9494 ON THE FOURTH

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You might think that if you had traveled to the same place several dozen times, that it may become a bit routine, perhaps even boring.

Not so when we travel to Cripple Creek, Colorado. The mountains keep calling and we keep going.

Suzanne wasn’t able to join us this time, so Gail and I forged on without her to this beautiful mountainous haven. It is never the same without her, but she had our blessing so westward we went.

Gail and I arrived late afternoon on Wednesday, March 4th. Once again, we Marched Forth to honor our parents. We wanted to be Closer to Heaven, and going to our mountain mecca once again was how we did just that this year. They are with us every day, but at this higher elevation, we’ve convinced ourselves we are a little bit closer to them. Either way, it’s a good reason to come here.

Cripple Creek sits at an elevation of 9494 feet, tucked in a cozy valley behind Pike’s Peak.

Cripple Creek, Colorado is a historic gold mining-turned-gambling town, the place where the idea for this blog was born. The mother lode, in gold mining terms, means to hit the main vein, the jackpot. Thus, The Sister Lode seemed the perfect title; we hit the jackpot by being born into the same family as sisters. We know how lucky we are.

Speaking of lucky, it seems Gail is always the lucky one at the slot machines.

Mysteriously though, she says, it always seems to disappear as easily as it appeared.

We arrived late afternoon on the fourth, and woke up on the fifth to a beautiful, sunny and relatively warm morning, followed by a mild, sunny day. Overnight, however, a snowstorm moved in as predicted, and dumped about seven inches of snow–as predicted.

It was a beautiful, snowy morning and we got to live our dream of being snowed in in the mountains. Of course, we weren’t leaving for two more days, so we weren’t stranded, and several cars did plow through the winding mountain roads to get their Cripple Creek fix, but we only plowed through a few snowy streets to get downtown to the action.

The purple mountain majesty returned the next day with the sunshine, and the snow began to melt.

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It’s never the same without Suzanne. Quieter, not her unique brand of humor. Our hosts at the Hospitality House–our home away from home–always have our favorite room ready, no matter how many of us come.

I brought Bonnie and Judy along, they like to travel with Gail and me. I found them at a garage sale several years ago, and if you look close and use your imagination, you can see a younger version of Gail and me in their faces. According to the garage sale host, they were sisters. I wish there had been a third sister.

In her usual social style, Gail met up with old friends here, and always makes a few new friends at the blackjack table. She’s good at that, and if you know her, no surprise.

One of my favorite activities while she is socializing is to hang out here in this beautiful place, reading, puzzling, napping and writing. I can always settle in to a cozy feeling here, and I need more of that than Gail does. I wish I needed less sleep like she does, and could be as lucky as she is on slots, but alas, we are different like that.

Eighteen years have passed since our parents died and it hardly seems possible. Time moves so fast, and the older we get, the faster it goes. Gail and I had three full days here and I am typing on the afternoon of our last full day. Seems like we just arrived. Seems like my sons were just kids and now they have their own kids. It’s 2026 already and I am going to be 60 next month. If we could just harness time and slow it down, surely we could enjoy it more, couldn’t we?

Or maybe we wouldn’t want to slow it down. Perhaps the best thing to do is live every moment to its fullest, take advantage of the time we have and look back at the end of each day with a sense of gratitude for that one more day, because tomorrow will be one less day.

I lost a dear friend last week. She was 102 and lived a most amazing life. When I visited her, she loved to hear about my travels. “If you have the time and the means, you need to travel and have as much fun as you can.” I hold this advice near and dear, because she knew better than any of us–unless you are 102 or older–how fast time flies.

And, if I remember right, she always told me to buy myself something on the trip. So, to honor her, I did.

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Our ritual of singing along with John Denver to Rocky Mountain High on the last stretch of mountainous road was fulfilled once again. And, Gail always has to give the Wheel of Fortune machine a spin. She walked away with a little cash, which she normally does.

We made our usual pit stop in Limon as well. Clearly, I’m not as nimble as I used to be.

Speaking of time passing quickly, we will hit the road Sunday morning and lose an hour due to the time zone difference, and we will lose another hour overnight with Daylight Savings Time. That timing is due to the Wheel of Misfortune, for sure.

If you have the time and means, get out there and have some fun. Our happy place is right here. If you like to travel and wherever yours is, by all means, we recommend going there as soon as you can.

One of our earlier trips, this one was dated 2017

S.B. CHAMPS

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(words with an asterisk* were the words we were given in the spelling bee, the other italicized words were given to other teams.)

At the risk of sounding narcissistic* or ostentatious, we did win the Neighbor-to-Neighbor spelling bee in Abilene last night (again). Seems to be the weekend for S.B. championships.

I strategically scheduled this post to be live at exactly 4:30 p.m. CST, an hour earlier the Super Bowl kickoff. Super Bowl/Spelling Bee, they are both highly important competitions and I don’t want one to overshadow the other.

The labyrinthine path we took to get there was a challenge at times, but we proved (once again) to be spelling aficionados. There were no belligerent epithets from the other contestants, just a spirit of ebullience and goodwill among the teams. There were only six teams this year, which made it a much smaller gathering than previous years.

