WANDERING WITH THE WRIGHTS

February 13th, 2022

The last blog ended right before Christmas.  We pray you had a wonderful holiday.  We were blessed to have two dear friends from Illinois here at the park over Christmas.  Gary & Steph Vogel have been friends for many years.  We met at Gurnee Community Church and they went full-time a year before we did.  We have been able to meet up a few times over the last 7 years and this was the second Christmas we were able to enjoy.

We visited a fun little town here in Southern AZ called Tubac - lots of jewelry and local artisan stores.

We really enjoyed walking around and seeing all the town had to offer.  

One good thing about living in a motorhome is you don't buy much :-)

We enjoyed lunch in Tubac at a Mexican Restuaurant - 

even though we ate outside the inside was amazing!

Great time with great friends

We had a fun time at Christmas dinner in the clubhouse - 

even went back the next day to finish up all of the leftovers

The Wednesday between Christmas and New Years we were once again back at the clubhouse for the weekly movie.  Had nothing to eat or drink while we were there.  Came home and sat down to watch something on TV and my tongue went to a HUGE hole on my top row of teeth!!!  I knew it was a tooth that had been capped but we couldn't find the cap anywhere.  Of course this happened the day before New Years Eve so no way to get into a dentist til the next week.  Got an appointment and learned that when the cap came off it also took a good chunk of the tooth that it had been attached to.  So over the next few weeks I had to go to another dentist for a root canal and then back to original dentist for a post to be put in and then built up so that a new cap could be made.  Whoever thought I would be grateful for masks but saved me some embarrassing moments because of course the tooth was very visible.  Had what I thought were looooong waits between appointments and for the cap to be replaced but finally got it all finished up last Tuesday.  The good news it never hurt at all the bad news is it was expensive!

The highlight of the last two months was my son and grandson flying down to be with me on my 75th birthday in January.  I was one happy mom an nana.

Vincent killing time waiting to go on his first plane ride

The birthday gifts Vincent picked out and brought me :-) 

Stephen treated us to my birthday lunch at the local golf course

While they were here the park had our annual fund raiser for the local food bank.  

The park raised $21,011.80 and 4,090 lbs of food

Think it was a good learning experience for Vincent - he brought them a bag of food 

We all had a good time visiting a local Donkey Rescue and getting to know all about the donkeys

Even the big kids enjoyed

Vincent learning's about this donkey from the couple who run the shelter

Then we just hung around the park and the town and filled our days just enjoying being together

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset

Vincent liked riding in the golf cart and got to drive once

No its not live - we have a lot of murals here in town that are beautifully done

Fun at the park

And of course some electronic down time

Trains have played an important part in the history of Benson and the Visitor Center has a great set up for kids - they control the trains suspended from the ceiling and blow the horn

Vince enjoyed the waterfall outside of the clubhouse

And then unfortunately their time was up. 

 I am eternally grateful that they came and will cherish the memories

We have entertainment most every weekend and this is a Mariachi band from a Tucson High School

This is William Florian that used to be with The New Christy Minstrels

An astronomer came, with his powerful telescope to help us understand what we are seeing in the Arizona sky at night

We have a Board of Directors here at the park.  9 members who each serve 3 year terms.  I ran and was elected to the board.  I am very excited about learning all I need to learn and serving this wonderful park

After the board meeting we have what is called Out Takes.  Just fun skits from some of the residence.   This is everyone at the end singing to our freedom 

What you do when a friend comes to visit and you only have a two seater golf cart - glad it was Wayne he crawled in and out and not me 

Last but not least Vincent turned 5 last week.

I am writing this on Sunday afternoon and next Saturday morning we will once again be going to the Tucson airport as some very special friends from Illinois, Laura & Eric Main are coming to visit.  We have a lot of plans that you will undoubtedly read all about in the next blog.

Then the end of March our oldest grandson, Calvin, will be coming for a week.  We have spent 3 winters here and never had company and are thrilled with all of our visitors this year. 

 We have this cute little casita you can stay in - did I say little - it is but it works.                                  You even have your own bath so if visiting southern AZ appeals to you please let us know. 

If I don't enclose a picture of Teddy I always get asked if he is okay.

He is 13 and has had a rough couple of weeks but is doing well at the moment - thought we were going to lose him last week but he bounced back like nothing was wrong which we are so grateful for.  

He now has a pill box as he takes a lot of medication but isn't in any pain - Thank God

That pretty well brings you up to date on what we have been doing.  

We love hearing from all of you so encourage you to share what you have been up to.  

However don't respond to the blog just go back to the email and respond there.

We have our travel plans for spring pretty well set.  If all goes as planned will be visiting friends and family on our way to Maryland to see, our godson, Parker Main, graduate with his masters from the University of Maryland - we were supposed to go two years ago to see him receive his bachelors degree but Covid cancelled the graduation.  We will be back in Illinois in late May.