'25/#4 The Family Tree Grows

 The last few blogs I have mentioned old friends and new family. Some might think of new family through a wedding or a birth, but that is not the case. Some time ago Mary got some family information that motivated her to look into DNA testing. After some " should I or shouldn't I", she did. Whatever the results it wasn't going to change the family that was important and in her life right now. Drum roll, and the envelope please! Actually a Facebook request but I needed a dramatic intro (wink, wink).

Mary has a sister she never knew about. Without going into all the details it turns out she has two sisters and another brother! Back and forth communications and it turns out that their lives had criss-crossed in the same area durring their early years. Mary and sister Brenda were getting along well through on line conversations and decided to take it to the next level. Ever the skeptic I cautioned Mary about getting her hopes up. 

Cheryl, Mary, and Brenda

Our travels were taking us through Mary's old stomping grounds so plans were made. The big day came when we pulled our monstrous RV into their front yard. My concerns were unfounded. These people are awesome! Even if there wasn't a DNA connection I could see us being friends with them. We met Brenda's husband Victor who welcomed us with hook-ups right there at their home and just got along with them both as if we had know each other for years. We met Cheryl and Robbie, Susan and Jay, Greg and Viki, Payton and Parker, and of course Pat. 

Four generations on the family tree that we never knew about and I think everyone had a good time! Talking about our current lives and of course events in the past helped fill in some of the gaps that may or may not have been known prior to the DNA tests. The answers were illuminating while others just created more questions. With many of the people from the past not with us any more some of the quetions will never be answered.

After spending ten days with the new part of the family promises were made to keep in touch and to get together when we can. My skepticism was unfounded and the reunion worked out as good as Mary could have hoped.

Our next stop was in western Virginia where we caught up with Joanie and Greg. It was just an overnight stay but is was good to see them and the next time we pass through we will spend more time visiting. Back on the road and continue our trek north.

We still had some rain but it looks like the weather system is passing and the rain will be gone for the rest of our trip. I will sign off now from our home outside Toledo Ohio because ....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'25/#3 Maybe We Need A Boat!?!?

 It has been seventeen days since we returned to the road. The travel has gone well with no incidents, but I do have to say it has been challenging. This has been the wettest trip we have ever taken. I don''t think we had a single day of travel without some rain. It slows us down and caution is the watch word and that makes the driving more fatiguing. Fortunately the rain did stop whenever we were spending time with people along the way.

Our first stop was between Greenville and Spartanburg South Carolina. We have known Sherry and Terry for almost thirteen years and whenever we are near enough to stop in we will. They bought a home there and are what they call "homesteading". All I can think of is the theme to Green Acres with Terry is on the lawn tractor and Sherry is getting eggs from the chicken coop. The place is awesome and they are happy. That is all we want for our friends.

The next stop was Brunswick County North Carolina. This is the first time we have seen our friends Chris and Chuck since they left Florida to be closer to family. It was a brief visit but everyone looked great and we had a good time catching up. Our friends Terry and Bob from the Charlotte area built their retirement dream home down near the beaches and we also got to see them. Our timing was off so it was again a short but sweet visit. Maybe next time we will have more time.

We will be traveling through Virginia next to see old friends and new family, but that is a story for another blog. By the way I am catching up on my blogging. We are a ways down the road from Virginia. In fact I am going to call it a night from our home in Lake Milton Ohio because......

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

"25/#2 Finally Got Something To Blog

I know that it has been too long since my last blog but I didn't think anyone wanted to hear about my aches and pains. This winter was all about doctors, medical tests, and prescriptions. We are doing better and back on the road again. 

We had broken our rule of one and done when it comes to our destinations already last year and are going back to Michigan for the third time in three years. Having seen so much of the country we are finding that we are getting picky about where we want to go next.  We have enjoyed Michigan and the people we worked with so going back was not an issue. We'll see what happens next year. 

Our trip north is not a straight line. It is not even anywhere near the shortest route. There will be three stops to see and stay with old friends and one to see new family. More on that later.

Like the rest of the country weather has been less than cooperative. No real problems but still wetter than we would like. Such is life on the road

We're doing laundry now so I will continue this later. Signing off from our home in Callao Virginia because...

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary 

'25/#1 January 1st And A Clean Slate

 Many people look at New Year as a fresh beginning, a new start, and maybe a reset but is it? The past year, or ten years, or fifty years don't go away. So no matter how you look at it the new year is just the next building block of our lives. The past cannot be changed and it can't truly be ignored and it will most definitely affect the future. That is what the new year is. It is a time to look at the past and decide how you want to live your future. Check out the triumphs and the mistakes and learn from them as you plan the next year, or ten, or fifty. And most of all keep laughing and enjoy!