We were all old enough to remember the famous outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease in Philadelphia in 1976, but we were forced to use one of our two mulligans when none of us could remember the correct spelling of legionnaire*. Coincidentally, 1976 was the year my precocity* with spelling surfaced, when I placed second in the Mitchell County (Kansas) spelling bee at ten years of age in the fourth grade. Despite four more years of chances, I did participate in the county bee each year, but never placed again to earn a trip to the state bee in Topeka.

Clearly, I never got over it.

Gail’s nephew was our guest. “Father Kade” as he is known to his parishioners and everyone else, is her husband’s late brother’s son, and he joined us at the Catholic parish hall for the evening. (Full disclosure, when I typed ‘parishioner’ above, I was alerted to a misspelling with the red line under it. Apparently, I wasn’t aware of the second ‘i.’ Good thing that wasn’t one of our words.)

Perhaps there was a scintilla* of divine favor with his presence at our table, but we like to think we would have pulled off the victory either way. He was indeed a delightfully divine guest.

As the evening progressed toward the twelfth and final round and the other teams acquiesced* to defeat, we realized we had quite the repertoire* of correct spellings, as we were able to complete the final round with no further mistakes. Any further misspellings would have been egregious and abhorrent* to us, which, coincidentally, was our winning word.

My neighbor Jordan wasn’t able to join us this year, but she was there in spirit. Gail, with her perpetual spirit of fun and generosity, brought table decorations and goodies for everyone. Slap bracelets, stickers, pens and other party favors were a hit among the whole crowd.

My raffle ticket matched the winning number drawn for the basket of yoga goodies, apropos of my love for the practice.

We claimed the title and posed for our photograph. We like to think we pulled it off with panache. Perhaps next year we should consider wearing our matching muumuus*, but our T-shirts are an annual hit.

The night wrapped up early and because there were no taquerias*, discotheques or bodegas open locally, we opted for a late dinner at a local restaurant. Father Kade was our guest for dinner as well.

We will be back in Abilene next year for another spelling bee rendezvous, and may your team win the S.B. today.

THE CRUCIBLE OF JANUARY

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Perhaps it is the interminable cold. Or the flu-colds-sinus crap-vomiting-and-every-other-bug going around after the holidays. Or maybe it is just the after-the holiday-letdown, or maybe it’s all three. Whatever it is, it is my least favorite month of the year. January definitely fits #2 above.

This year, however, I decided to take a new approach. I armed myself with information, inspiration and imagination. I started by reading books about how the experts do it. As in, the experts who live in the coldest part of the world and seem to enjoy it. In that process, I came upon a new favorite word:

Pronounced “hugh-ga,” or “hoo-ga,” it has been my mantra for the winter. If the Danish and Scandinavians can do it, then I should at least try. So I have been, but with limited success. Better than last year perhaps, but I’m still fighting it all the way.

Suzanne and I are puzzlers, Gail is not. Suzanne has graciously shared one of her Christmas gifts with me when she finished it, not even knowing it was my new favorite word.

I have bought a few new clothes this winter (of course), and the first requirement is that they have to be cozy. I have purged some other clothes that were not cozy and comfortable, realizing they are not worth the scratching, irritation and ill-fit they posed for me.

It’s all about cozy comfort for me. I do realize that this time of year is glorious for some people. I have a dear friend who loves the cold and winter. Gail and Suzanne enjoy it more than I do, but not as much as they enjoy the wind. I even gave birth to someone who loves it, so I do respect those differences, I just don’t understand them.

Gail’s sentiment is this: “Cold Pffft!! You can dress to keep warm, but you can’t undress to keep cool.”

As I type this on the last day of January, I continue to realize that here in the middle of Kansas, we don’t really have it so bad. Gail’s daughter in northern Michigan sent me this picture:

She reported 110 inches for the winter so far.

Much of the eastern United States has been hammered with severe, even life-threatening winter weather. It could be so much worse. Still, I complain. The snow is gorgeous as it falls, and even as it settles, but now we are in the ugly, gray and dirty phase of the snowfall. However, it was a beautiful sight last Sunday morning:

At least there was no wind. Gail and Suzanne would have loved that, not me.

If you are looking for some winter reading to get you through until spring, I highly recommend these titles:

Leibowitz, K.2025, How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, or Difficult Days. Bluebird.

Wiking, M. 2017. The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living. Harper Collins.

May, K. 2020 Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. Riverhead Books.

There are a few highlights in January, however. Our dear Mom’s birthday was in January, and now my dear daughter-in-law celebrates hers on the same day with us. And, of course, our home state of Kansas celebrates its birthday on January 29th. This year it was 165 years old. I do my best to commemorate this special day in my fullest regalia. (Please note the sunflower earrings as well.)

The most exciting thing about January, I think, is looking forward to the end of it. February arrives, and I feel a sense of relief, a weight lifting. Thirty years ago on February first, Suzanne felt a great relief when she gave birth to her only child. In her words, Suzanne offered this: “As for living through January, I spent two weeks of January 1996 in the hospital. It was the last time I’ve been caught up on sleep, but I really don’t recommend it.” Happy Birthday Julia!

