Love to all my friends

The annual girl's weekend on Anderson Island is in the books for 2009. Once again, we found our September weekend to be very good to us as far as weather goes. The nice thing is, it was sunny, warm in the sunshine but certainly not swimming weather. No need to expose our older bodies in bathing suits!

I was struck this time by how well a group of women who are for the most part very fundamentally different could put it all aside and just enjoy being together for a precious moment in time. Whether we are married, mothers, nature lovers, conservative or progressive, we are first and foremost, longtime friends. We can talk, laugh and reminisce without the troubles of today ruining the moment. Of course, the wine and food flowed unendingly as we sat in the sun, gazed into the fire or played card games. It's good to remember from whence we came and for a brief moment in time, be there again.

Love to all my friends.

Reno

Yes, that's me floating in the Truckee River in Reno, Nevada. Our family has traveled to Reno just about every year for the last 30 years. Never before have I gone swimming in the river, let alone floated down a rapid. I wasn't going to do so this time but the pressure applied by my sons talked me into it and it was awesome!

This trip to Reno was a little different. We took our 90 year old parents with us. Not only is 90 years old a little difficult, he had a broken foot in a cast/boot and we had to take a taxi everywhere.

No money was made, except perhaps for Grandma who had a big night at the Peppermill. I would have to say the highlight was the family meals at two different restaurants.

Even though Reno seems to be on the verge of extinction, the German restaurant, Bavarian World, is still thriving. We have looked forward to going back there since the last time we ate there when we were in Reno. It did not disappoint. From the genuine German beers on tap, to the sausage sampler appetizer, various Schnitzel and Sauerbraten main courses to the Spaetlese after dinner wine, it was a meal to remember.


Although it was hard to imagine a dinner that would surpass the German restaurant, we had it the next night at The Oyster Bar at the Atlantis Casino and Resort. This restaurant has always been very good but this time, for whatever reason, the meal was outstanding. I find it amazing that we found better seafood in Reno, Nevada than we have ever had in and around Seattle. And I had sushi for the first time, again at the urging of my sons. Oh, what they get me into! Once again, it was a great first time experience for me.

While our trips to Reno usually revolve around hours at the pool, we had to steal time to enjoy that this time. But having our sons there to share it, a couple of hours was well worth it. The weather was in the 90's and the pool was perfect.


I don't think we'll be returning to Reno for awhile. We will savor the flavor of this trip until we do.

Yesterday would have been my mom's 87th birthday and it was my 29th wedding anniversary. It was the perfect time for a family get together.

While the weather could have been better, the sharing of family stories, music, food and fun and games was perfect at Twanoh State Park. It was, after all, one of Mom's favorite places. When Dad wanted to stay home on a Sunday because there was so much to do around the house, Mom would insist that we go to the beach. So, that is exactly what we did on her birthday.

Family gatherings are so much fun when the great grandchild, great nephew, second cousin known as Haywood is there. Cute doesn't even come close to describing this little one. He now walks, talks (including sign language and Spanish) and loves to be the center of attention. His mom was special when she was born and it has carried over to her wonderful son. I just wish she would plan to add to her family because she does it so well!

It is always a special day when I get to spend it with family, including both my sons! It was just so nice to be able to watch them as they tossed the football, played catch with a baseball and there was a little bit of a tennis competition. Neither has played tennis in years but their true athletic ability came through as they played a 3 game set. Kale prevailed after each game went to deuce and then some. Today, of course, they are out buying tennis rackets, tennis balls and playing again.

Then of course the highlight was the music performed by Jordan on the guitar and Briana on vocals, aided by Haywood during practice and Hal during the performance in back up vocals. I have to admit to a little tear in my eye. Not only was the song sentimental but it brought to mind a sort of passing of the torch. When I was Jordan's age, I did the performing at the family gatherings. Like Jordan, I taught myself to play guitar, I wrote songs and then performed them in front of a family who of course said they loved it, whether or not it was any good. Funny how life cycles around sometimes.

