A Wild Week

Sunday we went to church at St. Joseph, the closet one to our park.  There was an interesting homily on the Eucharist that several so called “devout Catholic politicians” really need to hear or change their church membership.  

We went to Kelly’s for Father’s Day and to celebrate Cassie’s 32nd birthday.  The Cocomelon bus I bought CeCe for Christmas is one of her favorite toys and we had to sing along to all her songs.  She sings her ABCs but those are the only 3 letters she says but has the perfect cadence down pat.  Same with other nursery rhymes.  She is so much fun.  

Ted received Verizon gift cards to replace his Apple 6 phone because he was having trouble getting his to charge and being able to place calls out here.  Mine is a 13 and I was having no trouble.  He is now a happy camper!

I don’t remember Monday but Tuesday I got together with my old Voplex co-workers.  Deo lives “up north” and was coming down for doctor appointments on Wednesday.  She picked me up and we stopped to bring lunch since Barb is close to house bound.  She and Pat live in the same senior building so we met there.  We had a nice long visit discussing our time working at this Tier 2 auto supplier in the 80s.  

I finally got my nails done Wednesday and then went to the grocery because the kids were coming out.  Pat and Sam came to clean the motorhome roof.  It didn’t get done since we had not gone to the valley this winter and it was bugging Ted.  Kelly brought a small sprinkler we attached to the hose and CeCe had a great time running through it.  Her grandpa took her to the playground and she didn’t want to leave there.  

Bill had his shoulder replaced and we were staying in touch with Kara.  He came through fine but they kept him and would not let her stay.  She brought him home midday on Thursday.  We chose to not go in unless she needed us because they both needed rest. I did laundry and cleaned some drawers.  We had dinner and sat outside for awhile.

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The phone started “dinging” and Kara told us she was was trying to reach the doctor.  Bill was in pain and running a 101.2 fever.  She eventually took him back to the ER.  She asked us to come in Friday morning and plan to spend the night.  

We stayed at the house because Kara stayed at the hospital while the kids bounced back and forth between home and their dad’s house. Cassie decided she was having friends over at Kelly’s.  In the meantime Kristin had CeCe there because Kelly, Pat, Ally and Bidkar went to Kalamazoo to a wedding that Ally and Bidkar were standing up in on Saturday.  We were called into action to help get the food ready for Cassie’s friends.  Saturday we were invited to a friend’s graduation party.  Kathy and Kara are friends and Morgan and Stuart were born 29 minutes apart in the same hospital and both delivered by their friend Dr. Robin.  They have been best friends for a very long time.  The photo is Kristin, me and Kathy’s mother Cynthia. 

Ted went to the hospital so Kara could make an appearance and then she returned to the hospital afterwards and we finally came back home.  Kristin took this photo while CeCe and I “watched” Frozen!

When I got home I went to bed at 11 and slept until 8!  All this running just wears me out!  

Sunday was our tea at Meadowbrook Hall at Oakland University.  This is the same place we visited last Christmas all decorated mostly outside, but some inside, for the holidays.  We were seated with the most delightful family - husband, wife and two of their 5 daughters.  It was a most enjoyable afternoon.

Ted, Pat, Kelly, Kristin, CeCe and I all went to church Sunday evening then out to eat.  We have breakfast with Carole and Margo tomorrow and lunch with Dave and Karen on Tuesday.  Kristin goes home Wednesday!  Whew!  

And That’s a Wrap

The caboose has left the station. Morgan is our youngest grandchild.  Her Honors Convocation, All Night Party, Commencement and subsequent Family and Friends backyard celebration bring to a close 27 years of school activities we have been blessed to attend for Cassie, Ally, Sam and Morgan.  

Kara outdid herself in the preparations.

The drink “chilled table” of drinks and veggie, fruit and cheese trays.  A catered dinner followed but I didn’t get a photo of that set up.  

The cupcakes in four flavors made by my friend Barbara’s daughter.

The themed centerpieces of palettes (made by Morgan), colorful flowers and paintbrushes to showcase her chosen major, elementary art teacher.  

Honors board and required art projects.  I used to think she was coloring pages from a book!  Actually she was drawing the whole picture!

Needless to say we are so proud of her.  We wish her well at Oakland University over the next four years.   CeCe will be 3 in October so she will be having her own school pageants and things by 2026!

A Delightful Mother’s Day Gift

 Sunday Ted took Sam shooting, not just practice, but to actually shoot a round of skeet.  He did quite well.  I stayed home and changed the bedclothes and did a few other things.

