WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

December 20, 2020

I know I have shown sunsets before but they are so breathtaking and this was the first one we have seen since our return 

I have been trying to learn how to use my embroidery machine and our youngest grandson asked for a black shirt with a cow on it 

On our travels from Illinois to Arizona we had a rock fly up and crack our large front windshield

A company come out to replace it

Back as good as new

With a brand new windshield it was time to do some decorating

Jerry stringing Christmas Lights on the Casita

Saw the most beautiful - vibrant colored - rainbow we have ever seen

Wanted to buy a bottle of Kahlua - it didn't go so well :-(

Our view of the Dragoon Mountains from infront of our motorhome and casita

We enjoy walking in the desert that surrounds our park - We have trouble keeping up with Teddy!

Jerry and Teddy are definitely ready to celebrate Christmas

There are many things we enjoy about our spot in Benson, AZ   Because of Covid many of the fun things aren't happening BUT The park has put great effort into continuing to support the charities that they support here in Benson.  One of those is the Benson Food Bank which like all food banks is having trouble supplying food to all those in need.  Instead of the usual huge party they have in the clubhouse to have our park residents donate food and monetary gifts to the food bank this year they did a parade up and down all the streets here in the park.  It was so fun - really helped get everyone into the Christmas Spirit

Mr and Mrs Santa Claus - with Mrs Santa handing out candy canes

One of our park members that has a beautiful voice sang many favorite Christmas Songs

The park choir was right behind her, in their golf carts, singing alone - as did all of us!

And the collection of food and money was tremendous (Teddy had to get up and check out the two 55lb bags of dog food that were donated)

It was also fun for the first time in over 5 years displaying some of the Christmas decorations we kept when we went full-time and that have been in storage - lots of memories - 

We Wish You All A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year - 

Jerry, Carol and Teddy Too!

WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

November 20, 2020

We left our summer base in Park City, IL on October 30th (same time we left last year but thankfully this year it hadn't snowed or formed ice all over our motorhome).  We spent 3 nights in Peoria.  We were blessed to park in some friends driveway that we met on a mission project years ago.  It was so fund to catch up with Judith and Reed and so appreciated their hospitaity.

On the 31st we celebrated our godson, Isaac Mains wedding to Aria.  It was a beautiful day all around.   

This cute sign greeted us as we entered the church

The bride and groom - as you can see they were very conscious and respectful of Covid (they had already delayed their wedding from June to October and still had to cut the guest list in third)

Our dear friends Laura and Eric Main - the parents of the groom

While in Peoria we visited with my sister-in-law Anita and my brother Brian - had a wonderful meal with our nephew Keenan, and Kathy's daughter and son-in-law.

We then headed on our way to our winter hangout in Benson, AZ  The first night we stopped at a huge Bass Pro in Columbia, MO.  They allow campers to spend the night and we were very grateful as they even provided a water-view.

We belong to a group called Harvest Hosts which offers you some unique places to spend the night - we spent the night at one of those in Hutchinson, KS at an underground salt mine called Strataca.  Getting there was interesting though.  The GPS told us to turn right so Jerry was in the right lane when we saw the mine on the left but it was to late so we turned right - it ended up being a narrow dirt road - YIKES!! We were fortunate that a short way down we found a business that allowed us to turn around.  Crossed the four lanes of traffic to get to the mine and missed the turn into the parking lot - so went several miles around and finally made it!!  As it turned out it was well worth all the trouble the next morning when we toured the mine.  This particular mine does mostly road salt and their largest customer is the City of Chicago.  We took an elevator 650 feet below ground (90 second trip) for a fascinating tour.  The salt was deposited over 250 million years ago.

Pretty narrow tunnels we rode through on a tram

Salt hanging from the roof of the tunnel

I know you have heard the adage what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas - 

I believe that really originated in the mines as they say what goes down in a mine stays in the mine.

They have actually learned a lot as they find the trash as to what the men ate over the many decades the mine has been used.  

Like I said what goes down in the mine stays there - LOL

So all the facts about the salt and getting to ride through the tunnels was very interesting and we learned a lot - another thing we learned is that many business now store items in these old abandoned mines.  The mines maintain a year round temperature and humidity ideal for storing items.  Floods can not penetrate the thick walls of salt - tornadoes can't touch anything that far below ground.

Also store lots of old equipment so that someday in the future engineers, computer wizzes and everyday humans can see what it was like in the old days.  Hollywood stores reels and reels of film and costumes.

