Self Care - Seeking the (Shade in the) Sun

Sister Cindy and I spent the month of April in our Happy Place the Gulfview in Marco Island, Florida. Paul was with us for 20 days. He headed home early for Turkey Season in Iowa. He has his priorities. 🦃 Nephew Colby visited for several days - to get his fishing fix. 

People ask me, "What did you do in Florida?". The answer is self-care, Florida style. We were ready for a break after a long cold winter! Vail, Colorado, where Cindy lives was especially snowy and icy this season. Our little big town in central Iowa wasn't particularly snowy but was plenty cold and dark, making our decision to expand Marco-time from ten days to a whole month a good one. 

Exercise: swimming and walking

Before heading to Florida, Cindy and I made a plan to get back to our swimming roots this year. In past years at the Gulfview, we watched others doing morning laps in the lovely pool, but we stuck to brief dips to refresh on hot days. Bullock sisters are water people - thanks to our Atlantic roots with a Red Cross Swimming instructor, Momma Pat Bullock. We took and taught swim lessons, were lifeguards, and participated in the swim team in the summer months. 

Evening view Gulfview, looking south

Getting back to swimming was a great idea. We both loved it! We were the early bird swimmers, two to three days a week - arriving a half hour before the 8:00 a.m. group. Bob, the Pool Man was there scrubbing the pool sides and checking chemicals each morning. The pool temp was around 85 degrees, as we watched the sun come up when heading east. 

It's a great shelling beach - I resisted picking many up due to my collection at home

Most other days were beach walk mornings. We strolled eighty beach miles that month. The Gulfview is located nearly in the middle of Marco Beach. We like to alternate going North and South. It's 3.5-4 miles round trip either way. Beach walking is therapeutic. Soft sand, hard-packed sand, and surf sand lapping at our feet. The roar of the Gulf, slapping against the sand is therapeutic "white noise". 

Besides exercise, finding the perfect poolside site with an umbrella was an important activity. The Gulfview is under new management and the grounds look awesome. They've lost several trees around the pool in recent years. Our mom's memorial tree is gone - damaged 2 hurricanes ago. With fewer trees, there are more pool deck umbrellas for folks like me who can't do sun. We had our favorite spots, so we had to get out there fairly early to get the best lounge spots. Reading (and people-watching) by the pool is an excellent way to spend an afternoon. 

Cap'n EPott yachting

A couple of years ago Cindy's longtime Vail friends Eric and Bonnie retired and purchased a condo in Marco Island. We're so pleased that they love it as much as we do. They have a darling place on a canal on the south end of the island. Eric loves to fish so of course he's got a boat. On Easter Sunday - a gorgeous day - we were invited to "yacht" (that's what Cindy calls it) with Eric and Bonnie. We ended up touring around the whole island. I'd never seen my Happy Place from that viewpoint. Very cool! 

Paul, Eric, and our nephew Colby (who arrived the second week for a few days) fished up a storm. Bonnie, Cindy, and I ventured to Naples for a bit of shopping and a lunch of Blackened Grouper. On Friday nights we went to Bonnie and Eric's for "Date Night". We took the wine, and they cooked. They're really good at it. It makes me wish I enjoyed/could cook. 😋 Not enough to actually do it though...

Speaking of food. When we vacationed in Marco in past years - staying a week to ten days, we dined out every night. Not one who loves to cook, even I get tired of restaurant food. This year we actually cooked. The Gulfview helped by making two gas grills available on the grounds. Tacos and chicken were popular on our kitchen menu. 

Outdoor dining - Capri

There are lots of restaurant choices on the island these days. We enjoy going to old favorites that Mom and Dad introduced us to - the Crazy Flamingo for peel and eat shrimp, and The Little Bar for Scallops and Grouper. Don't forget Peanut Butter Pie! Nephew Colby, who has a Detroit-style pizza joint, Alpine Pizza in Lionshead/Vail, enjoys Joey's NY-style pies on Collier Blvd. Just north of Marco is The Isle of Capri - home of the Island Gypsy Cafe and rum drinks.   

Thanks to Bonnie and Eric for suggesting new places to try. There's an Italian Deli, Tony's N.Y. Pizza, and Cocomo's - where they prepared the fish the guys caught. It was delicious! Don't forget breakfast. Doreen's is a bit fancier - the cappuccino doesn't come from a powder-based machine there. Hoot's is a regular kind of place - with lots of old guys gathering to shoot the crap and eat eggs.

