WHAT WE KNOW FOR SURE

*Fun is doubled when there are two of us present to have it. It is tripled when all three of us are present.

*Unfortunately, Suzanne was not able to join us on our annual “March Forth” Colorado trip.

*She gave us her blessing to go on without her.

*Gail and I had fun x 2, or perhaps, on some other scale, it was exponentially increased. It’s hard to measure. Still, not as much fun without Suzanne.

*The weather was much better for our trip out than it was last year. As last year’s picture shows, we drove–and miraculously arrived–through a mountain snowstorm.

*As always, we are sure to add John Denver to the music mix while we are on the home stretch to our destination.

John will forever have the classic voice for this classic song, but we gave it our best in a sing-along.

*Stopping to take in this panoramic view of our destination is a must.

*Arrival at our favorite B&B–the Cripple Creek Hospitality House–is always a welcome relief from traveling. We have been guests here perhaps twenty times, and they treat us like family.

*Bonnie and Judy, the sisters pictured on these wooden garage sale treasures, joined us once again. They like to tag along when Gail and I travel, but they stay at home when Suzanne joins us because there is no third sister for them. We realized they are indeed our doppelgangers from our younger days–look closely.

*Gail needs about half as much sleep as I do. She starts it in the wee hours of the morning while I am in my deep sleep mode, and finishes it when I am awake.

*To compensate for this lack of restoration, she rejuvenates herself by bringing fun to the blackjack table to be shared by all the other gamblers, especially fun-loving people like Jimmy.

The casinos do not allow pictures at the tables, so we captured a picture of Jimmy as he boarded the bus back.

*Gail brings fun to any party in so many forms. This time, she added “party-gras” beads to the mix. She had her entire blackjack table adorned with them.

*While we have no way to be sure, apparently a large gaming corporation believes that if they build it, the gamblers will come.

*Gail and I continue to come back to the casinos, with or without winnings, as do the people who fill these buses.

*Gail’s favorite is the Wheel of Fortune, and I have had good luck with the buffalo slot machines.

*No jackpots to speak of this time.

*Clearly, Suzanne is smarter than we are for not over-feeding the beasts when she does go to the casinos. She is no gambler.

*Gail and I always win at the shopping game. This year was no different, as we both found a few new jewelry treasures and other small souvenirs to bring home.

*The trip home began Sunday morning, and was interrupted by Mother Nature. We didn’t plan on spending the night at the Holiday Inn in Limon, Colorado, but when Interstate 70 was closed here, we had no choice.

*The trip was a success. Being together is all it takes.

*Sometimes, unexpected delays and factors out of our control can create a unique experience for Plan B. If we can find a way to connect with other stranded motorists like ourselves, we may be spearheading a big party in the lobby by sundown. We will let you know.

*Life is often about Plan B (or C, or D, etc.)

*March Fourth rolls around every year, and it is the only day of the year that tells us to do something, so we do: we March Forth. It has been 14 years since the March Fourth that changed our lives, the day our parents died.

*We have struggled, mourned and become stronger individually and together, and together, we are the strongest.

*There are dark days and nights in life, but the sun always comes up the next morning, and the morning after. The days always get brighter after the darkness. Always. In time. If you continue to March Forth.