Cardinal sightings are always a special treat, and they seem to show up in the most brutal cold and snow of January. My daughter-in-law Olivia, Mom’s birthday buddy, shared this from the video on her backyard birdfeeder:

Plus, for the last few years, “The Beekeepers” of The Sister Lode have participated in, and highly anticipate the annual Neighbor to Neighbor Spelling Bee in Abilene in early February. Along with my neighbor Jordan, we will be back again next Saturday to attempt to regain the crown we gave up last year. Jordan gave birth to her twins shortly after last year’s bee, and she will join us again this year.

And how can we forget the thrill of Groundhog Day on February 2nd? That is a day to anticipate as well.

With a mere 28 days, February seems easier to survive, knowing spring will soon follow. I find myself wishing every January away, even though I know that even the worst days are a gift.

This Facebook meme stopped me in my tracks, it is profound:

We should also consider “one more January” as “one less January,” even if it is a crucible. Every day is a gift, no matter what the weather. Even if January feels like it is 6,184 days long.

Bilston, B. 2022. Days Like These: An Alternative Guide to the Year in 366 Poems. Picador.

HAPPY FEBRUARY FROM THE SISTER LODE!

SANTAS OF SOUTH SIXTH

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If I were to take a three and one-half hour trip on December 23rd, then turn around and come home on the morning of December 24th–Christmas Eve, it would have to be for a very good reason. For example, like Gail’s annual Santas of South Sixth Christmas celebration in Atwood, her small town in western Kansas.

Suzanne and I left our small city Tuesday morning and headed west for that very reason. This was Gail’s seventh annual Santas of South Sixth, a tremendous offering of goodwill, mirth, conviviality and community. It was Gail’s idea, inspired by The Georgetown Santas, a larger scale, three-night event in our small city of Salina, Kansas. Suzanne and her husband joined in the fun last year and she knew how much fun it would be. We told Gail we would come if the weather permitted.

The weather did indeed permit, reaching an unseasonably warm 65 degrees that afternoon and cooling down to a mild 45 degrees at 7:00 when the fun officially began.

But it began hours before that for all of us present at Gail’s house. Suzanne and I arrived mid-afternoon, and the preparations had already begun. Her house was buzzing with excitement and preparation, with three of her four children present.

Gail’s daughter Kate, came from Wichita with her family

Her son came from Kansas City for the holiday, but his girlfriend’s parents drove all the way from Kansas City, Missouri for just one day to partake of this glee. So, Suzanne and I didn’t get the prize for traveling the farthest. They, too, knew it was worth a long trip down I-70.

Gail lives on the outermost southeast corner of her small town at the top of a hill. That portion of South Sixth, is a short two-block strip, with about ten houses lining the sides. Most of the neighbors were eager to participate as well, and it went like this: the festive joiners would cruise slowly down the hill that is South Sixth street–staying in their vehicles– and the residents would line up on either side, passing out edible treats and small treasures for young and old and everyone in between.

She posted it on the SOSS group on Facebook and it spread by word of mouth as well. In a town this small–approximately 1300 people, it doesn’t take long for news like this to spread. At 6:15, I looked out over her back patio wall to see the cars lining up already, waiting to round the corner, waiting for the fun to begin.

At promptly 7 pm, the neighbors at the top of the hill on the other side of the street stepped out with their treasures and the fun officially began.

Gail had an array of goodies to share, especially the adult libations: holiday jello shots. She had holiday glow-sticks and slap bracelets for the kids, which were as colorful as the shots.

I was appointed the unofficial reporter/photographer, so I rounded the corner several times to check the lineup. For much of the two-hour event, it reached down the hill to the highway, almost half a mile.

Perhaps they were already in town for the holidays, but we will assume these out-of-state vehicles came just for the fun. In which case, the last car pictured would receive the award for traveling the farthest.

The Griswolds were there, too, as well as The Grinch.

Gail had 90 bags of homemade goodies prepared, and exactly all of them were given out, down to the last car. It was as if she knew. Most cars had three or more people in them, so we are estimating at least 400 people came through. The kids in this van had it figured out–opening the door open made it easier to score the goodies.

Someone even came through on their gator.

The view from Gail’s driveway

When it was all over, the Santas (and elves like us) of South Sixth Street gathered for a group photo, then gathered to share cheer among ourselves.

The trip was a quick one, and the fun evening flew by too quickly. Suzanne and I had to hit the road early on the 24th, but it was worth every minute of the seven hours of road time.

I had to work that afternoon, so I decided to share the cheer with my speech therapy patients.

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In case you hadn’t noticed from earlier posts, the spirit of Christmas lives year-round in Gail. Her house faces east at the top of the hill and every night, she can look up outside her door and see this sight on top of the hill to the east:

No matter where any of us are, or what we do to celebrate Christmas, we should all remember to look up every day of the year.

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Merry Christmas a little late from the sisters of The Sister Lode and best wishes for a wonderful New Year.

LOLA, JOHN AND THE SISTER LODE

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Every day should be celebrated as Thanksgiving. And Christmas. And Independence Day, maybe even Groundhog Day. Quite simply, every day should be a celebration.

