travel

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.

CLOSER TO HEAVEN: PART THREE

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Technically, there was no Part Two of Closer to Heaven, just part one two years ago (Closer to Heaven, March 5th, 2023.) However, there was one last year that could have been Part Two: She Let Herself Go, March 4th 2024.

March Fourth came and went again, as it has every year since calendar time began. For our family, however, it became March Forth in 2008 when we lost our parents in a car accident that day. Since then, as you know if you are a reader, our family has grown stronger with this loss, and we march forth into each new day and year.

It has been seventeen years. Gail, Suzanne and I try to travel at this time to celebrate our parents and their legacies, but this year–and last year, too–we were not able to be together.

Two years ago, Gail and I went to our favorite Colorado town, but Suzanne was not able to go. Wanting to find a special way to commemorate the day, I traveled to the top of Pikes Peak–elevation 14,115–to be closer to Heaven.

Last year, as I detailed in She Let Herself Go (March 4th, 2024), I joined Gail and friends in Colorado, then took off solo for a road trip through New Mexico and Arizona, ultimately reaching Sedona, Arizona–elevation 4,350– to spend March 4th. I wanted to be in a mystical place that date, as well as being closer to Heaven. It was both.

This year, while I wanted to travel somewhere exotic to a higher elevation, I had higher aspirations to meet: my son and his wife, who are home to stay from the other side of the world after being gone four years, were available to spend the day with me locally, and there was no place of any elevation that could surpass that. It’s been Heaven of a different kind since they arrived home on Valentine’s Day, which was the sweetest gift I have ever received.

So, we found the highest spot we could find locally, and traveled there.

Coronado Heights–elevation 1,632–is a bluff rising 300 feet above the valley below, and is believed that the explorer Coronado climbed this summit in 1541 and abandoned his search for the city of Quivira. It is a beautiful local landmark, one we have traveled to many times to take in the natural, panoramic beauty. Once again, it offered just that.

And, of course, I was a little bit closer to Heaven.

There will be more Heaven soon, as they are expecting their first child in June. We have been blessed with babies lately, but I will try to sneak away from my grandmotherly joys for another trip to a higher elevation in yet another mystical place next year.

And speaking of babies, our spelling bee teammate, Jordan, was blessed with twin boys several weeks ago. Along with her husband and daughter, they are closer to Heaven too with their newly expanded family.

When I walked back to the car on top of Coronado Heights, I found this in my path:

This dime from Heaven was a sign from them, as dimes have seemingly become one of our parents modes of communication with us. Stay tuned for the Dimes From Heaven post in the next few weeks. We believe in signs, and they have been sending us a lot of them lately.

Spring is trying to spring in Kansas, soon new life will abound in nature. Enjoy the natural beauty whenever and wherever you can; as it has been a brutal Kansas winter. Summer can’t get here soon enough for me, but as Gail and Suzanne will attest, even windy, cold days are good days. Especially the windy ones. For me, if I get there, I hope there is no wind in Heaven.

LUCK OF THE DRAW

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Maybe it is her skill, or perhaps just her vibe. Whatever it is, Gail always seems to walk away from the tables and slot machines with more money than she started with. Suzanne and I, it seems, always walk away with less.

Perhaps it is simply karma: she gives so much, and so much comes back to her. Or maybe it’s because she approaches every table and machine with an easy charm, an I don’t care if I win or lose attitude, because she is there to have fun. Suzanne and I, on the other hand, mean business. Pay up, you stupid machine. You owe me. And, of course, with that kind of pressure, the machines choose to hold on to their cash.

Gail, with her effervescence and aura, draws the other gamers in to her orbit in her natural, unknowing style, while Suzanne and I purposefully give off the leave me alone vibe. It is highly likely that if we had Gail’s gifts, we, too, would walk away winners. Alas, we don’t.

Our semi-annual trip to Cripple Creek, Colorado was extra special this time: Suzanne went along and braved–and won–her altitude issues. The three of us hadn’t gone alone for five years: the legendary Halloween 2019 trip:

Our presence together may not have turned as many heads as that trip did, but we made it memorable nonetheless.

Suzanne and I left a day ahead of Gail and drove first to Canon City, Colorado. We even made our refueling stops fun.

This small touristy mountain city has become one of our favorites, and when there is no snow, it is just one hour from Cripple Creek on the beautiful backroads.

We drove the iconic Skyline Highway.

We even found some Kansas folks at the top to take our picture.

The magnificently beautiful Royal Gorge is in Canon City as well, but since both of us had just visited last summer with our spouses, we chose to wait until another time to take in that natural beauty. If you are visiting that area, however, we strongly recommend both the walk bridge across and/or take the train ride below along the Arkansas River.

Because newer cars–including Suzanne’s–no longer include a standard CD player, we were not able to play John Denver as we try to do on last leg of the trip through the mountains. We grabbed an internet signal while we could, and heard a few bars–better than nothing.