Mom's birthday always seemed to bring us together when she was alive and it seems it still does. It was a wonderful day.

Camp Conco 2009

I want to beat my sons to posting on my blog about our completely awesome weekend camping at the Conconully State Park. I have to say, I was very apprehensive about tent camping at my age. My body can't take the abuse I put it through when I was a young newlywed camping on our honeymoon for 16 days straight. And maybe that's true but I thoroughly enjoyed it for 4 days anyway.

Conconully is a small town, last count approximately a population of 187. It just happens to be the place my sons came home to after they were born in Omak, 15 miles away. We loved our little 535 square foot cabin there but after years of heartbreak watching renters bleed the life out of our little home, we sold it. This trip back I was almost sick to my stomach to see what the new owner had done. Even though the cabin was small, it had a million dollar view of all of Conconully and the upper lake area. What did the new owner do to that? Why, he built a shop encompassing the entire lawn area rising up so high it obliterates any thought of a view. I always wanted to build a deck and put in a sliding glass door to enjoy that view. The new owner did that, just one problem, no view. I guess life perspectives are just different.

A short walk around town (it doesn't take long) and we were able to meet up with the old Postmaster from our years of living there. He owned the place right next door to the Conconully Museum which is next door to the Conconully Post Office. He has since retired and remembered nothing of us but we remembered him, especially the talks he would have with our son at the age of 2 about dinosaurs. He used to be so impressed with his dinosaur knowledge. We could not resist the opportunity for a family photo.

If you ever want a great place to camp, Conconully State Park is it! The facilities are first rate, clean bathrooms and great shower. Be prepared for a few characters possibly camping next to you. Excuse me, have you seen the campsite next to you? There is always one thing you can count on when you go camping, the campfire, Jiffy Pop and S'mores. It only took Maddie until the third night to stay awake for those. But it was worth it. At any given moment, you could see one deer or a whole family of them, up close and personal.

We camped with my nephew Chris and is wonderful family, Jen, Alex and Maddie. We have such fond memories of fishing and spending time with Chris when he was young and now we had the opportunity to spend time with his kids. Alex is an incredibly smart young man who is so diverse in his interests. I would have to say his first love is reading, he may have read two whole books over the weekend but he is also quite the outdoorsman and fisherman. How many 11 year olds do you know who can stay up until 3:00 am and talk to adults about anything and everything? He reminds me much of my oldest son at his age. And Maddie, the "Little Princess". Don't let her diminutive little stature fool you. She can fish with the best of them and is not afraid to pick up those fish to either let them go if they are too small or string them up if they are keepers. Poor thing though, she did get stung by a bee which wasn't fun. All in all, I think there was a total of 5 bee stings among the campers. Fortunately, no one was allergic.

We got to fish and swim, eat and drink, play games and simply enjoy each other's company. My son Hal was crowned Bassmaster for the weekend snagging the three largest Bass. Jenny was very close with a pretty big one of her own. There was no cell phone service in Conconully. You had to drive out 1 mile to the cemetery to get that. I would not have even thought of it except, after all, Cougar football tickets went on sale. I had to do it!

We even went into Omak on Sunday to add to our trip down memory lane. A drive on Duck Lake Road past the old Wicks abode, the site of the infamous distance bike races of years past between my husband and my nephews. We went to the top of the Suicide Race Hill which will be the site of that famous race in just a few days. And lo and behold, there was a baptism going on in the river at the bottom of the hill. Does anyone else want to be baptized, Hal? Another photo op, obviously! We ventured to the North Country Pub, the site of so many of our memories and my dad's favorite watering hole. Of course, being Sunday in smalltown America, it was closed. We settled for a decent meal at a Mexican Restaurant where we of course ran into friends our dads had known in the past.

On our way out of town we stopped by the place my parents had lived for so many years. The view is incredible and it was an opportunity to remember them.

So, camping was not as tough as I thought it would be for this 54 year old. The best part was just being able to spend time with people I love with no interruptions from anyone or anything. It is clearly the beginning of a beautiful tradition. What is in store for Camp Conco 2010?