With Gail, as you may have deduced by now, every day is a celebration.

After two years at her daughter’s house in Wichita, scheduling conflicts determined that Thanksgiving would be held once again at Gail’s house, as they had for many years prior. It matters not where we gather, just that we do gather with family.

Over the interstate and through the cold, to Gail’s house we did go. The weather kept some loved ones back, but they were with us in spirit. I rode with Suzanne and her husband, making the journey almost as much fun as the celebration. On the way, we stopped to partake of Black Friday shopping in Hays, Kansas, which was a new experience for me. After spending six of the best years of my life there in college, it is always a nostalgic trip back. The town is bigger now, but the mall is smaller–in my mind. It seems those places can shrink with age. Perhaps a mall of any size to a starry-eyed college student from a town of 300, was a behemoth. I don’t normally do the Black Friday thing except online, which we had fun doing in the car, as our favorite puzzle maker had a sale that couldn’t be missed. We should both be set for some time with puzzles after that order. We were good girls this year, Santa would see it the same way so we just did a little of his work.

Arriving in Atwood at Gail’s house in late afternoon left us a little time before we had to load up and head downtown to the annual Christmas parade. We couldn’t be late, we were part of the lineup. Spectating at a parade is its own thrill, but riding in the back of Lola–Gail’s 1974 Chevrolet Nova she bought for herself as a 60th birthday gift almost six years ago–with my sisters Gail and Suzanne, and John, the son of the original owner (Lola) at the wheel, was a new thrill for me. I think we enjoyed it more than the kids who picked up the candy we threw out. Suzanne’s husband got to ride shotgun.

Gail’s stepson, Tyler, was an elf extraordinaire.

The small-town spirit of Christmas was felt in full force; an energy that cannot be duplicated by anything else.

Saturday morning brought the anticipation of the feast, with the preparation being another kind of unique energy. Everyone brings something, and the big stuff is created in Gail’s kitchen.

Gail’s dressing—Mom’s recipe–is second to none, but we all had a hand in making it.

Every year, a secret ingredient is added, leaving the guests to try to figure out what it is this year. No one guessed the acini de pepe pasta that was left over from the salad; it baked in quite nicely.

The feast was the usual fare, but there is never anything usual about our gatherings, especially at Gail’s house. There were prizes drawn for those who remembered to bring their personalized, laminated “Turkey Club” cards issued years ago, but in the end, everyone got a prize. Gail is generous like that. Our choices ranged from her homemade salsa, canned zucchini relish, Pampered Chef utensils (from one of her several side gigs), an Amazon gift card, summer sausage and a few other goodies. Gail does nothing halfway, especially when it comes to giving.

When a decoration was noted to be broken as she took it out of the box this year, she added the accessory to make it a story of its own. She had to order a box of four from Amazon, so, if for some reason you need a small accessory such as this one, she has three left. Let us know.

Bonus points for finding it in five seconds or less.

We dined, dined some more, had dessert, talked, laughed, reminisced and knew we had to make it back over the interstate and through the cold to get home, so we wrapped it up and bid adieu until next time. The 3.25 hour trip was a breeze being chauffeured by Suzanne’s husband, as well as the good company they provided. Thousands of other travelers lit up Interstate 70, adding to the holiday spirit on Thanksgiving Saturday, one of the top road travel days of the year.

I listened to a podcast this morning about gratitude. Not just the surface stuff, but the nitty gritty, small things that comprise most of our days. We all know there is so much sadness in the world and in many of our own lives, so finding the smallest of things to be thankful for can truly make all the difference.

Today, for example, I noticed the jade plant I just repotted is sprouting a new leaf, when I thought perhaps I had killed it in the move. I was grateful. One of my favorite comedians has a new show out. I found another book I was looking for in the thrift store in Hays. I am first on the cancellation list at my dentist’s office to get the root canal I need to fix my tooth earlier than my appointment on Thursday.

Sometimes it takes a little digging, but there are always small things that we can give big thanks for.

We found this picture from Thanksgiving 2008 at Gail’s house. It was the first Thanksgiving after our parents died, and I was taken back to the bittersweet gratitude we all felt that day. We have come so far.

I am so thankful for my sisters, and we are so thankful for you, dear readers.

LESS IS MORE, MORE IS LESS

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I woke up from a glorious Sunday afternoon nap a bit ago, knowing that it has been far too long since I checked in with all you dear readers. I had an idea in mind for a blog, but decided to send a text to Gail and Suzanne first to see if their ideas might be better than mine.

At almost the precise second I sent it, Suzanne sent this picture to me in a text, stating the obvious: “Isn’t this already a mess?”

That was my sign to proceed with the post idea that has been rolling around in my mind for two months: the garage sale Gail and I had at her daughter’s house.

On September 18th, 19th and 20th, I went to Gail’s house in Atwood, Kansas, to partake of the annual Highway 36 Kansas Treasure Hunt, whereby the cities all along U.S. Highway 36 hosted garage sales for the entire weekend.