Driving separately from Gail took away from our traveling joys, but we made up for it with our time together.

We lunched with a local friend (she doesn’t like to be included in pictures), shopped, took in the purple mountain majesty,

savored what was left of the beautiful aspens as they prepared to close up shop for the winter,

and took in the natural beauty that envelops you in this beautiful mountain town.

It is a tourist town, but a small one at that, and the locals know and take care of each other. That makes the tragedy that struck just as we arrived even more profound: the Mollie Kathleen gold mine, which is no longer operational but gives tours, lost one of its employees in an accident while tours were being held. All the tourists were eventually rescued after the elevator malfunction, but the sadness of the loss of a well-respected community member permeated this close-knit village of about 1100 people.

We talked about taking the tour…

Our hearts are with the family of the employee who gave his life trying to help the others who were trapped with him. We know what tragedy feels like, and there are no words strong enough.

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The time always passes too quickly, and soon it was time to head east. The dreaded Sunday drive took us most of the day, but home is always the best place to be.

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You may have noticed that the old familiar pictures are back at the beginning of the blog. As mysteriously as the problem arrived, it disappeared. Perhaps it was because I got serious about fixing the problem, contacting my tech-whiz neighbor to ask for advice, even though he didn’t have any to offer. Perhaps it was because I stared it down, mentally amping up my defense against the trials of technology. Nevertheless, it is as if the problem never existed. Either way, I consider it a win for me.

You may also recall that I took a technology splurge and bought the new iPhone 16 as I reported in my last post. I am actually figuring it all out! Adding to that, I tacked on the Apple watch. It was a deal attached to the purchase of the iPhone I couldn’t pass up, so I gave in. With a little help, I am navigating it quite well, and even enjoying all its features.

Technology-0, Kathleen-3.

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Call it luck of the draw or divine favor, but I cannot imagine two better sisters than Gail and Suzanne. If, like Gail’s “luck” at gambling, it is indeed what we make of it, then I’ll take that, too. We make the time and take the time to enjoy each other’s company both in travel and in our respective homes, and I am so grateful that we do. Our parents, we know, are smiling down upon this continued beautiful sisterhood.

The Sister Lode-3, Luck-0.

Our home-away-from-home in Cripple Creek continues to be the beautiful and historic Cripple Creek Hospitality House, the former Teller County Hospital. Its history and beauty are preserved, and the accommodations are deluxe and welcoming. We highly recommend it if you are traveling there.

TRAVEL AND TECHNOLOGY

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If I knew how to disable plug-ins, I may have tried earlier to post. If I even knew what plug-ins are, that would help, too. However, I don’t speak that language, I get easily frustrated when technology doesn’t work for me and I have let inertia and that idea that “I’ve been busy” cloud my brain. (That last one is BS, we all make time for what we want.) Plus, I could have reached out to tech support (again) to figure out exactly what to do about the plug-ins, but I didn’t. I just walked away–for awhile.

Instead, I have set a record gap for time between posts: nine weeks. If not for those people who took a moment at our hometown’s celebration to let me know how much they enjoy reading my blog (you all know who you are, and I thank you from my heart because you keep me posting), I may have let the plug-in situation win.

The annual Tipton Church Picnic, our hometown’s yearly festival.

Nope! I have learned to keep trying, to listen to Gail’s continued rally cry: WE CAN DO IT! And, I am adding get back in touch with tech support to my to-do list.

This also explains the absence of the usual series of Thanksgiving pictures at the beginning of the post; I am not currently able to access them on my website.

Now, given my admitted lack of tech expertise, you may be surprised to learn that I am now the owner of the shiny new iPhone 16. I went into the Verizon store on lucky Friday the 13th, not aware that it had been released that day. I only wanted to replace my iPhone SE, but that would cost $420, and the new 16 was free with my plan, so…technology won. So, if you happen to see me with a confused look on my face as I am trying to figure it all out, any help would be appreciated.

Gail stopped by today with her husband and daughter, Lydia.

They will depart tomorrow to see Gail’s daughter Abby, who lives in Michigan. I was able to visit her myself last month, and it was glorious. Along with my dear friend Shari, we traveled north to see the splendor of northern Michigan, as well as Mackinac Island.

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There are no vehicles allowed on Mackinac Island, only horses and bicycles. The16-minute ferry ride to the island was beautiful. This horse picture is fitting because I feel like a horse’s ass for not posting sooner…

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I would be remiss if I don’t post the most exciting news before I go any further: I have a new grandson!

Baby Beau was born in August to my son Joel and his wife, Meghan. If you are a grandparent, you get it. He is beautiful, and his parents are wonderful, too.