We were to meet Pat and Kelly at Paul’s in downtown Rochester for dinner.  When we arrived, we found them closed on Sunday!  The Paint Creek Tavern was right across the street so we went there.  It sits next to a “rails to trails” path along Paint Creek.  There was lots of activity with people picnicking, walking, riding bikes. 

I think while we are here we should go back and walk the trail.  Maybe enjoying an ice cream cone too!

Our evening entertainment was the play/concert “A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline.”  It was being held at Meadowbrook Theater on the campus of Oakland University.  Pat, Kara, Allen (Morgan and Sam’s father) and now Morgan are alumni.  The presentation was fabulously entertaining.  The gal who played Patsy was amazing,  I have always loved Patsy, I remember her beginnings and subsequent tragic death.  I have CDs of every song she ever recorded and know all the words.  It was a magical evening for me and by the audience reactions, for all in attendance.  This was my Mother’s Day present from the Duda’s!  

And then this morning the “old green apple two step” had returned!  I thought back to what I had eaten, a bowl of Protein cereal, a new product from the company that makes the Premier Protein drinks we use.  And chicken at the restaurant.  I am suspicious of the cereal.  It is the newest thing in my diet and the only thing new since this trouble began.  I am not eating any more!  Enough is enough!

Kristin arrived Kelly was picking her up.  They are going to get CeCe and bring her out.  I am feeling better (empty I guess!) so hopefully I can be more fun today.

Kara and Kristin left for Cincinnati Children’s hospital for Morgan’s endoscopy and colonoscopy for her celiac and colitis condition.  So we had Bill out for dinner while he plugged away at the punch list I had created for him.  He is a great one to have for these small repairs.  We call him McGyver because he always comes up with a solution.  

Kelly and I went to Frankenmuth on Thursday.  We had Zehnder’s famous chicken, lunch portion.  We took our leftovers home and I was able to feed Ted dinner that night.  Chicken, dressing, noodles, stollen fruit bread!  Carb fest!  We stopped at Chico’s where I stocked up on basic colored shorts, capris and slacks.  With a retuned shirt credit, 25% off everything, plus my member 5% off, plus a $25 reward I had earned the damages weren’t too bad.  Then we went to Cherry Republic to get cherry salad dressing and jam for my neighbor.  She requested it to use as a marinade and glaze for chicken.  

Today is prep for the party tomorrow.  Jessica is cleaning Kara’s house while they make their way home.  The tents, tables and chairs are being delivered today.  The cupcakes and flower centerpieces need to be picked up.  We are staying clear until after lunch when Kara should be home and we will all get in gear to “git ‘er done.”   

The Commencement

We left around 5:00 to drive to Pine Knob Music Event Center where 507 young men and women were to graduate.  The Honors Convocation was last week and of those, more than 400 of the seniors qualified for recognition.   Morgan earned Summa Cum Laude and National Honor Society.  They did not mention scholarships but she received two.  

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Upon our arrival and the first time to see her.

Afterwards we went to a late dinner.  I had a half sandwich, gave my fries away, a bottle of Angry Orchard and proceeded to be sick all night and today!  

We told the kids not to come out and I did what I could to get the laundry together for Ted to do one load.  And little by little I got things straightened up.  Kelly brought CeCe out since Wednesday is her day to have her.  I wasn’t much fun as Lolly but she liked my IPad with Mickey Mouse Club on You Tube.

They left about 8:00 and I curled up on the couch with my afghan and prayed for a better day tomorrow.  I had toast, crackers, tea and Coke for Breakfast, lunch, dinner.  And not necessarily at the right times.  The next day I was still under the weather.  I was getting better but slept 12 hours.  On Friday we went into Kara’s for a cookout after stopping at Morgan’s friend’s party.  But I fell asleep on the couch and when arrived home, fell right to sleep for another 12 hour night. 

Finally on Saturday I was back 100%.  We went to church and stopped at Kara’s to see CeCe who I could  now interact with her knowing I had nothing contagious.

Long Weekend in Cincinnati

 

Saturday we dressed appropriately for a funeral and traveled west side to east side Cincinnati.  There was an hour of catching up with relatives, always delightful in spite of our reason for being there.  Fr. Terry Keehan did a wonderful job and the service was a great tribute to a wonderful man complete with a green tam o shanter, bagpipes and a Jameson Irish whiskey toast and naval honor guard.  

