Quote of The Week:

"Retirement life is a game. Happy people are the players. Unhappy people are the spectators. Which would you like to be?
from Ernie Zelinski's How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free"

— Ernie J. Zelinski

I have had an ongoing bet with myself about leaving the kids and especially Teagan. One minute I would assure myself that I would be fine and then the next minute I was sure I would fall apart. Well It was a little of both. For two or three days before we left I would be playing with Teagan and she would do one of those funny wonderful things she does all the time and It would just catch me and the tears would come to my eyes. I didn't want to have this big emotional leaving on Sunday night so we planned to just say goodbye like usual and leave. It went just like that except we hugged the kids too and said how much fun we had we them. Teagan saw the hugs and said " big hug Poppy" and lifted up her arms to him. I saw him swallow really big and just wrap her up. She gave him a big kiss and then held her arms out to me too. "big hug Grammy too" and leaped into my arms and wrapped her arms around me too. Then she decided that was a pretty good game and went back to Poppy and then to Grammy and then to Poppy who had all he could handle and gave her to Daddy. She waved like always and then said " bye bye Poppy, bye bye Grammy, see you morrow" over and over until we were out the door.

Then the water works started. I cried just a little and then it was ok. We will be back in the fall. It is just that she is at such a cute stage. Everything is so wonderful and new to her. She sees something and it is " ohhhhh Wowwwwwww" with that look of wonder. She sees us when we come to get her at Day care and she just squeels and runs to us and then asks, " where Poppy? oh there Poppy, yea, right, good girl. I know every persons grandchild is just as precious to them as she is to us, but it is just a gift from God to spend the kind of time with her that we did over the last 5 weeks. It was a wonderful gift that the kids gave us too. They never treated us like " enough please go home". They were gracious and welcoming and loving and it was so terrific of them. It isn't easy to have parents hanging out all the time. Danielle is working full time and taking 6 classes, Tom has alot of responsibility at work and also is assistant Golf coach at the local high school, yet they are wonderful parents and you can just see that by how secure and happy Teagan is.

Even though it was a wrenchto leave, I am looking forward to our next weeks exploring the west coast of California and Oregon. Carmel, Montery, San Fransico, Napa, Sonoma, It will be just a wonderful adventure. We also are looking forward to the months in Washington. I have always been drawn to the northwest in photos and movies and books. One of my favorite authors, Debbie Mc Cumber sets most of her novels in that area and I am most anxious to compare the area with her descriptions. I also am so drawn to water and mountains so being on the Kitsap Peninsula with Mountains on the east and the bay and Ocean on the West is going to be amazing.

I am looking foward with great anticipation.

Jenny