Well, Well, Well.

Wow, where to start?  My trip was AMAZZZZING and ended too soon for me.  I'm still compiling notes from it.  Then the day after I got home, my car died - bad battery.  The day after that - yesterday - my dear, sweet older lady friend passed away, very suddenly and unexpectedly.  I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me and I've fallen on my rump.  This is the friend I spoke of in an older post, "Use The Purple Sheets Dear".  I will miss her.  I will miss her contagious, mischievious smile, her cheerful attitude, her whisky flask in church (it was filled with water, convenient size and shape to slip into a pocket bag she said).  This precious little woman was a character and left none unaffected by her good nature and quick wit.  As I talked with their daughter last night, she realized her parents 63rd wedding anniversary will be in two weeks.  "Hmmm . . . . . . Mom and Dad have never been apart on their anniversary, never.  This year will be no different."  And there was a peace and a joy in knowing that.  Sixty three years!  That's six decades plus three years.  That's older than I am!!!  these two were together and loving strong before I was even born.  They were Sweethearts until the day death took her husband last July.  And now they will be Sweethearts forever.  The hard part comes for us, with the shifting of empty spaces left by them.  The next little while will be filled with extra activities in preparation for the funeral.  I've made myself available to their daughter for assistance.  I'll be busy the next little while. 

Will share some of the highlights of my trip as I can.  Of course there are some highlights that are very personal and private.  Those will be kept locked behind my still smiling face!!!!   It feels like I could smile for a years!!!  Wowza!! Hot Damn!!  Whewww!!