'21/#52 Post Thanksgiving Musings

We hope this finds everyone well. We also wish everyone a belated Thanksgiving and hope your holiday was everything you wished for. Our Thanksgiving was a quiet celebration for two. We had all the trimings and relaxed in front of the TV watching traditional holiday shows, from the Thanksgiving parade in New York to the cartoons leading up to Christmas. We may get older but we don't have to grow up! It was also a time for giving thanks for all that we have. We have our health and a wonderful life. Our family is doing well and our friend group is growing larger as time goes by and we continue to travel. So to everyone out there, know that we are greatful for having you in our lives. Now for a few thoughts not holiday related. If you follow us you know we travel A LOT! We also gather t-shirts from everywhere we go. We have so many we had a good friend Jacque make us a quilt with a bunch that would not fit in our dresser any more. We are almost at the point that a second quilt might be in our future. Let me get back to my point. We wear our shirts all the time and it never fails that when someone sees a shirt from their home area or a place that they know the question is always "Are your from (fill in the place)?". I don't know about all of you but who buys souenir t-shirts from their home town? Aren't souvenirs by default a remembrance of places visited? I know that on occasion we all will buy something locally but how many Floridians have "Florida" t-shirts. Are all the New Yorkers running around New York City with "I Love NY" t-shirts? The same goes for other places around the country. These t-shirts do three things. First they remind you of an experience worth remembering. Second, it identifies you as a tourist in the town you bought it. And third, it fulfills you obligatory gift for those at home. I might be wrong, but please stop asking if I am from the destination on my shirt, but please ask me if I visited that place and would I tell you about it. That is my pet peeve today amongst all that I am thankful for. So thank you for letting me vent and a happy and healthy holiday season to everyone from our home in Zephyrhills because.... Home is where we park it, Frank and Mary

'21/#51 Happy Birthday To Us!!

You already know that Tuesday was Mary's birthday and probably know that mine was Saturday. Well Mary wanted to do something wild and significant to mark the occasions. Her idea was skydiving and mine was to watch her from the ground. Since it was something we wanted to do a little more together we opted to go snorkling with the mantees in Crystal River. The grandkids were all excited for us so we decided to make it a family celebration. Joining us were our daughter, two of our grandkids, and one of their friends. Needless to say we had a great time. Mary was the only one of us who had ever snorkled so there was a learning curve for the rest of us, but once we got going it was a lot of fun. Our guide and boat captain were a blast and fit right in with the lunacy we call family, so we were not only seeing manatees but laughing and having fun at the same time.The grandkids said this waould be something they would always remember doing with grandmommy and granddad. That's what grandparents are for, to make memories.

After we got back on shore we said our goodbyes and parted ways. Mary and I found a great little cajun seafood restaurant a few blocks away and had an awesome dinner. Then we drove home talking about the day and what a great life we have. At home we watched TV for a little bit but couldn't keep our eyes open. The excitement of the day had worn us out, so it was off to bed with dreams about manatees. Well that was this years birthday celebration from our home in Zephyrhills because.... Home is where we park it, Frank and Mary

'21/#50 Mary's Turkey

I said that I will be blogging on topics other than our travels, so here goes. Tuesday was Mary's birthday and birthdays mean birthday cake if nothing else. I found this out the hard way our first year as empty nesters. Thinking that it was just the two of us there was no need for a birthday cake. When I told that to Mary she made it clear that there WILL BE BIRTHDAY CAKE! We happened to be driving past Publix so an insane turn on two wheels and a mad dash to the Publix bakery. Being so close to Thanksgiving and a last minute purchase my options were limited. I picked out a Thanksgiving cake complete with turkey decorations and had "Happy Birthday Mary" written on it. Yes, there were some strange looks but nothing like the glare from my darling wife on the possibility that there would be no cake. Since then there has ALWAYS been cake for her birthday. 

 This year Mary said she didn't need a cake. Being a good husband for over thirty years I knew the difference between need and want, so not to suffer the wrath of "no cake Mary" yet still listening to her current request I opted for a birthday cupcake. And in the spirit of that first potential birthday cake debacle I made it a turkey cupcake. She was happy, all was right with the world, and I would live to see another day. 

 So another happy Birthday to the love of my life and I look forward to many more....with cake, from our home here in Zephyrhills because... Home is where we park it, Frank and Mary