We also spent a few nights in Tucumcari, NM which was on Old Route 66 - it was fun driving around and seeing a lot of the old motels, restaurants, gift shops, etc.

As I have mentioned before Teddy doesn't like the motorhome that much when we are driving but he eventually settles down and sleeps the miles away.

Almost 1,900 miles since leaving Park City, IL we arrive at our winter base on 11/11 in Benson, AZ about 45 miles south of Tucson.  Here we have the blue building on the left called a casita so we have a little more elbow room than we have in the motorhome.

When driving through Kansas we heard something hit the windshield but found no damage until we had been here in Benson for a few days - a nice crack.  The entire windshield will need to be replaced and we are working on that.

Like everywhere else in the world our park is pretty well shutdown including our beautiful clubhouse where many meetings and much entertainment normally takes place.  Fortunately we have this beautiful park and they have purchased a new sound system so meetings can be held outside.  They are hoping to be able to start showing some movies down the road also.

We had to drive into Tucson to take care of some banking from my mother's trust last Friday and went by the Pima, AZ air museum and what they call the bone yard.  Many - many planes just sitting to be used for parts.  They are thousands - kinda sad actually.

Even though much of the park is closed the cactus are still blooming

and the road runners are still running

and Jerry is back with his popcorn machine - so all is right with the world

As I mentioned in my last post we lost our mom in September - this luminary was set outside, along with all the other deceased members, at Victory Lakes where she had lived for 5 years.  They also had a beautiful, zoomed memorial service, where each resident who had passed had their name read aloud.  Such a beautiful tribute and so appreciate that they thought to take a picture of mom's luminary and send it to me.  I also want to thank all of you who sent beautiful cards and expressed sympathy on the loss of mom - they were truly appreciated and made us happy to know how much she was loved by so many and your thoughts and prayers for us as we do life without her.

Normally there is a large Thanksgiving meal here in the clubhouse and then on Friday everyone goes back for leftovers - obviously not this year so Jerry and I have decided to cookout on the grill and totally break tradition - I know we could do turkey on the grill but we have a tiny grill so filet mignon won out - a treat we rarely partake in.

So as I end this blog we want to wish each of you a wonderful, happy, and healthy Thanksgiving.  If you can't do what you want or what is normal for you hang in there - we are all praying next year will find us all much more back to normal.

If you want to send us any mail we will be here in AZ until March or April - you can still ALWAYS send mail to our address in SD but we only receive it every two to three weeks so if you want to send mail here it is 600 E Saguaro Drive Lot #9  Benson, AZ 85702

Love and Blessings, Carol and Jerry            Teddy too

They have changed this program since I used it and can't figure out how to do spell check so sorry - but at least I got pictures in this time!!

                                             WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

                                                        OCTOBER 3, 2020

Hard to believe it has been 6 months since our last blog!  

So little has happened and so much has happened since April.

This blog will be short on pictures as I am having trouble uploading them but have received so many inquiries as to where we are and how we are wanted to bring you all up to date.

We are still in Illinois and will be here for the rest of October.  At which time we will head to Peoria, IL, about 3 hours southwest of here, to attend our godson's wedding and then will continue out to Benson, AZ where we like to spend winters.

We have have been in IL much longer than normal, due to Covid changing all of our spring plans, but have had the opportunity to visit with some of our friends and family.  Everyone is doing there best to stay healthy of course.

We did leave for the month of July to do a SOWER mission project just about an hour from here in Wisconsin.  

The end of August we traveled to Wausau, WI to attend my 2nd cousins wedding.  We went up the day before and helped set up the reception, in a very airy open barn.  The day of the wedding the weather was perfect(the wedding was outside) and it was one of the most beautiful weddings we have ever attended.  The bride was beyond beautiful and the vows they wrote to each other were so awesome - I don't believe there was a dry eye.  Because of our concern for Covid and my having to be extra careful as mom was declining and my not wanting to be quarantined from going in if she needed help we did not attend the reception which was a very hard decision-broke my heart as we pulled away.