Treasure hunters from Kansas and all surrounding states flock to this mecca, so I wanted to give it a shot myself. Suzanne wasn’t able to join us, but she did send some stuff along with me. I’m not sure where she found stuff she could let go of, because she already subsists with so little, but she did manage to find an armful of stuff I took along. I think I brought back $16 for her, which is $16 she didn’t have before, so that was a win for her. I came home with $114 in my pocket, and I’m pretty sure Gail at least tripled that amount.

Better than that, though, was the fact that I got rid of a lot of stuff. Stuff that is perhaps living a new, more exciting life in someone else’s home. Now, to the unaided eye–like my husband’s, it is not obvious that I did indeed let some things go, but I guess that’s the most important place to start. And, important also is the fact that while there were multiple other garage sales going on in Atwood, and I stopped at most of them, I didn’t bring anything back from them. I did, however, bring a few of Gail’s goodies home with me, but I beg to differ that those don’t count since she is my sister, and they are mementos of her.

For many years (several decades?), I have stared at the large totes in the storage room in my basement that I knew were loaded with old cards, letters and other papers. I’ll deal with those when I get old, I would tell myself. Apparently, I have decided that I am old, because I am dealing with them now.

This is my pool table in the basement, next to the storage room. I am perusing, sorting and enjoying most of the written treasures I am finding. Most are going into the recycle/shred pile, but I have found some keepsakes in written form from as far back as college (40-plus years). Letters from friends, pictures and cards are being sorted to share back with their original givers, some which I already have. It is a great walk down memory lane, and sure to bring a few laughs. These piles are for various people, as well as the shred/recycle piles.

It feels good to wrap this task up, and to hold on to a few that bring back warm memories. Our mom’s beautiful handwriting is a treasure always, and I have several from her I am holding dear.

Back to Gail. An antique collector/shop owner from eastern Colorado rolled up to Gail’s with her husband and a trailer, and found a few goodies of Gail’s she couldn’t resist.

“If you like that,” Gail said, “I’ve got more like them at my house, and probably some other things you would like.” So, since it was the end of the day and only four blocks over, Gail took Rebecca and her husband to her house, and parted with a considerable pile of antiques Rebecca wanted. In short order, Gail had them on her back patio with a cold beer, because that’s how Gail rolls.

Several weeks ago, I stopped at a thrift store, knowing there were treasures in there for me. There were several really good ones, as well as one with Suzanne’s name all over it: a t-shirt from our beloved Cripple Creek, Colorado. Her size, her style. I was so excited to give it to her; I knew she was home so I stopped by. I showed her my goodies–including a Jim Shore piece, something we are always on the lookout for, then presented her with her shirt. She laughed. Not just a laugh, but a full-on howl, with her head thrown back and all.

“I donated that! she said. I should have known.

In my ongoing quest to at least try to get rid of stuff, I find some particular challenges: books, knick-knacks and jewelry, not to mention clothes. (Isn’t that pretty much everything?) Books, for me, represent a place I visited, another world I was fortunate to explore. I put them on a shelf or a stack in view, because just seeing them reminds me of that journey. If it wasn’t a memorable one, I will pass it on.

Speaking of journeys, when I take an actual trip, I like to buy a piece of jewelry (and probably a coffee cup, maybe a shirt) to commemorate the trip. These things, and they are just “things,” remind me of the fun I had, which helps to keep that good memory alive. And that’s worth it to me. That doesn’t solve the “stuff” problem, but if it brings me joy, then so be it.

I went to a terrific garage sale yesterday and closed out the end of the season. Of course, this too negates the “getting rid of stuff” plan, but I am happy to give life to those things that beckon me when someone else is casting them off. I did come home and put a few things in the “out” box…I swear I did!

In the hundreds of homes I have been in during my home health therapy career, and the short-term gig when I helped with online estate sales, I am continuously reminded that too much stuff is not good for anyone. Our parents moved off the farm in 2000, taking with them only the essentials to their new home in town. Eight years later, this was such a gift to us when we were left with their house to empty. When our times come, Suzanne’s family will have a much easier task than Gail’s and mine in the getting rid of stuff chore. And I know it is a chore.

As the talented (and sexy) country star George Strait sings, “I ain’t never seen a hearse with a luggage rack.” We all know we can’t take it with us. Most of us–except Suzanne–have a lot of work to do while we are still here.

I dug up some old garage sale pictures from blogs past. Suzanne and I are attempting to ride a hoverboard.

SUITABLE FOR FRAMING

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I have traveled to the mountains of Colorado scores of times, but I will always wonder: Could I ever get tired of seeing this beauty? I don’t think I will.

To post pictures seems too mundane, almost a sacrilegious attempt to share this wonder of the natural world. Most readers have seen it themselves, and we all know pictures do the mountains no justice. Yet, that is what I am about to do. Again.

First, it is most important to state that this was a sister trip, but with only one of my sisters. Suzanne had just been to the Balloon Festival in Colorado Springs a few weeks ago, so she stayed back and trusted Gail and me to make it on our own again. We did, but it is never the same without her.

Alas, we soldiered on, but kept her in our thoughts, making sure she got a souvenir that matched ours.

By the way, the Hospitality House is, hands down, the best place to stay in Cripple Creek, should you need our recommendations.