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Just over a year ago, Gail, Suzanne and I were in St. Pete Beach, Florida. Now, our beloved beach has been pummeled by Hurricane Helene. While Gail and Suzanne claim they love the wind, they know this devastation is nothing to take lightly. We are heartbroken for the people, the land and the structures, as well as the spirit of this beautiful mecca. Rebuilding will take time, money and effort, but that is what they do. We hope to go back someday to share the love with them. Our hearts go out to everyone in the eastern United States affected by this monster storm. I will leave it at that because we know from experience that in times of great tragedy, there are no words strong enough to describe the pain.

Suzanne and a friend traveled to northern Florida earlier this summer. As always, Florida is her happy place. She completed another trip around the sun in August, too.

A trip together for the three of us is long overdue, and the wait is almost over. In just eleven days, we will, once again, head west. Colorado always beckons in the fall, and the three of us–as well as Gail’s daughter Lydia, will answer the call of the mountains.

Of course, there will be adventure, mischief and memories made, some of which will be detailed in a post when we return. Some, but not all. We must keep some mystery to ourselves. Until then, thank you, dear readers, for your patience and support. Because I want to be a writer when I grow up, it is important that I keep writing, keep posting; keep trying.

Until then, thank you all. And thank you Gail and Suzanne, for giving me the memories to write from.

Our Florida trip last year. Sending our love to all those affected by Hurricane Helene.

BURGERS, BREWS AND CRUISING

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Gail, with her infinite supply of energy, did it again.

She tossed up another plate into the air with all the others she keeps in constant spinning motion, filling the plates of many visitors who came to her small town for the annual classic car show. One of the plates she spins year round is managing a bar/grill, and she took her fare out on the street for this occasion. She recruited Suzanne and I to join her, and we gladly obliged.

Gail, her husband, her daughter Lydia and Suzanne’s husband grilled burgers and hot dogs and filled plates, while Suzanne and I filled orders for libations. As always, Gail brought people together, filling their need for food and filling their need to connect with others.

I had the privilege of helping her make the German potato salad to feed the masses, and now I am privy to her secret recipe. I’ll share it with you if the price is right.

Suzanne picked up her order for several hundred buns at the Sam’s Club in our small city and brought them along, detouring at a Kansas landmark along the way.

Suzanne and Steve at Little Jerusalem State Park

Gail’s talented daughter Lydia made these T-shirts for us.

After the crowds dispersed, we closed up shop and I headed west. I had some business to take care of.

U.S. Highway 36 is a long, lonely cruise from Atwood, Kansas, to Byers, Colorado, where I connected with Interstate 70 to proceed further west and then north to Longmont, Colorado, home of one of my nephews.

It was time to place a few more checkered flags on that U.S. map that outlines all the people I need to visit, and as of today, there are two more visits I completed. Two flags in Colorado will be placed when I get home tomorrow.

My nephew Matt and his wife Autumn were the host and hostess extraordinaire. Along with Niko, their cat, they treated me to a wonderful visit.

Close to them in Lafayette, Colorado, lives my favorite college professor. I hadn’t seen her for too many years, and it was time. She lives with her daughter, and they graciously welcomed me into their home. Her profound influence on me as a young college student will never be forgotten; it has made all the difference in my life.

Thirty years ago when I got married, she embroidered tea towels as a gift. I couldn’t bear to use and possibly stain them, so I found an expert quilter who created this work of art with them for me. She hadn’t yet seen it, so I took it along to show her.

She is also one of my lunch dates in my latest book, and I presented her copy to her.

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Good food and drink fill our stomachs, and family and good friends fill our hearts. Take a cruise to see someone you need to connect with, and may your heart–and stomach–be full.

SHE LET HERSELF GO: PART TWO

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When I finished She Let Herself Go (March 4th, 2024), the title stuck with me. So, I took that as another sign, and took it from there.

Last Sunday, I started a Facebook page by the same name: She Let Herself Go. If you haven’t visited it yet, please do. There are so many amazing women out there on amazing adventures, and I want to feature them and their travels, as well as mine. I aspire to inspire women–and men–of all ages, but especially women over 50.

I finished another trip around the sun this week. Not a milestone, but I believe every birthday, every year should be celebrated, no matter how old or how young. As long as you can walk and talk–and even if you can’t, as many of my patients don’t let that stop them, you can likely get out.

I excused myself from work that day, had a leisurely morning, and spent the afternoon with my husband who also excused himself from work in the afternoon. I chose our destination: Lindsborg, Kansas, just half an hour away from home. It’s a quaint small town, known as “Little Sweden.” The influence of its Swedish settlers is obvious, and the town citizens take great pride in its world-famous tourism.

They should. It’s a short getaway, one I like to take when I need to let myself go on a short budget of time. There are many others in this area; one need not go far to find points of interest and scenery in Kansas. Chances are, wherever you live, there are places, perhaps hidden gems, that you can let yourself go to when you need a quick refresher and a change of scenery.

