A Special Birthday~A Special Wedding~A Sad Farewell

October 17, 2010

One of the many reasons I decided to head to the East Coast in October was my Aunt Veedee Sue (Veneda) was turning 90 and I knew it would be a family reunion of sorts.  Pretty in Pink in this picture is my auntie.  All but the guy is blue (Dan) her nephew and the girl in red (mauh) her niece on her husband's side) are her children.  And not all were there.  Missing are Roger, Terry, Robin (hope I got all of them).  It was a great day and I saw many I hadn't seen in years and met the new.  Food was wonderful and I think she enjoyed herself immensely.  It was too busy to get a huge group family picture.

While in my hometown, I was also able to see some high school friends...we met for lunch at (where else) Appleby's and we had a great time.

Michigan is never complete unless I go to Ann Arbor to spend time with my ex-husband and his wife and family.  I did and it was nice as always.  While in Ann Arbor I also was able to meet up with some cousins on my mother's side, some of whom I had never met but had a FB relationship with.  Her (Aimee's) mom I had met as a young girl at a funeral and probably a few other times...but so long ago.  And it was wonderful meeting them briefly for dinner. Then......

the sad part of the reason for coming east....My good friend, Cindi, for 45 years was in her 2nd year with ALS...that awful and hateful disease.  She was in her last days and I went to Bloomfield Hills to say goodbye.. it has one of the hardest things I've ever done.  Here's how I did it.  Several of our friends were there along with her husband.  I was just there for a few hours.  When I left, I kissed her and said goodbye and left crying like a baby.  Had to stop driving a few times as I couldn't see for the tears.  Ran back to Ann Arbor and wrote:

I wrote this Cindi,..knowing I wouldn't see you again in this world. I know you knew how loved you were/are....by all who know you. Me...for 45 years with our ups/downs and most special memories. ~~~I know your time is near~~Oh that I could take your body to mend~~ I know that soon God will be your closest friend~~ I said goodbye as you slept~~I kissed your forehead gently~~My dear friend  Cindi you will be missed~~ I thought as I drove away, if only you could be healed I would vote Republican so I could make you happy." ~~~

Pat & TaZzi and Cindi & Jack Black after church..the year before she died.  I miss her so.

A week in Upper Michigan at their home to tell Cindi how much we love her..she's the beautiful one in yellowish in the middle. circa 2009

  After Michigan on to Louisville, Kentucky "happy".  My cousin, Jennifer's wedding and more family reunion.

Jennifer, the lovely bride.  Love this picture and I took it!

Pat & Carlene (aunt of the bride) my cousin & forever friend

My aunt Veedee Sue and Pat

Robin (Jen's Mom)

Pat and Jen

Now....on to D.C. for the Ralley.

good friends~pontoon~animal farm~that's it!

Bird Lake at the Shay's



August 7, 2009

....And that is all that is needed....when you have friends like Duane and Alice. We had two wonderful memory-making days. I've known Duane since 4th grade and he, Alice, Duane's mama, TaZzi, and I 'kicked it up' at their cottage at Bird Lake, near Hudson, Michigan. We took the pontoon out on an absolutely heavenly evening, ate (too much) at a family-style restaurant, rodded around the lake in the "gator". TaZzi really loved that....so did I!

The next day, we took the gator over to Sherry's Animal Farm. She has an assortment of over 200 animals ranging from llama's to the tiniest kitty (named Velcro). Velcro (unafraid) followed all of us around the huge farm as we fed and had fun with all the beautiful critters. I felt like the patron saint....St. Francis of Assisi for a while.

We also had time to visit with Duane's sister and her husband. Son Scott stopped over and we grabbed deli sandwiches and headed for the opening of the new Firekeepers Casino near Battle Creek. Gambled for a couple hours until my lungs filled with too much smoke and we all left ahead of the game.....but for Duane... sigh!













