It is a joy to find such a welcome when one pulls in to spend the night! Most RV parks don't make one feel so welcome...but our sister-in-law has a way of making us feel very special. They have kind neighbors who don't mind our little RV parked in front of Jim's house for a night--or two or three. The food is delicious...and the fruit trees are loaded with tangerines, lemons and grapefruits. What more could one ask? Thanks for your hospitality, Jan and Jim.
Brother Jim was in Washington DC on a business meeting during THE football game...of course, he watched the game at a sportsbar with the OU Alum Club..but the rest of us left back in Feenix carried on the OU tradition in a way that would have made my parents proud (remember, in their 80's, they were still going to OU home football games!)
We received an email from our dear friend, Shelley Cooper, from Wichita, telling us she was coming to Midland to visit her son and hoping to be able to see us--and then casually mentioned she was heading for Phoenix to visit her daughter and stepmom. So, of course, I wrote her back immediately to say we were not in Midland so couldn't see her there, but would love to have a visit in Scottsdale! Shelley and her late husband, Norris, were very special friends during our year in Wichita. Norris died way too young this past year, and we all miss him--but had a good time remembering stories, sharing tears, and laughing together. Their daughter Carley is so lovely...we were glad she was able to join us. And with their son, Corey, and his wife living in Midland, we do hope to see them when we are back in Midland. It is a small world, isn't it?
Pat Mundy is a friend from Enid that has been adopted in to our family...and we were overjoyed to have her come to a horse show in Scottsdale while we were camped at McDowell Park. For one thing, while we have known all about her love of horses and the competitions she entered, we have never had the opportunity to see her compete, or see her in her riding outfit. For another thing, we haven't had any exposure to
the world of horses--West World in Scottsdale is quite an experience. Besides seeing Pat ride, she was able to visit us at McDowell, sit around the campfire, make s'mores, and just enjoy being together.
For YEARS we have heard about the VNSA Used Book Sale in Phoenix, because our sister-in-law has been a volunteer for over twenty years. The booksale held its 53rd sale this past weekend, and we could not only attend but also could be volunteers and help out. This exceptional group offers over 600,000 books which have been sorted, categorized and priced all year long in their warehouse, and then set up in the fairgrounds in the most amazing display you have ever seen. Given the economy this year, no one knew what might be the outcome..but when we arrived shortly after 7 a.m., the waiting line was huge..some folks come during the night before to be first in line. You can see them outside waiting for the main doors to open, as those of us inside had the "countdown" to 8 a.m. Grocery carts are available for customers, but lots of people come prepared with rolling luggage, backpacks, duffles, whatever--and the books go out in all manner of carry-alls! We bought our own choices of reading material for the upcoming months (since I no longer am living next door to the public library!) The charities supported by the VNSA will be blessed once again, as the group raised about $440,000!
One of our treats at the booksale was to meet up with Nancy Howard and her friend Otto. Nancy is a Facebook friend of ours now, but she is also a friend of my brother's in Phoenix when they both served in the Air National Guard, AND her real claim to fame is that she is from southwest Missouri--grew up in Aurora MO and her family is from Crane MO..so she and Jerry go way back.
And by the way, my little brother had a birthday while we were in Phoenix, so we had a marvelous family dinner and celebrated the fact that he now another year older, and trying to catch up to his older sister!
