It's the Most Busiest Time of the Year!

Like most people, we have been incredibly busy this month. While we did get our Christmas decorations up before Thanksgiving (for the first time in our 40 years of wedded bliss), there was still much to be accomplished. We had a trip up to Ames, Iowa the second weekend of December as Jim had been asked to serve on an advisory committee for the Landscape Architecture Department at Iowa State University. I spent Thursday night in Ames with him, and then I went to Des Moines to stay with friends while Jim had his meetings.

Iowa State Capitol Building

I was able to visit with a couple I used to baby-sit for in high school. Unfortunately she has had a couple of strokes, so I caught up with them at the hospital. It was quite sad, and I certainly wish her a speedy and complete recovery. The trip also gave me an opportunity to check out Smash Park, Des Moines first dedicated pickleball facility. The friend I was staying with had lessons on Saturday morning, so it was fun to see all the things offered by the center.

Smash Park

Jim caught us with us on Saturday afternoon, and we met other friends for dinner that night. It's so great to get together with people you have known since college. It's like the years have never passed. Sunday after breakfast and a tour of our friend's work place we headed home, catching a beautiful sunset along the way.

On the 15th our house was part of the progressive dinner for SWT Design. Everyone met at our home, where the bus picked us up. From here we went to one house for appetizers, then to a second one for salads. Jim and I bugged out of the salad location early to head back home to begin the dinner. We also hosted desserts. While there was a bit of a delay from having too many things in our oven, in the end everything turned out well and was delicious.

The gifts are all purchased, wrapped and waiting under the tree for the kids to arrive. Our daughter gets in later in the week, and our son and daughter-in-law will spend the actual holiday with her family and will join us later. I always say it doesn't matter what day we celebrate. The important thing is that we are together. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

College Reunion

Jim's fraternity had a reunion last weekend in conjunction with the Iowa State vs. Kansas football game. We drove up to Ames on Friday, arriving in time to check into our hotel and freshen up before going to the Iowa State University Alumni Building to meet up with the guys and their significant others. Some people we had not seen in nearly 40 years, while others we met as recently as the Total Eclipse in August. It was great to catch up, and it helped that I am Facebook friends with a number of them. It certainly makes it easier to break the ice.

Alpha Sigma Phi

While we had beautiful weather on the drive up to Iowa, all of that changed once we got to Ames. There was a gentle mist on Friday night, but Saturday's forecast was 100% chance of rain. And rain it did. We tailgated with the group at the motor home of one of the fraternity brothers before heading to our seats. The last thing you want to hear on a crappy day is the announcement of a 30 minute start time. Fortunately we had heard the forecast and came somewhat prepared, but even with some rain gear on it was not the most fun I've ever had. We watched the first half of the game and enjoyed the halftime entertainment before taking off for somewhere dry and warm for a late lunch. Iowa State was leading 24-0 at that point. The final score of the game was 45-0. Wow!

Meredith Mansion

After lunch we drove to Des Moines with another couple, meeting up with some friends who live in the area. Jim and I spent Sunday walking (or perhaps I should say driving) down memory lane. We found the school where I attended kindergarten, stopped by Holy Trinity which was our home parish and where I went to school 1st-7th grades, and checked out Meredith and Hoover where I spent 8th-12th grades. Then we drove to St. Mary of Nazareth, where my family attended church when the new parish was established in 1964 on 11 acres of what had been Meredith (of Meredith Publishing Company) farm. This is where Jim and I were married, and had our reception in what was once the Meredith family mansion.

Des Moines house

We also visited my old home and stopped at nearby Woodlawn Park where I spent so many hours first as a child and later with my niece and nephews or children I was babysitting. The house has been repainted and the park totally redone. It all goes to show that while you can go home again, home may not look like you remember it.