There was a time in my not too distant past when obligations and limitations kept me from getting away as much as I do now. Family and work, time and money. The basic ones that keep most people from letting themselves go. Those obligations are still there to a lesser degree, and as I age, I continue to try to find more creative ways to make it all work. I used to be happy sitting in my home reading about other places; now I can’t sit still as long as I once did.

I realized I had a lot of people to visit in the US, so I took a map and plotted out those people in those places I wanted to visit. My trip last month was the first of many I hope to complete, hopefully more checkered flags soon.

Gail, Suzanne and I still like to go on getaways together far and near, but we also go with others. Suzanne is planning a beach trip this summer with a friend, and while Gail doesn’t currently have any trips on her agenda, she can usually find adventure in a typical day’s work–or romping about town with the other Mrs. Ropers featured in that last post.

I let myself go to Topeka, our state capitol, several weeks ago with two dear friends. We toured the state capitol building–a first for me–and took in the Dwight Yoakam concert. He is an incredible musician.

Screenshot

I let myself go all the way to the top of the capitol dome, even outside on the walkway.

But enough about me. Here’s what the amazing women on my new page are doing:

My friend Shari is hiking the Camino de Santiago trail (northern) in Spain right now with five other women, hiking 100 miles in seven days, staying in hostels along the way and packing only a backpack for the entire trip.

My friend “Captain Amy” just returned from 41 days at sea as captain/eco-tour guide. She went from Argentina to Antarctica and many places in between, educating and inspiring her guests to appreciate and preserve the natural beauty of our world. Like Gail, she makes an adventure out of her work.

The Day after my initial She Let Herself Go post, I picked up my friend Marilyn and we went to the Grand Canyon. It never fails to inspire.

In case those epic trips are out of your league at this point in your life, remember there is beauty and fun to take in close to home as well.

The panoramic beauty of central Kansas from atop Coronado Heights near Lindsborg

Just let yourself go.

MRS. ROPER AND THE SPELLING BEE

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When the sitcom “Three’s Company” premiered in 1977, it crossed some TV boundaries that had never been challenged: two single women living with one male roommate. Our parents forbade us to watch it; it crossed their boundaries, too.

As a parent, I get it now, and I respect that they cared enough to set that limit for us. Now, however, as adults and parents ourselves, we realize social norms and mores have changed considerably in these last 47 years.

Perhaps that is why Gail chose to celebrate the landlady “Mrs. Roper” by joining an already established Facebook phenomenon known as “Mrs. Roper’s Romp.” Since Gail has no shortage of friends, and she was already a cogent influencer in her small town before “influencer” became a thing, she had no problem getting her friends to join her.

And, I’m pretty sure Mom and Dad are nodding their approval–and laughing–from above.

Gail and her daughter Lydia

One of the Mrs. Roper’s mothers saw the group romping down the street, and thought they were dressed as clowns. Good thing she doesn’t suffer from coulrophobia!

Apparently, this is sweeping the nation, at least for those women–and some men–who want to get in touch with their inner Mrs.–and Mr. Roper.

This, apparently was the first Romp for Gail’s group, but there will certainly be more. Stay tuned to her Facebook page for future Romps!

Suzanne and I engaged in lower-key fun yesterday. Being the spelling nerds we are, we took ourselves to the Kansas State Spelling Bee, the Scripps preliminary for the National Spelling Bee to be held in Washington DC. It was hosted right here in our small city; it is our understanding it had always been in our capitol city of Topeka, but this year, it was right in our backyard.

Of course, we couldn’t miss it. And, of course, we were the only ones there who weren’t there to support their child/family member as they competed. We could tell, because everyone else in the small crowd had a nametag with a number for their participant.

We didn’t care. We own our spelling nerdiness; wear it like a badge of honor.

The words started out easy as they typically do, but quickly progressed in difficulty as the single-elimination error policy resulted in a quick exodus of many in the contestant group.

Pictures were not allowed during the competition, this was the warm-up round.

New to us was the Vocabulary Round, whereby the contestant is given a word with two possible definitions. The 50/50 odds didn’t prevail for a considerable number of contestants, and I found myself questioning my own ability. And I thought I was such a word and spelling nerd. Turns out that, perhaps as the late great Toby Keith sang, “I ain’t as good as I once was.” My temerity was now obvious to me. No longer can I continue to blandish myself as an ace speller. Even my lexicon isn’t what I thought it was, as the vocabulary round proved.

I felt the old familiar feelings of excitement and anxiety I once felt as the young spelling bee contestant, my stomach perhaps needed an antacid from the dyspeptic stress, but the truth is, my hips fared worse than my stomach from the four hours on the bleachers in that auditorium, reminding me more of my sciatica.

