Gap Year 2021

Oh, okay.  I'm starting a blog.  Difficulty figuring out what to call it.  Rediscovering what's important to me.  No home, just a car and generous friend with storage space.

Rewind the tape back to Richard's death in April 2019.  The grief, sad, ache was huge.  People say don't make changes quickly.  I didn't.  At least I don't think I did.  Fast forward to Christmas 2020.  The sad was compounded by the pandemic.  I needed a project.  It became, get the place ready to sell!

Find a new "normal" people say.  Easier said than done.  We were married for 37 years.  I feel sad for those who lived together for 50+ who also now need to find a way to deal with life.  This is like a multiple choice test.  Pick the best option since their may not be a right answer.

Somewhere in my youth I was hit by the wanderlust bug.  30+ years as a traveling salesperson, its difficult not to be on the road.  Sitting in those 4 walls with no vision of the future in that space, became the overwhleming desire to find a new home.  Reassess, relearn, and leave.  So, I did!

Being blessed with amazing friends and family, I've set out to find my "where next."  Traveled extensively before, why not do that again, this time flitting with a plan.

Not sure I have the words to describe being unencombered by a home and the responsibility of one.  

Stop 1 is the southeast shore of Lake Oconee, GA where my "stuff" is now stored in friend's garage.  If you've seen my FB posts this is now old news. 

Stop 2 was Barney, GA 

I'll return there for Memorial Day and a longer visit with a Groomsman and his wife.  Next time, I'll understand how to get there without dirt roads being involved!

Stop 3, Fernandina Beach, FL 

Where I was on the Atlantic for a sunrise.  FINALLY.  Sunrise on the water has always been a coming home for me.  Great welcome by cousin and her husband, nice to be given my own front door key!

Stop 4, St.  Augustine, FL.  

Wedding!  Have not been to a wedding in like forever!  Then to have it in one of my favorite spots was great!  Inside the Lightner Museum Pool is an unusual venue to say the least!

Stop 5, back to Lake Oconee!  To get organized for the next month of travel.  Remember, packing for 6 weeks was a challeng in the boat, never realized the challenges that awated me to travel by car!

Stop 6 covered the stretch of land from GA to MD.  What a nice segue from the wedding.  I've remet part of my cousin's other half.  Redevouz at a

CPK of all places (I've not been to a CPK since leaving FtL) - what a treat!  Then on to cousin and his son in Cockeysville.  Once started, I found long lost photos of family which need a new home. 

Kathy doing what she loved!  Cut short by a horrible accident.

Aunt Bobbie photos were amazing.  Why did she leave the family?  Absoulutely the most beautiful woman in the family!

Barbie, the eldest of our Franklin cousins.  Lost her too early.

Kathie loved her Jack Russell puppy business and training them was sheer joy to her!

Uncle Bill or W J F, JR.  We have a W J F IV!  Look at the size of his hat - c WW II, US Air Corps

Then, there's Quincy.  Love this pup!

Met up with friend Zola for lunch in Shrewsbury, PA.  Doesn't everyone travel for 3,000 miles for lunch?  

Stop 7 is a sad one.  Cousin in law to dad, she is the last of their generation.  Suffered multiple strokes and has dementia, life isn't easy for Jane.  She is exactly 22 years to the day older than I am.  Special woman, still gives more joy than she can accept.  

So good to be with her even if just for a little while!

Stop 8, Nyack, NY.  This begins my family history tour.  Libraries and research centers are still locked from this pandemic, but did walk the shore of the Hudson River for a bit.  Leaning a bit more of where the Gesner family came ashore.

Getting to Stop 9 was delightful ride up the Hudson River Valley to Glen Falls, NY.  Lovely Queensbury Hotel in walking distance to many of the things I want to see!  Extended my stay because of snow in the upper elevations (Long Lake) would make walking and visiting sites difficult.  I'll get there, just not today.  

Visited the Chapman Historical Museum and learned that my family do NOT have their roots here.  They did have suggestions on places to go from here.  So that's something!