The weather and company in Palm Springs was fabulous. The desert air was crystal clear. I was the guest at Terry and Janet James who are spending the month of April in Palm Springs. Marlys and Gregg had flown in from Ft.Lauderdale, the day before. We all have been friends for the last 25 years and at one time all belonged to the Gig Harbor Yacht Club. Marlys used to commute in their outboard dinghy from their home, a 56 foot motor yacht, across Gig harbor Bay to the office I had on the bay. Greg drove me back to Redlands on Sunday morning. Joan and I went to her church and attended the Spanish mass. I flew back to Portland with son John and his friend Jessica. Then drove all three to Eugene where Jessica lives. Monday morning I visited with Joanie Rippe and Mark. My hosts in Eugene, Evert and Judy Slijper, had me over for dinner with two more of their sailing couple friends.
To many of you this might all sound like a bit of a dizzying round of visiting. It is not easy to keep these long time friendships and family relationships up when I am moving around the globe and continue to make new friends. This web blog helps to keep the presence alive. Amtrak carried me back to Tacoma on Tuesday morning from Eugene. Yesterday evening I met up with Pete and Jackie Clement and Tim and Martie at the “Shorline” restaurant in Gig Harbor, they are all four close friends of the same 3 couples I was with in Palm Springs. After dinner I stopped in with the “Taco Tuesday”ers. I followed Roger and Judy Rue out to their home in Tacoma and watched Roger’s dog “menage(rie) a trois” do their evening walk and tricks. Then it was time to pick up Lisa from her 6 to 10 p.m. weekly college class in down town Tacoma.
I saw Roman, my 97 year old friend, at the rest home. He is slowly slowing down. I fed him his lunch. He barely reacts to conversation. His handshake is still strong. What more could I ask for from a friend?
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- Another Narrows Bridge picture
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- Palm Springs L-R: Terry,Tom,Janet,Doris,Marlys,Gregg
