Friends, Family and Fun

Jerry McNeight

Mike Cooper

Jerry, Larry, Ike

Sue, Mike and Joan

Linda and Rosemary

"improved" (sic) format and I'm still trying to figure it out. So again, you get to guess who, where and when....

7/19/11 to 7/21/11

Friends

Impulsively, (so what is new) we stopped in Gig Harbor to look up a friend from a lifetime ago. Time has not changed Judy Kohler and I would have known her anywhere. Even with several decades between visits, we started where we left off, as if it were yesterday, and talked the hours away.  We reminisced for quite some time about her parents, Jayne and Jim Evans, both now deceased. I have so many fond memories of Jim and Jayne. They were like parents to me from my senior year in high school and through nursing school. Over the years, I visited with them several times at their home on Whidbey Island and Jayne always had her wonderful raspberry pie waiting for me. Judy said I was welcome to visit the property anytime and I think that will be a good place for me to bid her parents “adieu”. Judy joined Chris and I for lunch at the Tides Tavern. We enjoyed a good meal with wonderful company and a fantastic view. We’ve promised to meet again, soon.

7/21-7/24/11

Away to the Tropics and Dash Point

RHS class of ’65 is very special. Last year I was unable to attend my 45^th reunion but was kept updated on the event by many good friends and classmates. A promise was made that we would have a “mini reunion” when I finally made it back to the great northwest and indeed we did! We met at Dino’s in Renton and I think we had a great turn out. A special thanks to Linda West, Jerry and Linda Mullin, Gail Hazelett and so many more for making it possible.

My niece, Courtney Shamek’s wedding was 7/22/11. She and Brandon Veach were married in an outdoor ceremony, along the water in Lakewood.  A tropical theme was carried out through the entire event, with blue cocktails at the tiki bar, leis for the groomsmen, palm leaf fans and shell necklaces for the guests and tropical isle named tables at dinner. It was a truly a beautiful wedding! Her parents, (Vicki and Jim), grandmother, aunts, uncles, and many others put in countless hours and the results were  spectacular.

Chris and I camped at Dash Point State Park that weekend. Although this park is in the middle of a metropolitan area you’d never know it. The camp sites are wooded and the sounds of the city do not penetrate the forest.  Vicki, Jim and granddaughter Aspen, came by one night for a campfire, s’mores and few scary fireside stories.

 

7/24/11

More Friends

A trip through the Seattle area would not be complete without a stop in Medina to see my best friends, the Kirsch’s. We had a fun poolside visit and cookout with Betsy, Rod, daughter Jessica and her family (husband James and children Allie and Jack). 

7/25/11-8/12/11

Family

Finally arrived in Ferndale/Bellingham. Moby went to the RV spa for small makeover (refrigerator repair) and we stayed with Patti (sister) and husband John. When Moby was in shipshape we parked her in Judi (sister) and Mike’s back yard for the duration. We had gatherings with family, cookouts and plenty of chatter time. We visited Mike at work (a Nooksack casino) for a great buffet and a little “financial foolishness”.

I took a couple of one day trips. One to Whidbey Island, with my sister, Patti to pay homage to Jim and Jayne Evans. Their son Ken and his wife were there for the weekend and we had a great time reminiscing and laughing about having gone to "Renton". 


The second trip was to Black Diamond to visit my former neighbor and lifetime friend Katherine McNeight. She has "celebrated" 91 years and still is amazingly bright and mobile.  We had a wonderful day talking, going out to lunch and visiting places from out of the past. She is a newlywed and I met her husband Tom for the first time. He's a real character with a great sense of humor.


Much to my regret, I spent so much of my time talking that I forgot to take pictures....