60th Wedding Anniversary (2008)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

Our 60th wedding anniversary was our big event in 2008.  All sixteen of our Ss + Ws made it!

6/5/08 Pensacola – Chiefland

We drove out of the driveway at 8:15, headed out on Hillview – University to Davis – I-10.  The traffic was light + we cruised along leisurely at 70 mph.

Our first rest area was 82 miles + we switched drivers – still very light traffic until Tallahassee where there was alot of construction + traffic.

We stopped at our usual Wendy’s on Rt. I-19 + another stop at the clean + comfortable rest area after Perry.

We stopped at the comfortable and clean Best Western in Chiefland for the night.  It was just a 6 hr drive, so we just relaxed + had a crispy pizza next door at Pizza Hut.

Tomorrow we’ll be ready for Friday’s busy traffic to St. Pete.

The mileage is 317 miles.

6/6/08 Chiefland St. Pete – 317 miles

Breakfast in the Conference Room was plenty – juice, coffee, Danish, cereal + egg patty – talked to Kent + left a message for Mike.  Will check later to let everyone know of our whereabouts.  Everything fine so far.

We stopped for gas at Springhill + paid $3.83 – steep, sure that we would not find anything cheaper.  We went a little farther + the price was $3.79 – oh, well!

Our next stop was at Port Richey where we had lunch at McDonalds - salad for me $1.00 + chicken for Bert.

The drive to Indian Rocks Beach was a little longer than we’d expected because we missed the 688 turnoff.  Mike directed us to the Rental Office + then to the Reef, which was a welcome sight.  We are in #408 + when the Jax Ss arrived they took #410.  Then we welcomed Erich, Vivian, + Dylan.  Kyle was with them in a rental.  Lance came in for a short visit, then Ryan + Aria arrived.  Mike + Donna did so much + filled both refrigerators with lots of fruit, veggies, etc. so it looks as though we are all set for a good visit.  Mike made many trips with his busy schedule.  It was heart warming to see our great family.  Mike has lost 40 pounds + looks great!

P.S. Dan took time off from studies + was here for several hours!

6/7/08 Indian Rocks Beach

Mileage 454

Tamiko and I tested the pool from 7-8 am - great!

Everyone is helping themselves to breakfast + lunch.  The Reef is very nice - well stocked, clean + everything so far has worked out beautifully.

Action took place in the afternoon!  Everyone started pouring in - Lance + Trista, Dan, Mike + Donna arrived with more goodies galore.  The timing for picture taking took place at 3 o’clock on the beach with Tiffany Godfrey – a slight delay awaiting the arrival of Ryan + Aria.

Dinner included Sonnie’s delicious barbecue, with everyone pitching in to decorate.  Food was delicious + the cake from Publix topped it off.  Mike + Donna were perfect hosts.

Gifts from the whole family included: Godiva chocolates from Trista + Lance, flowers from Lucy + Ace – Donna + Mike, shirts + pins made by Tami from Jax Ss, + the surprise of all – cards + notes from long “lost” friends with Mike responsible.  What a surprise outpouring of love.

What a blessing to have such a loving family!  Thank you God!!  Happy 60th!

6/8/08 Indian Rocks Beach

Tamiko + I started the day with our pool exercises from 7-8 a.m.

Dad + I had breakfast + the rest of the day we relaxed.

In the afternoon we went on a 2 hr boat trip starting out at St. Pete Beach and traveled canal areas + then out to the Gulf.  We saw a mother dolphin + her baby – that was exciting because they were so close to the boat.  We had 14 of us on board + the cost was $350.00.

We heard from the Rs + we knew they were dropping by, we didn’t know when they were coming.  We put the Sam’s lasagna in the oven + luckily they came when it was just about ready to come out of the oven.  They stayed for dinner + luckily the larder was still full + we had plenty + some left over.  Very informal.

Bill + Anne were just toddlers when I was a teenager + I babysat them.  Ironically, their mom, cousin Mary, babysat my brother Bob, + me when we [were] little + they (Phyllis) sat us.  What fun!

6/9/08 Indian Rocks Beach

Most of our family left today.

Today we said “good-bye” to the Jax Ss as well as Kyle by plane to R.I.  He rode as far as the Tampa airport with them + they called us when they got home in the middle of the afternoon.

Bert + I made a shopping trip to Publix and got some groceries.

Ryan + Aria left for their flight back to Calif. at 4 pm.  Mike drove them to the airport.

One by one the crowd is thinning out + although it’s relaxing, we loved the excitement + all the conversation with everyone.