Activities: (not many)

The guys fished several times with Eric. They had a great time and didn't get fried by the sun. Colby had a day with a guide all to himself. I think visioning that activity helped him get through a busy winter running a restaurant. 

Paul, Cindy, and I visited the Marco Island Museum one windy afternoon. It's full of archeological, Native American, and island commercial development information. Our Mom - who loved to regale us with Marco history and development information, would have loved it. 

We shopped a bit and went back north to Naples with Bonnie and Eric. I was on the hunt for a big shell for granddaughter Nell - so she could hear the ocean in it. I didn't want to take a smaller one from the beach - visions of baby bro Reece putting it in his mouth. We stopped at a cute area with food trucks and a bar on the bay. Mexican for me, and a margarita! 

So not many activities. We love it that way. We're planning another month there next year. It's hard to wait until April to go, but the crowds and lodging prices are lower then. I hope our sisters and our kids can work in a visit. We have a couple of family weddings coming up this summer - we'll need to start plotting! 

Meanwhile it's onto summer in Iowa! I love this time of the year - bikes and kayaks. Stay safe all! 

With my guy! 

Bullock Tradition Continues

I walked down to the beach one evening to join those partaking in this spectacle

The Bullock family now has a three-generation tradition of spending winters in sunny Florida. Okay, we were only there for the month of April - technically not winter. 😆 But we did miss wintery April Iowa weather while basking in the sun. 

Momo and Bubba 

My dad's parents Wally and Zora Bullock spent winters in the St. Petersburg area for as far back as I can remember. They summered in our town, Atlantic - in Cass County, Iowa. Five generations of Bullocks called that place home. Momo and Bubba (as we called our grandparents) gathered with old friends and met new friends at their Florida hotel on the beach. They looked forward to going back annually to hang out with fellow retirees who enjoyed fishing, sunning, playing cards, and socializing over food and drink. 

A pic from a summer visit to Pops and Grandma in Dunedin, Florida

In the late sixties, my mother's parents, Bert and Nellie Morehead retired to Dunedin, Florida, just north of Clearwater. During two summers - 1967 and 1968, Mom bravely drove her four daughters to Florida in the family station wagon. Dad was busy in Iowa, marketing ladies' lingerie across the state. He flew in each year for a short stay with us.  

Those years are my first memories of the Sunshine State. We stayed at the Castaways on Redington Beach for two weeks after taking a week to travel south. I have great memories of those trips. Mom planned visits to Civil War sites, Ruby Falls, Lookout Mountain. We mostly stayed at Howard Johnson hotels - swimming pools were a necessity after all of those miles (not buckled) in the back seat. We had a stack of comic books and coloring materials. My love of car travel and the Florida Gulf Coast was born! The trip home wasn't nearly as exciting, but reuniting with our standard-size wiener dog Jud was sweet. 

Marco Museum Island map

Tan Mom and Dad at a Gulfview party

Fast forward to my parent's retirement. They checked out Arizona - a popular winter place for Iowa folks. But our Mom was always a water person, as are her daughters. Mom and Dad visited Marco Island, Florida in the late 1980s and fell in love with it. Marco was mostly a swamp until the 1960s when developers saw the potential. Our parents purchased a unit in the Gulfview, a highrise on the beach. Great view, lovely grounds, next to a public green/beach space. 

View from parking ramp - pickleball has taken over tennis courts

Mom and Dad loved Marco Life at the Gulfview. They invited us to share their sunny beach happy place many times through the years. We took both kids for the first time when Amy was five and Jud was turning two - introducing yet another generation to the beauty of Florida. My sisters and their children also visited the place often. 

After Dad passed away, we sold their unit in the Gulfview. We love the place but didn't want to be landlords from afar. Since then, except for the Covid shutdown year, at least two (Cindy and I) of us have rented a place in the building. Susi and Betsy have also vacationed there. 

Jud with cousin Colby and pal Connor

 

Amy and Jud with Kohan boys

Cindy, Paul, and I visited the Marco Island Museum this year. It's small, like the island, but filled with archeology, Native American information, and information on how the swampy place became a fabulous destination. We enjoyed a relaxing time on the island. Now...how to get the kids back down there - and the nextgen - grandkids? 

Hats off for the Office Ladies

                                        Early post-college photo. 1981 at Vic and Fred's wedding. 