Of the remaining 25 cousins, at least half were in attendance.  Ted is #9, reminding people he is in “the top 10!”  Pat, #15 cousin, attended but left early for another commitment.

We returned home and Sherry and John came by to pick up the Barco Loungers we were removing.  They sent a photo once they had one of them in Wyatt’s room.  She said “Mabel approves.”  My objection to them was the footstool.  In an RV they were always in the way.  I have to take a photo of our new recliners.  

We then chose to see “2000 Mules”.  We hadn’t been to a movie since “Judy” about Judy Garland and now we went two nights in a row!  We enjoyed Downton Abbey and found Mules very thought provoking.  

We left Sunday and drove to Shipshewana IN.  It rained so grilling our steaks was out.  We ate at Culver’s and called it a day.  Monday morning we went to two Amish groceries, one for their meat and one for their baking and cooking things not readily found.  Then we left to keep our 10 am appointment.  There was someone getting “something” but sizing info was wrong so we sat until 11:15 to have them place two recliners in the empty spots!  

Our drive to Michigan was through construction on terrible roads and rain.  We had sandwiches for dinner because we both were too tired to cook!  That steak will be a late lunch today because we will be gone starting around 5:00 to get to the Commencement venue.  It sort of interferes with the dinner hour.

We are set up for the month in a county park we have frequented for over two decades.  We sat outside with our feet up until it got too cool and we came in.  Eat your heart out, Texans!  

And We’re Off

We left about 9 am on Monday and traveled to Texarkana, AR for our first night.  We had cheese coneys for dinner because cooking on the grill is out and so is a lot of other things.  Keep it simple!

I took a shower, laid down on the couch and that was the last thing I remember.  I woke up wide awake at 4 am.  I said my rosary, mapped out our route and chose where we will stop for fuel.  This was our first stop in Carthage on Monday.  With our TSD logistic card we saved 45 cents a gallon off this price.  I can look at the truck stops coming up that are part of TSD and see what our savings are.  

We left at 8:45 the next morning heading to Marion AR near Memphis.  From there we will go to the Mammoth Cave area of southern KY and finally Cincinnati.  We are taking our time.  No need to drive tired.  

The campground was very nice and we walked to the office and bought an ice cream for dessert.  

We have been leaving about 9 and stopping just about 3.  It is less stressful than the longer days we used to do.  Now there is no rush and we are giving ourselves more travel days. 

We made our way to Horse Cave, KY in the area of Mammoth Cave National Park on Wednesday.  Ted chose a spot that caught his eye.  Normally you have to go where they tell you but this one wasn’t reserved so they let us have it.  We are still eating simple things which is using up a lot of what I brought from home.  I empty the pantry, refrigerator and freezer when we leave then go shopping when we get to our lengthy destination.  We have 3 nights in Ohio starting Thursday.  I will probably wait until Michigan to grocery shop.  

We will get on the road whenever we are ready in the morning.  There is no big city to go through so no need to worry about rush hour.  Traffic is heavy, mostly trucks and the roads are terrible. I may need fillings put back in my teeth!  

We arrived in Cincinnati after traveling through some rain but it was clear when we arrived and set up.  I emailed my friend of 72 years and asked if she wanted to meet us for pizza for dinner.  She did and we had a nice long visit.  She came back to the park and stayed awhile longer.  I will see her, hopefully with other Mercy High grads, when we return in July.  

Friday we went to see my sister Karen who is in an assisted living facility for her Alzheimer’s.  I saw her last summer in Sanibel when her whole family had a reunion.  

It was so good they did that because she went down hill quickly and her husband died in October.  Even then she didn’t seem so bad at his funeral.

I was so concerned she wouldn’t know me.  But as soon as she saw me she burst into tears and hugged me so tightly.  She said “I didn’t know if you would come.”  She tries to talk but usually can’t find the words which leaves everyone frustrated.  Her two daughters, son in law and grandson came by and she was very content to listen to the conversation around her.  I think she understands but can’t find the words to say what she wants.  I I did not know how she would react when we left.  We walked her to the dining room that we were not allowed to enter and when she was seated I thought she would like up to wave goodbye.  She started to eat and was not the least concerned we we leaving.  She probably already forgot we were there.  

We stopped at Whiskey’s  in Lawrenceburg for dinner and went to see Downton Abbey.  The next day was the funeral for Denis Sullivan, one of 31 Keehan cousins, the 6th one to have passed away.