Our darling Dylan came over with his mama + daddy, Vivian + Erich + we heated the leftovers for supper.  He was not his happy little self so we went over there (408) and sat on their porch + watched pelicans swoop by + took pictures of the beautiful sunset.

Both Kent + Mike called to thank us + to tell us what a great time they’ve had but Mike + Donna were not able to come over as she’d had a number of deliveries + was very tired.

6/10/08 Indian Rocks Beach, FL

Kent's birthday today, which we celebrated last week because they had to leave yesterday.

This was another busy but relaxing day.  We made sandwiches + took them to a nearby park.  Dylan liked the slide.

Except for my daily water aerobics from 8:00-8:30, I didn’t get much activity.

Erich made dinner today - grilled chicken, corn on the cob + delicious potato salad.  What a guy!!

Vivian’s brother came from Tampa + we watched the Celtics-Lakers game at 408.  Then she + Collin went swimming.  Mike dropped in for awhile.  Donna tied up at the hospital.  Mike had two interviews by phone today, and will know the results in a couple weeks.

We received more anniversary cards that came to their place + he delivered them.  We must have about 70 anniversary cards now + they all sent such heart-warming messages.

This has been the BEST vacation we’ve ever had!

6/11/08 Indian Rocks

Tamiko + I did our water aerobics from 7-8 am while they were here, then Vivian + Dylan joined me at an early hour the other mornings.  Today the caretaker asked me to leave before I stuck my toe in the water as the hours are 9-dusk + if anyone saw me in the pool at that time, they’d all start coming earlier.  So be it.

This afternoon Bert + I shopped at Publix for dinner + breakfast + I bought Dylan 2-3T outfits at Bealls Outlet.

They came over for dinner Erich cooked on the grill – made delicious cheeseburgers for us, + we had baked beans + salad.

Vivian’s brother + lady friend came over + joined us, interesting couple – he’s a doctor + she’s a nurse.  They’re moving to Albany, N.Y.

Mike had an interview with PJC and it went very well.  He’s going up for an interview on 6/25 + we’ll get him a guest room at the Trace.  Hope it works out!

6/12/08 Indian Rocks

This is the big day – the reason we’re here celebrating our 60th anniversary with the family.  The only ones left are Erich, Vivian + Dylan.

Mike came over for a short visit in the afternoon.  I did 2 loads of laundry so I wouldn’t have to tackle all the dirty clothes when we got home.

I used the pool from 9:00 – 9:30 + spent the day relaxing + getting things organized to take home.

We met Donna + Mike at the Pub + they treated us to dinner.  It was delicious + even little Dylan enjoyed it!

The kids came up + collected all their food.  We did a pretty good job cleaning up + getting organized for packing tomorrow + heading north.

It’s been a great celebration!

6/13/08 Indian Rocks – Tallahassee

Wake up call was early because we had to clean the condo + pack.

We did O.K., but thought we’d better check 408 to see if the kids were up + getting ready to “clear the deck.”

We knew we had to be out by 10 a.m., so we checked on them a little after 9 + they assured me they would be ready.  Amazingly they were.  We hated to say good-bye to them, especially the baby because we’re not sure when we’ll see them again + babies change so fast.

We turned in our keys at the rental office + were on our way by 9:15.

It was slow moving from all the little towns along Rt. 19.  We stopped at Springhill’s Publix + got USA Today + a loaf of breakfast bread.

We had lunch at McDonalds in Chiefland + shared our seat with the State T-Ball Champs.  What a noisey bunch of rug rats!

We checked accommodations in Perry at the Hampton Inn + it was over $100.00, so we went on to Tallahassee + are comfortably housed in a Comfort Inn for half the price + will just have about 3 hrs tomorrow.  What a great vacation!  We had a wonderful 60th anniversary with all the family.

Home tomorrow.

6/14/08 Tallahassee – Pensacola

The Comfort Inn at Exit 199 is one to remember.  Everything was quite satisfactory – quiet, clean, comfortable king size bed, and better breakfast than most inns for the price of $63.00. We’re heading home!

We left the motel at 9:30, and had a little traffic for nearly all the way home.  Because we ate a large breakfast, we didn’t stop for lunch.

Just as we were nearing the I-10 bridge, the traffic was going at a snail’s pace, so we opted to go through Milton where we stopped for gas.

Arrived home at Azalea Trace.  We got two carts + a dolly to unload our gear.  We got everything unpacked in good time, picked up the mail, and that's going to keep us busy for awhile!

We went downstairs and had dinner with Barby R, the Ls, the Ms + Billie C.  The steak + salad were delicious.

It’s good to be home after a super anniversary with the best family in the world!  Mileage 460