We got a close-up view of the gold mining excavation process,

and took a train trip deeper into the mountains, beholding even more splendor:

We visited a local art installation by the world renowned artist and activist Thomas Dambo. Rita the Rock Planter is but one of the 62 troll sculptures made of recycled materials and local resources this Danish artist has created worldwide, in his valiant effort to increase awareness of our endangered natural resources.

We visited friends we have made in our 20-plus travels there, and Gail even came out of her shell a bit and made more new friends at the blackjack tables.

Judy and Bonnie came along, as they do when Gail and I travel together. They are two sisters I found at a garage sale who bear an uncanny resemblance to Gail and me in our younger years…and the proprietors are certain to welcome us with our framed picture waiting in our room upon our arrival. They are the best!

We dined well and relaxed well, but mostly enjoyed the splendor of the surroundings and each other’s company.

Local law enforcement posts warned motorists to use increased caution on the roads, as leaf peepers were out in full force, traveling into the higher elevations to see the golden aspens as they were showing off their autumn yellow. We just happened to plan our trip on what was likely the best weekend to take our own peeps at those golden leaves.

The trip home is always longer than the trip out, but it is always good to be back in Kansas.

Our home state has it’s own beauty we must never consider lesser than Colorado’s mountains, only different in its equal splendor. I challenge anyone in the mountains to find a sunrise or sunset like what we enjoy here.

Wherever you are in the world, I challenge you to find the beauty in nature all around you. In some form or another, it’s always there. And if you have a sister/sisters, take them along!

One of our earliest recorded trips to the Hospitality House together.

SUZANNE’S ISLAND

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Perhaps it was the company of her beloved sisters. Maybe it was the natural beauty of Mackinac Island. More likely, it was Suzanne’s favorite excursion on our Michigan trip last week because it is the closest she will come to ever realizing her fantasy of going to Gilligan’s Island.

I’m not making this up. She swears she would thrive in that environment. Perhaps she would, but we are so glad she is with us here, safe on our shores, accounted for every day by her husband, her work and our daily morning check-in ritual when each of us finishes Wordle.

We left after work on Monday, August 18th and headed east. As we’d hoped, we made it to Chillicothe, Missouri before we hung it up for the night. Chillicothe, as Gail wants us all to know from her research, is the home of sliced bread. Those fun facts make life a little more interesting, and I really appreciate that she gets excited about such things.

We checked in late and took off early, hummed along nicely along US Highway 36 East. Until we didn’t.

At 9:37 a.m., the flashing lights behind us sank our collective spirit. Gail pulled over, and Missouri State Highway Patrolman Dunn greeted Gail at her door. Apparently, Gail was going only 5 mph over the speed limit, but it appears she was hanging out in the passing lane a bit too long. So, after producing her information, he returned to his vehicle, while we joined hands and sent up a Hail Mary to Mom and Dad. After a long few minutes of waiting, Patrolman Dunn came back to Gail’s door.

“When you girls passed me, I could see you were having a lot of fun. I didn’t want to ruin your day by giving you a ticket, so I’ll just give you a warning.”

Clearly, as evidenced by Patrolman Dunn’s observations, we have road-trip fun down to a well-honed science. Apparently, our fun-loving aura travels through space as quickly as Gail was driving.

Thank you Patrolman Dunn.

And we were off again, until we weren’t. We stopped in Springfield, Illinois for lunch, and it became apparent that one of us needed a visit to Urgent Care. We won’t say which one or what for, but once again, antibiotics saved the day as the wonder drug they are. At least, we got to have lunch at one of Suzanne’s favorite places there.

Three hours later, we were off again. Other than the eight-lane traffic we slogged through around the southern tip of Lake Michigan, which is also the Chicago outskirts at rush hour with Suzanne expertly at the helm, we hummed along nicely, arriving around one a.m. We lost an hour to the time change near Chicago to Eastern Standard Time.

I am normally tucked in by 9:30 and in a deep sleep before 10:00 (according to my sleep tracker), so this was a bit of a stretch for me, as well as a recent personal record for staying up late. But I persevered, and slept like a log after a long day in the car.

Gail’s free-spirited and fun-loving daughter Abby lives in northern Michigan with her husband and two sons. It was so good to hang out with all of them.

My friend Shari and I visited her last year, but there’s never enough time with her. So, I was thrilled when Gail planned a trip there and asked Suzanne and me to go along. Suzanne had never been to Michigan, and was amazed by the natural beauty, as we all were.

We spent our first full day traveling to and around Mackinac Island. The ferry departs from Mackinaw City–both are pronounced Mackinaw–and after about 16 minutes on the waves, we arrived. Of course, we made the most of those 32 minutes:

Gail got into a bit of trouble from the skipper for her imitation of Rose from The Titanic movie, but it was worth the laughs, and no harm was done.

Mackinac Island is noted for its lack of automobiles. Except for a few emergency vehicles, transportation takes place on foot, on a bike or by horse. In 1898, a vehicle ban was enacted to protect the horses that were frightened by the noises and exhaust. The ban has been kept to allow the island to keep its unique charm and quiet atmosphere.

To honor Mom and Dad, who loved to visit Catholic churches, we stopped at St. Ann’s Church and lit a candle for them.

