Oh to have had a camera

I just wanted to share that last night's show in Branson of the #1 Hits of the 60's was the best!  And the biggest star was the one and only, Curtis Chance!  You are reading correctly, it was Curtis - my better half!  One of the female cast members came out into the audience and picked Curtis out to "help" do a number with her and the other two girls in the show.  They "dressed" him up in long hippy braids complete with headband, round John Lennon colored glasses, hippie beads and a long fringed vest.  The band began to play "These Boots are Made For Walking" and the girls tried their best to get him to walk in step with them.  Those of you who know him know that "Rhythm" is not his forte' so all it got was great guffaws from the audience.  He was a real trooper, however, and took it all in stride.  He was a good sport and even responded with humor upon receiving the remarks from fellow audience members about his part of the show.  All in all, it was a delightful time listening to the "oldies" and laughing, with not at, Curtis!

Ozark beauty

Last night was spent in Eureka Springs, AR in the beautiful Ozarks.  My paternal grandparents moved from Arkansas in the early 1920's to the flatlands of Texas and looking at the beautiful greenery I think it might have been our loss.  Each time I have been in Arkansas I have been mesmerized by its beauty.  Tonight we are in Branson, MO and it is every bit as lovely.  The rolling hills and crooked roads made for interesting travel in a motorhome this morning.  The dogwoods and redbuds are coming out right now and filling the horizons with color and aroma.  We are ahead of the crowds here in Branson so the traffic is minimal at the moment.  According to the KOA owner in Eureka Springs the economy has had a profound effect on their tourist business.  I suspect the same could be said about Branson as there are many closed and for sale businesses including theaters and restaurants.  

Tomorrow night we have tickets to a show at one of the theaters.  It is the #1 Hits of the 60's.  Since that is "our" music we will really enjoy it, at least I hope we do.

Yesterday we got word that Grandpa Chance had his second cataract surgery yesterday morning.  He did very well and should be able to see much better now that the last eye has been done.

We look forward to continuing our journey north into the Northeast on Friday.  

New York, here we come!

We have left the state of TX today and headed northeast.  The weekend was spent in Colleyville, TX with Curtis' youngest brother and his wife, Richard and Stephanie.  We had a good time with them.  While in Austin we had a great time visiting with my dad, my sister, Kelli, niece, Natalie and Kelli's husband, Gary and the ALL the assorted four legged critters!  Also enjoyed visiting with Susan Speck Fenner and her mom, Ethel.  And of course, we got a refill on Tex-Mex food and Texas BBQ!  

Our plan for now is to go to Branson, MO and perhaps catch a show at one of the theaters there then make our way to NY to work again for the summer.  We are looking forward to seeing our friends at the KOA in Canandaigua, NY yet the biggest excitement will be playing with the grandchildren.  Can't wait to see how tall they have gotten and hear their tales of the past few months.  

Texas Two Stepping Out of Arizona

We are leaving the State of Cactus and Boredom!  Today is our last day in Arizona.  This bus will be departing in the morning, passing through New Mexico on the way to TEXAS.  Our stay there will be much too brief this go around but what can you do?  Our commitment in New York begins the first of May and we don't want to have to push too hard on the way up since the throes of winter are still clinging in the midwest and east.  Curtis doesn't like to drive in high winds and inclement weather and I don't like to "passenger" in the same.  

Just in the last few days one of the guys from the Lamesa High School class of 1966 (Kim's classmate) passed away.  Johnny never came to Lamesa for one of the infamous Jubilees (big school reunion held every 5 years) but several of us were able to reconnect with him through Facebook just in the last couple of months.  What a shock for all of us!  Johnny was the consummate Texas gentleman.  I had known him since elementary days and we were in many classes together throughout our school days in West Texas.  I never heard him say a bad thing about anyone or any situation and he always had a smile on his face for everyone.  I know his family will miss him greatly and those of us who knew him in Lamesa will miss not being able to see him again.  This sure did give us a moment of pause.  We take our lives for granted and don't enjoy the little things enough.  

