Catching up...

So much to catch up on. It's been several months since I've posted and so much has happened.

The summer was so hot and we suspended all outings that involved being outside. We still made almost daily trips to the dog park and went out to eat occasionally but we didn't do anything unusual before I left for Semmes, Alabama, in mid-June.
The 40th Theodore High School reunion was on June 19. Although I didn't graduate from Theodore, these are the people that I grew up with and consider "mine". I had a wonderful time visiting all these "kids" and really hope that we can get together more often than every five or ten years. I reconnected with several special friends and hope to keep these friendships going.
It was so good to see my kids, Kim and Brad, and to see my other friends. I got together for lunch with Judy and with Laura and Sandra. I miss them a lot when I'm in Florida. Soon enough though, it was time to come back to Ocala on July 3.
July through August was so hot we still didn't make many day trips but stayed busy with our friends at the dog park and going out to eat and getting together just for fun. On Labor Day weekend, September 3, we hosted a cookout for all our friends. Uncle Arnold, Cousin Larry, and "Aunt" Frieda came from Leeds, Alabama, for a visit and to attend the party. Larry grilled hamburgers and hotdogs (and burned off all the hair on his arm) and did a spectacular job. Arnold almost fell into the pool, giving Frieda and me near heart attacks, Mom had a little too much wine and knocked the potato chip bowl off the table. We got to know several acquaintances who we now call friends. We all really had a great time and we will do this again in the future.
Brad's softball team had a fantastic season and won a spot in the ESPN Disney Wide World of Sports tournament on September 17, 18, and 19. Kim rode down with the team and assorted girlfriends and wives. When they arrived in Ocala, about 2:30 am, Brad called me and I picked him and Kim up from the motel where the rest of the crew was staying. My babies stayed overnight here at the house, and then we drove to Disney in my vehicle. The team had rented two very nice townhouses in the area and Kim and I stayed in the Ramada Inn. They lost the first game and then we had to wait most of the day for the second game. Unfortunately, they lost the second game as well and so were out of the tournament. Both games were so close and they came from behind both times, but just too little too late. Anyway, now Brad was free for the rest of the weekend. He actually went skydiving. The folks who run the outfit actually video the entire jump - one person jumps tandem with you and another person jumps and videos the whole thing. I wish I had the courage to do this. It's sounds so invigorating and thrilling, but it's hard for me to get on a ferris wheel. We went to Sea World two days. Boy, Sea World has really changed since the last time I was there (20 years ago?? or more). But some of it is still familiar - the dolphin show and the Shamu show, for instance. But now there are roller coasters and other rides that just weren't necessary years ago. In order to bring in the kids especially, though, they've got to provide the thrills. Anyway, we had a wonderful time and I really enjoyed spending the time with my kids. Kim took lots of pictures so we will have these memories for a long time. We came back to Ocala Sunday afternoon and spent an hour or so at the house, then took off for Semmes. I had originally planned to go back in October, but this was a good opportunity so we went back together. I really treasure every minute I spend with both my kids, even if they both have earbuds in their ears and are not paying a smidgen of attention to me!