Those grand daughters sure are cuties!

Veronica-2, Elspeth-3, Agatha-3, Ruby-6, Audrey-8 and Faustina-8

Terry and I made a big decision yesterday.  Our neighbor and friend Diane, died on Wednesday.  Husband John sent a note yesterday giving details of her memorial which will be near their home outside of Toronto, Canada.  We decided we wanted and needed to go so we booked a flight and a room yesterday.  We will fly out Monday and return Wednesday.  A quick trip for sure but we know it is the right thing to do.  John and Diane were wonderful neighbors and special people.

Well if I do not reflect back on 2016 we will be looking at 2018 soon!!!
Some of the highlights/lowlights of the year.

• My winter tennis team was decimated by vacations and injuries and the results were less than great but there is always another time.
• We took a 3 week trip to get home to St. Paul and it was a fun fun time.  Some of the trip highlights were Carter, FDR, Kennedy, Heady Topper, Acadia, graduation, more states, camping and more.
• A low light was me getting very sick and dealing with it for months.  
• A low light was Terry falling and going through a long rehab.
• Leo Adkins came on the scene in November and made the Lee side grand children even at 6 girls and 6 boys.
• The Lee side gathering over New Years was a great time
• Finally, actually a first in my life,  I was able to tackle a major project on the house at 2094 Niles.  Our new second floor bathroom is beautiful and I actually think all the work that went into it was worth it.  It did however reveal a truth.  I did a lot of the work and still the cost of the redo was more than my first house--am I old?
• A summer trip to ND to visit brother Dave and have lunch with Grandma Saunders was fun.
• Terry's daughter Kim visited.
• We took in our 56th national park which was part of my first ever cruise.  We begun our journey of presidential  libraries by visiting 3.
• On our way to MN in the spring/summer we were able to visit John/Mary and Aaron/Amy.
• An e-mail informed us that a friend and fellow tennis player, Bruce, died suddenly in the summer.  We had talked to him while in MA on our spring trip.  His wife, Linda, came down in December to spent some time with friends.
• Actually a low light was leaving the camper in St. Paul for the season.  We needed to get to Naples in a hurry as Terry's back was hurting.  I miss the camper BUT it is nice to have more space in the garage here.
• I did not make a lot of things in my wood shop but I did spent time working creating things. The smell of the wood and the things one can create with hands always bring joy.
• In the summer of 2009 the lawn in St. Paul was terrible and that is being kind.  Each summer since I have worked to sod, seed, cut, trim, fertilize, water and more.  Last summer it was certainly not a "prize lawn" but it was looking better than ever and that was fun to see.
• A small summer garden produced tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and more.
• After such a disappointing winter tennis season the fall season was a mountain top experience.  We finished in 1st place and the guys became a real team.  It was a fun ride.
• On March 27th Terry and I celebrated our 5th anniversary.
• We continued to plan and host monthly villa parties at pool side.  Five years ago they did not exist and now we usually have 25-40 people show up.  They always bring great food and interesting conversation.
• Even tho we are not actually OLD it still is great to celebrate birthdays and we did last year.  I say that because I have known too too many people who were not able to celebrate last year.
• LASTLY I JUST FEEL BLESSED TO BE WHO I AM AND WHERE I AM.  I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE BIKE AND GO, TO TAKE MY TENNIS RACQUET TO THE COURT AND PLAY, TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND BE PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY ABLE TO DO THINGS.  I do have a slight problem.  As time passes my mind does not keep up with my body.  That means the body often has to remind the mind that time quietly and slowly steals strength-agility-stamina and more.  Mind me, I have no complaints.  IF my the mind ignored the body, perhaps life would be dangerous!

Here I am, with no more FP to enjoy and no more thoughts in my mind.

Enough of 2016.  It is history and it certainly was more good than bad.  2017 has begun and it appears that it will go faster than 2016 but then 2016 went faster than 2015 and so on.