A SUCCESSFUL BAY AREA VISIT.

I spent two nights in the Bay Area while I visited the Northern California Spine Institute. I'm fortunate to have friends and relatives who give me "hotel" space to keep my appointments. My friend Joy Kish and I met when my husband and I moved into our first house in Fremont when my oldest son was 8 months old. As our children grew in number and size, we, with other neighbors formed a baby-sitting co-op using a point system. Members took care of each others' children with no costs. The secretary who kept the books changed from month to month, so that each family shared in the work to keeping it going. I had foster children when we formed the co-op and the county rules were such that you could only have adults care for your foster children. The co-op allowed us an affordable way to step out, or get to a doctor's appointment without having to cart three kids to the doctor's office for one kid's appointment.  Joy and I share a lot of memories of raising our kids and our kids still have some contact in their 50's.  In a sense we are like extended family. We had dinner out at Chilis restaurant and enjoyed a couple of margaritas.

While home, I'm contemplating blogging every other day since I don't have much to say and I have plenty to do. A reader commented on a blog I did on Blaine, County Montana and I went back and read the blog and found it interesting. I am sometimes surprised at how much I've learned about this country during my travels with Jim and may re-blog some of them. Ciao.

HOLIDAY AT INCLINE-DAY 2

Sunday was ski day at Incline. I don’t ski, I’m the photographer, mule. There is a lot of clothing, gear and ticketing, and waiting around.


The sun was very bright. The weather balmy. The predicted rain didn’t show.


Cedric dons his goggles.


No,wait!  Virginia is going to wear the goggles. Cedric put on a light weight pair of sunglasses.


Sisters.  Aren’t they sweet?  Where did those goggles go?


Finally, they are ready to go. Kristanne is skiing for the first time since high school. Austin is skiing for the first time. Last year he chose snowboarding, but this was their togetherness plan. Notice the dark clothing.


Am I supposed to pick them out from all the rest from a great distance?


Owen only uses a snowboard. Doesn’t like to ski. And, of course he does it in all black clothing.


Theo only skis. Dressed in black. Both boys use the big runs.


Both Austin and Kris had a brush up lesson and skied three of the beginner hills, which was fine with them.


The emergency services brought in this injured skier, a reminder of how dangerous this sport is. There were two accidents that day.


People like to start their kids at a very young age. This little guy didn’t ski, but he wasn’t much younger than others I saw on the bunny slope.


Mt. Rose Ski area supplies incentives by entertaining the kids and a disc jockey playing popular music LOUDLY that appeals to young people.
Everyone had fun. We packed a great lunch and everyone went out for a couple more hours. I read Virginia’s newspaper and started a new book.
At the condo the non skiers watched the Patriots vs. Ducks?  Or Sea Hawks? And hung out visiting and snacking. We had another big family dinner. This time, I cooked the dinner of chicken boudin, Virginia prepared several salads to go with it. Doug’s and Virginia’s cookies, Cedric’s pies and Sees candy. No lack of desserts. Yum.

And, while we were gone, Laurie finished the puzzle.

FAMILY REUNION SECOND DAY.

Saturday, about noon, the tubes were ready, some a bit patched. We trucked up to the flume. Alec and Austin's other grandma, Eunice, with daughters Cathy and Bev, treats,  drinks and towels in tow, are ready to go.


Eunice's son Uncle Rick, attemded the reunion for the first time with his girlfriend Tammy. He brought a box of freshly baked donuts, another first. Yum.  And, he is a talented chef. I know because I've tasted his cooking several times. Sister Cathy is a great cook, too. (We KNOW who to invite for our family reunions. ) Rick is from Southern Cal, also.


It didn't take long for everyone to find a comfortable spot to relax, have a snack and a brew, or sun tan for a while.


The bridge makes a nice "deck".



If you get too hot, take a dunk. Kris and Laurie, the boobsie, I mean bikini twins cooled off for a while. Kris never tubes. She calls herself, "flume fluff." Eunice picked up that expression and says, "I'm flume fluff like Kristanne."


The first run came in. Everyone walks about a mile or two back and floats to the bridge. Last year, Abbie was still asking for help. Now she is an old pro.


Ted carried his snacks and a beer with him. The rules are, you carry out what you bring in.


Daniel brought a squirter to torment his fellow floaters. Hey!  Wet is wet, right?


Cathy carried a stick to shove away from the sides when rounding the curves.


First timer, Tammy, took a lesson from Cathy.