We strolled around the island, enjoying the unique sights, friendly people and quaint shops after a lunch at The Great Turtle, served by our fabulous waitress, Ashley. She filled us in on the ins and outs of the island, enhancing our experience with information only locals would know.

Native Americans noted the similarity of the island’s shape to a turtle, thus naming it “Mitchimakinak,” which means “big turtle.” French explorers kept this name, with the British shortening it to “Mackinac.” It’s perimeter is 8.2 miles, with the commercial and residential development concentrated on the southeastern tip.

On Wednesdays, we wear yellow shorts. Apparently, we forgot to tell Suzanne.

On our way home, we took the five-mile Mackinac bridge. It is the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere.

Sunset on Lake Michigan

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Our remaining two days were filled with other local attractions, including “Skybridge Michigan,” a 118-foot suspension walk bridge. After a ride up on the ski lift, we took the long stroll, then back across.

Shopping was a must as well. Gail was excited to go to her favorite spice store, and I’m sure they were happy to see her again.

Perhaps the simplest pleasure was the treasure hunt for Petoskey stones. Abby is a stone hunter extraordinaire, as are her boys and they turned us on to this hobby of theirs. These fossilized corals are concentrated near Petoskey, on the shores of Lake Michigan, just up the road from Abby’s small town. When you see the distinct hexagonal shape, you know you hit the jackpot. We found several small ones that, after I follow Abby’s polishing instructions, will become even more beautiful.

Souvenirs with this rock print abound, and I came home with a necklace and earrings with these stones, as well as a vase, journal and this challenging puzzle:

And speaking of puzzles, we completed two 300-piece puzzles Suzanne brought and one 500-piece puzzle of northwest Michigan from Abby. She is a puzzler, just like Suzanne and me. Another simple pleasure.

Multiple lakes dot the area, including Torch Lake, which, even though it is hard to tell in this picture, has a beautiful turquoise color. We didn’t wade long after the water moccasin snaked it’s way to shore near us. It’s head is entering this picture on the right.

Time flew as it usually does, especially on vacation. We set our sights on making the trip home in one day, hoping and praying for no hang-ups. There were none. The weather was perfect, as it was all the way there. We departed at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and arrived back in Salina around 12:30 a.m. Sunday. It seemed longer going home as it always does, but we made our own fun, including enjoying our road trip snacks, including:

*Chex Mix, a home-made gift from Suzanne’s co-worker (thanks Steve G!)

*mixed nuts

*celery, sliced peppers and cucumbers

*bagels and cream cheese

*prunes (no explanation needed while traveling)

*chocolates

*apples

*cookies

We had Gail’s homemade salsa with chips that we intended to eat on the way, but decided to enjoy it instead when we got there. Good thinking. And, more good thinking, says Suzanne, was the fact that Gail had an ice cream cone one morning while we were out.

On the way home, Suzanne turned around and saw me sleeping in the back seat. She said she had this flashback: (Only Suzanne would think of this…)

Gail spent the night at my house, even though she said she could probably make the 3.25 hour trip home, getting her there around 3 a.m. I’m sure she could have, but I’m glad she stayed.

Another trip in the books, and the memories grow more fond with time. There will be more to come, hopefully including another Colorado trip in a few months.

Petoskey means “where the light shines through the clouds.” Until we make more memories, these will shine bright through the clouds that have been hanging around here for about ten days, it seems.

Kansas and Michigan together are a perfect combination.

THE SISTER’S GUIDE TO AGING: PART TWO

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“Aging ain’t for old people.”–B., my 93-year-old home health patient.

In honor of Suzanne completing another trip around the sun yesterday, we decided it was time to once again offer our readers our sage advice on aging. But first, let’s continue the celebration for Suzanne.

She offered this picture from a much earlier birthday with our younger brother Ryan:

Suzanne hit the double-nickel yesterday. Smack in the middle of her decade, just like Gail is in the middle of hers at 65. She spent the day with her husband, and I had the honor of taking her to dinner and spending the evening with her. As always, her company is a sheer delight.

Gail and I will have an extended celebration for her next week, as we are preparing to head northeast tomorrow after work, as in, to Michigan to visit Gail’s daughter Abby–the “Dimes From Heaven” niece. It is time for us take another sister’s trip, and it is time for us to visit Abby–likely overdue.

But first, back to the topic at hand.

There was a 109-year old woman who lived near our hometown who recently passed away after her long life. She reported that the secret to her long life was to avoid other people. While that goes against most research and observations, it must be taken into consideration because apparently, it worked for her.

On March 18th, 2018, I posted “The Sister’s Guide to Middle-Aging.” Since we have aged seven years since then, our perspective has only grown richer, and we are ripe with more advice. When I asked Gail and Suzanne by text for their input on this topic, this is what I got:

Suzanne also offered this insider fashion tip: “Don’t dress in a way that’s in style, dress with style. There’s a big difference. My current style looks like I’m homeless, but it’s very low maintenance and inexpensive. Plus, it makes people wonder, ‘Is she a 12-year-old headed to gym class or a nursing home escapee?’ Sweatpants and T-shirts are a clever disguise.“

Thank you, Suzanne, for that indispensable information.

