Our life did go right on and I mean no disrespect.  

We had planned to meet William’s daughter and her boyfriend when they were in Orlando.  The plan had been set for months.  At first I thought there was no way we could all come up to Orlando, but when I thought about it I realized it was a great time for all of us to go to the mouse kingdom – Disney World

 we live in Florida, it is a few hour drive.....what the heck

The last time I was in Disney world was with Beth when she was Emily’s age, we went with my mom and dad, who lived in Florida.  I felt I owed it to the grand kids, Emily was the perfect age and besides we got the Florida resident discount.  My favorite time in Disney World was when I was just out of college and visiting friends in St Pete.  One of the days I went by myself and had a blast.  In my mind DW was this small manageable place – it is not.  It is huge, I mean 6, 8 lane highways with lots of interchanges, traffic and lights.  We stayed in the park and rode the bus to downtown Disney, the Magic Kingdom and the last day we drove to the water park.  I was not prepared for how it had grown.

first morning at the hotel - ready for the Magic Kingdom

 Lulu in her Minnie Mouse skirt

proof positive, you can almost tell it is Em and I

and who doesn't know that castle?

that's the kids with Aunt Sadie, in their teacup

the kids loved Aunt Sadie

we loved "Uncle" Quinn too

(hope they make it official one day)

they are both grade school teachers in Seattle

and know their way around kids, that's for sure

they took her on all the good rides

this is how grandma spent a good part of her day

holding the baby with the big kids went on a ride

this is how Lucy responded to DW

she leaned out in her stroller, laughing and waving

the last day was the water park

it was the best water park I had ever been too

she rode water slides and there was a huge wave pool

Emily and I even snorkeled with sharks!

like I mentioned, Emily had a great time

she is still smiling in the parking lot loading up the cars after the swim park

some other mice, not so happy



there, that's better

We survived the mouse, just barely as my daughter says.  



Mom’s death came in with the new moon early this morning

we had been expecting it and finally praying for it

now her suffering is over

done is her painful battle with cancer

the cancer finally won - it was ruthless and relentless

she was tough though 

she suffered a lot for years and rarely complained

 a week before she died, she told the hospice nurses

that they had better hurry up and cremate her

they said that they couldn't

so she got out of bed and said ok then, I will find someone who will......

I'd say she was ready 

I come from a long line of tough woman

my gread-grandmother,  my mother's grandmother

hired an ampulance to pick her up at her nursing home

and take her to the DRC

the Detroit Race Track where she bet her SS check on the horses

we found out when mom saw her photo in the paper

my grandmother, my mom's mom

slipped out of a couple different nursing homes she had been put in

by calling a cab, sneaking out the back and going home

this is me, my mom, her mom and her grandmother

they are all gone now

they are the woman of the past

I already feel lonely

no one will ever love me as unconditionally as this beautiful woman here

I am so grateful she was my mother

it was an honor and a privaledge to have her

I am grateful that I have a children and grandchildren

it is also an honor and a privaledge to have them

they are the woman and men of the future

mom felt that way too

she was so happy that she got to spend her last year 

with her grandkids and great-grandkids

it meant a lot to her and brought her joy

most special of all to her was meeting  her namesake

 Lucy Bella

our life goes on

Lucy Fern Daubner

May 24, 1930 - July 19, 2012

we love you mom

a most amazing tree

last night before dark and in-between the rain

I took a walk

walking is my new favorite thing

I have been walking almost every night for an hour or more

usually I go late, 11 or 12

no cars, no people out, it is so quiet, so peaceful

this is a tree I pass often

I know it is a huge tree but I pass it in the dark

last evening what I saw stopped me in my tracks

this tree had great long stalks of huge flowers

this morning when I went back to take pictures

also between the rain

most of the flowers were not open

the whole tree looked like this stem yesterday

and then I looked down

the ground covered

in huge flowers

and the fruits

 were just as amazing

they were equally as huge and looked very strange

hanging down from the tree

you can see why it's common name is the sausage tree

it is also known as the African Tulip Tree

which I like a lot better

I found a seed pod that was on the ground and took several seeds from it last night

I planted them and will let you know if they germinate

today I took a whole seed pod just in case they don't

I took several flowers from the ground too

oh and you are wondering about me tromping around in someone's yard

 no one lives in the house

it's an abandoned tree

I wish I could adopt it



the long awaited and greatly anticipated

 dance recital

Friday was the dress rehearsal

the dancers got to watch several of the other dances

before they had to go back and get ready

the little kids came on first, so they could go home early

we thought they were adorable

these guys and girls had strange ripped costumes

looks like ballet

not ballet

these little ones were tappers

(you can tell by the hands on the hips)

more great costumes and cute kids

(finally) our girls are on

practicing the curtain call

I just love all those sweet little ballerina dresses
in the lights

now that is ballet

more adorable little dancers

they danced to "Put on a Happy Face"

I have a little video of them, adorable

but it won't upload

this number was very moving

it started out with the little girls laying on the stage

and the music was "I Have a Dream"

the little girls went out, the big girls danced

and the little girls ran in and found them

I cried

 next day - show time

I am relegated to the dressing rooms with the dancers

for the total performance

good thing we saw most of it yesterday

we are making sure our make-up looks good

buns right and our skirts puffed

Em's bun is perfect thanks to Aunt Amy

who danced and taught dance

and did several buns before the show

the dressing room was buzzing

they were so excited

(again finally) they were next

it was fun to be backstage when they were on

I have always loved being backstage

I know, I know, hard to see but

Em is on the left and they are flying this girl

costume change for acro number

that is acrobatics for us old people

these were beautiful costumes

gotta love the head piece

I am not sure why I do not have a photo of this dance from yesterday

only this one from backstage

this time Em is the one being lifted up

dinner after the show at Fisherman's Wharf

 showing you her metal for being a "Star" today

with her dad and aunt Amy

 most of the rest of her silly family 

was there

too

see you next year