Leaving On a Jet Plane

Well, Our bags are packed and we are Ready to go on our 2 week trip to the Great Lakes State of Michigan. Why Michigan you ask ? Well, for those of you who don't know,that's where both Alan and I spent the first 30 something years of our life. Our family's are still there, and it has been 3 years since our last visit.



This trip is especially important as we are going to be celebrating my Parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. As I look back on my Parents life together, I wonder, how many of my generations couple's will be married to the same person for 50 years ?? I know, myself, I will be 86 years old when Our 50th Anniversary comes around. Somehow, I just can't imagine myself being 86, Chloe being 50, and Blake being 48, and Alan..well, we won't tell his age since he's not writing this post. I am not even sure I did the math right.. One thing I do know, is I certainly don't plan on being married to anyone else but Alan...and I would love to see us in our Golden Years together..with Grandchildren and all...but I better just stay right here, right now, and enjoy the moments, because I know they will be gone before I know it.

Here is a Picture of my Parents on their Wedding Day, I just love it. Circa 1957



I have a total of 4 Brothers, 3 amazingly wonderful Sister-In-Laws, and 6 beautiful nieces and nephew, and this will be the first time in years...years...I am telling you, that we will all be together in one room, celebrating. It should be eventful! There are also my Cousin's and their children, that I can't wait to reconnect with. I've spent almost every Holiday, Birthdays, & Weddings with them, until Alan and I packed up and moved out here to start a new life 8 years ago. I always thought I would travel back at least once a year for Holidays, but that has not happened, partly because of Children, and partly because of Finances, not to mention how sick we all seem to get when we travel back. Bitter sweet is how I explain living in California, a place I truly love and feel at home at, and being so far away from my Parents, Family, and Good Friends.

We have also decided to make a bit of a Rustic Vacation out of this trip. We are going to be renting a Cottage in the Northern Part of Michigan, Glen Arbor and The Sleeping Bear Dunes. You can check it out here, and here. (Scroll down and you will see photo's of the cottage). I spent many summers as a child in Northern Michigan, it is one of the most beautiful places in the country. The best part about our Glen Arbor stay is we will be sharing our Cottage with a dear friend of mine, Elizabeth, her Husband Karl, and their two great children, Estelle, and Adam. Lovely friends for all of us !! On top of that, my Brother Greg, his wife DJ and my two sweet nieces Payton and Luca will be staying in a cottage near by, along with my Brother Andrew..who's Birthday we will be celebrating. A family affair all the way around !!

There are other friends and family that I will be catching up with, and for those of you reading this..I am going to do my usual pitch on how wonderful San Diego is, and how you should get yourselves on a plane to come visit us... So, get ready, I have been know to be a good sales person...slow, but otherwise, genuinely convincing.

As for the Blog...I am going to do my best to post pictures for all to see..but I can't promise that..I may not be able to "Bare to Blog". But, when I get back, I promise a full report !!

I will leave you with this song from John Denver... It keeps spinning in my mind as I pack all of our things, and it reminds me of my childhood...Of course...I am not going to West Virgina, and there will be no mountains...only Sand dunes, and Lakes.