That being said, instead of resolutions or bucket lists this year I am looking toward the past. Our life, with it's ups and downs, has been absolutely amazing. I look at the places we've been, the things we've seen, and especially the people we have met. Our list of friends is longer than my arm and has people from coast to coast and also across four continents. As in the past I refer back to the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" and quote Clarence the angel when he writes "No man is poor who has friends". I may not be able to put it in the bank but it is a richness I don't take for granted.

So I will start this New Year with the goal to keep living my life, seeing new things and places, smiling and laughing, and most of all doing it all with old friends and new friends. And it goes without saying, I will do all that with my best friend, my partner, my wife, Mary. For thirty-six years it has worked out better than we could have hoped for so we will keep on doing what has worked in the past.

Here's hoping that everyone had a good holiday season and will have a great year to come. These wishes come from our home in Zephyrhills because.....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'24/#46 Busy, Busy, Busy

 It is amazing how fast the calander fills up. Between the holidays, getting together with people, shopping, appointments, and I'm sure I am leaving stuff out, that's why we have a calander, all our time is accounted for. I still don't know how we got all this stuff done before we retired and were working full time?!?!? 

Anyway, the doctors tell me that I am doing OK and that the aches and pains are normal for someone my age. I guess I don't like the new normal. Mary's doctors are helping her feel better and also that she is doing OK managing her health. Oh well, no one said getting older was going to be easy! 

The Christmas decorations are up inside and out and we are pretty much ready for the upcoming holidays. Again dinner will most likely be just the two of us. It is easier and we don't have to travel in the insane holiday traffic. The most we will probably travel will be to our friends in the park next door, and that is just a short bicycle ride.

Gift shopping for the each other is not such a big deal. We pretty much buy each other whatever we want all year long. So unless we find something last minute or pick up a couple of stocking stuffers, Christmas is sleeping in, opening the few gifts we have, our own traditional Christmas morning breakfast, watching holiday movies and our Christmas lights, and enjoying our Christmas dinner for two. The holidays should be spent with the ones you love and I don't love anyone more than the woman I am sharing my life with.

Today is lunch with friends and some big box store shopping before it gets too insane so i will sign off from our home for the holidays in Zephyrhills because....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'24/#45 Why Is The Clock Thrown Out The Window?

 As the old joke goes, "to see time fly". Well for us all we have to do is look at the calendar. It is just five weeks since we left Michigan but it seems ages ago. After 3500 miles, multiple stay overs, chores, and arriving in our winter home. We already had our calendar filled for November and now it is December.

We had to get set up and settled in. Our mail was ordered, friends were seen, doctors were visited, and more appointments made for follow ups. Then we had to go shopping. Groceries had to be replenished and we shopped for the local charities that we regularly support.  On top of that we started our winter jobs in the park.

Then...... Thanksgiving was here. Yes we only have to cook for two but the usual dishes stll had to be made. It's not Thanksgiving without whatever is traditionally on the table. Whether it is the turkey, Granny's stuffing, or Aunties mac-n-cheese it has to be there to make the holiday offical. I hope everyone had the Thanksgiving they wanted and also were able to give thanks for all that life has brought.

Today we will be getting together with more friends and getting all the Christmas decorations out and set up. I put my foot down years ago that Christmas will stay in boxes until after Thanksgiving no matter how early the stores start their holiday season. It is crazy to see Halloween, Thanksgivng, and Christmas all at the same time while shopping! No wonder it feels like time has flown by.

Breakfast is done and it is time to start getting ready for the rest of the day in our home in Zephyrhills because......

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary

'24/#44 Home Is Where We Park It!

 It's time to catch up. Last week we were in Texas at what was our winter home for three years. That was where we went to Mexico for business and pleasure. That was also when hurricane or tropical storm Rafael reared it's ugly head. It was forecast to head to the Texas/Louisiana coast the same time we would be passing through that area. The decision was made to leave Texas a day early and get in front of the storm. The storm petered out so it was an unnecessary early departue but would get us back to Florida a day early.

Well here we are in Zephyrhills, our winter home for the next several months. Even though everyone in our extended family survived Helene and Milton with minimal damage it was still upsetting to see the damage that both storms did leave behind. We are getting settled in and getting together with everyone we missed this summer. We were gone almost eight months this year. That is the longest we have been away from family and friends except for our winters in Texas. 

Our little group of seniors here have a mess of birthdays all in a few days time so there will be cake, food, drink, and just good times with good friends. The friends we work with are also on the list to get together with as well as friends from our pre-retirement and especially our family. 

Today is Mary's birthday so we will do whatever she wants and just get back into the Florida Snowbird lifestyle. Signing off from our home in Zephyrhills because....

Home is where we park it,

Frank and Mary