The words continued to increase in complexity and decrease in familiarity; they would vacillate between short and long words such as crith and hermeneutics. In the end, likely all but one of the contestants were mollified by their families in attendance, the rubicon from the wrong answer took them out of the game.

One excited young man took home the gold, and one disappointed young woman claimed second place. I felt her pain. I placed second in the Mitchell County (Kansas) spelling bee in the fourth grade and never placed again. Clearly, I have never recovered from that defeat.

Gail is a spelling nerd, too, as evidenced by our participation–and last year’s victory–in the team adult spelling bee we participate in. We missed it this year, as it was the same day my son got married.

Next year.

Perhaps all the brouhaha over Mrs. Roper’s Romping in Gail’s hamlet is misunderstood by some, but clearly they haven’t spent enough time with Gail and her friends. Gail, Suzanne and I see fun as a non-negotiable aspect of living a full life. Clearly all the other Mrs. Ropers do, too.

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My last post was Monday, March 4th. March Forth. We all did, as we continue to do. I continued my trip through Arizona, picking up my friend Marilyn in Flagstaff the next morning, then traveling to the sacrosanct and breathtaking natural wonder that she had not yet seen: the Grand Canyon. I had been several times including a day hike, but it never fails to inspire me and fill me with wonder.

We visited my dear friends Tana and Amy in Phoenix, then came home through Portales, New Mexico, where I went on an exchange program there from my university in 1986.

I hadn’t been back in 20 years; the good memories and nostalgia filled a place deep inside me.

Marilyn was able to connect with a college friend who lived in the area, she hadn’t seen her in about 25 years. It was a tearful and blessed reunion.

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The moral of Mrs. Roper’s Romp and the spelling bee is this: whatever your breed of fun is, HAVE IT! Get your weird on if you have to, or get your quirky self to the spelling bee. Or, get out and travel to see the people and places you want to see.

Keep your heart and mind open to new experiences, keep your head high and your arms open wide to capture all that is out there waiting for you. If you listen to your heart–and let yourself go, you will likely find yourself in a continuum of raucous joy, a recipient of a veritable cornucopia of beguiling fun.

SHE LET HERSELF GO

/ middlesisterkathleen / Leave a comment

Welcome to a special Monday night edition of The Sister Lode. You’ll see why I chose to write it tonight…

I did it again. I didn’t think I should, but I did. And I am so glad I did.

Suzanne, Gail and I all do it. Sometimes together, sometimes separately. Sometimes we do it near, and sometimes we do it far. Sometimes we do it west, and sometimes we do it east. Sometimes north or south, even southeast. Tonight, I am doing it southwest.

Letting ourselves go, that is.

I let myself go last Thursday. I had a grand plan to visit people I needed to connect with, and see cool places along the way. So, my first stop was in our beloved Cripple Creek, Colorado for our annual trip. Suzanne stayed back, but Gail, Margaret and I had a fabulous time. I drove alone Thursday, arriving about an hour after Gail and Margaret did. They got a jump start on the fun, but there is always plenty to be had. More on that in a bit, as I am writing this in installments as I unpack my computer every night, wherever I happened to land.

I drove alone because my Grand Plan is this: Cripple Creek to Creede, Colorado, which didn’t pan out due to snow and strong winds predicted in the mountains of southwest Colorado. My friend and fellow speech therapist Christy lives there, and it was time for a visit. We worked together at one point and she was a fabulous coworker. Plan B was to drive south to Santa Fe to avoid the weather. I am writing this part from my beautiful hotel room on the Plaza in downtown Santa Fe. Not coincidentally, the hotel I chose is the Hotel St. Francis. The St. Francis Basilica is nearby as well.

Mom’s favorite saint was Saint Francis, and he has become ours, too.

I will get up early and get in a run/walk around the Santa Fe Plaza to stretch these legs before I put them back in the car for another six hours tomorrow. I will stop in Albuquerque to connect with another friend for breakfast.

I hadn’t seen Debby since we both attended Eastern New Mexico University. I was there for the Fall 1986 semester on an exchange program from my home college of Fort Hays State University. I hadn’t stayed in touch with her, but we recently connected again through Diane, who was also a student on the exchange from her college in Maine. Soon, Debby and I plan to let ourselves go to Maine to see her.

On down Interstate 40 to my current location: splendidly beautiful, spiritual and mystic Sedona, Arizona.

I am staying in a charming VRBO. I found it online Tuesday night, but knew I wanted to follow this Russian proverb: The morning is wiser than the evening. I felt strongly emotional about staying here, but I wanted to let some reason seep in, too. So, I waited until morning, knowing it might be booked already, as most of the dates on the March calendar March for this place were not available. If it wasn’t there in the morning, I decided it was, as my friend Carol says in Yiddish, beshert. Fate.

