Finally taking a breath here....

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-1998
Finally taking a breath here....
13
Thu, 03-20-2008 - 5:59pm

just finished the third of four bulletins for the week; only one more to go. Piece o' cake!


Anyway, I can finally write about the mini-vacation we took the 8th-14th. For several years we have been wanting to go down to the Phoenix area and watch Spring Training so we bought tickets at Christmastime. We left Saturday afternoon the 8th and came back just before midnight on the 14th. We saw three games with the Mariners playing the Diamondbacks and the Giants and Brewers in Peoria.  They won twice and tied once. I guess in SP, if they're still tied after 10 innings they quit, just like in T-ball! LOL!


When we weren't at the ball park, we managed to do several really cool things.


1) We went over to Surprise and visited Mare and her DH and son at their lovely new home. OK ladies, her house is wonderful! Such beautiful hardwood floors and pretty things to look at. We spent all afternoon visiting out on their patio in the shade. It was so pleasant and relaxing...just what I really needed. Nice temps, not hot and not cold....just right!


We went out to dinner at a local sports bar/restaurant and yakked more. Frank and her DH got along great and were still yakking about poker when we forced them into the cars to leave.


2) On Sunday, we went to visit Frank's bio-Mom. She had not been in his life for the most part since he was a small toddler. He was adopted and raised by his grandparents. He'd seen her over the years, but she's more like a cousin or something. Her health is not good and Frank thought this may be one of, if not the, last time he might see her. I had never met her, so I was glad we connected.


3) On Tuesday we drove around out in the desert and took photos and to see what the area was like. It was very enjoyable as it was so nice and warm, quiet, laid back. It was nice to just get out and walk around, not worrying about impending rain or getting your shoes wet!


Anyway, on the way back to town, it suddenly occurred to me that my Dad had an aunt down there someplace. When we got to a place where my cell phone had bars, I called my Mom and got her address. This lady is 95 and the last of my paternal grandmother's siblings. I hadn't seen her for about 11 or 12 years ago. Her letters to my Mom can be kind of sad and depressing, so I was a bit reluctant, also because I know she is as deaf as a doornail. But Frank said, "You know, we're here. You've got to see her. It's the right thing to do." He was right of course.


So away we went to look for Aunt Mary. She lives in a lovely resort-like retirement community. Another resident offered to show us to her room as she didn't answer her phone . When she opened the door I asked her if she knew me, and she said, "Well you look familiar." When I told her who I was she flung open the door and hugged me, then said, "Well, come in! Let me go get my hearing aids!" LOL!


We had such a good visit and I'm so glad we went. She's inspiring. She has no health problems, is sharp as a tack, and is SO pretty. Beautiful pure white hair cut in a bob. Sparkling eyes. I so want to be like her! Frank was totally taken with her.


We did go back once more to see her on our way to the airport and took her a little bouquet of roses. She was all dolled up for "dinner" . Earrings, beautiful sky-blue outfit, ironed, coiffed...she looked not a year over 70! LOL!


When we left, I turned to Frank and he was waiting. I sank into his chest and just cried my eyes out! She is all alone down there with no family. She and her DH never had children. A cousin and his DW had talked her into moving to PHX with them and then HE died and the wife went back to Illinois. So there she is. She told me that "I'm too old to move again." But I'm still working on my aunt and my Mom to visit her and try to convince her to move up by all of us.


That's the bulk of it. I have never had such a nice week! It was all the good things you could expect from a vacation! Baseball, friends, making connections! Feel so much better now. I really needed it.


Well, better get on this Easter bulletin. Everyone have a lovely weekend!


Red

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 03-20-2008 - 7:49pm

Hi Red


Seems you have been very busy since you got back home. I am so glad you had a good time here in the Phoenix area. Things are laid back here in the southwest.


Yep when they play Spring training baseball if there is still a tie after the 10th inning usually they just go with the tie. With all the sunshine here and the great temps it is the perfect place to come and enjoy the games.


Dh and Ds and I enjoy our afternoon having you and your dh here in our home. Thanks for the lovely compliments about my house. Most of those pretty things you saw I had gotten from my Mom. She had the best taste.


How wonderful that you remember you had a great Aunt living in this area and you were able to find her and have a good visit. I am sure with her age she feels she is too old to move again but you never know she might with enough convincing. I am sure she is very happy living where she is and had many friends. Not the same as having family near by though.


One of the problems here is when you get out into the desert around the mountians cell phones don't work. However it adds to the peacefulness of the desert I think.


I hope you will come back again for a little baseball and sunhine and another visit on my patio enjoying a spring afternoon.


Love ya


                          &n
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-1999
Thu, 03-20-2008 - 9:21pm

Red, what a marvelous get-a-way you had....How wonderful to see Mare and her hubby...and Frank's biomom....I was especially impressed with you visiting your aunt Mary...Your description just made me cry....so sad when you outlive all your relatives...Sure would be good if she could be by family!


 


Avatar for sassysooze
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 03-20-2008 - 9:37pm

Sounds like a wonderful trip and a visit with Mare to make it extra special !

Susan siggie
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 03-21-2008 - 4:16am

Red, I'm happy that you had a great vacation,
a nice breather for a change.
I hope your Aunt moves to your area; maybe if
she knows relatives will help her to move,
then she might make the decision.

Glad you enjoyed the time at Mare's :)

Hugs,

Cindy


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~*~ Aloha to all .... ~*~

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
Sat, 03-22-2008 - 12:53pm

Red,


What a great post! a perfect trip..


so glad you got to Mare's and spent some time!


and how nice you got to see your aunt


all that and baseball too!!


thanks for sharing the joy!


hugs

Dutch


Dutch

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Sun, 03-23-2008 - 9:36pm
Red it sounds like

       


 


                              &n

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-16-1999
Tue, 03-25-2008 - 11:55am

That sounds like a wonderful trip.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-1998
Tue, 03-25-2008 - 2:30pm

Golf? LOL, I read

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Avatar for cl_campmum_of3
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 03-26-2008 - 11:50am

Oh Red that is sucha feel good post!

     

 

          

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-12-1998
Wed, 03-26-2008 - 4:12pm

Yep, I'm still smiling from visiting with my great-aunt. She is so wonderful!


One funny thing...at one point Frank said he saw his life flash before his eyes. This was because Aunt Mary was asking how the baseball games were. I asked her if she ever watched it on tv, and she said, "Oh, if there's no basketball on." LOL! Frank reminded me that when we first started dating he asked me if I liked watching football, to which I answered, "Well, if there's no baseball on."

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