FAMILY TRADITIONS, GOODBYES

  Megan and her friend Chelsea were lolling on the hammock which immediately brought to mind a family story that always makes me laugh. It was about 10 years ago, same event, just a different hammock and a different tree. Adopted daughters, Karen and Susie were lolling in the hammock. They had enjoyed a glass of wine or two and they began swinging in the hammock together and decided if they got it going fast enough, they could completely flip it over and they would remain in the hammock by centrifugal force. Right?

Of course the grape took advantage of their reasoning.  They both landed on the ground in a heap of giggles-unhurt. That around-the-moon effort had to be commemorated in a ritual photo.

It was hard to say goodbye, particularly to Karen who last made this event six years ago. Susie lives closer, in Paradise, and never misses. Myself, Karen, Doug, Susie, and Susie's beautiful daughters, Megan and Katrina.

Susie, Ken, Virginia and Karen lined up. When I took a picture of Kris saying goodbye, it was on video instead of still photo. I haven't yet learned how to extract a still from video, but I will someday.

Everyone kind of hesitates, reluctant to say goodbye. It was a great party.
Yesterday, I mentioned that grandson Owen pulled a new record for jumps on the trampoline, he was at 249 at this point on his way to 368 double jumps, I believe:

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END.

Family gatherings are amazing dramas of interplay between friends, siblings, relatives, near relatives, neighbors, the dogs, along with various others who happen to get in the play or in the way. Independence Day, while remembered for its significance, seems to take second up against the barbeque, the beer, the card games, the pool and sun and fun.
Makes me bet the kids and their cousins have forged lasting memories just as we did at family gatherings of old.
As adults we still talk about those silly things when we get together. Remember when Gary fell out of the tamarack tree? Or, when Sean's dog, Patches, chased Chubby up a tree? When Ken swore he would name his first son Flashlight Gordon? Doug thought he could fly with his superman cape on? A baby chick pooped on Virginia's head? We chuckle at each other's expense.


Besides appreciating the founding fathers, we thank the legislators who set this day aside for us to celebrate freedom and family, and memories. And, for us, it was also a family birthday celebration. Laurie hit the Big 50!

Jim and I returned to the motor home parked in Monroe, Washington, yesterday, none the worse for the wear. Jim's first time with the whole fang-damily put his ears to throbbing at the constant hubbub. (We've been called the LOUD family a time or two.)

For more photos click on: http://picasaweb.google.com/1579penn/IndependenceDay#

FRIENDSHIP RICH AND JANUARY 20TH, AN HISTORIC DAY

I've always maintained that having good friends makes you rich and its true in my life and Jim's life as well. Yesterday we had dinner with Horst and Margot Schnieder who have lived an incredibly colorful life. Married over 60 years, she is 84 and he is 88, and both are young at heart. Jim sees them once a year when he is in Yuma, and we enjoyed a typical German dinner of savory red cabbage, stew, potatoes and apple sauce. All home made from scratch. Terrific people.
Today is an historic day in American and my own personal history, January 20th, inauguration of the first black President of the United States. Personally, my oldest son, and two brothers share the 20th of January as their day of birth. As stated, I'm rich in friends and even better, rich in family as well. I love you all.
Pictures today are from our bike rides, the Yuma Territorial prison was a rustic adobe affair and 1/3 of it was removed to make way for the new highway and bridges. The lettuce fields we see everywhere in the area. They are the most marvelous green. Tomorrow, we will leave early for a day trip to Quartzite for Jim's commercial and a Howdy to old friends. No blog. Yay Obama.