                                            No wonder my co-workers thought I was a kid!

Whilst listening to a podcast about yet another possibly innocent person (Letters From Sing Sing, first episode) convicted of murder, I heard an advertisement for a podcast featuring strong women. March, it seems, is Women's History Month. It kinda seems like all year should be filled with Women's History, but that's an argument for a different day. 😊

I was cleaning our bathroom as I listened to that podcast. I'd been meaning clean for several days, but waited until I was "in the mood". Podcasts make perfect company for cleaning! I began thinking back about the many strong, smart, talented women I've been privileged to work with during my employment years. 

Co-workers, supervisors, and contractors: 

-at my very first "real" job, as office manager at Gamble Robinson, a grocery wholesaler in Sioux Falls, SD. Nancy, the person who'd been the office manager suffered a stroke at age 33. She was out indefinitely. It was an office of four women, not including me. I didn't have the first idea about how to be an office manager I was fortunate that Karen was the go-to for training. She was understandably a bit pissy when they brought a no-nothing college girl in to be the top office dog. Nancy was a formidable wife, mother, and great worker. It took me a while, but I won Karen and the crew over by treating them with respect.  When I eventually left the Sioux Falls Office, Karen took over as Office Manager. Thanks, Karen!

-From Sioux Falls, I moved up (down) to the Omaha Branch of Gamble Robinson, located in the Old Market. There I met three totally different strong women. Netta was a large passionate Italian mother/wife - picture puffy black hair and lots of makeup. Lila was a chainsmoking lesbian - a bit cranky until I pierced her crabby defenses. She called me "Kid".  And Pat, the personal secretary to the division chief. Pat was a Creston native, a stately older woman (probably all of 55 😏). Those three taught me a great deal. You are not forgotten, ladies!

-When Paul and I were married in 1982, women from both of my former offices attended. The friendship was strong! Paul and I moved to Osage for his job. I eventually landed a local job at Fox River Mills - a sock and glove manufacturer in town. My experience using an IBM System 36 computer teamed me up with Karla, the original computer department of one. The two of us were charged with managing data and entering orders by hand. Karla - who still works there - taught me a lot. There were lots of great female co-workers - so good at their jobs at the awesome Fox River. 

-When we moved to Creston in 1986, I finally landed a job at First National Bank in bookkeeping in March of 1987. There I learned how to pronounce each strange family name while stuffing statements into envelopes, and preparing them for mailing. (Ripperger is pronounced Reebarger) Sandy, Cathy, and Pam were great coworkers. Eventually, I was promoted to loan clerk and had my own little cubby-hole desk upstairs. There I got to better know Sharon - the marketing director and Lamona, the only female loan officer. Syd and Barb were in customer service out front - helping people with account needs. Artie was the chief teller with a dedicated team around her. Eventually, a new girl was hired fresh out of college. Julie is now the bank president! The bank was full of strong excellent women. 

-My next job in an office/co-worker setting was in the mid-1990s at Gits Manufacturing where I was a product manager. This was the most challenging job of my career. Purchasing and manufacturing lead times (how long it took to procure or manufacture) were over a year at times. Jeanie and Cynthia helped train (and counsel) me through the ups and downs. We had some good times in a little office amid each manufacturing process. Twins Tracy and Toni were also fun to work with. We're all still Facebook pals.  

-After two grueling years at GITS, I saw an advertisement in the local paper - looking to hire a Recycling Educator for three counties. This is easily my favorite ever job. At my first trash conference I met three amazing women - Susan, Barb and Pam were peers doing similar jobs. We met periodically to share resources and support. They meant the world to me. 

I was an office of one - located in Creston's Restored Depot home of City Offices and the city congregate mealsite. Judy was the Creston City Clerk - and the brains of the operation. My grant-funded was managed and paid for by the county - so several times a week I hiked a couple of blocks over to the Union County Auditor's office. There I reunited with Sandy (former bank pal) who was now the elected Auditor. Her team was great to work with - Angie and Joanie. I also got to know the treasurer, Linda, and the recorder, Paula with their staffs. Friendly and top-notch! 

