Goodbye to 2023

Christmas Day was spent mostly in bed attempting to recover from my unfortunate illness. Nurse Karen was able to find a Covid test for me at Safeway; I tested negative and was greatly relieved. Thank goodness. We spent the last week in Sonoma County saying goodbye to our friends in the area. Thursday night, December 28 we celebrated our last night with a wonderful dinner out with our good friends, Jeff and Dana Guidi. We made reservations at a wonderful venue in Santa Rosa we used to take our parents to for special celebrations, We brought two bottles of wine with us and had a wonderful dinner at Ca'Bianca Italian restaurant. We had a great night enjoying great cuisine, drinking incredible wine and laughing together as we wrapped up the evening. We will miss all of you and look forward to the next opportunity we have to see you again.

Friday morning, December 29 came early. Our flight out of Oakland was at 11:45 AM, but we got word from a friend who had missed their flight on Thursday that the airport was a zoo. So to be safe, we left Healdsburg at 7 AM allowing plenty of time to travel to the airport and return our rental car. Fortunately for us we arrived with no glitches, checked in, got boarding passes and had our luggage tagged all the way to Jacksonville, Florida. We boarded on time and headed to San Diego continuing on to Nashville, Tennessee.

From Nashville we changed planes and flew the final leg to Jacksonville where we arrived at 11:45 PM. I took the long-term parking shuttle bus to get the truck while Karen stayed with all the luggage. Guess what parking for 44 days cost us? Only $440.45...ouch! I picked up Karen and we loaded up all 4 full-size suitcases, one carry-on roller bag and two backpacks to drive back to Lake Swan in Melrose, Florida. We arrived early in the morning at 1:45 AM on December 30 to 36º F and a chilly trailer. We opened up Trinity, turned on all the heaters, changed into our PJ's and got to bed. Unpacking would wait until the next morning.

I still had a cough so I didn't sleep great, but I was glad to be in my own bed again. We checked over the rig the next morning and everything looked good, so we started the odyssey unpacking the luggage. It took the whole day!

On Sunday, December 31, New Years Eve we attended church, went out to brunch and did our grocery shopping to refill the refrigerator and pantry. Our team leaders, Steve and Joyce joined us for dinner and we sat outside around the gas fire pit until it got too cold. Karen and I spent a fun evening watching old movies until midnight. It was a quiet New Years celebration, except for the loud music the neighbors are playing and the occasional firework explosion nearby.

We thank God for a blessed and exciting 2023 and we look forward to continued adventures in 2024. We pray God bless you in 2024 with good health, loving relationships and an abundant life!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!