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When I meet a patient or their family member who seems to be aging very well, I usually make a point to ask them what their secrets are. By and large, the answers boil down to two things: keep your body moving and keep your mind moving.

My 102-year-old patient would add that we should all have as much fun as we can as long as we are able. I wholly agree with her. She is always excited to hear that I am gallivanting yet somewhere else again, and I quoted her in regards to that: “As long as you have your health and the money to go, just go! Go and have fun in all those places you want to go to.”

In my last post, I extolled the virtues of having fun. I am convinced it matters, and apparently, she is, too. She has lived her life as a testament to that as much as she possibly can, and continues to plan monthly parties for her friends and family in her home.

Gail replied immediately after I sent the text out this morning: “Have fun, don’t worry. Don’t stress.” I’m sensing a theme here…

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The Sisters of The Sister Lode will spend this week in Michigan with Gail’s daughter Abby. I was there last summer, and I am so excited to go back. We don’t get to see her enough, and remaining connected to our loved ones is the secret to healthy and happy aging I would like to share. Despite my strong desire at times to be alone, and to follow the advice of the 109 year-old, I know we all need each other.

What happens in the car on our 14-hour road trip tomorrow and Tuesday will stay in the car, but we can tell you this for sure: we will have fun like we always do, and even more fun connecting with Abby when we get there. And we may come back a bit younger as well.

“This is my preferred photo in all my 55 years. My hair looks amazing!”

Happy 55 Suzanne!

FERRIS WHEEL FUN

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“Fun is good.” —Dr. Seuss

When we were kids, the edge of the world was just beyond Wichita, Kansas. At least for me, it was. That was as far as any of us ever were able to venture as kids.

Our grandparents–Mom’s parents–and several aunts and uncles lived there. Mom spent her high school years there, and came to the farm after she married Dad, the result of a blind date.

Wichita was the big city, the big time and big fun. Visiting there from our farm was a treat beyond compare, and I would marvel at how my dad could leave our farm and drive all the way to our grandparent’s driveway there without a map. How did he do that? He was such a brilliant navigator.

Not far from their home in the neighborhood known as College Hill was the Wichita equivalent to Disneyland. Except that we really had no idea what Disneyland was. Oh, sure, Suzanne still jokes that Mom and Dad took her–and only her–to Disneyland, but I see through that now.

Joyland was an amusement park located at 2801 South Hillside. It opened in 1949 and closed in 2006. I took my boys there once shortly before it closed. They, too, have memories of Joyland, but not as rich and varied as mine.

For us, as farm kids, this off-the-farm fun was as good as it got.

When they closed, several of their rides were sold and given new life, including the ferris wheel. Its new home is just down the road from Suzanne and me in Minneapolis, Kansas.

You may recall from previous posts that Suzanne has a thing for ferris wheels. If she is anywhere near one, she will be sure to take a ride. She rode one in Scheel’s Store in Colorado Springs recently when she and her husband were traveling through there.

We had yet to take a spin on the old Joyland ferris wheel, so I told her we need to be sure to ride it during the Ottawa County fair last week.

And we did. Our husbands even went along.

It was a Joyand all it’s own. Reliving the memories and making new ones was priceless. And, it was fun. Plain, simple fun. Something most of us don’t allow ourselves enough of.

I found pictures of the dilapidated remains of Joyland online. It was heartbreaking, and I don’t recommend it, but if you have childhood memories of Joyland, and you want your heart broken too, feel free to find them in the auction company’s listing online.

I remember this walkbridge, it’s the only picture I could find that elicits a colorful and warm memory from Joyland.

Because the sisters of The Sister Lode can’t always be together to have fun, there are times we must soldier on without one of us. Gail was in Wichita celebrating her grandson’s birthday this weekend, so she was not here to enjoy the ferris wheel, or to be our teammate in another spelling bee.

The Salina Public Library hosted their first adult spelling bee last night. Suzanne and I, along with Jordan–my neighbor who has been on our team for the other bees, and my other neighbor Angie comprised our team. It was a bracketed tournament style bee with single elimination. I didn’t get any pictures this time and it didn’t take much to eliminate us.

Tell me, before you look it up, how do you spell the ice cream with the three flavor stripes of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry? All four of us were wrong.

But, the most important thing was that it was indeed fun. There was a friendly spirit of competition among the eleven teams: cheering, well-wishing and laughter. Just not sure if I will ever be able to eat neapolitan ice cream again.

I have been devouring books this summer, a favorite fun thing for me year round. One of my most recent was this:

It made me think and dig a little deeper into how much fun I may or may not be having. I have since determined it’s not enough.

I was in the car the other day with a friend and we drove past a cemetery. She asked me what I would like my tombstone to read, and without hesitation, I answered: She had fun.

We hope you are having enough fun in your life. If you’re not, get out there and find your own ferris wheel fun, or spelling bee fun, or whatever it might be. Life is meant to include fun, but it doesn’t often come knocking.

Price, Catherine. (2021). The Power of Fun. The Dial Press

Following is a montage of the Sisters of The Sister Lode having fun…

Now get out there and have some fun!