My mom, in an independent living facility, so we couldn't go inside these past months, but thank God that she had a first floor apartment - so lots and lots of window visits.  Did get to be with her a few times.  Twice to routine doctor visits and in August for her 97th birthday they brought her outside and we were allowed to sing to her, with masks on, and visit a little.  Her 3 children, our spouses, her grandson and great grandson were all there with balloons to celebrate her.  She had a doctor visit on September 1st and was declining but with her walker walked in and walked out and we thought everything was status quo.  So Jerry and I left to attend the wedding mentioned above the day after her doctors's appointment - Suddenly mom took a huge turn and even though in WI we had her on hospice by Friday night.  We got home Sunday and visited through the window with her - she was talking but was very tired and slept a lot.  Wednesday they started letting us into visit with her as the decline was so rapid.  My brother who lives out of town spent Thursday with her.  Friday the rest of her immediate family was allowed in.  She was aware everyone was there and responded but in very short answers.  Her prayer had been that she would go to sleep and not wake up when her time came.  Late Friday afternoon she went to sleep and passed early Saturday morning.  Total peace and in no pain.  She had nothing wrong with her just old age.  She had written what she wanted for her service: songs, readings - who she wanted to do the readings so the following Saturday we held a very small service and celebrated her life.

I am so grateful that we were in town and even though covid kept us from going in her apartment we had so many fun window visits for 5 months.  Also blessed to have had this amazing woman in my life for 73 years.  She was ready to go, daily living was getting so hard for her, and she knew she would be reunited in heaven with so many loved ones that had gone before her.

So the last few weeks have been spent cleaning her apartment and doing paperwork.  

As hard as it was to say goodbye she had a good life, a peaceful death and knew how much we all loved her.

So like I said at the beginning so little has happened because of Covid and so much has happened because of my mom.  

Hopefully I can figure out my picture issue for the next blog.

Please let us know how you are doing?  We pray that everyone is healthy and that our paths will cross sooner than later.

God Bless, Carol & Jerry 

WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

April 17, 2020

Last blog, only 4 weeks ago, found us kind of in a holding pattern in Red Bay, AL where we had gone to get our coach serviced after leaving Arizona.  As we traveled all the Covid 19 issues hit and all of our spring plans were cancelled.  We were waiting in AL before coming north to Illinois, where we spend our summers, waiting for the Illinois weather to warm up.  However, the situation kept getting to be more of an issue as rest stops and campgrounds were closing.  Not wanting to get "stuck" in Red Bay we decided to head north.  We are so grateful to have a place to park here.  

Not all full timers are that fortunate and are struggling to find places to hunker down.

Always love going through Effingham, IL and seeing this beautiful cross

We arrived in Park City, IL on April 4th - only 2 months earlier than planned!

Fortunately my mom's apartment is on the ground floor of her independent living facility so we can at least see her as we talk on the phone

We wanted to somehow thank the staff at Victory Lakes so had this Colossal Gram made -
they hung it right in the entryway so all the staff would see it as the entered the building

Our dear friend Betty Main celebrated her 95th birthday so her family arranged a drive-by "party" for her.
We actually all parked in her circular driveway, keep social distancing, and sang Happy Birthday to her

Her son Eric handed out party gifts for each car :-)  If that isn't a sign of the times I don't know what is

Last Sunday the weather was nice, in the mid 50's and the sun was out, so Stephen brought Vincent over.
Except for when he first got out of the car and saw us and ran to give us hugs (no grandparent is going to say no to that)
we did a good job of keeping our distance while playing ball and just being together

This is this morning - SNOW on April 17th!!!    Second time this week it has snowed just a little bit but has been cold in 20's, 30's and windy.  It is supposed to become more spring like this weekend - let's hope so

So this brings you up to date as to where we are and will be for the summer.  We have 3 weddings to attend this summer and early fall- only time will tell if they happen.  One of the couples has had to cancel their honeymoon and must decide by May 1st what they will do about the wedding.  Two of our godsons are graduating, one high school the other college, and those ceremonies won't be happening.  Feel so sorry for those with important plans that aren't going to happen and just the stress of waiting and rescheduling.

We just take one day at a time.  We go for days and never leave the motorhome - once weather is better we will be out walking again.  Zoom every Saturday late afternoon with ladies I used to work with.  We enjoy a glass of wine and share our week with each other.  Been emailing and calling people that we would normally be getting together with - at least we can stay in touch.  We "attend" church on Facebook on Sundays.

Pray that you are all healthy and keeping busy during this time.  Not much to say about all of this that hasn't been said a million times but want to reiterate that we believe God is in control, there are lessons to be learned, and although there will be a new "normal" we will get through this.  

If you are receiving this blog you are important to Jerry and I and we send our love.