As fate would see to it, it was indeed available, and I made it mine for these three nights. If you need a one-bedroom place to stay here, let me know. It is splendidly perfect for a stay here.

Minutes after I booked this beautiful VRBO, I set out for my daily run/walk. The first song on my iPod was “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Yes, we do, and so do you. The next song was “Roam” by the B-52s. Here’s my signs.

My ultimate destination on this ten-day adventure is Phoenix to see my dear friends Tana and Amy. These are the two sisters who, along with their families, visit me every summer. I “babysat” them years ago, and we have stayed close. I am so glad we have.

They have starred in multiple posts, including: Thirty-nine Years, (July 9th, 2023), Swheat Girls Part Two and Three, (July 10th, 2022, July 7th, 2019).

Gail, Margaret and I savored our time in Cripple Creek, taking in this unique exhibit that Cripple Creek was chosen to host. Each year, “Ice Castles” selects four (cold) places around the country to create their ice masterpieces, and our timing was perfect to see it before it was slated to come down on March 3rd.

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Today is March 4th again. Sixteen years ago on this date, we lost our parents in a car accident. The memories of pain and sadness will forever swirl around this date, but with each passing year, the legacy of love they left and the memories of the good times outweigh this pain. We do all we can to celebrate their lives all year through, but especially on this date. Last year, I went to the top of Pike’s Peak on March 4th. (Closer to Heaven, March 5th, 2023) This year, I am in Sedona, Arizona. I haven’t yet decided where I’ll go next year.

“March Forth” has become our rally cry, and we plan to continue to March farther each year.

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All this adventuring requires time, energy and money. All of us possess these three basic resources in disparate amounts. Most of us–myself included–underestimate how much of each we truly have. Remember, most of us can make more money, but none of us can make more time. The physical and mental energy we each possess is largely in our control and can be increased if we do the work. Most of us–again, myself included–feel guilty spending those resources on ourselves, but if we don’t take care of ourselves first with them, we can’t spend them on others. Most of us live in a straitjacket of perceived “shoulds” and “should-nots,” myself included. However, each of us are the only ones who can separate out the perceived obligations and duties from the real ones, and this is a task. It takes some mind and soul-searching, but it’s in there. Remember: Don’t ‘should’ on yourself.”

I think perhaps if we all let ourselves go a little more, we could hang on to each other a little better.

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I set out this morning to hike through the beautiful red rocks here in Sedona. The Thunder Mountain trailhead is just 200 yards from my door, and when I set out on it, “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC came on my iPod.

Here’s another sign. They are out there if we stay open to them.

The scenery was breathtaking and brilliantly beautiful. These pictures are worth a million words, so I’ll let them tell the story.

Also on the trail was the Amitabha Stupa, a sacred Buddhist landmark signifying peace and enlightened presence.

Tomorrow morning, I will drive to Flagstaff to pick up my dear friend Marilyn. ( Sister Sarah, October 22, 2017.)

I invited her along, but she couldn’t join me until tomorrow. We will go to the Grand Canyon–she hasn’t yet seen it. Marilyn was my potluck dorm roommate in 1984, and also my inspiration to become a speech therapist. I am so grateful she was placed in my path.

It will indeed be Grand, just as our friendship is.

I must admit I felt some fear before I set out alone in the car. Now, 1,222 miles later, I am so glad I didn’t let it take over. There were many “what-ifs” that crept into my mind, but I ignored them. Unless you are like Gail and are indeed fearless, you might have a few of those growing, too.

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You are here is always where we all are. Some people are content to stay in their here, and I must admit I wish I could be more like them. However, if you don’t like your here, figure out where your there is, and make it your here. And I’m not talking only about a geographic place, if you get my drift. Your mind will likely try to talk you out of it, so you’ll need to pull the ‘what-if’ weeds out of that beautiful garden that is already growing in your mind, and smell the ‘why-not’ wildflowers. Those beautiful blooms are there waiting to flourish, but are likely being choked by the weeds.

Taking the first step might be hard,

but just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Sometimes the road may be rocky, but if you let it, it just may rise up to meet you. (That one’s for you, Anna!)

You’ll know when you get there.

Perhaps, like me, you can’t stay there, but do enjoy the time you do have while you are there.

Gail gave Suzanne and me the necklace with Mom and Dad’s picture last year. Her daughter Lydia had one made for her, so she knew we needed one, too.

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I pray you don’t need sadness or a tragedy to spur you on to March Forth. However, I have learned that most of us have been bruised and battered by life (and death) in some way. It may be visible or not, it may be public or not, but most of us carry some weight we could let go of, or at least lessen, perhaps by letting yourself go.

I let myself go.

In loving memory of our parents, Ed and Liz.

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**Please consider reposting this to your Facebook page, and asking your friends to do the same. Again, I think if we all let ourselves go a bit more, we could hang on to each other better. **

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER

/ middlesisterkathleen / 1 Comment

It’s always a popular subject, and lately, it’s been something to talk about.

