Update
I am still trying to get settled back home. We arrived on Monday evening. Yesterday we went for a walk and then I slept the afternoon away so that I could stay awake for an evening meeting. A group home is going in to our neighbourhood and some of the people are of the "Not in my backyard philosophy". As we are a quiet inner city neighbourhood, we do have homeless people in the area. I would rather see them in a new, carefully monitored building than sleeping on the hill in front of our condo. It was an interesting meeting and I think it made a difference that 2 of us live very near the proposed development and are in favour.
Like the others, I loved the retreat - I really can't add much more but it was just wonderful to get together again for real hugs! The speaker was down to earth and I appreciated the fact that she had practical ideas for us to try e.g. guided meditation etc. The dinner cruise was awesome. I am sorry I missed most of the dancing as I love to watch the water - so calming. I did however manage to get one in - my favourite singer is Roy Orbison - the entertainer did a fair imitation of Pretty Woman.
Thank you Planning Committee for a job well done.
Los Angeles was great - I'd like to go back without an agenda so that we can just visit museums at our leisure. I think Cevyn enjoyed herself; at least she said she did - she is 18 and can be moody so I wondered. I know she enjoyed the teenage stuff like the wax museum etc and all the hubbub in the Hollywood tourist area. She used the metro to go on her own - I feel a lot better about her traveling on her own now.
So all in all it was a good trip but I am ready to relax. Cevyn really enjoyed meeting everyone. Thank you for making her feel welcome.
Now laundry.
Like the others, I loved the retreat - I really can't add much more but it was just wonderful to get together again for real hugs! The speaker was down to earth and I appreciated the fact that she had practical ideas for us to try e.g. guided meditation etc. The dinner cruise was awesome. I am sorry I missed most of the dancing as I love to watch the water - so calming. I did however manage to get one in - my favourite singer is Roy Orbison - the entertainer did a fair imitation of Pretty Woman.
Thank you Planning Committee for a job well done.
Los Angeles was great - I'd like to go back without an agenda so that we can just visit museums at our leisure. I think Cevyn enjoyed herself; at least she said she did - she is 18 and can be moody so I wondered. I know she enjoyed the teenage stuff like the wax museum etc and all the hubbub in the Hollywood tourist area. She used the metro to go on her own - I feel a lot better about her traveling on her own now.
So all in all it was a good trip but I am ready to relax. Cevyn really enjoyed meeting everyone. Thank you for making her feel welcome.
Now laundry.
Replies
Relax in the midst of all that laundry. :) Glad you had such a wonderful time and to have others meet Cevyn and for her to meet your friends is a win/win.
Loving care as you get back into your life and I know will be busily planning for your next grand adventure as your bag is never empty for long. :)
Hugs and love,
XO Joanie
(((((HUGS)))))
So glad we spent time together again this year...I loved the cruise, too...well I loved the whole thing...except perhaps running the slide show!!! lol
I did not even mind the hail and the evacuation...lol
Tell Cevyn that I would love her to send me some pictures of the concert so I can share with Gina...she will be envious.
There are some great photos on ForMomsOnly profile and in the group and on Facebook...also some really great ones of Cevyn...
Love,
AnnM
Yes, rest up for the next adventure. Loved meeting all three of you! Hope to see some of Joe\'s photos, can you put them up? Love, Abby
I\'m so glad you had quality time with your granddaughter. Yes, we need to stop with this attempt to make people/lives disappear from our view and awareness. We don\'t seem willing to understand that without hands on compassionate solutions we reveal our truth as a race of humans. I\'m still in real shock at how those given tax payers mandates to care for the \'less than\' misuse and abuse this mandate for their own gain at great harm to those in need.
The pictures I have seen of the trip and a the love shared allowed me to share in your joy.
welcome home. rose
The homeless situation saddens my heart too. Seems most people go with the easy remedy of running the homeless off. I watched a touching youtube where two men were homeless and asked to arm wrestle for $100. The one that won, shared the money with the other. I have heard that the less you have the more that person will share. I guess that was an example.
The retreat sounds wonderful, Marlene. Hope you all can attend many more! Time with family is precious!
Sending love,
Leda
Laundry, bills to pay, errands to run, unpacking to do....The list goes on and on. I want to be back in Reno, lol.....
Kudos to you, for being in favor of helping your fellow man, or woman. Too many people just want to look the other way. But for the Grace of God, we could be in their shoes...
((((HUGS))))....Julia
It has taken me a long time to get settled back in too! It was so great to see you again and to meet Cevyn! She was delightful. I had an opportunity to chat with her on the cruise...she is precious. Love and hugs...Karen
Hello my friend Marlene! Once again, I loved spending time with you and Joe and Cevyn. Kudos on your support of the group home. My son lives in one (a single family home for recovering addicts) in a very nice neighborhood. I imagine that many of the neighbors do not like this fact. I find it interesting that people do not want the \"low lifes\" in their neighborhood, even though they are doing something openly about it. And behind their own closed doors, they are RX addicts, alcoholics etc. My son\'s house is well run. If you break the rules (such as a 10:30 curfew without prior permission), you are kicked out. This is why Jason\'s friend, Frankie (who died) was kicked out of the house. They have to attend meetings, go to church and be there every Monday for the dinner and meeting that follows. Sometimes, people have blinders on and cannot see what is going on right in their own home but sure can complain about what is going on next door LOL! At Jason\'s house, they have a list of chores that changes each week. I was totally amazed that a house full of men had a cleaner bathroom and kitchen than I do HAHA. The lawn is always mowed. It looked so nice that I asked Jason if the owner has a landscaper and he told me that they do it themselves on a rotating basis of chores. WOW.
Ceyvn was a pleasure to meet! I hope she had fun. She is a lovely young woman. I love you, Marlene!
Peace.
It was so nice meeting Ceyvn....so glad we had os many real hugs.. love ya!
Ceyvn was so much fun...really enjoyed meeting and spending time with her. Another crazy Canadian!!!! Hugs, Ann
Always wonderful to see you and it was great meeting Cevyn and seeing Joe again. He seemed more at ease around all of us this time! LOL!
My suitcase still lays on the floor, mostly unpacked but there are still things strewn around the room. Guess it will stay that way since I\'ll be packing again next week for our trip to WA.
Look forward to seeing your photos....Joe always takes such great pictures!
My son also lived in a homeless shelter for a while. I appreciate that he had somewhere clean and safe to go. Yes, we could all be in that situation faster than many realize....scary. THANK YOU for all you do for your community!
Love you much!
Love to Lisa!
It was so good seeing you again and getting real hugs! To bad we weren\'t seated together on the flight to LA! Love you. Angela
boy was it good to get real hugs and talk. Ceyvn is great. I hope she hung out with the other girls for a while, they all are good kids. I made it home the wee hours on Tues morning. My own bed felt so good. I have not written much because this computer keeps wanting to die a slow painful death. I am trying to keep it going till Christmass sales to get something new. I wander if this thing has a DNR LOL
hugs Penny