WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

April 24, 2022

It has been a little over two months since our last blog - so much has happened - some wonderful and some very sad.

Even though the sad happened most recently I will share that story first.  We received a call from my brother Bruce (3 years younger) mid February.   He called to let us know they had found the reason for his cough.   In late January he had been diagnosed with bronchitis and had taken two different regiments of antibiotics that didn't help.  After more testing he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that had spread to his abdomen(coughing was from the tumors pressing on his diaphragm).  After much prayer he and his wife mutually agreed to forgo chemo and he was immediately put into hospice.  I flew home, joined by my brother Brian.  It was a week of daily visits, reminiscing and memory sharing.  Jerry and I altered our spring travel plans and intended to leave AZ and head back to IL early in hopes of being some help.  My sister-in-law called April 4th and Jerry and I decided we didn't have time to drive (at least an eight day trip in the motorhome) so I flew home April 7th.  Arrived at my brothers house about 12:30am on the 8th.  He was sleeping peacefully so I didn't wake him just tiptoed in his room (he wanted to die at home in his sleep) and that is exactly what happened.  Just 5 hours after I arrived he graduated to heaven.  Peacefully in his sleep with no pain.  He passed seven weeks after diagnosis.  I remained in IL for 2 weeks and arrived back in AZ this past Wednesday the 20th.  My brother was an amazing man of faith and ran a Prison Ministry for many years as well as serving at Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago. Still hard to believe it happened and happened so quickly.  Until we meet again.

Now moving onto our normal blog:  I have shared before what a fun and active community we are in here at the SKP Saguaro RV Park but I have never shared a wedding before.

On February 14th we had a wedding in the park of two of our residents

Everyone here at the park was invited and what a great celebration it was

The brides brother, who is a pastor, flew in to officiate.  

One has to use their imagination to see Elvis but he was a great singer and entertainer and it was so fun to sing along with all those familiar songs.

One of the highlights of this winter were our dear friends, Laura & Eric Main, flying in from Illinois

Here we are getting ready to take a tour into a copper mine in Bisbee, AZ

In we go

We started out one day to take a hike - we never found the trail but did find a beautiful monastery

Lots of peacocks at the monastery

No trip to Benson is complete with out visiting our local Mexican Restaurant called Mi Casa

The food is delicious 

and the presentation is so fun

My first trip to IL I was able to enjoy some people special to Jerry & I

attended one of our grandson Vincent's swimming lessons

I know I am prejudice but he is just so darn cute :-)

Had lunch with Jerry's son and daughter-in-law Rob & Amy

Stopped in to visit Chris our oldest grandson's dad

My son has a new cat and when you are on the computer to long and ignoring her she lets you know!

She also doesn't like to be left out when you are in the bathroom!

Also met up with two dear friends, Audrey & Carol, that I spent many years working with

Back in AZ

A special friend, Elaine, came from IL to visit her sister that doesn't live to far from us and they came down to visit.  Elaine, her brother, her sister and brother-in-law.  

 

And where did we go to eat Mi Casa of course

This is a steel drum band from a high school in Tucson - they have been to the park before and we all enjoyed them so much and they once again put on an outstanding concert - this group draws the largest crowd to the clubhouse time after time.

We normally have many outstanding sunsets here at the park - this year they have not been as brilliant as we are used to but there have been some that weren't bad

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This is looking out the front of our site

This was looking out the back 

The last big entertainment for the season was a Roaring 20's Spring Fling that went on during a long weekend.  There were so many fun activiites 

You could pay to have someone locked up in prison and they had to pay to get out

Here is Jerry paying to have yours truly locked up

We had our own SpeakEasy

A great sing along with period music

And a Roaring 20's Parade with our 3 residents who are in their 90's

This is one of the ladies riding in the parade.  She will be 100 in October

She is a total delight - she dances and if there is a congo line started she is right up front

She is as sharp as a tac and lives alone (her daughter also lives here and drives her places)

She is amazing!!

More Wonderful Company

Stu & Julie Levy and Stuart's sister and brother-in-law stopped by on their way to Tombstone

Another fun thing for us that happened this year is our friends from our home church in IL also got a lot here in Benson.  Gary & Steph Vogel.  We look forward to having them as "neighbors" and enjoying the park with them.

On March 26th our oldest grandson flew down for Spring Break

We had a busy but fun week

                                                      

Another trip down to Bisbee to go into the Copper Mine

Calvin really wanted to visit the Grand Canyon so off we went - 

Cal's first look 

We saw several rainbows

On the drive up we drove through rain - sleet

and snow.  The first evening was cold but the next day was much nicer

The trail the guys went down into the Canyon on - dogs weren't allowed 

Lots of moose eating

We are planning on leaving AZ a week from tomorrow, May 2nd.  We will take our time driving back to IL.  Needs to warm up more :-)  Should arrive around May 22nd.  We will be in IL until the first week in September so anyone who would like to get together let us know.  

Please don't add comments on the blog itself just respond via the email you received from us.

Hugs and Blessings, Jerry, Carol and Teddy too