US Trip

We've been back for a while, but we were gone for a while, so putting this together has taken a while.

We had such a good time. Visits to all the family, a side trip to Arizona, a brief stop in Tallahassee. How could it be better?  (Answer:  More time.)

It started with A REALLY SHORT overnight in Orlando but nevertheless a chance to take a picture or two of us oldies with the youngies.  What a happy face on Dylan.  And really, isn't Werner so happy looking all the time??  Hayden is happy, too, but he likes to close his eyes when the camera goes off.

We headed to Tallahassee the next day for a visit with Nancy. I know everyone understands that touching base with old, old, old dear friends is more than fun. It's essential. We had an abbreviated visit but enjoyed every minute of it.  Werner, too. He's so easy - goes shopping, eats food, repairs little things.

Then off to the kids in PC!  Big kids and grandkids.  (Google keeps trying to correct "grandkids," but I refuse to be corrected.)

Though teenagers have lots on their plates, we got to see a soccer game of Hunter's, way up in Dothan and well played.  He's on his way!  We are so impressed by how much he's grown and developed.  Not a kid any more. 

And - wonderfully and finally - we got to see one of Hannah's dance recitals. She's so good!  No pictures of the recital - not allowed - but here's one of the lovely dancer and her beautiful mom after the event.  (Taken with my phone without flash, hence the bluishness.  My camera just DIED suddenly and we had to buy a new one before we headed to Arizona! I'm hoping to get over this bad camera luck, and now.)

It went by so quickly, this time with the Ginns, though Werner got to enjoy a read or two on the terrace.  Florida is always a vacation for Werner. And this terrace is a dream.

And the hangy down tomatoes are growing again!  I wonder if they'll get the same yield as that first year. That will be hard to beat. 

Then we were off to Arizona and a visit to Mary.  Our friendship spans 4+ decades but we were last with her in Rhode Island about 9 years ago.  It couldn't be more different, these two places -- desert and coastal.  Both are wonderful. We saw the red hills, Native American sites, cowboys, international tourists, partied with the locals, communed with the political activists.  What fun! 

An afternoon in Prescott.  You can't avoid turquoise, saddles and hats.

Our first hike, around Lynx Lake.  Grateful to not have seen lynxes.

The view from Mary's house.  Evenings were spectacular.

To Sedona.  Unfortunately, a wildfire had broken out and the air was rather smoky.  But even with the smoke, the landscape was breathtaking.

Places to pause.

The Montezuma National Park.  Here, the  cliff dwelling.  It looks a bit artificial in the picture, but it is so old and so authentic.

And the water source for the area.  Amazingly, the "well" is naturally high in toxic metals, but the indigenous peoples knew how to detox the water. And they knew it was toxic. How???

 The rock formations there often look like - not rocks.  I see a dog here!

 Next day to another other-worldly site.  Really, America seems to have a bit of everything.

I was not at all surprised when Mary told us this site was used to film Planet of the Apes.  Really.

We ate fantastic home-cooked food, had wonderful conversations and were treated to delightful sights, met fascinating folks (some of them German! would you believe - of course, the Germans are everywhere) and got a delicious taste of the real Prescott.  Thanks for it all, dear Mary.   

Ah. Sigh.  It was time to move on, but not without promises to visit again soon.  I am seriously hoping it will be here in Germany when we see Mary again. Sadly, the older we get, the less likely it seems that our contemporaries can come to see us.  Insert here a plea to visit us before you get too old, all you old folks.

On to Atlanta and sisters. Sisters!  What would I do without them?  I can't imagine.  We shopped and visited a restaurant or two - or three or four -  and spent a lot of time just talking.  I think there is this time when you live together as siblings and live apart as adults that brings you closer than when you all lived in the same house. I'm glad to be in that place.  Sibs rock.

There were a lunches out with Mother, a respite from her routine.  Who doesn't like to sit in a swing?

Ginny, Werner, Mother and I visited Gibb's Gardens, a private property north of Atlanta open for visits.  We all enjoyed it, but Ginny so much that she bought a season pass so she and Barry could visit again.

And we had a belated celebration of Mother's 94th birthday with the family in Atlanta.  Not everyone could be there - there's so much on the plate for all of us! - but it was a good gathering and a great afternoon.

And, finally, back to Orlando to have a real visit with Lee and family after the first night.  Dylan is such a hoot and is so much fun to play with!  Hayden is learning so much - it's such a treat to see his progress.  I got to do the semi-annual weeding of the plant beds, expend some calories and get some sun.  Werner, well, he played with the kids.

We blew bubbles.

We celebrated Werner's Birthday.  We almost forgot it !!!  What a funny thing.  Dylan made a card and Hayden couldn't wait to help blow out the candles.  And the cake wasn't half bad and just the right size.

There was time for a bike ride.  Dylan is doing major practice so she can come visit us because, you know, if you come to visit us in Germany, you have to ride!

Reading at bedtime is one of my most favorite things.  I don't care how old or young you are.

And there are storms in Florida! The wind comes up so quickly and the trampoline from next door gets slammed into the house and a few minutes later slammed into the fence! Ouch!

 
And between, there's fun and sun in the pool.  Even Werner and I got to enjoy some sun and warm and cool water.  Neat!

And last, but so far from least, an attempt at a group photo of grandparents and these crazy kids.  It didn't work out so well, but the results are so funny to me! I love these pictures!

What a wonderful visit with everyone.  Again, the only negative was the too short time at each and every one of these places.  Thank you all for putting us up and putting up with us.  When will we do this all again??