The End of an Era

I am sure being the Chatty Cathy from the old days, aren't I?

But reading about Mission Control being shut-down puts a very real lump in my throat:
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/after-shuttle-lands-mission-1029198.html

Because we were brought up SAC-brats, it is especially heart-tugging, don't you think? Think of all the engineering, ingenuity and pure brass it took to put a person on the moon! And no one thought we couldn't. What an amazing accomplishment for our country!

If you have ever seen the Mercury capsule, you would be so darn amazed our country had men brave enough to fly in that teeny, tiny little thing! Even watching the launch / return flight of Spaceship One at the Mohave Desert several years ago - you know you are looking at some kind of Buck Rogers vehicle out of the comics. But it worked..... because at that time our country had dreamers, problem-solvers, risk-takers, and some very smart and determined people and government behind them.

If you ever get a chance, watch "Rocket Boys" or "October Skies" - a great movie I made Riley watch, well, maybe a few times....

It's always sad to see the end of an era. When America was proud, smart and determined. I'm proud too - to be a part of an amazing generation.

Love to you - Mo

Reflections on my 40th Reunion...

Wow - can't believe we just had our 40th high school class reunion. It makes me feel...humble I made it this long, sad it's not my 10th (haha), and yes, a remembrance of the fact that in a few years I will be 60.

I don't know why turning 60 feels like such a milestone. The only other birthdays that impacted me were: 13 & 31. Well, 13 because I was FINALLY a teenager, and 31 because I was, well, older than 30.

Although I suffered a 24-hour bug, I was so darn excited to see the many people who traveled far & wide, and then not so far, to see our classmates. So many local people don't bother to show up which is disappointing, but hey - not my problem.

I found out the 6th grade boy who drove me mad because he was soooo much smarter than me is still - yes, smarter than me. He now is a faculty member at CWU. The not-so-smart, so popular guy from my sophomore year is, well, smarter than he looked back then.

Reconnecting with people I knew way back when, well all I can say is blow those memories away. So many of them are amazing people with lovely families and lively lives - love them all!

And the people I DIDN'T know back then, but really want to know now - well a perfect opportunity to sit down and find out how they have traveled their lives. And actually MAKE a connection.

All I can say is I had a LOT of fun - I sometimes feel segregated from my class because of being a "base kid" - but 40 years later have found out it doesn't really matter.

Love to you all - Mo

These Idylic Days of Summer!

Loving life on the ranchette.....these are the days my friends!

We were happy to host a family barbeque for Big Guy's daughter and son-in-law from NYC - yes, the same couple we attended their wedding two years ago! This is their first time at our new home, and also the first time they met the Fam Damily, if you know what I mean!


Brandee and Amber have lots of catching up to do...

Brandee's husband James was a hoot! Nothing special to eat - barbeque hamburgers & hot dogs, chips & dip, but FRESH cherries! Yay! They loved it!


Thankfully, Lexi was a great barbeque queen! The boys were a little tired out from whatever....They all have that don't mess me with us look in their eyes!

We were missing quite a few family members, Myriah, Jeremiah, Riley, Kharsyn & Khearyn, and speaking of Khearyn, he has quite a lot of hair:

Also missing were Larry's daughter Paige and her family, they were busy with taking the kids to camp - remember those days when you were chauffeuring kids from one end of the county to another?

Cats and dogs are learning to live together - the cat thinks he's a dog. He was best friends with Brady's dog Mack, always checking out his food and exploring his dog house. Unfortunately, Mack was killed on Highway 17. He was a lovely dog!

Molli & Spook are now "free range" dogs - it is fun to watch them out in the neighbor's field, or racing down the canal across the street. Today Spook went to round up our cat Wildfire, who was venturing too close to Hwy 17.

We love eating or just sitting out on the back patio at night, or coffee in the morning. The dog & cat show is so funny - Wildfire, our cat, will swat the dogs tails, or try to eat their food. The dogs don't really like that, haha.

Life is still hectic, but these are the lovely, slower days of summer.

Love to you all - Mo

Life in the Fast Lane....snore!

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted on our blog - sorry sisters! Life has been hectic on the ranchette.... I can't even make a list, just trust me.

Big Guy and I have both been working hard, taking care of our combined rentals, and with the late spring I have been spraying weeds and trying to plant something colorful around the house. Because of moles and gophers, and coyotes, oh my! I'm limiting myself to a front garden, a small back garden and using up lots of my planters.

We just returned from 7 days in Phoenix, which was a blessing as we slept for 3 days to just feel normal. We got a lot accomplished down there, but we are both looking at each other and asking ourselves, "when can we retire"?

So stay tuned...

Love you to pieces - Mo