75th B-day Blast...part 2

 The B-day adventure continues!  

Now, if only I can get back to shore!!

Aaron Rodgers and the Schmidts welcome me to  Oceanside.

P-A-R-T-Y

A DVD of other important events of 1946...

No visit is complete without a game or two of Labyrinth.  I lost...

Charlie Pelican welcomes us to the Oceanside Pier on a lovely Saturday afternoon...

And follows us around the pier walk

A very warm Sunday morning outdoor church service

Followed by a very chilly outdoor Schmidt picnic

Monday brings a first time

Birthday lasagna and song from the Oceanside Schmidts...

A goodbye, memorable family picture




Gerry, Debbie and I enjoyed a pleasantly warm Monday afternoon at the beach

though earlier huge waves had laid a barrier of black rocks along the shoreline....

A last ride along the Coastal highway...

Tuesday morning Debbie and I enjoyed chatting through a breakfast at Al's Cafe

With an assuring sign...

And a sit on some very large tree roots....

Tuesday evening found me back in Ocean Beach for a formal goodbye dinner

                                                                                                             

 learning how to make perfect twice baked potatoes from the perfect instructor, Amanda, to go with perfectly grilled tri tip...

by grill master, Bill          

 

And perfectly set table in back yard patio by the perfect young hostess, Berklee

Saying goodbye Tuesday morning at the San Diego airport....another perfect San Diego adventure....

 

A stop over in Las Vegas with out of this world chances...

A fly over of beautiful Crater Lake...

Landing in Portland

Views of Mt. Hood and St. Helen's...

AND arriving home...

REFLECTIONS...   

      After retuning from a visit to San Diego I often think of my Aunt Emma whom I lived with for several years while growing up.  Her favorite memory was of her marvelous trip to San Diego where her sister, Betty, was a navy cardiac nurse.  

     Hearing her stories, San Diego seemed as exotic as a trip to the moon.  Now these many years later and with two sons living there, I make that trip to the moon at least twice a year with the ease of a backyard picnic.  

     Aunt Emma was not a cozy, warm motherly person, but she did love and care.  I sometimes think that when she got to heaven she put in a request that niece Georgia would have a VIP pass to San Diego whenever she wanted.

    Thank you, Aunt Emma!!  I love you and miss you!!   The End

This has been a good 2 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.

" 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, ' plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' " (Jeremiah29:11)

75th BIRTHDAY BLAST...part 1

It's been three weeks since I last blogged...But I have a most excellent reason! 75th Birthday Blast!! Just ask Charlie Pelican

 That all started Sunday, February 21 with a prime rib/tri-tip dinner sponsored, cooked and cleaned up by ME!            Exhausting but FUN!!       Dinner was for our four February birthdays.

Three generations of February Schmidt Birthday ladies. Gram G, Debbie, Micaela

My 7 kiddos gifted me with a 42 inch smart TV!  Now I am really smart as I pass time without commercials.

   Tuesday, February 23rd, Angie sent me off on a mystery trip to...                                                                                                    

Inside the airport I was allowed to SIT in a restaurant...first time in a year

One breathes OUT and One breathes IN

Flew over the Grand Canyon, landed in Phoenix, flew over desert 

And landed in San Diego on my last day of 74 years.

Woke up the next morning a year older, greeted with a lemon poppy seed muffin and fresh sweet raspberries!

THEN quickly whisked away to a REAL mystery trip...???

Driven east out of San Diego...where are you taking me????

A bit south close to the America/Mexico boarder fence...WHERE are you taking me?

Buddha  cat wants to know why the boarder patrol is passing us.

And why we be stopped by boarder patrol agents

"Are you all American citizens?", the large masked man peering in the window wants to know.

Welcome to the desert!!

And to Aqua Caliente County Park...

I know that means "hot water".  Is that what we are in??

Little one room cabin in the desert

(well, with a tiny room also)

My friendly abductors...

Son Bill, wife Amanda and granddaughter Berklee

High tea in the high desert!

A late afternoon walk!

A rattle snake visit to the campsite

A campfire and full moon

Evening pasta dinner

B-day cake with 7 gnomes and 5 colorful candles...a manageable 75 for Gram G

A game of Labyrinth and Old Maid (Cat Lady) 

A  Thursday morning swim in the mineral warm water

A drive to the green hills of Julian for lunch and store browsing.

Time to go back home to Ocean Beach!

REFLECTIONS    

     I am thankful and honored to turn 75!  Though my inner hobbit doesn't feel like 75, my body does nudge me occasionally.  I am aware that life will progressively get more challenging to maintain.  I look forward to this 4th quarter of existence, trusting that God has lots of social interaction, creative endeavors and fun adventures planned for me!

This has been a good 3 GeoGram weeks in the life of Gram G.

"I [Jesus] have come that they may have life and have it to the full."  (John 10:10)