When we purchased the tickets for this concert, Chris, Sammy, Gabby and I were all at work. Through the art of texting, the girls and Chris were all attempting to get in the website with the rest of the city. There were lots of worries about the cost, but Chris and I learned that these unique experiences are worth it. The time the 4 of us spend together is lessening in frequency as Sammy and Gabby begin their careers. Given temperatures in the 90's, we hydrated with lots of water throughout the day and evening. Summerfest is a Milwaukee event that runs from the end of June through the first full week in July. There are multiple music stages throughout the grounds, but the main stage is w
Did you know that watermelon float? I learned about this at our family reunion three years ago. Brother Greg hosted the watermelon relay game in the pool. We were not allowed to use arms or legs, so things got really interesting. Anyway, I surprised Siena by tossing the watermelon in the pool. Watching her face was priceless. Once she realized the watermelon would float, she played with it for over an hour. A great idea for a cheap pool toy! When we removed the watermelon to have with lunch, Siena begrudginly returned it.
Our festivities for the July 4th weekend certainly included lounging at Nana and Papa's pool. The in-laws are in Florida at their second home, so we took over the house and backyard for the weekend. Swimming is a great exercise for anyone, but the resistance of the water is great for Parkinson's since most of my muscles are used. I never swim without a pool noodle or raft. I want to feel secure in the water without fear of a leg/foot cramps that are part of my condition. Sammy increased the number of pool toys with the addition of the inflatable doughnut. I created the name, Jimmy, since the doughnut is covered with candy jimmies. My niece, Siena, confiscated the doughnut and had great
Sammy at the age of 26 has decided to join Chris and me on the golf course. We started with golf lessons with our favorite pro, Phil Smith. Phil works magic and we fondly refer to him on the course by "thinking Phil." Sammy was able to f ind golf clubs for her new adventure and chose a set of Ping clubs. Her walking bag with the shoulder harness fits her well. Golf lessons are more helpful, as a person with Parkinson's, because it provides me more practice time swinging the correct way and leads to muscle memory. Now we just have to convince Gabby to join the group for our perfect foursome! I am blessed that my family is active and we enjoy our time together.
When our dear friends, Boof and Liz Loder, told us that their daughter Katie was getting married over Memorial Day, we were in. Granted, the wedding was in Memphis, but Chris decided that the drive was worth it. Chris went to college with Boof and Liz, so our friendship spans the course of nearly 34 years. Wow! When Katie was born, the family lived nearby although they gravitated toward the official "north shore" over the years. The weekend in Memphis was slightly impacted by weather. Our stay at the Peabody Hotel was exquisite! We were able to see the ducks in the lobby fountain, which is the hotel's claim to fame. The Peabody is one of those grand hotels and offered exemplary servi
