FAMILY

Family Gathering 1958.  Philip is in middle row on far right.

My most recent trip back to Illinois was to enjoy my granddaughters, ages 3 months, and 4 years and assist in any way as daughter Emily returned to the workforce after maternity leave.  It was amazing how the baby had changed in the almost 2 months I’d been away.  She’s demanding when hungry, and very social with lots of smiles and chatter the rest of the time. My son’s four year old also had added many more large words to her sometimes grown up sounding vocabulary and mastered skills with her IPad!

Midway in my visit though came word of the death of my brother, age 63.  He was discovered by my other brother and one of my sisters.  By all appearances it had happened quickly, either a diabetic coma or a heart attack and occurring not long after he had optimistically bought a new TV and signed up for a new cable contract.

Journalist sister Gayle wrote a wonderful obituary, the link to which I’ve listed.  At tragic times such as this, family and friends are what get you through.  A small service held in my brother Jim’s home brought memories of happier times as we shared stories with those gathered.  Photos, including the one above provided by cousin Kathleen, added more stories.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/rrstar/obituary.aspx?n=philip-worland&pid=156183410

In looking for words of comfort to use at the service I came across Khahil Gibran’s writing on death and used the following excerpt:

“For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and melt into the sun?

And what is it to cease breathing but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand see God unencumbered?

Only when we drink from the river of silence, shall you need to sing.

And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb

And when the earth shall claim you limbs, then shall you truly dance!”

May Philip be at peace with a soul that dances.

Sights of the Season

One of my top activities is attending Martin County Library System all day Book Mania featuring fascinating authors.  This year one my favorite mystery writers, Nevada Barr, whose protagonist is a female National Park ranger with the story set in various US National Parks, was part of a panel and after signing my books posed for a photo!

Stuart's waterfront music stage has a new cover and is the site of Sunday music groups.  Bring a chair and look out over the St. Lucie River enjoying the beautiful breezes.

Schooner Lily moors in downtown Stuart and has many admirers who are walking the waterfront.  Hopefully I will take ride before the season ends.

Back to Florida

After a wonderful family filled Christmas spent with both my granddaughters, Katerine age 4 years and Penelope, age 4 weeks, I left behind my accumulated wool clothes and as in previous years, co-piloted my friend Ginny in the drive south.  This year with unseasonably mild weather we took the shorter route through Chattanooga.  Arriving mid afternoon on the 31st, my 70th, we were treated to dinner at one neighbors and a party at anothers complete with a cake that featured a photo of me on a bike trip.

Me with the "Grands"

Katherine in her special Christmas dress enjoys the trampoline with Uncle Denni

Enzo who I visited in Ithaca in July is now quite the "little man"

My time in Chicago showed me again how convenient the city is as I commuted daily by bus to Emily's condo to assist (mostly holding) with baby Penelope.  The weather was unusually mild which also helped my enjoyment.  Step grandsons Carl and Josh and granddaughter Katherine joined me on their first day of Christmas vacation.  We did the traditional visit to what was Marshall Fields department store, site of my first job in Chicago in 1964! viewing the windows along State Street and the 2 story tall tree.  Under Macy's ownership, it was a disappointing display remembering all the handcrafted ornaments and special animated windows of the past.  Lunch was in the Frango Cafe on the store's 7th floor and everyone loved the traditional frango ice cream.  We rode the bus to Emily's where they met their new cousin also known as Poppy and each had a chance to hold her.
Christmas Eve I moved to Mike and Karen's to enjoy the family festivities through the Christmas morning Santa excitement.  Michael was on call and the boys would go to their Dad's in the afternoon, so Katherine and I set off fo the Worland family gathering at sister Margarets with an overnight and second day celebration to enjoy.  There were 4 babies under one year old, plus Katherine and her two Madison cousins.  It was a fun time particularly since brother in law Denni is so great about playing with the kids who were able to enjoy the trampoline in the great weather.  For me, it has been one of the best Christmases ever and brought home again the importance of being near family.

Chicago Living

For a week I am living in a one bedroom in the west tower of Marina City pictured here. My first stay in this building was about 50 years ago also at Christmas time in the apartment of my aunt and uncle who were among the first tenants in this very unique contemporary mixed use complex. Located on the Chicago River the views are fabulous. Today I made the most of my location, the apartment of my son in laws parents, and an unusually bright sunny and not too cold day. I walked up Michigan Avenue to 4th Presbyterian Church, a magnificent Gothic building surrounded by modern high rises. Les was inducted as a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects at a service held here in 1993. Today I enjoyed the Sunday church service with beautiful Christmas music complete with brass and organ and including the Gloria cantata written by John Rutter in 1974. That contemporary piece was beautiful and a contrast to Handel's Messiah I attended in the afternoon It was the most outstanding performance of that piece that I can remember hearing. I had chills during the final Amen. The Harris Theatre was also very impressive mostly underground structure part of Millinium Park. 2 music performance for my soul and a dinner picked up at the Kris Kringle market--bratwurst and sauerkraut and apple strudel eaten here in my room with a view complete a very special day.

