So many times in the past month I’ve thought “I am so happy, I should blog this!” Sadly, I didn’t. So I’ll just summarize some of the mooments that made the wife and I sooooo happy. I grew up loving Road Trips…my family drove to visit freinds, move to new homes and jobs, and always with the togetherness of a family with four kids, used cars, and relishing every visit with friends and relatives. Retired life on Terceira does not lend itself to road trips, where we can encircle the island in about an hour. So I was really looking forward to taking many of our island family to Sabrina and Aidan’s wedding, visiting friends and family in Michigan, Toronto, Hamilton, Brandtford, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Some personal highlights:
Sofia’s sisters and brother in law landed in Canada, spent a few days exploring and shopping, then drove to Bronners in Frankenmuth to a year-round Christmas store, then to spend a few days on Lake Michigan with my sister Janie and her hubby John. We did some camping with old longtime friends Linda and Dan and their little dog Swiffer. Every morning the last coal-burning ferry departs, crossed the lake to Wisconsin, and then returns to port in Ludington. The blasts on the ship horn are like alarms for the beginning and the end of the day. We all dash out to the channel where it floats past towering above us.
After several days, we drive south to Grand Rapids, my home town. A barbeque and picnic for families ot meet for the first time…Sabrina’s entire family of aunts and uncles, cousins, and second cousins met with Aidan’s fantastic family of grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins join for greetings, games, sports, music, beverages, and introductions. Many won’t be at the wedding that weekend, some drove from as far as Minnesota and Wisconsin to join the fun.
Sadly, virtually no time to visit dozens of family and friends in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, instead it’s a checklist of tasks from Sabrina’s well-oiled machine for a wedding. As we expected from a professional event planner with a long successful history of planning international events, Sabrina and Aidan had pre-thought and documented a zillion details and documented them. Everyone from Aidan’s extended family, everyone from Sabrina’s extended family, and the venue staff rolled in to work the rehearsal, the wedding, and the required cleanup efforts. (One of the most entertaining elements of the rehearsal was Sofia’s 2-year-old nephew Alfredo, who’s family graciously flew in from Malmo, Sweden to bring the ring bearer to help with the nuptials. Alfredo speaks some English, a lot of Portuguese, and Swedish. Too young to become enamoured with the flower girl, 6-year-old Josie (Aidan’s neice) even though they practiced the aisle duties several times. (Afterwards, Gerry played Football (soccer) in teh back yard with Alfredo, and watching them interact with their feet instead of speaking, was a riot. Alfredo enjoyed the sushi for dinner as well. (Miguel and Renata, we can’t tell you enough how thankful we are you joined us, in spite of busy travel schedules, moving into the new house, and the guts it takes to fly into Chicago O’Hare, drive to Grand Rapids, do the wedding, and drive and fly out in four days. You folks are the best!)
Sofia’s sisters and brother-in-law traveled with us, crossed several international borders, did a lot of shopping, and then took a bus from Detroit to Toronto and flew back only a couple of days after the wedding.
Sofia and I drove to visit my sister in Cincinati (we beat them home:)) and spent a cople of days eating, drinking, and reminiscing. I learned when you dine at Kara and Joe’s favorite Mexican restaurant, if you order a “simple, plain, large Margarita” you get a fireworks-adorned goblet with lights, flames, little toy animals, and the attention of everyone in the place! Wendy and Bill, Joe and Kara, always know the city’s most interesting places to eat and drink:) Sorry we didn’t have time to viist with Skyler:(
Shortest leg of the trip was Cinti to the Dayton area to visit daughter Bridget and Summer who got married this summer. Met with Summer’s mom and Dad who are just fabulous folks, even though he rides a Harley trike:) He let me take it for a spin, along with his tractor we used to dig a hole to bury a poor kitty who died in the night. For the first time in about 15 years, we celebrated Bridget’s birthday with her, Summer and family, and Nancy. Wonderful time, wonderful dinner, and wonderful ice cream!
After several days learning about the neighborhood, family and friends, and the new house, wee headed off to Niagra Falls, spent a quiet romantic evening in St. Catherine, and then up to Brandtford for a few days R & R with Lilliana and her family. Lilliana is one of our friends who resides part of the year in Canada and part of the year in Porto Martins. After a few days explorer Niagara Falls, one of the largest and most diverse farmer’s market I’ve ever seen, finding a great Polish deli, and of course, more shopping, we’re off again to Toronto.
The view from Celia’s 55th floor condo of Toronto is enchanting, lights, Lake Ontario sunsets, and … you guessed it, more shopping:) After a day or two of borrowing larger suitcases, packing, repacking, etc. we were ready for a trip to the Toronto Pearson Airport and the long flight home.
Good to get home, (spend literally days mowing the lawn) and sleep in our own bed. Unpacked, and started digest all the memories from a perfect vacation. Two wonderful daughters happily married, visits with nearly all of my family, meeting and getting to know better all of Aidan’s fabulous family, and an excellent road trip in a rented Chrysler Pacifica (great experience BTW).
Lots to digest. But truly a labor of love. Back on our quiet little island in the Atlantic, back to doctor’s appointments, my great barber, acclimatizing with my new motorcycle, and just taking it easy. We got to meet with other good friends who are departing for their vacations, family visits, cruises, and catching up. Back to Retirement on Terceira:)