FIFTY YEARS MARRIED.

Larry and Jan Seaberg invited us to a pot luck being held at the family lodge at the park. Mostly regulars with permanent sites, the folks that walk together in the mornings.


What Larry and Jan didn't know when they invited us is the party was a surprise celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary two days hence. I don't know everyone's names, but Bob, spelled with one-o, (the way he introduces himself) organized the celebration and presented them with a gift of gold inscribed 50th anniversary glasses.

Larry made a speech about what an event like this means. That long term marriages have ups and downs, and rewards. But he addressed this crowd, like he and Jan, who come from everywhere to beat the cold climate and enjoy their golden years in Palm Desert.  He said, loosely quoted, "Sure we come to this place like all of you. But, we also come because of the people here.  We wouldn't have continued for eighteen years if it weren't for friends, our second family. We know they always have our back and are there for us when we need them."


Jan, chased a tear and quipped, "Larry, do you think we'll remember the next 50?"


I tried to get pictures of everyone.


People like any opportunity to get together and chat.

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Before the sit-down, Jan made the rounds of people as they gathered in clumps to visit.

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There was a card for everyone to sign.


And a lovely cake.


And, that wiley Bob, with one-o, singled out another couple who have been married 60 years. And they, too, were presented with engraved glasses. Whatta nice guy. And what a nice couple.


Most likely other long-term marriages exist among the group given we are all seniors.


I expect everyone here is a candidate.


I was sitting next to Bob with one-o and his wife Ethyl, in the lilac blouse. They have been married 62 years. It must take a sense of humor. That is what I notice most about people who stay together. We had a lovely time. I ate too much of good food.


After desert, someone brought out a big  bottle of Kahlua. This lovely lady told me someone gave her a bottle as a gift. She never opened it. "Now, that I know how good it is," she said, "I'm going to open it."  I laughed.

ENRICHED AND MOVING FORWARD

I've had almost continuous company since Dec. 22nd. Yesterday, my brother, Norman left and the house was eerily quiet after a storm of activity. I plopped in a chair and read magazines for about an hour before attempting to do a thing. An article in one of those magazines was about testing stress levels. In short, it claimed that looking at pictures was the best stress reliever among a number of activities. And, of course, I've taken more pictures and looked at more pictures than any other year of my life. Normally, I don't look at Jim's blog before setting out my blog. This time, he called me, and I did. It was pictures he had taken of me. So, in turn, I'm going to post pictures I've taken of Jim.

And, he is such a ham-

 

He actually studies his destinations, works on smooth sailing, and reads directions-twice-before trying a new product.

 

 He is nurturing, and caring and treasures his family and friends.

This is supposed to be a travel blog.  Choosing a life partner and a travel mate, Jim Jaillet has enriched my life as I move forward into 2011.

CONNECTIONS

My neighbor, Jan Stewart, invited Jim and I over for a second Thanksgiving Dinner with her family. Jan is my friend and neighbor.

Her son, Brian, went to grammar and high school with my youngest daughter.

 

Brian's wife, Debbie Pendergrast and my daughter were best of friends and have children close in age.

Jan's oldest grandson, cammeron, is now married with a child of his own and he lives on the road above me and is also my neighbor.

His mother is Jan's oldest daughter shown here with her first grandbaby. That makes Jan a great grandmother. It sneaks up on you. Suddenly we are the matriarch's of our families and it only gets better and better. When I was growing up, grandmothers and great grandmothers didn't look like these two women, youthful and full of fun. May it ever stay that way.

I like the connections and roots of friends, family and neighbors. But, as Jim prepares to leave, I know that you don't lose those connections by becoming a gypsy and ramblin' about the countryside as we did most of 2009 and 2010. You just gain friendships and connections as you go. How grateful I am to have met and got to know Jim's son and family, cousins, Donna and Bob Parker, the Di Paola family, Diane and Bob Comollo, Jackie and Ray Nichol and their daughter Rebecca, Simone and Pat Purcell. Friends, Dolly Giordano and Arthur, Bill and Loretta Gallagher, Jim and Ginnie Palumbo, Sue and Art Lambart, Ted and Sandy Walden, Leo and Fran Perth, Ted and Judy Price, Al Penta, Beverly Malland, Randy Vining, Bob Gambol, Horst and Margo Schnieder, Barbara De La Fuente, Helga Geday, Jan and Larry Seaberg, Debra Vinsel, Kerri Kaufman, Donna Huffer, Bob Parker...I'm probably forgetting someone. Each has become a connection and gives life that same solidity as the roots of home.

Now I have new names to give to my plants. My wandering jew I'll call Randy...

MIGHTY FROG HUNTERS IN FROGTOWN

Its one of those things I don't tell anyone from Calaveras County, especially anyone I know from Angels Camp, the frog jumping capitol of the world. If the Chamber of Commerce finds out about my past, I'll be run out of town on a rail.
As kids, we all caught frogs in the creek that ran by our place, and butchered them for their tasty legs. Pat's mother wouldn't cook them, but my mother would. Was it serendipity that I found frog legs for sale in Angels Camp? I couldn't resist. We had a farewell dinner of frog legs, and they were just as delicious as we remembered them.
We toasted this gathering of childhood friends, after 60 years of no contact, and marveled at our good fortune to have found each other. We shared treasured memories, made joyful new memories and will never again let the years pile up before we see each other again.
Our visit ended, but some friendships, we discovered, are forever.

UNBEATABLE COMBINATION

Moving from one motor home to the other has been all work and no play.
Last night, my friend Karen came to the rescue and invited Jim and I for a light dinner. One of the nice things about being on the road is coming home and reacquainting with friends and family.
Karen usually makes my favorite, home made apple pie for dessert. This time she surprised me and made a peach pie instead.
It looks as though we enjoyed the wine best, but its not true. Conversation is the best part of the dinner. Food, wine and friends. Unbeatable!