Seasonal Travels

My 2003 VW Passat known as Ruby was my transportation for a November trip to Chicago to await the birth of a grandchild.  She arrived on Thanksgiving Day, 11 days past due but good size and healthy.  In the time leading up to her birth I had time to have an overnight with my four year granddaughter. Thanks to the generosity of long time friend Ginny, I had a home to stay in.  I've accumulated cold weather clothes as the pull of the granddaughters will increase my trips and eventually call for a move back to the Chicago area. 

The drive to and from was made more directly and quickly than I would like but I have to say I was pleased with the VW.  I had never driven it on a long trip by myself and it had never been north in cold weather.  I discovered that when the temperature drops below 40, a small alarm sounds and a snowflake appears next to the outside temperature!!  We questioned the seat heaters when we bought the car but they were part of the package.  Now almost 10 years later I'm making use of them.

For Christmas I will fly back and return to Florida via Ginny's car.  I look forward to being with family but my travel will delay my Christmas cards which I so enjoy sending and receiving.  Completing that will be at the top of my New Years Resolutions. Meantime I'll post some granddaughter photos which are sure to appear on the Holiday letter!  A Joyous and Blessed Christmas to all who may read this post in the next weeks. and wishes for a new year without the strife and rancor that seems to have dominated 2011. Thanks for sharing my life on the road.

Big Mama's Last Trip

 Roadtreks pull into Homosassa Springs Parking area.  Heavy rains, high tides and winds impeded our tour, but we still enjoyed the antics of the various wildlife particularly Lou, the hippo. One of the cranes that flew with the light plane from Wisconsin has now made his home at the park after falling for a local Sandhill girl!

 This sign was once a billboard in the early days of the park.  Now part of the State Park System, it's a piece of old Florida that has been preserved and I recommend a visit there.

A morning boat ride on the Crystal River was followed by a tour of ancient shell mounds dating back thousands of years.  Crystal River State Park is renowned for its archaeological finds. A very interesting place to visit as well.

My last official Roadtrek rally was nostalgic as I visited with those owners I've come to know and enjoy and    met others for the first time knowing it might also be the last.  I was invited to come again even as a non-owner and some of the "solo" women offered to put me up some time.  Yes, Big Mama is now part of the life of a Canadian couple who will mainly use her to travel to Florida to their time shares.  In some ways I feel a sense of relief both from a financial and time standpoint. Big Mama gave me a wonderful transition to single life, an excuse to get out and explore in new ways, connects to the natural world and most of all an opportunity to meet some wonderful people who share my adventuresome spirit.

My next trip will be in my faithful VW Passat, Ruby, who has spent more time in the garage than on the road in the last four years.  So Adieu Big Mama; Safe travels and thanks for the memories.

Ancient Rome

Frank toured us through the incredible ruins of ancient Rome. He is a wealth of knowledge and I just hope I can retain a fraction of the information. We began with the giant Coluseum pictured above. Material from this edifice was recycled into St. Peters. The arches utilized with the keystone at the top have withstood 2000 years of elements of nature and man. It is an amazing structure which we climbed up down and around. On to Palatine Hill with it's layers of remnants of kings and emperors including Nero. Our word palace derived from palatine. Again much climbing and walking often over uneven ground. We finished our 4 hours of history at the forum the government building where the senators now marble busts met in their togas forming a form of democracy we follow today. My afternoon was Villa Bourgese set a beautifully appointed home of a former cardinal with a voracious appetite for art in the days of Bernini and Carravaggio. The Bernini sculptures were fir me the highlight of this art collection in a building containing so much from ceilings to floors as well as walls. It is touted to be the most beautiful interior in Europe. My final challenge if this very long and foot sore day was to find Judy who was visiting her niece an AA flight attendant. I had an address and name of the hotel and knew generally the location but half hour of searching I was not successful. People I asked would send me one way then another. Finally my phone rang and it was them and they came to claim me. I'd been steps away. It mattered little as we had a wonderful dinner in a delightful family owned cafe and celebrated our last night in Rome. All to short but most satisfying despite site feet. Judy and I had a lovely walk back to our hotel put on the correct course by her niece we made no wrong terms enjoying the perfect weather. This is being written at Rome airport awaiting my flight Arrividerci Roma!