing a button repeatedly just isn’t fulfilling. Not to mention there are no penny, nickel, dime or quarter machines! They may say they are but the lowest bet I saw was 30 cents! I like to change my amount and/or number of lines for variety but even that 30 cent machine jumps to 60, 90, $1.20, $1.50 and so on. Another new thing for me was the "side bet." I noticed my money going down more than I thought it should. Upon further investigation I saw a square with dice that were thrown each time you bet (for an additional sum). It paid out according to a table. You had to push Turn Off Side Bet each time! Eventually I went to find Ted who had doubled his money on the poker machine. So we left with $103 and called it a night.
As we approached our car, a car pulled in next to us driven by my good friend Donna. What are those odds? So we had an opportunity to say goodbye once again.
Ted went shooting on Sunday morning. When he returned my cousin Jim and Sharon arrived to see the motorhome and to go to an early dinner. We had a great visit with them and discussed their plans for our reunion in 2023. A place in West Virginia looks very promising.
Our last day was spent pulling outside shades off the windows, emptying tanks and meeting another good friend, Marilyn, and her sister. They are both widows now but Marilyn and her husband Jim were great camping friends when we lived in Cincinnati. Both of them are having difficulty walking now but made it in and out of the motorhome. We had such a great visit before having lunch and continuing on at the restaurant. We have seen so many friends and relatives this trip!
We leave in the morning heading to Marion, IL as our first overnight.
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