Gram G's 12 Days of Christmas!
On the first day of Christmas (Dec. 21 Winter solstice) Gram G flew out of PDX to Alexander, VA while her phone stayed at home!😨
Panic and trauma set in as I struggled to figure out what to do. Contacted Burt in Virginia by WhatsApp; Chuck in southern Wisconsin called Debbie here in Vancouver; she checked my home; found it; packed it up and sent it out Saturday afternoon. USPS said I'd get it Thursday at the earliest.
WHAT? No picture taking???
On the second day of Christmas Gram G helped decorate cookies at Burt and Jen's house!
And supervised making dumpling dinner for 15 people!!
On the third day of Christmas Gram G attended
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert in Washington DC
Then viewed one side of the Pentagon and DC from a friend's penthouse balcony.
On the fourth day of Christmas Gram G helped make appetizers (angeled eggs) and attended Christmas Eve service at
the Washington National Cathedral
On the fifth day of Christmas (Dec. 25) Gram G wore matching pajamas all day, opened gifts and ate steak dinner
On the 6th day of Christmas Gram G got her wish...her phone arrived...
In the afternoon sat outside with family and a fire, then ate shrimp boil before the shrimp was added...
Later in the evening snapped a Burt and Jen Schmidt family photo
On the 7th day of Christmas Gram G went for a walk and watched the Schmidt brothers play Pickle ball most of the day as we sat around a fire then ate a bunch of leftovers and played board games.
On the 8th day of Christmas Gram G
tried to keep up in a game of Seven Wonders!
Then rode into DC
To tour the...
DC buildings made completely from botanical sources were on display
Even a tiny Abe Lincoln
DC classy!!
Buffalo Hot Wings before last of the company flies home (except Cory and me)
On the 9th day of Christmas Gram G
enjoyed a stroll along the Potomac River
Topped off with a musty mule...
Mint, ginger beer and lime
Quite Sour...
On the 10th day of Christmas Gram G had a leisurely morning her last full day in Alexander, then walked around the National Zoo in DC.
On the 11th day of Christmas (New Year's Eve) Gram G packed her bags and was delivered to DCA airport
With a mini fright of a fire alarm going off in the lounge where she was just ready to enjoy a salad...we had to evacuate the building and wait in the entrance. There must be barriers between sections since people were still entering the main check-in area. We waited about an half hour before people were allowed back in. I chose to continue on to my departing gate.
Arriving in a rainy Portland 8:15 PM New Year's Eve!
Watched the New York New Year's
and
went to bed!
On the 12th day of Christmas (New Year's Day) Gram G watched some of the Rose Parade.
Then enjoyed prime rib dinner and presents at the Miller family home!!
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!
REFLECTIONS
I had a refreshing, activity filled, fun 10 days visiting Burt and Jen and family in Alexander, Virginia. I had anticipated the trip for over 18 months! And now it's happened and past. It seems waiting for a major event takes so long and then, whoosh, it is done and gone so quickly. I was happy to share a few days in the lives of my 5 grandsons and 2 granddaughters-in-law. I did get lots of pictures with others using their phone cameras to make Gram G happy! Thank you!
This has been a good 3 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.
"May the Lord bless you from Zion; may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you live to see your children's children---peace be upon Israel." (Psalm 128:5-6)