                                                           Jen and Becky on a tour

-After the grant ran out, I was promoted to Landfill/Recycling manager. My office moved to the Union County Landfill where I worked with dedicated scale operators - all women. Marie, Carolyn, and Beth all were wonderful with customers, so kind and efficient. There was one woman I won't name who the contractor fired after she threatened me. She didn't like the new office with my oversite and told me she had a gun and knew how to use it. Scary! Good thing, Christine, a young female environmental consultant attended monthly board meetings and partnered with me in managing the joint! 

-Nealy ten years later, I was hired for the career job I'd been dreaming of at the Department of Natural Resources. By then I was age 50, no longer a "kid". At DNR I met and appreciated so many excellent female co-workers. Traveling together for program audits and visits was a highlight. Becky, Angie, Amy, and my supervisor Jen were the women I worked with the most.  I must not forget about fab external program partners - Shelly, Mary, and Kathleen. They are all excellent and dedicated public servants. I miss them but enjoy following their family escapades on social media. 

I've likely forgotten to name some of the office women I was blessed to work with. And there are a few that, though they didn't threaten me with a gun, weren't my favorites. I'm sure I make that list for some. Some people - men and women - live for the drama. It's not my thing.  

What I looked like at the end of my work days

While writing this blog I was thinking of the new normal. Many people no longer work in an office setting. I loved the one day a week I was able to telework when employed by the State of Iowa. But I never considered doing that more than 2 days a week. I'm not sure how well I'd get to know co-workers without frequent in-person contact. I believe employers need to find ways to build teams and for strong employees to mentor others. It's a changing work world - they'll figure it out! Because there are so many strong, smart women in charge. 

Hello New Person!

We traveled to St Louis to meet our new grandson Reece David Goldsmith a few days ago. Yay! He's a much-loved addition to our family. Big sister Nell Marie is okay with him so far. She likes to pat his cheeks and kiss his head. Just wait until he starts messing up her stuff! 

Who knew I'd become a granny who loves holding infants? Not me! Reece makes lots of dramatic faces and squeaks as he sleeps. When he's awake, his bright inquisitive eyes gaze about - they look all-knowing. I can't wait for that first smile. 

His parents Jud and Kara work for European-based companies that extend generous leave benefits. They don't have to stress about getting up for work after a night of little sleep. The two do a wonderful job of tag-team parenting with Reece and Nell. Of course, Kara, as food supply, has the hardest job. Parenting is a challenging job - but the rewards can be great! Like watching your child be an awesome parent. 

Visiting grandparents have the best jobs. Play with the grandkids, help with basic upkeep, feed the dogs, and hold the baby. Nell is at a mostly delightful age. It's hard to be 2 1/2 and to share your parents with a tiny attention hog! We're amazed at how much she changes between our visits. She greets us with a huge smile each morning when she wakes up - amazed that we're still there. 

Paul is recovering from recent knee surgery and Nell was very worried about his leg "booboo". She and I played on her tumble mats downstairs and I taught her the "the floor is water" game. She loves jumping and tumbling. Geema (hard G) still has it - I performed front and back somersaults! Nell said "oh my gosh". I did too!

Nell loves to learn new things - evidenced by a video Jud shared of Nell and him reading the book 1 2 3 with the Notorious BIG, sent by Aunt Amy Park. I'm proud of how quickly Nell mastered each of the many rappers' faces/names. She loves to dress up, so I try to find small accessories to add to her collection. This time, the purple bedazzled sunglasses were a hit! She makes a great superhero in bracelets! 

I have to admit I not only love visiting the grandkids and their parents, I also love seeing the dogs, Archie and Charlie. They seems to enjoy our visits and like to snuggle during TV time. One problem with new HD TVs - Charlie and Archie can see dogs on there - and bark accordingly. Loudly! Good thing Reece heard them in utero and pays no attention. 

The kids and I took Nell and Reece to the playground. Reece snoozed the whole time, but Nell enjoyed swinging - "higher, higher"! She can be a bit of a daredevil at times. I'm amazed at how observant our girl is. She was delighted to identify a wispy afternoon moon high in the sky! After we drove home from the park she found the moon again. Once the sun went down, Nell and I checked the moon status from the deck. We were awed by the stars and moon. A priceless moment - remembering my mom, who taught me the song: 

"I See the Moon, The Moon Sees Me. The Moon Sees the One I want to See. God Bless the Moon and God Bless Me and God Bless the One I want to See."  

Special times with special people - the ones I want to see. 💖

Fast Forward

Big news for the Goldsmiths - Nell is a big sis! 

