We are back at home safe and sound. Both of us are quite worn out from all the excitement and the long hours on the highway. A few quiet days and will be back up to speed. I started this post back on Monday while in Albert and will just carry on from there.
This vacation ranks right up there with the most wonderful times of my life. Every word you can think of along the lines of spectacular, amazing don’t really even begin to describe it. Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) we begin the long drive home. I think it is about 13 or 14 hours but we will be breaking it up over 2 days. Every day different events have made that day spectacular in itself and in that way I am sorry to see the trip coming to an end. All this excitement and fun is catching up with me and it is time to go home. But, “I WILL BE BACK”!!!
Our first real stop was in Red Deer Alberta. I think it was 4 days we spent with cousin Joe and his wife Ev. They were such gracious hosts and treated us like Royalty. During that time cousin Shirley organized a family get together. There had to be 35-40 different relatives with their respective families or girlfriend/boyfriends stop by. There were actually even a couple of cousins that I hadn’t seen in something like 45 years. First thing I noticed after all that time, was wow, have they ever aged. lol. I am sure they all thought the same of me. Now that was wonderful in itself but there was one more surprise thrown in there for me/ My dear Aunt Isabel, cousin Carol and Garry had made the long drive all the way from Swan River Manitoba to be there. What a surprise and how amazing was that. Yes, this is the same dear Aunt Isabel that periodically comes to Winnipeg and constantly kicks my butt at crib. I thought Hey maybe a change of venue would give me some sort of edge in playing against her. NOPE, I was humbled again as do I think were most that took her on. With Joe and Ev we attended the first rodeo I have been to in years. The chuckwagon races are as exciting as ever. This was followed by a performance by Dwight Yoakum. An enjoyable evening.
From there we travelled on to Mission B.C.. It was there that Vi was able to make contact with and meet a half brother and sister whom for most of her life she hadn’t even known existed. It all went so very well and Vi is very happy and excited at the same time. I will write more about it all, I have so much to say about the trip it could fill pages and pages. I will try to get it all up over the next few days. This is just the first part of the trip really great happenings coming.
Before leaving I was giving serious thought to ending the blog. That way I could do it in the way I would like to see it end, The other option is to keep going with it and it will still end but in a way I am not so keen on happening. I am so appreciative of all the supportive comments left for me while away. Getting away as we did gave me a chance to re-energize my spiritual batteries.Hey I have to keep posting at least until I get the rest of the vacation story up. I will be going on for at least the nest while. I will be spending more time putting together the final post. That one will be going up, when is the only question on that. I am hoping it won’t be for a while.
Dying mans daily journal 
What a wonderful vacation story and to think it’s just the beginning. I can’t wait to hear the rest. So glad you had a good time. Hugs!
Bill, how wonderful to hear about your vacation. Sounds like you had a marvelous time…as some wise person said once, “you can’t buy time.” Time well spent with friends and family is so important! I treasure your postings, and want you to know that. You have been an encouragement to me many a time – for which I am grateful. If you stop blogging, I will understand, but I’ll miss you more than you know! Take care, rest, and love every moment of every day! Hugs, Patti (www.pattiredd.com)
Hi Bill, Yes, it was a wonderful visit! Both going through to B.C. via Red Deer and again when you came back here through in Airdrie. We loved having you and hopefully we will have the pleasure of your company again sometime!
I am working on the e-mails and am sending them to you now, so hopefully you get them. I have everyone’s but Ken’s, but I think you may have that already. So, I am sending the list anyway.
As for the blog, I know that I am very bad about checking in on your blog on a regular basis, but in my opinion I think that you should keep it going as much as you can. You never know how long you have, it may be ten minutes or ten years ( or more). In the meantime, people who visited your blog when you started it, or stumble upon it when they are going through some hard times themselves have found a friend and have been inspired to share their stories, thoughts and feelings with others who read the blog. They have found support from a diffucult time, or a diffucult subject through your site and from others who read your site.
But, having said that, you know yourself better than any of us, so make the decision that is right for you as to whether you will keep it going or shut it down. You have opened the door to others and with our wonderful world-wide web, others have followed in your footsteps to start their own sites and blogs that people can find.
Hope it is not too hot there! Stay Cool! Sherry
This was me. Sherry
Welcome home Bill & Vi. I am so happy the trip had met all your expectations and more. Looking forward to reading more details. Have a good rest first.
WooHoo, your back!
glad ya had a safe trip, and a good one 2boot! 🙂
Vi and you are real troopers, Bill. Glad you received a spiritual boost. Makes all the difference!
Ohhhhh…..you’re BACK!!
I can say that cuz I’ve been buried in ‘stuff’.
Not the important stuff….just ‘stuff’.
*shaking head*
Stuff’ll do that I guess.
But you’re BACK!!!! 🙂
And Vi got to connect with siblings…..very cool, indeed. And that musta blown everyone’s socks off–in a cool way. (can’t wait to hear more about that one!!)
*laughing* NO surprise on the crib event. *laughing*
ABSOLUTELY none!! Hahahahahaha.
Welcome back, sir!
Figured it was a grand time–now you’ve validated it!