Florida Bound

Friday, December 28, 2012

I picked up Terry Mandy, Miranda and Maddy at 1:30 am....... Destination Florida!
We were driving straight through. We had a great drive. While the country was snowbound for much of the way, the roads remained clear. Virginia was particularly beautiful with many trees covered in ice.
We arrived at Orange Lake at 11:30 pm and were in our unit (2066) by midnight.
It's good to be at our second home. Temp was 55F

A Very Merry Tromper Christmas

Monday, December 17, 2012
It was great to meet up with my Tromper buddies. We met at Doc Jewett's who was a remarkable host. His beef stew was amazing along with all the other excellent grub that was provided.
Once dinner was over, we were treated to a great slideshow of pics (complete with technical issues) from previous trips, followed by a review of Gary Parker's excellent Europian adventure.
It is wonderful to have friend like this.

New Beginnings

So things take a new turn. I debated whether to continue this blog or start a new one or not do one at all.
The fact is I benefit the most from my blog. When I reread it, it brings back memories and experiences that I had forgotten about. I have had a very blessed life.
So, after much debate, I have decided to continue this blog. It will not be the same, but I must continue to move forward.
Please join me.

End of an Era

It is not often that my blogs aren't upbeat, but unfortunately, events come into our lives that transcend all meaning.
Much has happened since my last post. We were in Branson when we received the devastating news that Mandy had lost her baby boy and had to deliver him stillborn.
In the spring Chris started feeling tired, which we attributed to the effect from her chemo. In Late July/August she started getting dizzy which we just attributed to vertigo, especially when she had a cat scan and it came back clear. When the vertigo continued to get worse, she went for an MRI and on Labour Day Weekend it was diagnosed that her cancer had metastasized to her brain and she went to join her Lord and Savior peacefully at home on November 4, 2012.
We started going together 2 days after I was 15 and she was almost 14, over 47 years ago.
It was a relationship that could only be described as remarkable and the very best. If you have followed this blog, you would have an idea of what I mean.
We believed in the quote on my blog main page:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
- Mark Twain

We left no stone unturned and while I greatly mourn her loss, I am also thankful for the miraculous life experiences we shared together. Rest in peace my sweet angel.