The 2023 pace has been a bit hectic - until last week when the brakes (crutches) were applied for my spouse. I married a defective model 😏. Paul came with a bum knee. I didn't know about it until he blew his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) out during our engagement, requiring surgery. He limped down the aisle to matrimony a couple of months later - forty years ago. Since then we've found out that the 1982 surgery didn't really work. He's had no ligament. 👀

Paul, being...well Paul, just figured out how to cope with a faulty knee with less than full extension. He lifts weights and is active. But that crap knee has taken a toll. This year, with coaching from others who have survived knee replacement, Paul decided to take that step. Of course, he planned around various hunting seasons. All went well, and he's on the road to recovery. I wish sister Betsy was here like she was for his first surgery. She is really a nurse! Thank goodness for modern medicine and tools like the chiller machine to ice his knee. 

I'm excited for Paul to have the knee he deserves - one that doesn't hurt and that fully extends. I'm certain that my career in trash/recycling was a good choice for me. Not nursing. 

Here's a rundown of what happened before the knee replacement:

Crystal Bridges Museum

-We got in a "last trip" with the old knee - through Bentonville, Arkansas (where Walmart was born). It's an easy drive from here and is worth the trip. Crystal Bridges Museum, a Walton sister project, alone is worth the stop. We also visited the Walmart Museum and the Museum of Native American History. The city has lots of hiking/bike trails and plenty of restaurants. We met our nephew, Matt, and his darling family for supper. They're new to town as they just relocated from Texas for Matt's accounting job for Walmart. 

This really happened - so sad

-Our next destination was Dallas, TX - a place we've flown through plenty of times, but never really visited. In between Bentonville and Dallas, we stopped in Tulsa to see the Black Wall Street Museum. It was very moving and well done. 

-The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum was our target in Dallas. It's the third Presidential Museum we've been to. (Hoover, LBJ) We stayed near the Southern Methodist University Campus where the Museum is located. The library was interesting, and we took time to walk around the SMU campus. Nice - but it's no Iowa State. 💛💖😉Our nephew Tom lives north of Dallas and was nice enough to drive to our hotel with his son for a meal. Nice to catch up! 

-Stop 3 was our friend Paula's place in Austin, TX. I've known her since we were in pre-school. The 2 Ps and I were able to head to downtown Austin to walk along the river and go to Paul's fave - Terry Black Barbecue. The brisket melts in your mouth! 

Paula, Paul, and I had a fab time - the temp nearly hit 70 degrees

-The Texas Gulf Coast was our final destination. Port Aransas is a place Paula (who has lived in Austin for 30ish years) has traveled to several times. She booked a nice high-rise condo with a great view of the beach. We toured the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi, walked on the beach, and even sat by the pool and spa. We may do this again next year so the three of us can do more exploring!  

-After beach time, Paul and I hot-footed it home to Iowa in 2 days. Our timing was fortunate for us as the very next week Austin was hit with a terrible ice storm. Paula lost power for 2+ days. Yikes! The Texas Gulf trip was just what we needed - a brief respite from January in Iowa. Paula is an excellent hostess - she spoils us! We're trying to talk her into coming to Iowa for the Iowa State Fair one of these years! 

Deb - 2nd on left with husband Larry, plus other revelers! 

-After one night at home in our own bed, we traveled to Creston for a big event. Our dear friend Deb retired from her job as a recruiter at Southwestern Community College. Her family threw her a party at A&G downtown. We got to see many Creston peeps, and it was a fun evening. Yahoo! I am excited about future adventures with Deb. We stayed the night at our buddy Jeff's house. It's going on three years since we lost his wife, our friend Bobbie. RIP my friend. 

Reece David was 8 lb 11 oz - with fine blond hair

The best part of January was the birth of Kara and Jud's son Reece David Goldsmith. Our grandson. 💕He arrived a day after his daddy's January 30th bday. Our granddaughter Nell, at age 2 1/2, is a happy (just wait!) big sister. Everyone is doing well. We plan to meet the little guy next week, after Paul gets used to that new knee. Fingers crossed health and weather cooperate. 

I kinda had my fingers crossed that baby boy Goldsmith would await February 2 to make an appearance as that day was my Aunt Marty's 90th birthday. Martha Bullock Lamm is my namesake - Leslie Martha Bullock Goldsmith. But it wasn't meant to be. Reece has his own day. 

