Here's a hint...

Anyone get the hint?

Today I went shopping for a few things.  Actually I went shopping for long johns. Figured that since it was almost the end of January, possibly they would be on sale... and they were... 50% off!  But the coat was on sale too, so I hemmed and hawed for a bit, then decided that even though I never buy anything red, that perhaps it would be good (I mean, if by some chance I was floating in the water next to an iceberg, surely they would see the red coat??)

So yes, the decision has been made. I am going on the Alaskan Cruise. My friend, my family, and even DH advised me that it was the chance of a life-time and that I really should go (the "if not now, when?" philosophy). I was told that the only things I would really need to have are a warm coat, long johns, boots, hat, and gloves. I have most of those things already... well, not the long johns or hat.  And I do have a coat, but it's about 15 years old... and not red.

Anyway, decision has been made. My friend was so excited. I guess I might be too when the realization hits me.  It's just that I don't like being cold (my kids are already teasing me, saying "You're going to Alaska??? You, who walks around the house freezing when it's below 70 degrees??") And then there's the seasick thing (I really don't want to ruin anyone's trip), but I've been assured that this cruise really isn't out in the ocean that much, it stays close to land and therefore shouldn't hit rough seas (and there's always Dramamine). But the real cincher for me was that the ship leaves from Vancouver, British Columbia - a place that would be on my bucket list if I had a bucket list... (and it's also featured in the blog, Island Rambles with beautiful photos!). 

And there's another reason Vancouver has a special attraction for me, when my paternal grandfather moved his family from London to the US around 1918, his brother also moved his family...  from London to Vancouver. I never met my great uncle, but through the Internet and Ancestry.com, I have learned that he had six children and probably most still live there.  Now, I'm not interested in visiting them.  They have their own lives and don't know of my existence, but it's kind of nice knowing that there's family in the area.  

Let's see... any other news.  Well, DH and I babysat our new little grand daughter Saturday so our son and DIL could get out of the house for a little bit.  She is a little doll.  Here's a pic of her waking up from her nap... yawning.

Oh, and today is DH and I's 45th Anniversary! 

Another oldie...

Since I'm stuck with using old blogger photos at the moment, I might as well use this one and say that it was taken 45 years ago this month. We were both 22 and just out of college.  Truth be known, I had just graduated, but DH had another semester to go since his was a 5 year curriculum.

Mom planned the wedding. I was in exams.  It was beautiful and memorable, etc., but had it been me doing the planning, it would have been a quiet ceremony with just family and a few friends. But that's my style... not my mom's. And it was fun (after a glass or two of champagne - I'm NOT a drinker, it was even more fun).

We were married in downtown New Orleans and stayed at one of the hotels in the French Quarter for a few days. We went to see 'Camelot' (the old musical with Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave).  To this day I LOVE that movie. We saw it in the old Sanger Orleans theater on Canal St. (which is gone now... as well as most of the stores, etc. from that era).

Now 45 years,  3 children and 4 grandchildren down the road, I have to say that it hasn't all been fun, but it's been worth it... and I'd do it again in a minute. Recently I heard someone say that they were divorced because their marriage didn't turn out the way they had imagined.  I remember thinking, "Really? and how many of them do?"  But I personally think that sometimes if you ride out the bumps along the way, the new adventure turns out even better than you imagined. But that's a personal opinion and I didn't express it verbally.

Anyway, as we enter our retirement years, it's hard to believe that time has flown by so fast. And it frightens me to think that we might not always have each other.  Maybe I think of this because my mom outlived my dad by 26 years. And I lost a good friend recently that outlived her husband by 20... and until she died, she would still tear up whenever she spoke of him. But this is life. We have to be strong, yes?  And besides, my plan is to go first... selfish as it may be.