Today, after almost two weeks of cloudy–maybe there was one day of sun in there, I can’t remember, the sun is shining. Glory. Be. Hallelujah.

We have had almost two weeks of clouds along with intermittent rain, snow upon snow, sub-zero temperatures, wind with dangerous—as in life-threatening–wind chills, ice, sleet and fog. It did make for some pretty pictures, but that’s about it in my book.

My soul was almost drained dry, but today, as the sun shines bright in my window as I write, I am redeemed. Filled up. Refreshed and renewed. I am solar-powered, and my batteries are recharging. As I mentioned in a previous post, my favorite weather is Florida. January, then, is my least favorite month.

Not so for Gail and Suzanne, both of whom embrace almost any weather, especially the wind.

I bought this cozy shirt on our Florida trip to remind me of the beach when it is cold here.

When I lived in Philadelphia, I met my dear friend Carol. She peppered her speech with Yiddish words, lovingly calling me a “meshugana.” It is Yiddish for “crazy girl,” and I took it as a compliment. I am now calling my wind-loving sisters both “meshuganas, and it is not a compliment.

I asked them for their input for this post, and this is what Suzanne offered: “It was okay to get married in it because I was so in love. I was oblivious to everything around me. I’m still in love, but I loathe and despise the cold weather. The wind, however, is always welcome.”

Suzanne got married in February 2021 during a cold snap much like the one we just had.

And from Gail: “You know me, I’m an all-weather kind of gal. I appreciate the ferocity of a good storm, whether it be snow, rain, thunder or WIND. There’s nothing you can do to change it. Embrace it as I have said before. Storms are perhaps God’s way of reminding us of His power.”

At one point, Gail said, “I love the wind so much, I’m thinking of changing my name to ‘Gail Force Wind.'”

Meshuganas.

Enough about the weather. It is a topic best for when there is nothing else to talk about and there is plenty we can talk about today.

Let’s start with wishing that man Suzanne is still in love with (I just threw up in my mouth a little bit) a happy birthday today. Another trip around the sun is always something to talk about.

And, our dear mother would have celebrated her 87th birthday last Monday. In our own ways, we still celebrate her birthday.

On that same day, my sweet future daughter-in-law Olivia celebrated her birthday as well. They will get married this Saturday in Omaha and we are so thrilled to welcome her into our family. And, back to the weather, it is predicted to be 41 degrees and partly cloudy. For Nebraska in February, that’s weather to talk about.

Suzanne’s daughter will celebrate her birthday next week, another trip around the sun for her, another reason to celebrate.

Our home state of Kansas celebrates it’s 163rd birthday tomorrow, January 29th. We are born and raised Kansas girls, and while we enjoy visiting the Sunshine State, our hearts will always be in the Sunflower State. That is something to talk about and something to be proud of.

This picture jogs my memory: I just realized I need to get my Kansas day outfit ready for tomorrow.

Here’s a blast from the recent past-try to ignore Suzanne’s shirt…

And–one of my favorite days of the year is this Friday: Groundhog Day! We will celebrate by attending a wedding rehearsal, but I always sneak in another viewing of one of my favorite movies: Groundhog Day. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. It has a great message.

While I am not a football fan, I realize our almost-hometown NFL boys are something to talk about. As I write upstairs with the splendid sunshine pouring in the windows, my husband is hunkered down in the basement watching the Kansas City Chiefs battle the Baltimore Ravens in the playoff game that will grant a Super Bowl berth to the winner. I am hopeful they can pull it off again to go to Super Bowl 58. I am not a fan per se, but I will always know how old the Super Bowl is because it was born the same year I was.

If the Chiefs were matched up against the Philadelphia Eagles as they were last year in the Super Bowl, I may have to reconsider my allegiance. We watched the Super Bowl last year and I wore both red and green to show my divided support. I did spend a few weekends just down the road in Baltimore while I lived in Philadelphia, so I’m feeling just a bit of allegiance to the Ravens as well.

As in all sports, may the best team win. No matter who wins today, or in the Super Bowl, that’s always something to talk about long afterward, as well as before, and during…

And speaking of competitions, The Spell-It Sisters will not have the opportunity to bring home the gold again at the annual Neighbor-to-Neighbor Spelling Bee in my beloved Abilene. With our neighbor Jordan’s help on our team, we won last year and placed the year before, but we will be attending a much more important event: Jude and Olivia’s wedding. Next year we will be back, a force to be reckoned with once again.

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On January 1st, My friend Carol called me. She wanted to start the new year off right, so she went through her phone contacts to get back in touch with old friends, and I’m so glad she did. We laughed about me being a meshugana, and about how it was beshert–fate–that we were neighbors in Philadelphia. She has since moved to south Florida from Philadelphia. She reads this blog, and frequently posts wonderful comments. It has been over 30 years since we have seen each other, and that is too long. She was my across-the-street-neighbor-turned-friend, and those are the kind to keep for life. She loves Florida weather like I do, and has invited me to visit her anytime.