Duane and Alice for many years have been on Litter Patrol at their peaceful and beautiful lake. They do it for the environment and ... because they are the most wonderful people I know...and because litter exists! Last year there was a full page newspaper article about the details of what they do with lots of pictures. This is their official license plate for Gator.

Meet Priscilla, the duck that's been hanging with Alice and Duane for many years. She and TaZzi got along quite well.....after their initial meeting....Priscilla had to show TaZ who really rules!


TaZzi on the pontoon...just watching the water....she doesn't like to swim, so no chance of her diving off.








Pat and TaZzi take to the wheel...watch out!

Our day at Sherry's Happy Animal Farm

Smile Pretty!



Duane...Sherry....Alice....











St. Patty of Assisi...... where is MY halo???!!!




And it ends with a horse kiss....camera shot didn't get the actual KISS! It was good!

50th High School Reunion

August 3, 2009

The anticipation is over! All went well....great turnout....never have enough time to talk to all; but did see some classmates I hadn't seen in over 50 years. I'll just post a few pictures....I took over 50 and hope I get to see some of the ones other classmates took.....I sure saw lots of cameras going off...so there must be more....somewhere!

That's it until probably 2014....55th? Getting ready to move on now...a few more friends to see before I leave Michigan...then heading to Kansas City, Arizona, then California (for a couple months) before I leave for the Baja for the winter.

....ready to move on...itchy wheels ....

June 23, 2007, 11:16 am


hello from Michigan...

some of the best things come from the unexpected...unplanned.....as we have all learned.

I arrived in Michigan 1 month ago today with A/C problems.  Once the A/C was fixed decided to stay and see friends, relatives......& I've certainly done that. 

Visited a friend I've known since 4th grade and his wife.  They live on a lake...so we pontooned and just caught up.







My girlfriend from early 60's and her husband have a place in northern Michigan near Mackinac Island.  Was there for 5 days. Here we are at Spike's ... a great hamburger joint...just the girls for a few days.






Now am back at their home in Bloomfield Hills/Birmingham area for a few days before I blast off again &

......then.....back to my routine.

At the moment I'm planning to head west.....Wisconsin....Minnesota....South Dakota....then to Colorado.....arriving there around the 20th July.

Health is good.....TaZzi is getting so spoiled...

Hope you all are doing well.

gypsy mama/Patty

...from Memphis to Michigan...

June 11, 2007, 11:30 pm

From Memphis to Michigan.....

When last you heard from me, my A/C needed repair.  I'll shorten the tale as much as possible.  Couldn't get it repaired in Memphis, St. Louis, Nashville, Louisville.....so continued on to Michigan...lived there for years so know many people.  

The repair took 2 weeks.  Since my RV is my home, TaZzi and I needed a place to stay while it was in the shop.  We stayed in Ann Arbor with my (was-band) & his wonderful wife.  Arrived on May 23rd (my birthday).  Got to see my extended family.  Also have seen most of my many relatives in the area and many grade school and high school friends.  Have eaten enough for a life-time.

For the last 4 days I've been staying with my best friend since 9th grade.....I've known her for 51 years.  Her husband is the sheriff of Genesee County....they live in Flushing....near Flint.  Bob is running again for sheriff,  so we've been busy campaigning and doing lots of social stuff, meeting wonderful people, eating great food. 





Today we went to Frankenmuth.... "Michigan's Little Bavaria".  It's an enchanting little town founded by German-Lutheran missionaries.  The 4,900 residents take great pride in preserving the German heritage. 



Frankenmuth is famous for good food and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland (the building is the size of 5-1/2 football fields.)  Horsedrawn carriage rides and riverboat cruises are also available.  It is also the home to a number of music, art and folk festivals.

I'll be leaving Michigan around the 21st probably going through Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, then Colorado for a couple weeks with friends at Taylor Lake.....then ..... who knows!!!

My plans for now....subject to change 

Still loving this life style....more and more all the time.

see ya down the road!!!!!!! 

gypsy mama ~ Patty