Inspired

Our pseudo niece, Nikki, started to blog when she was expecting her son. It was terrific. She lives 3000 miles from us. Through her blog we were able to meet and learn all about her boy and her family and her life. It made us feel close even though there is a continent between us.

Danielle, our other pseudo niece, is about to have a baby. She is in New Jersey, still a distance from us. We hope she will blog so that we can keep up with her burgeoning family, too.

Nikki's and Dani's parents, Joe and Annemarie (aka the Charbs), followed Nikki to the left coast. We recently followed after them, if only for a visit. Joe and Annemarie are two of our closest friends. They live and work in The Palms. We stayed with them there. And so we are inspired to blog about our trip and how wonderful life is when you fill it with such good friends.

Not These Palms

The Palms

Mitch hams it up at The Palms

The Palms is the retirement community where Joe & Annemarie are Co-Managers. We stayed in the guest suite on the property. This particular retirement community has been in existence for quite some time as have most of its residents. It is an apartment complex with a dining hall and other facilities.

Breakfast is served at 8 a.m., dinner at 12:30 p.m. and supper at 5:30 p.m. We were invited to the manager's table for these meals. It was like sitting at the Captain's Table on a cruise ship. There is a weight room and beauty salon. They have movies and bingo and social events with entertainment. We decided this glimpse into a possibility for our future was like being on a landlocked cruise.

AND we could walk to the liquor store. Susan could definitely retire here. Mitch could get a job at the local bodega. Brian always feels at home at Cross Roads.

Days were spent hanging with the Charbs, eating too much, walking and finally getting to meet Cooper, son of Nikki & Jakob.

Cooper is a great fun but difficult to catch in a photo. He is not one to stay still. Brian managed to catch him once, barely.

It was wonderful to see him and Mitchell play together rolling around on the floor and whooping it up.

We did get Mitch to the Pacific.

Mum tried wading with her boy but it was toooooooo cold!

Auntie Riri likes to take pictures with her digital camera. Hopefully she will feel inspired to pick up where she left off with her blog. One thing is for certain. The West Coast definitely agrees with her. It looks pretty good on Uncle Joe, too.

We may not blog often, but will try to keep reporting our adventures.

Susan, Brian and Mitch