Best Laid Plans....

 

In the vein of the best laid plans..... 

At the beginning of our adventures last March we had planned to be home for a bit in June then head to the East Coast to go to the Couples Coaching Couples Convention and then to Michigan for my grand-nieces' wedding. We didn't do either of these things... what's the phrase?  Life is what happens when you are making other plans.

First, Michael was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the Army and planned his celebration on the very same weekend as the convention, and family always wins, so off we went to Texas again!  And we had a great time at his party.  He booked a cruise for about 30 people on a lake in downtown Austin (Lady Bird Johnson Lake???), and the captain took us to see the famous Congress Street Bridge bats leave their day-time sleeping quarters under the roof deck.  Holy Bat Clouds!  There must have been millions and it was heartening to know they were flying off on mosquito patrol!  Still Michael's ceremony trumped the evening.  It is great to see one's son obtain his personal life goals.  Yep -- we're super- duper proud of him.  We also recognize and appreciate that this wouldn't be possible with out his Lindsay by his side.  We're super-duper proud of her, too.

Practicing at home;  That's US Army  Major Andrew Owens rehearsing the promotion charge... Andrew was Michael's college roommate and read the charge at the ceremony. 

Swearing in..... 

 Cutting the cake with Michael's saber.

Pinning on his new rank.

And then there was the bat colony.... (I didn't take this pictures;  someone else at the party did and I was given a copy.  Wish I had the correct credit for it)

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We didn't hang around Texas on this trip --  Just too hot.   Got to see UJ (my brother Joe, who is called in our family UJ for Uncle Joe) for an afternoon lunch in a restaurant with his son, our nephew, Jeff, and Jeff's wife Barbara.  It was noisy, so hard to talk to UJ-- his speaking volume and our hearing acuities both seem to be decreasing, so... UJ seemed happy enough given his circumstances. 

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Texas has not figured out how to turn down the heat and Baby Beluga has no air conditioning, so we were on our way the day after Michael's ceremony.  But -- glory of glories -- we managed to leave with Grandson-- so 2023 Gramp Camp 2.0  ensued for the next several days until William had to (got to) fly home in time to start school.  Lots of pictures here  because of course....  it's William!     In Baby Beluga-- ready to go.

 At the Spy Museum creating a dossier, disguises, devices, and being part of the red team drill to decide to send troops into Saddam Hussain's compound.  Just to understand how decisions are made.  

Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum.

Capitol Building tour and Arlington National Cemetery.  William shares a birthday with his Great Grandfather Miller.

Rehoboth Beach Day

Air Circus with WWI planes.   William was underwhelmed.

No longer Lee District, but here's W at the spray park at the now- named  Franconia District Park. Ice Cream at Burke Lake Park

Cooking breakfast for his grandparents.  Wish he could live with us and continue to spoil us,  but alas we had to send him back to his parents.  Time for 4th grade. 

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The ongoing care of Bill's brother John directed the next big schedule revision.  We canceled our plans for Michigan and Michaela's wedding to head to Virginia for a scheduled court date that granted guardianship and conservatorship to both Bill and his other brother David.   

David (l) and Bill are standing in the back.  John is seated.  Can you tell they are related? 

The legal approval of conservatorship and guardianship gives Bill and David the right to together make decisions about John's general care and a tighter control over how he spends money.  David and Bill agree that this step was necessary for John's  safety, well being and long term care. John's daily living skills are quite impaired  by his cognitive, mental health, and behavioral issues.     Bill was able to spend our time in Virginia to begin the mountain of paperwork that is now legally necessary, and Bill and I were able to get in some good visits with John. 

 So as I write this we are beginning part two of this trip heading back to Colorado.  Our ever evolving goal for the foreseeable future is to  split our time in thirds -- 1/3 Virginia, 1/3 Colorado, 1/3 Van Life.  You can just call us directionally and seasonally challenged snow birds! This trip is a 12-day excursion through the central US.  We drove through West Virginia with a stop to see Linda and Jerry Babistellar and their new house built on a wooded hill above the Potomac.  It is a lovely home with an amazing view that they designed themselves -- just the right size for them.  And we got to meet their 14 month old grandson -- quite the sweet little fellow!  

We've driven through what we've learned is the Allegheny Front -- a subrange of the Appalachians stretching from SW Pennsylvania, Western Maryland and Eastern West Virginia.  It is lovely, green, and rolling with lots of farm lands.  The roads for the most part were quite good, and we've had a lovely drive.  Put us in mind of a Woodie Guthrie song and ribbons of highways.   

We have three capital Volksmarches planned - Columbus, Ohio (done today), Indianapolis and Topeka Kansas, with a stop in Saint Louis.  Have tickets for the Arch.   

Retirement Lessons Learned:  Consider all plans soft until about 30 minute before.

VOYAYA!