Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Grand Getaway Part II, plus a fun tag

I had planned to post more about our delightful weekend in Pennsylvania when Cheryl tagged me. So, I decided to do a "twofer". Here goes:

I think I left you all in Wellsboro, home of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. After hiking all that our old bodies could endure, we shopped a little and then hit the road for Potter County and a visit to Jim's brother and sister-in-law and Mom. We arrived at BIL's home in time to have birthday cake in celebration of Jim's birthday.
We were pooped after our hiking expedition and headed off to bed rather early.

When we decided on this little excursion, I got in touch with my cousin, Sally, who I see rarely and made a date to have lunch with her and our aunt who is living in an assisted living facility since she fell and hurt her back.

Sally is ten years my senior and a real favorite of mine. When I was ten years old, she was 20, had a job, a convertible, nice clothes and a boyfriend. Just the things that a ten year old would see as having arrived. Sally reminded me that I probably thought it cool that she smoked - she was right.

My Aunt Mary is a beautiful Christian woman who prayed for each of her siblings and nieces and nephews. I will be eternally grateful to her for the many prayers she sent heavenward for my salvation.

Anyway, spending the afternoon with Sally and my Aunt Mary was an absolute delight. It was all I had hoped it would be, and more. We laughed and reminisced. I came away determined to keep in better touch with these people who helped shape my life.



While I was off lunching and reminiscing with my family, Jim and his brother took their mother to a doctor's appointment, after which they had lunch and Dairy Queen. As you can see, we all had a fabulous few days and we are back on our diets this week.

Now, on to the fun tag from Cheryl:

1. What were you doing ten years ago:

Well, Gretchen had graduated from college so we felt rich. We spent our 30th
wedding anniversary at Jeff & Jan's condo in Panama City Beach, FL. It was
one of my very favorite vacations. We were both still working. I think I
had more energy.

2. Five things on my to do list for today:

1. Make dinner for my friend Pat, who had foot surgery
2. Hem Jim's shorts and sew buttons on his Hawaiian shirt
3. Walk for exercise
4. Stamp cards and write notes
5. Go to the library and inspect books for the upcoming book sale.

*I accomplished all of the above plus, some laundry, straightening my desk,
and several other jobs. I was pleased.

3. What is your favorite snack?

That's hard to narrow down. I think it would be a Starbuck's Mocha. In winter
I want a hot mocha, in summer, iced. I feel I've really treated myself when
I indulge in a Starbuck's mocha.

4. If I were a millionaire I would:

1. Pay off my kids' school debt/mortgages. I'd give Paige money for her PhD and
pay for Gretchen to go back to school for a second Bachelor's
2. Give more money to the church.
3. Establish a healthy scholarship at camp Potosi Pines
4. Buy a Mini Cooper Convertible for me and a Cadillac CTS for Jim.
5. Travel, Travel, Travel

5. Places I have lived:

1. Emporium, PA
2. Seneca Falls, NY
3. Austin, PA
4. Olean, NY
5. Philadelphia, PA
6. Buffalo, NY
7. Marion, NY

6. Five people I'm tagging:

1. Nancy
2. Dana
3. Renie
4. Dawn
5. Faye

I hope you all have as much fun with this as I have. Have a great Wednesday.

~Hippo Hugs~

15 comments:

Cheryl Wray said...

I LOVE all your answers. We are definitely kindred spirits, don't you think? Our things to do when we're millionaires are very similar! :-)

Your Aunt Mary sounds like an angel!

Kelly said...

Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog. Cheryl and I were best friends in 2nd grade. I live/near State College but I was born and raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas! Small world.

Dagmar said...

Hi Pam;
Thanks for all the lovely comments on my blog, good of you to keep checking. You are right, we getting prepared to leave BC for AZ...keep in touch, and have a lovely fall upstate.
Cheers,
Dagmar

Diane said...

You are spending your retirement like I want to spend ours! LOL You took in great sights, family, good food, and fun. It was certainly a total package.

Loved your answers and congrats for getting everything accomplished!

Hugs,
Diane

Monogram Queen said...

Hi Pam, very intersting!

My Aunt and Uncle, John and Marlene Fisher lived in Emporium,PA in the late 60's/early 70's. Small World!

Nancy said...

Sounds like a great weekend!!! Did I ever know Sally or your Aunt Mary? Maybe as kids, but I can't recall now. Know you enjoyed your time spent with them so much!

Happy Belated Birthday to Jim!!! Tell him I said "WELCOME to Social Security and join all of us other old coots!" LOL

I bet you guys were pooped after your hiking that day! You have so much energy, it seems. Not me, not anymore. I envy you your energy! I am just tired all the time...but then I am busy every minute of the day around here. Trying to clean a little today. Tammy is in Montreal this week on business, so her mail and newspaper has to picked up every day, so Stosh has been doing that for me and bringing it here to me. I live just 4 miles from her home, and he's 10 miles away, but he is good to help me out, as he knows I have my hands full here with the sick fur babies.

I will do the tag just as soon as time permits, hopefully tomorrow. I still have Tim's 2 cats here to care for yet, plus all of my own. It will get back to normal when he takes his home with him in 2 weeks. They require a lot of special care right now and meds to give so often. Keeps me hopping!

Nancy said...

Forgot to add the (((((( HUGS )))))) Hate that I forgot them!!!!

Laura said...

Hippchick - thanks so much for visiting my blog! I love your "ponderings."

Laura said...

I meant "Hippochick." Oh, well, I think you're "hipp," too! :)

Ryan said...

hey pam i stop in 2 say hi i found u thru momogram queen she is like my big sister and i know my sister only reads good blogs and i see she is right again u got a good blog here!

Midlife Mom said...

Hi Pam! Great meme! I would do a lot of the same things you would do if I were a millionaire. You sure got a lot accomplished, some days I feel like I am one step behind all day then other days I fly around here like mad and get lots and lots done.
Glad you had such a good time visiting your cousin and your aunt. I'm sure it was just as much fun for them as it was you. It's nice connecting again isn't it?
Hope you have a wonderful weekend! We are going pumpkin picking with the grand kids tomorrow and I am looking forward to that!

Michelle said...

Ugh, a meme..........

Hey Pam, I have been such a terrible blogger the last few months, forgive me? Will You?

Much love and BUNCHES of Hugs!

M

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Pam,

What a lovely visit with Sally and your Aunt Mary. Love the picture. It is nice to reminisce isn't it? And I enjoyed your answers to the meme. Thank you for tagging me, I did this same meme already bit ago. I think I did say more donations to my church and travel, travel, if I were a filthy rich. Nice dream isn't it? But I am happy as I am.

Sorry I'm a bit late here. I hope you and Jim are having a great week.

Hugs and blessings,

Renie

Nancy said...

Hi Pam!

In response to your comment on my blog....I don't know what your dream about Deanie, Thelma, Barbara, you and me meant...would love to know, though! I never dream. I also would love to know WHY I don't. Only time will tell, I guess.

Well, we are finally going to get some below normal temps moving in! Oh, it will feel so-oooo good!!! We have had such a hot, miserable summer this year...I'm sure everyone here will welcome the cooler temps.

I see I still need to do your meme! I'll give it a shot!

(((((( HUGS ))))))

Monogram Queen said...

Okay Pam I am starting to feel paranoid - ever since I added you to my blogroll - no updates!!! Not feeling the love *wink*