Forty...and Counting!

In 1968 after graduating from college, I came home to Illinois to roost, but only for awhile. Like many college graduates, I had bills and loans to pay off. I took a job close to home, but only for awhile. "But for awhile" turned out to last my life time! In my early twenties I envisioned living in strange, exotic places, experiencing the world at large. Then...in '68 I met the love of my life - Larry. My goals and dreams changed and were now centered on marriage and a family. We lived, and we loved. Today, forty years later, here we are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary with two grown sons, a daughter-in-law, and three grandkids, and still very much in love! In honor of the occasion our entire family headed to a beachhouse on the shore of Pensacola Beach, Florida for a week's worth of R&R. We enjoyed seven days' of sunny, ninety degree weather on the white sands of Pensacola. During the week's stay, our days were filled with shelling, boogie-boarding, golfing, fishing, kiting, and lounging on the beach.


























More than anything during the vacation, Larry and I most enjoyed being with the kids, both the young and old. They gave us laughter and love. As for the "exotic" places of my youth, I wouldn't change my life for anything! Life is a journey of the heart, not a journey 'round the world.

Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend marked the official beginning of the "Boating Season" for us and our friends. Unless you are a boat aficionado, that probably means nothing to you. The run-abouts are now out of storage. Trial runs have been made; with the exception of one pontoon,The Blue-Toon-A, the boats passed their tests. Even the weather cooperated this year with plenty of sunshine and light winds, a perfect background for boating. Friends and relatives tie up with one another and then the party begins. Unwinding and relaxing are given a high priority for the afternoon.

By evening's hour the festivities include a good old-fashioned barbecue followed by a rip-roaring campfire and "weenie" roast.

Those wimpy boaters who can't keep up with the Big Boys receive the extra-special attention they deserve!!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to one and all! According to info found on the Net, this holiday is 95 years old. Apparently Anna Jarvis in the 1900s started this day as a tribute to her mother who just passed away. Little did she know that a $14 billion industry was born. Today mothers everywhere will be getting potted plants, homemade cards, hanging baskets and vases of arranged flowers from their brood. Most children don't realize the most precious gift is time--time spent in conversation, in shared activites. Just being together means the world. Fortunately, I have two sons whom I love dearly and am extremely proud of in their adult accomplishments. Moms world-wide know the heartaches that can come (and do!) with motherhood. Kids make mistakes, but in the end, "turn out" well despite their mishaps growing up. Ah, the stories we moms could tell when the kids were young!! I wish blessings to all moms on their job well-done!

Family

The troops have arrived: brother Jerry and Merrill from California, sister Jan and Lee from Florida, and sister Katie from Texas. The Haas clan has descended upon the Home Front for a couple of weeks to celebrate two family weddings.
The complete gathering was rather unexpected.










It's unusual to have EVERYONE return for a nephew's wedding and a more distant relative...a great-nephew. Perhaps all of us feel the years creeping up and realize we're sliding down the backside of our lives! Some days I feel entrenched in the land of canes and cataracts, blue hair and support hose! We're just in the waiting room for the blue-hair set, biding our time for the Big Bingo Parlor ahead. All are aware that tomorrow is never guaranteed and so we must make the best use of our time in the "now". Our family has always been close-knit even though the sisters and brothers are slung across the country. Email helps bind the gaps in distance--a frequent sharing of words, photos, and movies.
The next week means family golf outings, barbecues, card playing, and just reminiscing about life in our younger days. Ah, the stories we tell each other about when we were little.






Mom and Dad, both gone now, would be smiling down on us this week. Family was a priority for them--family was important.

Ode to Ralphie

Once upon a time, in a land faraway, lived a laid-back lobster named Ralphie. In his coastal abyss offshore Maine, Ralph leisurely did what all lobsters do: swim, eat, and get fat. By very late winter, he weighed in at a pound and a quarter. He was a happy camper, that is, until February 28th rolled around. A thousand miles away in the sleepy southern fishing village of Englewood, Ralphie's fate was decided. A Maine snowbird, eager to feast on the succulent white meat of the lobster dripping with butter, began flying lobsters in daily. Ralph was now a legal resident of the Florida waters! Ralphie never was a man (ummm...or crustacean) of many words--until his beautiful white ass was plucked by the Huegens for a grand feast Saturday night.










In his squeaky voice, Ralphie yelled "Save me! Save me! His cries went unheeded as Lee and Jan piggybacked all four lobsters in a cooler with Ralph on top. Ralphie fared better than his three butt-smelling buddies underneath. Thankful Ralph was on top still scratching the cooler lid. The ice block numbed his tail, but not his brain. "Pay the ransom" was his rally cry.

Five hours passed, and he was thrusted into this weird world of inanimation--until the cooler lid was popped. Free, free at last! Ralphie and his cohorts breathed the fresh air in the Huegen household.

But wait...suddenly the motley crew landed tails first in the boiling, steamy waters. The end came quickly and thankfullly, without pain. Ralphie was now but a shell of himself.. His body ravaged by vultures who sucked and picked the life out of him He'll go done in history as the best damn lobster in all of North Port!

On the Road Again!

We're back ! Spending six weeks in the warm weather climate of Florida does wonders for one's soul! The invigorating and rejuvenating trip chased away the winter blahs.
The first eight days were spent in St. Pete's--weather was cool, but sunny. Daily morning walks, searching the sands for shells, was followed by leisurely beach afternoons, reading my first of several novels. On February 25th we headed to North Port to visit Jan and Lee for a few days. While there we motored to Caya Costa State Park for a day at the beach. This was our re-enactment of the "Do Nothing, Go Nowhere, See Nothing Trip" of last year! Jan and Lee are now redeemed! The dolphins even joined in...

Sunday Night Football

It's finished. No more Sunday football. Yesterday ended the string of "tailgating" parties that began last fall. Almost every Game Day saw our friends and us gathered at someone's home, watching and cheering on our favorite teams. There's thirty-three people in our football pool; a small amount of cash keeps everyone competitive and down-right fanatic about the games' winners and losers. It's ironic because as a kid I hated football; the game never made sense to me. Now I can't get enough of it! Good thing we're leaving for warmer climates in two weeks. Gives us a new normal to replace our Sunday ritual.