Campfire

[avalen]

Oh gosh, campfire was way down on the second page
I'm really enjoying my time in Appleton Wisconsin visiting my sister. We've had a Lot to talk about!
My dad is settling in to his new apt, although he's still angry with my brother for calling Washington state to suspend his license. Little family dynamics going on there, no need to bore you with details.
So much going on here I hardly have time for myself but tomorrow is my day, and using dads car to drive to fon du lac to have lunch with Eileen.
Went to Green Bay the other day to take sisters grand daughter to Bay Beach amusement park, a fun day but very long. Such an adorable little girl, very polite e year old. She certainly enjoyed walking the dogs and they really took to her.
Will prep the motorhome Wednesday for departure Thursday.The weather has been nice, humidity not extremely bad but certainly enjoying the cooler temps. Taking my time getting home.

[snowball]

I didn't realize that it was going to be this short of a visit seems like last week you were in Iowa for awhile.
so where all are you going to go back to AZ? hope you enjoy your trip immensely. and hopefully will see you more this winter out in the desert...
thanks for reviving the campfire think I want to take a soak in the hot tub
sheila

[JudyJB]

Almost forgot about the campfire. Just wanted to add a nice thing that happened tonight. I am at a handicap site for a week because it was the only one available and the lady on the phone who scheduled me here for two weeks gave it to me because I said I had a permit. (I had called her because I needed a full two weeks here because of cataract surgery on both eyes. She was very nice to find me two sites and charge me only one reservation fee.)

Anyway, as i was filling up my water tank, a young man, aged about 12 was riding his bike past. He stopped and asked me if I needed any help. I said no thanks, and he asked if I was sure. Nice to see a young man with such nice manners!

[Bethers]

The almost full moon looks beautiful tonight... Behind wispy clouds right now. I love laying in bed with my window cover open, window open and breathing the fresh air and seeing they sky as it is now.

[BarbaraRose]

It was so bright out last night. I had moonlight coming thru the skylights that lit up the kitchen.

Judy, that boy obviously has good parents!

[Bethers]

Judy, I had a similar experience today. A young man, maybe 10-12, ran up the stairs to help me with boxes I was carrying down. I had to refuse his help only because it would have been hard to exchange them on the stairs. But he waited at the bottom to make sure I didn't tumble. It's so nice to see there are members of the younger generation being brought up right.

And thanks, Alice, for bringing the campfire back to life.

[snowball]

being in the city with lots of lights we don't see the moon or the stars hopefully that moon will still be
shining when I get home tomorrow!!!
I shared something on FB yesterday that is worth looking at if you haven't already do so it was titled something about the when the sea meets the moon or something of that nature someone was there at a good time or knows how to do a photo shop really well
I have missed posting on the campfire
sheila

[SoCalGalcas]

Love the stories about the polite kids! I always thank the kids that do polite things like holding doors etc.
No visible full moon here. Night and morning low clouds breaking for afternoon sun is the everyday forecast in the city with the smallest thermometer. 7* between hi and low today.
We had water damage to two areas awhile back. Broken pipes above us and water dropped down. Area now dry and removed drywall being replaced today.
So glad you are enjoying WI Alice. I thought both WI and MI were two beautiful states.
Judy, hoping all goes well with cataract removal. I had mine removed years ago. Very easy. Did need the zapping with the ??? Can’t remember....afterwards. That was very simple too!
Time to take Benji around the block!!! Lyn

[snowball]

have a feeling that there will be clouds out there can see the sunset but then to the East it looks dark... so will see when I take Shadow out what there is to see. really windy today... but had a good trip home
sheila

[snowball]

did see the moon last night very full!!! and pretty
my grandson is in a play "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is it? they even had a Chitty car was so good... for middle schoolers and High schoolers they did good!!! and enjoyable night
don't think I will go tomorrow night but perhaps on Sat which is the last night. My grandson and his wife when they were in high school were very involved in the drama group all through high school... my youngest grandson is starting early he is only in middle school but did good... I think that this will create a desire for them to go into the drama as opposed to just sports.
it seems like they have a hard time mixing them... and people almost always support the sports over the arts... so there is never the money for drama or even the publicity for the theater and or music
hope there will be more room for both
sheila

[avalen]

Am safely tucked in at a campground in Pacific Junction, Iowa,, where I was before only different spot. Will visit with a friend and hit the road Sunday morning. Its terribly hot her and humidity is bad. A cold beer will certainly go down nicely, lol

[BarbaraRose]

It may be hot here but at least we don't have that horrid humidity that everyone else is dealing with. Keep cool Ava and stay safe on your travels south!

[JudyJB]

I think the campfire is perfect for some reflecting. While my co-POA are swamped with all the details of dealing with the legal, financial, and medical issue of two relatives with dementia, I have to say that I have been thinking how sad it is to have spent a lifetime collecting furniture and belongings you love and putting them into your dream house, none of it really counts in the end.

My aunt's jewelry, china sets, bird houses, plants, and travel mementos will be sold or given away to what family members are left. I am my uncle's closest relative, even if there are a small handful of other nieces and nephews, but most of them are close to my age, and in the process of giving things of their own away. My aunt has an elderly sister and brother, and a small handful of nieces and nephews, but few of them care about this stuff either. None of the children of the nieces and nephews were close to my aunt and uncle because they lived so far away.

There is a sterling flatware set that is the same pattern as my mother's was, so my niece that my mother's set went to wants it. I want a Christmas china set and a couple of bird prints. And of course, we will go through all the family photos on the walls and in albums. They traveled the world, but the photos of those trips are just curiosities now. A couple of years ago, I asked for and took away the drum set my parents bought my uncle when he was 12 and played all through college. (My parents raised him after his parents died young.) The bound copies of his doctoral thesis will be tossed.

The whole thing is just really sad.

[BirdbyBird]

Sad but sobering for sure. Sad to think that how isolated individuals can become as they age or really at any time and sobering to think of the role material possessions play in so may lives. I always reflect on the issue after fires, storms or other catastrophes wipe out someone's possessions and they get interviewed by the media and speak to their gratefulness of coming out alive. My mother who was on her own after being divorced when I was in second grade, lost most all her furniture and family possessions that were in storage at some point later in her life when she was unable to pay storage fees. I think at the time she had been living in a motel in Houston working at a hospital or nursing home as an RN. One of the only things she did have was a suitcase of family photographs that she had managed to always carry around with her. Many of us here on the forum have either downsized ourselves or followed those that have as they set off on a journey of full timing. It is definitely a journey of re-evaluating what is important and what is not so important in life.

Life is definitely one full of choices.

I also thought about the spaces we claim to need during my recent trip to NYC. My step sister has lived in the same rent controlled small one bedroom studio apartment on Third Ave. for over 30 years and my friend from high school is in midtown near the theater district on the 18th floor with a gorgeous view in a small one bedroom apartment and has been for 42 years though he has traveled the world with his work and for fun. May we all be able to make room in our lives for what is important.

[Queen]

I get what you’re saying, Judy. After my mom died my brother and I looked at the huge amount of stuff she and dad had accumulated over the years, things that had great meaning to them... and zero meaning to us or anyone else. I just made peace with the fact that they enjoyed it and that was all that mattered. They’ll live on in our memories for as long as we’re around.


My musing of the day:
I’m so happy to be home in Illinois. We knew we had to go back to work part-time and living where you have a lifetime of connections makes that as simple as a quick email. Add to that being around old friends, the incredible diversity in our university town, amazing library, access to world class performing arts, and overall very nice people, it’s pretty awesome.