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| Leaving Snowy 7205 Timber Lane , Olmsted Falls Ohio |
I am told that one of the most important things to any Blog writer, or any writer.... is to sit down every day and write. Discipline they call it. Since I have very little of the D word I have not been engaged in my Blog activity for over a month. I am back. I hope to do more writing . Just a refresher. I am writing this blog to allow my daughter and my grandson, and anyone else that is interested, to jump into my life. My past, my present and what I am dreaming about for the future. It is a political commentary. It tells of my bias. I hope you enjoy the strange thoughts of a old crone.
I left cold,icy, slippery and grey Olmsted Falls on February 17, 2011. I was lucky and drove all the way to Raleigh with no misadventures. I could feel the warming every mile I drove. It seems kinda risky as I look back, I had had major surgery on the 7th. But it was by laproscope and nada issues , so why not? Alyce was off on Friday and the weekend was upon us. The very first thing was a meeting at Jason's Deli with the Kindle Girls. It was so good to see both Nancy and Barbara. We didn't talk a lot about books, but did manage to report of a few we had read. My visit with Jane Brown, friends since 1960, was so deeply wonderful that there will be more of it later.
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| Two Craddock Women...Jean (right) and daughter Lynn |
I was able to have a long visit with the Thompsons --Jean and Bill. Lynn and her son joined us at Wilburs Barbecue. I was treated to a great meal as usual. It was wonderful to be with them and hear about family. Wish she and Lynn could have been with us in Raleigh at the family Craddock Women of NC..get together at Gail Craddocks.
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| Bill, Jean's hubby,looking like Kenny Rogers...at Wilburs |
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| NORTH CAROLINA BARBCUE..OMG |
I rested and spent the next week warming up and catching up in Raleigh. I know why one should write every day ... the details of those two weeks before we started to Florida are very sketchy. We packed the car and started or trip on March 5. We drove straight through to Sarasota and it was a very pleasant day. Alyce and I took turns. She didn't use to help drive, but does now. That was terrific. My nephew Jeff was the backbone of the trip. He helped and helped and helped. His presence as a traveling companion cannot be touted enough.
Jeff, THANK YOU.
Arrival in Sarasota was so warm and wonderful. Meeting Susans' new family was a treat. Melissa is warm, loving and really a great person. Her children Laney and Josh were a positive force in the house. They are terrific kids. Whoever said that the younger generation is going downhill just don't know what they are really like. These two are so bright and loving. Well, they take after their Mom, what can I say. The hospitality was outstanding. I did not know that Susan was such a good cook!! More Later.
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| Melissa and Son, Josh So Handsome! |
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| Laney...Girls are Wonderful! |
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| Special Art by Laney |
I took off for places even further south. Visiting my long time friend Alice Parrish is always wonderful and this visit was no different. She entertained me grandly. I envy her lovely house so much. It boasts a guest house where I got so much rest! I really guess I may have traveled a little earlier than I should have after the surgery so by the time I got there I was really exhausted. I slept late every day. When I pulled myself off the most comfortable bed I have slept in in years, I was served the most yummy grapefruit juice ever. Much more later about this wonderful friend and visit.
Alice brings in grapefruit from the tree (she planted the tree when she first moved in, it had been a houseplant for years.) She puts it into the refrigerator a few days before using and squeezes the fruit right before serving. Yummmmm We spent time with Stel and Ed. Each have lost a mate in the two weeks prior to my getting there. I felt so sad for them. But we laughed and ate together. It is fun to get to see the real part of Florida and not the tourist part. I have a blog dedicated to Alice and will post it soon.
Back to Sarasota for a few days. More good food, outings to include picnicking and quilt showing, was next on the agenda. Meeting Melissa's mom and Aunt was a treat as well as spending time with them. I just regret that it was such a short time. I really enjoyed them and feel like I have made new friends. We left early in the morning of the 12th and had a long tedious trip. We decided to go through Atlanta and that made our trip a two day one. All three of us were zombies when we pulled into Raleigh.
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| Seaside Club, Wilmington A Very old Vintage Place |
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| Dermas beloved Wilmington Home |
I took off again for Wilmington and a visit with my friend Derma. She has a lovely home with a carriage house. Again, I was treated like royalty. Her home is the most comfortable place you can imagine. We talked nonstop and ran here and there. She shared with me her friends and I feel that I have made some friendships of my own that will last a long time. These women, Marie, Vivian, and Carol were so knowledgeable and engaged. I so wish I had friends like that in Ohio. Derma is a really lucky woman and deservedly so. Marie and Carol are nurses, Vivian a teacher and Meredith graduate. I wanted to talk all night.
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| Vicki and Carol Two Craddock Ladies... More Later |
Back to Raleigh for a a weeks rest before starting back. I have had the pleasure of meeting again my relative, Gary Hayden (one of the Grands of the Craddock brothers). Gail Craddock, my cousin, is the best organizer. She did the first family get to gather when I first got to Raleigh. Craddock Ladies of North Carolina. We were the granddaughters of the Craddock Brothers. Her North Hills house has been the site of our gettogethes. We were missing the two Jeans. Jean Craddock the granddaughter of Bernie and Jean Craddock Thompson., the granddaughter of Versa. We were also missing Betty Ray Hankins the granddaughter of Cecil. Her hubby, Clarence, (I was in her wedding) died just a few weeks ago.
This week will find me having dinner with Gail and Nancy, , attending an event at Christ Church on Wednesday, doing a workshop with Sharon at Jerry's on Thursday, and going Chicky looking at the feed store in Pittsboro on Friday. On Sunday, I will travel to Salem Virginia to spend a yet undetermined amount of time with Betty Ray, my.cousin. I hope to have lunch and visit with another cousin, Betsy Ray Wrenn Groseclose, and a college friend while I am there.
This may become a yearly thing. No one wants to come to Cleveland, so I guess the only alternative is to come south. Not that I am complaining.
I did not get to see or spend time with special special people. That is my sadness. Time takes away our freedom by impairing our body or our mind. This is so painful to me. The people who have meant so much to me in my life are so missed. When it is impossible to touch them, to hold them, and to tell them how much I love and miss them. my sadness is almost overwhelming. No one told me that it would hurt so much.