Ken, Mr. cool head. When he was a kid, he would find every lizard in the water weeds and inspect them for parasites. He'd pull off the parasites and set them free.


After the first run, everyone swam or played before the next run.


We took time for some pictures, we two grandmas.


Mason, Stewart, Alec and Austin. Stewart is my oldest grandson, at 21. Alec is 21 also, but Stew is a couple of months older.  They commented it was the first time they could come to the flume and drink a beer. Austin is the youngest at age 12. Theo is 12 as well, but a few months older than Austin.  It is so fun to have them all together.  I'm just sorry we didn't think to get Owen and Theo in the photo, as well.


The girls got together for a picture.


The water was about ten inches lower than usual,  but no one seemed to mind. The flume has deep and shallow spots.


Diane and Randy, who are lifelong friends of Laurie's, came in on a second run. It's a nice float. But...

...the current can be pretty swift. On stopping, Randy was adamant that he not lose his expensive sandals, while Diane took a dump trying to get out. We, of course, laughed.


When we returned to the house, Uncle Tom, Clark and Theresa, and brother Bill and his daughter, Rena had arrived.


Brother Bill with Rena's boyfriend, Chris. Still plenty of snacking going on while Doug barbecued the tri-tip, chicken, ribs and shish-ke-babs.


After a huge meal, Rena chuckled as Chris took a nap. They were jet-lagged, after flying in from Florida.


After dinner, the guys got up a beer-pong game. In stead of paddles, the challenge is to toss the ball into a beer cup. I think there was some chugg-a-lugging going on, too.


Tom and Ken lost to Stewart and Alec.


The pong game watchers seemed to enjoy it as much as the players.


The weather got as hot as expected, over 90. Theresa and Clark took refuge in the mist.


The mister was a last-minute idea, and it was welcome heat relief. I think I'll get one for the deck, as well.


Normally, people stay for a second flume trip on Sunday. But, every year is different. Alec had to be taken to the airport early. Kris and Cathy and Austin wanted to ski in Ken's new boat. Bill, Rena and Chris took a scenic driver up over the pass and returned Sunday afternoon. Chris cut and chopped some vegetables and  fruits. He roasted the veggies and we had a lovely lunch, along with some of the leftovers.


Bill brought vanilla ice cream with some home-made (by friends) maple syrup from Michigan. What a delightful combo.  Rena and I had a chance to do some genealogy, but all too soon, it was time to part.  We missed those that couldn't make it this year, but, the party is always a good time and a reminder to get together more often.

HAPPINESS EVER AFTER.

This is jokingly called a coonass microwave. Inside is a hog being roasted for a wedding shower at the VFW Post 9822  where we stayed at Duson for a week.  They rent out their hall for receptions, weddings and other special events. I spotted it  mid-morning before going out for the Jam on Saturday.

Folks at the post invited us to attend a wedding shower, but we  returned to the motor home figuring a wedding shower is a personal event and I was about to fix dinner when Richard, on the right,  came knocking at our door and insisted we should join the festivities. It was late and most of the afternoon guests had left by then, so we walked over and joined them.
Here then is the groom and bride to be.  The young people were having fun.

I asked one of the bridesmaids-to-be if this was a tradition.  “Well, yeah”, she said as she smiled and crossed her eyes.

Happiness was evident everywhere.

A frame is set up and a table with costumes is available for everyone to play with.

Mother of the groom was up and tapping her feet,  and half dancing while visiting with family members.

After we ate a marvelous meal with asparagus, dirty rice, green salad with pecans, scalloped potatoes, the roasted pork and more, the pans were just about empty.

Beautiful cakes for dessert with fresh flowers. It resembled a wedding, rather than a shower. A long table spread with gifts and all the elements of a wedding except for the preacher. Wow!

I didn’t get any names, well, I got them all but don’t remember. The guy on the right is from California and he enjoyed talking to someone who knew California. His dad was in the Contra Costa Co. Sheriff’s department so we had a lot in common. He loves Louisiana, but misses his old stomping grounds. Camping at Big Trees, skiing at Kirkwood, and Bear Valley, fishing at New Mellones.

Richard is the grandfather of the bride-to-be.

It was a lot of fun and just another feature of the friendliness of people in Louisiana. (Me, dancing with the commander.) All about us was the message “HAPPILY EVER AFTER.”  To every bride and groom I impart the same wish:  “May you have as much happiness in your marriage as I did in mine.”

As I leave the Motor Home of Fun, I can only say, “I wonder what’s around the bend?”