That’s something I need to talk seriously to myself about.

There are so many other connections I need to make in the next few months. Those 52 lunch dates I had in this book I finally finished (see “52 Thanksgiving Lunches,” December 3rd, 2023) each get a copy. I have reconnected with some, but the rest are patiently waiting for theirs. We will again have a lot to talk about. And, there are others not in the book I want to visit. Again, lots to talk about.

As I age, I find my circle of friends and acquaintances getting smaller. Gail and Suzanne agree. This is by choice, we realize. It is hard to keep up with everyone from our pasts, and further, we find that not everyone fits into our lives like they used to. Furthermore, I no longer want them to.

A quote I heard a long time ago has stuck with me: Not every relationship is supposed to last forever. I know this to be true, and this is not a bad thing. Age gives us the gift of insight, and makes us more aware of the value of what is important to us, especially relationships. Our sense of time passage also sharpens, and we (should) realize it is a gift not granted. Nor is good health, nor is there a guarantee that the people we want to see again someday will be there someday. Most of us can make more money, but none of us can make more time. Spend them both wisely, especially time. And while you’re at it, talk to yourself about those trips you have always wanted to take…

Two separate gifts, one from each of my two wise sisters…

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It is now 5:38 pm, and the Chiefs have officially sealed the deal: they are headed back to the Super Bowl. This is big stuff and people will be talking about until then, and long after. After all, it is more exciting than talking about the weather.

Go Chiefs…Happy Birthday Steve, Julia, Mom and Olivia…Happy Kansas Day…Congratulations Jude and Olivia. ..get out there and talk to those people who are still important in your life…and maybe travel a bit, too. The Sisters of The Sister Lode plan to do both.

BACK TO THE BEACH

/ middlesisterkathleen / 3 Comments

I’m not sure where to start.

Perhaps with the deliriousness all three of us felt after waking up at four a.m. to catch our 6:30 flight to begin our trip.

Or maybe the shout-out on this flight from the captain to the three sisters of another Southwest Airlines captain–our brother David. Of course, we milked it with our hands raised high and whoop-whooping to be sure to be recognized. Pretty sure no one else cared. This was the only flight of the four when we got to sit together.

Maybe it is Gail’s unique way of making new friends on such a trip: when two gentlemen walked by our shared patio in our condo en route to theirs, casually asking, “hey, what’s going on?” while we sat visiting with a delightful group of ladies from Indiana in another condo, Gail replied: “None of your f****** business!” Of course, this immediately made them want to join the group. She laughed, said she was only joking, and they sat to visit as well.

Maybe it is Gail’s way of taking the reins, no matter what the situation.

Captain Ron played right along, in control the entire time. He is the son of her daughter Abby’s boyfriend, so we had that connection. He left northern Michigan where Abby and his dad live for warmer weather. He lives in Fort Myers and captains his boat in the bay and the Gulf there, a short jaunt south of St. Pete, where we stayed. He took us on an unforgettable sunset cruise.

He knew just how to coax the playful dolphins out of the water in the wake behind his boat, and we were treated to this magnificent sight:

Or maybe it’s Suzanne’s dramatic/comedic streak:

The drive was beautiful as well.

Maybe it was Suzanne and Gail’s success with talking me into parasailing for my first time, their second–they did it seven years ago, but I was too chicken.

Maybe all the good food and drink,

Or maybe it is simply the time together at this paradise.

I mentioned in our last post that some locals we met there seven years ago just might remember us. There was at least one who did. This shouldn’t surprise you. The rest probably weren’t working when we happened to be in their restaurants or places of business where we met them last time. Next time we go back, chances are the people we met this time will remember us–especially Gail.

We have vowed not to wait seven years again, not that that much time would dull their memories of us.

Now, being Kansas girls, we know about hot weather. Any kind of weather, really, except hurricanes. Gail and Suzanne still long to have the opportunity to have a hurricane party, but it was not meant to be. We did, however, see some remnants of Hurricane Ian from last year in Fort Myers.

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I hadn’t flown in six years, and my fear of flying didn’t come roaring back this time. Aside from squeezing Gail and Suzanne’s hands as I sat between them on our first take-off, I felt pretty brave.

Between flying in the airplane and parasailing, I’m feeling brave enough to accept the challenge I have been offered this week: a free ride in a stunt plane. I’ll fill you in on that later if I actually have the guts to see that one through.

After all the fun we had, I actually have a fear of not flying now. I am ready to go back, and Gail and Suzanne are too. I am ready for more gallivanting by land or by air, just take me there–especially with my sisters.