Saturday Night...the Party's Over

It was another beautiful day here in Arizona.  Not too warm..just right.  I spent most of the morning standing behind the ironing board.  Ater doing laundry yesterday, there was quite a bit to iron,  I brought the ironing board out into the living room in front of the TV (just like I do at home) to entertain myself while doing this necessary task.   We left here about 3:30pm to go to the birthday party.  By Map Quest it was 44 miles from where we are staying.  The traffic was heavy, so I'm glad we allowed plenty of time.  We got there a little before 5pm and Nancy's daughters had decided that Bob & I would sit at the same table as their mom & dad.  They placed me with my back to the entrance of the social hall (the party was held in the church where their oldest son is assistant pastor) so that when she was brought in by her husband, she wouldn't see me right away.  Anyway....after the initial shock wore off, she greeted different ones and eventually made it over to the table where I was sitting, She looked at me like she'd seen a ghost.  I stood up and we hugged and the first thing out of her mouth was..."did you fly down here?"  She knows I don't care to fly because she's tried to get me to Phoenix many times.  Anyway, it was one of the most beautiful parties I've ever attended..all the decorations & food were an Italian theme.  One of their friends who has a beautiful voice, sang some Italian songs and also some special love songs that Nancy's husband had asked for. All of their five adult children and spouses were there and as well as most of the grandchildren.  We hated to leave but knew we had a long drive back thru unfamiliar territory, at least the traffic was lighter coming back.

Sunday we are going to head west...I don't know if we'll make it to Pasadena or not but after we get packed up and do laundry (I want to wash up the towels, etc. that we've used here) we'll head in that direction. I'd like to stay here another couple days and see more of the area....I understand Sedona, AZ is worth visiting, but Bob's family in Pasadena is anxious for us to get there.  And I'm kind of anxious to be on the homeward bound trail.  If we decide to go up the coast, we could be a week or more there.  Especially since Highway 101 goes right thru San Francisco.  Then there's a place in northern California (I think it's north ofTrinidad), where the highway goes right along the ocean.  We've been thru there several times in the past and always said we'd like to pull in and park there by the ocean for a day or two. And we have friends that live on the Washington coast, so I'm sure we'll visit there for a day or two and after that.......home to my kitty.   :)

I hope to be back on line after we get to Pasadena...so until then, take care.          Linda