Link to video: Marty is 90

On February 3rd we flew to Denver to attend Marty's Family Birthday Bash, hosted by her children, our cousins Richard, David, and Amy, along with spouses and kids. Marty's younger sister, my Aunt Jeanie, and Uncle Bruce Rader were there - visiting from southern Arizona. We sure missed Uncle Bill Lamm, Marty's wonderful spouse. I'm so glad we visited Denver often after daughter Amy moved there - we were able to spend time with that kind man. And we learned to love Duffey rolls! 

My sisters wouldn't have missed this shindig! Susi and Jim came back from their winter paradise in Mexico for the event. Cindy, sher on Colby and his bride-to-be Kathleen attended the event. Susi's daughter Leslie flew in from LA. Her sis Jordan and spouse Jill live in Denver. We picked Betsy and Wayne up at the Denver Airport and four of us stayed near the party location along with Cindo. 

We had several fam events. Friday night Jordan booked us at a hopping sushi place! Paul and I expanded our food horizons with types of sushi. Amy (and Corey) weren't able to attend from their temp home in Brooklyn. Jud and Kara were a little busy with a new baby. We missed them. 

On Saturday morning we met at Washington Park for a family walk. A group of some 20 strong put in 2+ miles. I very much enjoy getting to know our newly adult great-nieces and nephews and their partners. They make their parents (and Grammy Marty) proud. 

Saturday night the family gathered for the big Marty party. It was marvelous, being together with so many loved ones for this milestone. Marty shared some words of wisdom with all of us youngsters. Then we fam members "roasted" Marty with love. I especially loved hearing from her grandchildren Kate, Matt, Lauren, and John. One of a kind, my auntie. 💕

For All the Chairs I Loved Before

Hello dear readers! It's been a while since I routinely put words on laptop for this blog. Why? I've asked myself that for the past couple of years. I used to squeeze writing in between working, activities, and parenting. Now I'm gloriously retired! What's up with that? 

Writing (along with reading) is something I've always enjoyed. When I found my employment dream career at age 40, I parlayed writing into part of my job as Recycling Coordinator in three SW Iowa Counties. I approached the Creston News Advertiser about submitting a monthly 1,000-word column on waste reduction and recycling. It turned out to be one of my favorite things I did (I loved it much more than public speaking, haha). When I moved on to my job at the Department of Natural Resources at age 50 I no longer had that writing outlet. So I started blogging. I was prolific! I had a lot to say, mostly about nothing important. 

Fast forward ten-plus years. Changing technology enables me to "read" audiobooks and podcasts pretty much anywhere these days using earbuds. I rarely do a chore or walk without some audio input. It's hard to ponder blog topics and turn phrases while constantly filling my head with other people's words. 

2020 was my first year of retirement. What a strange year in the life (for almost everyone on the planet.) Thanks, Covid! 😒 Though I had plenty of alone time that year, it failed to translate into any kind of joy of writing. I was out of words. 

I miss writing and want to find the joy of writing again. I've decided to cut back on audiobooks and true crime blogs. I'll get back in touch with music to see what happens. Thanks to our friend Connie and others who have asked about my blog and have encouraged me to write again. Maybe it will help keep me sharp - like Wordle does (haha). 

Today's inspiration started with an early morning sleep house remodeling dream. In the dream, each room I entered in the house contained a recliner chair from my past. Paul and I just visited Homemakers Furniture on Sunday. We looked at rugs, not chairs, but that place is full of recliners!   

Sorry recliners, I've always been more of a chair with ottoman person, like my mom. I'm the only remaining Bullock living in our home state of Iowa. Through the years, when my parents and grandparents were living, I benefitted by being gifted furniture. Ethan Allen cabinets, couches, chairs, and more. I've recently learned my DNA says I'm 26% Scottish, so that thrifty side has appreciated free stuff!  

Betsy and Max in Dad's chair - home place Atlantic

One of the first chairs I inherited was Dad's chair - seen above. Dad traveled the state of Iowa Monday through Friday repping ladies' lingerie, so the chair was available on weekdays. On weekends, Dad had dibs. His beautiful leather briefcase could be found tucked beside it.  

As you can see above, the chair was gold before Mom had it reupholstered. Atlantic Upholstery was operated by the parents of my classmates, twins Steve and Judy Boots. The Boots did fine chair work. Mom went with a vertical stripes pattern - with blues, reds, gold, and white (below). That's the color it was when Paul and I got it. It must have been 20-plus years old by then!  