I'll post again from Texas in a few days.  Until then hug your families and enjoy this wonderful life that God has given us - warts and all!

Spring Training is almost done

We are into the last week of Spring Training here in Arizona.  Tonight and Sunday are our last two scheduled work days.  Next Wednesday we will head up to Cottonwood just for the day as we have scheduled Zeke to be neutered at the vet's there.   Curtis will take his dad for a checkup with the eye doctor also.  Clayton's eye that had the cataract removal is still giving him some problems but it is from being dry behind the retina.  Don't know exactly what that means but he is not handling it very well (meaning Clayton).  On Thursday we will move the motorhome to the east side of the Phoenix area to Apache Junction as we are having a garage sale of things we no longer want to keep in storage.  The sale will be at Curtis' brother's home in Gilbert.  Shortly after the sale is done on April 6th we will begin the trek north and east.  I'll try to keep you posted via this blog to where and when we will be going.

On Wednesday we said goodbye to Melanie as she flew back home to Colorado.  She was here for a week and we all enjoyed her stay very much.  Thank the Lord she had reservations for Wednesday and not Thursday.  Denver and the state was pommeled by a giant snowstorm on Thursday and most activity came to a halt.  So we are very thankful she left when she did.

Spring Time in AZ

We are not officially into Spring but in AZ it is very warm.  And did that surprise me?  NO!!!  Everyone who doesn't know that we lived here for 27 years assure us that this is an abnormally warm spring.  Yet every weather forecast tells us about how close the day is to breaking a temperature high/record and it seems we lived here when the high/record was recorded.  So don't tell me it's abnormal.  I came to the conclusion that there is no normal weather cycle here or anywhere else, really.  It is what it is and you just have to deal with it!  Wow, that is pretty cynical but that is how I am feeling today.  I HATE hot weather in AZ.

Today we are at the ballpark again working.  (The concession stands have no A/C.)  Don't know who is playing but will find out shortly.  I hope it is as busy as last time as it makes the day go by faster and is more fun.  

I almost hate to say it but I think our puppy, Zeke, has reached a pinnacle.  He is doing really well with his training now and hasn't had an accident in several days.  Yeah, Zeke!  We decided to take the pad up and not use them except for when we visit in someone's home.  Maybe, just maybe, he is housebroken!!!!  He does tell us when he wants out but will run and make you catch him to take him out.  We are hoping we can modify that behavior and not have to chase him down.  But we will take one step at a time.

Valley of The Sun

Once again we are living in the Valley of the Sun - the Phoenix area of AZ.  This area is experiencing above average temperatures for this time of  year.  Of course, I'm back so it has to be HOT!!!  We are parked in Peoria at a RV resort that is very nice.  It is very clean and has some great amenities and we have friendly neighbors.  With the high temps everyone stays inside most of the time with the A/C running.  The nights cool down nicely though, so we can sleep with a window open and an overhead fan running.

Our schedules for working at the spring training at Surprise Stadium are still not what we had hoped for but we have volunteered for more hours if the need becomes available.  

We attended Grace Bible Church in Sun City on Sunday.  That was like a de ja vu moment from the early 50's - the choir were all in robes (it was only the madrigal singers not the full choir) and the songs were out of the hymnal.  Not a child or a young person under 25 was to be seen.  The message was of course, timely, and challenging yet the service was more formal and somewhat stilted.  They recognized birthdays for the month of March for the congregation but only those who had reached at least 90 years of age.  There were quite a few.  I must say I really have no desire to live and worship in a community of all senior citizens.  There is something much more "normal" and appealing about living among all ages even if you have to live in a retirement or assisted living facility.  At least in the areas where on the streets and in the stores are children and young people.  Sooo, my children, if you are reading this keep this in mind.  I like young people and children and don't desire to segregate myself from them!!!!  Rest assured however, that does not mean I want to live with you all either, just close by!!