Paul and sleepy Judson

The wear and tear with two kids, a cat, and a dog took a toll on the chair. No amount of Woolite upholstery cleaner would perk it up.  I found an upholstery shop in nearby Mackburg, and the chair was reinvented yet another time with a darker red, blue color that covered spills better. It lasted another ten years until the springs were just shot. I hated to get rid of it. We put it downstairs with my grandparent's plaid fold-out couch. 😁 

I replaced Dad's chair with my first brand-new chair/ottoman combo selected carefully at Coen Furniture in Creston. They matched prices with all the big guys like Nebraska Furniture Mart and they delivered. 

Greenish oversized chair/ottoman. Room for Kitty and Odie, along with my Bullock-sized bottom

That large taupe green chair served me well. On my telework days (every Friday morning throughout my DNR career) I put in many hours crunching trash numbers and corresponding with program participants in that chair. It was sooo comfy with wide soft arms that supported plates and laptops. My chair made the move to West Des Moines in 2012 and served through the Odie years. She liked to dig the seat (snagging it) and sleep on the back like a cat. 

Odie passed in 2018, and I still miss her. But old Green was looking a bit ragged by then. I shopped for a long time to find a replacement - finally settling on one at Redekers in Boone. Thanks to high school classmate John Krengel for fixing me up with my chair - he worked at Redekers for years. 

This is where I rest my bones these days. I remind myself of Mom in her nice wingback chair at my parent's condo in Atlantic. I still have the matching ottoman in my room - that chair wore out! And my grandma - Zora Bullock (Momo to us) in her beautiful blue wingback chair. Or in the antique rocking chair she always sat in at our house. 

Momo - in the rocker (I think Susi has it now), Dad is on our oversized blue couch. Mom had it recovered more than once and Dad still had it at their condo in Atlantic when he passed. We had to toss it off of the deck to get it out. 

So that's my walk down furniture memory lane today. Don't even get me started on couches! 

I hope you have some beloved furniture pieces in your lives (or not). I know, it's just stuff. But for me, furniture memories are like certain songs - memories of a bygone era and people and pets I love. 

Forty Years!

Our 40th anniversary is coming up quickly. I mean quicker than 40 freaking years should take! 

Paul and I met for the first time at Aunt Maude's in 1978, while attending Iowa State University. It wasn't until that next spring that he knocked on our apartment door at 230 Campus - the building where all the cool kids lived. He and his roomies lived in the 200s door, while I lived 2 sections down in the 400s. He must have noticed that Sally, Jane, and I looked like awesome athletes - he asked us to join the co-ed softball team he was putting together. 

The rest is history - our somewhat regular girl meets boy at college. Friendship blooms and later love. 

Paul and I were married on 8/28/82 in my hometown - in front of friends and family. My favorite parts of the day were walking down the aisle after the ceremony with my new husband and the post-reception reception, held at my parent's house. Prime rib sandwiches - served by my parent's friends out of our garage. It was casual - with a keg and friends and family in our yard and driveway. 

We waited about a week to go on our honeymoon to the Northwest. I was working as an office manager at a grocery wholesaler in Omaha then and I had to be around to complete "Month End" - making sure all the bananas were accounted for! 

So it's a happy coincidence that 40 years later we're traveling to our niece Sarah Kohan's wedding just outside of Seattle. Sarah is sister Betsy (and husband Wayne's) only daughter (4 boys). She's marrying Kyle who grew up west of Seattle - across the water (I think it's a Sound). 

Seattle 1982

We found my headpiece last winter when we sorted the utility room

In 1982, when we got married, Paul was still recovering from knee surgery. So we weren't overly mobile. That's why we lined up a Grayline bus tour of the Northwest that was probably set up for older people. You know, the age we are now. 😏 The tour was perfect - transportation to all the places we needed to go. 

We stayed in Seattle, downtown for a couple of days - took a romantic dinner cruise in Seattle and a bus tour to Mt. Ranier. Then we took a ferry to Victoria, Canada (beautiful city with fab gardens) and went on to Vancouver (a modern city, mountains and waterfalls). It was a lovely, very memorable trip. 

We can't wait to go back! We'll celebrate the wedding, Betsy's birthday, and our anniversary with many of the people we love. Jud, Kara, and Nell won't make it - long flight for a toddler.