Burial At Sea

Saturday the 13th we gathered, from near and far, to board a boat that would take us through a rainstorm to the three mile point where we could release my mom's ashes into her final resting place - the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf is a fitting place in that she has lived near it twice - New Orleans as a young adult and now the west coast of Florida as a retiree. We had people from different periods of her live, from many places in the country, and some who knew her all their lives to folks that she impressed in recent years. After the boat we assembled at a restaurant she liked for an early dinner and then to my house for dessert and coffee. It was a perfect day.

Maureen & Hank

Erica & Tommy

Bill, Don, Les, & Lea

Carol & Susan

Monica & me

Sonja, Sarah, & me

Me & Les

Hank & Jerry

Lea, Carol, Susan, Monica, Erica, Me, Sonja, Sarah

The purple orchids are from my garden

Maureen, Hank, & Hellen

Erica & Me

Sonja & Lea

Lea & Sarah

Hank, Jerry, & Bill

Hellen, Erica, & Thania

Jerry & Don

Jerry

Alyce & Me

Mamma dolphin and her calf bringing us in

Hank, Maureen, & Thania

Lea & Hellen

Carol & Don

Bill & Les

Cousin Reunion for Hubby!

My hubby Jerry has met so many of my cousins (I have 38 first cousins and have no idea how many extended cousins) and he only has 3. Last summer we traveled to Pennsylvania & New Jersey to meet up with them. Here's a photo from July 2018 and one from Dec 1956 with the same folks.

Standing is Jerry's cousin Marty (L) and Jerry (R). Seated are Maureen (L) and Cheryl (R)

If I had known about the old photo first, I would have seated them the same way. Instead Marty & Chery are standing (they are brother and isster) and Maureen and Jerry are sharing the sofa. More important, if I had known about the old photo, I probably would have lost a battle to have Jerry wear a black tie, Marty a striped shirt, Maureen to hold a doll, and Cheryl to hold her knee in that same position, lol!

Thanksgiving and It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Thanksgiving dinner at my mom's with family and friends.

On Saturday, I put up the office tree. It's a woodlands theme using burlap and red deco mesh.

The tree at home is beach chic. I used a beach hat as a tree topper with success (looks better in person) but the idea of a beach towels for the tree skirt wasn't as successful. Will come up with a different idea soon.

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez

Some of my New Orleans relatives are here on vacation. Mom and I visited with them Monday night but I stayed out too late to post that night ;) They were a lot of fun and I really enjoyed our visit. I hope to see them again soon.
My mom on the left and cousin-in-law Thania on the right. I remember Thania from when I was a child and we lived in New Orleans. She was so very cool - a career woman, smart, funny. She is married to my first cousin , Bill, but he grew up with my mom so he "feels" more like an uncle. That happens in large families where mothers and daughtes are having babies at the same time.

Three generations of beautiful women: Thania with her daughter Denise (my first cousin once removed) and Denise's daughter Sarah (my first cousin twice removed). The last time I saw this part of the family was at my Grandmother Barnes funeral in 1993 and Sarah was a toddler.

Sarah, me, Denise, and mom which is technically four generations just not direct lineage.

Maybe one day I will darken their doorstep in New Orleans around the time of Mardi Gras!

Happy Birthday Aunt Flossie!

My Aunt Flossie (who lives about an hour and a half away and is my dad's only remaining sibling) is having a birthday tomorrow. I believe she will be 92!

A couple years ago we (Dad came down for the occassion) went down for her 90th birthday hoping to take her to a nice dinner. When we arrived we saw she had baked herself a big birthday cake. She wouldn't hear of going out; instead, she made a dinner for 15 people! Some days I just ponder her life and try to figure out the secret a long and healthy life.

These photo are from a family gathering at my cousin Linda's in Illinois. It's the early 90's I believe and the only photo of Aunt Flossie on this particular computer.

First photo: the two kneeling are little Andy (Cousin Linda's son) and my Cousin Bud (deceased). Standing from the left: Aunt Flossie, behind her is Cousin Linda, then me in the jumpsuit, next to me is Mindy (Cousin Diane's dau), Then Dan (Cousin Diane's hubby & all around nice guy), then Cousin Diane, then my Dad & stepmom Bessie (deceased). The last person is Linda's ex-husband who will remain nameless because I am still angry with him.

Second photo is great shot of Cousin Linda in forground drinking applejuice (LOL), an almost shot of Cousin Diane's head, Aunt Flossie with her arm up, and finally Aunt Mary who died about 5 years ago.

Family Quiz

OK, since the quiz I offered was a bit tough, I will tell a little more about each person. Oh, and don't be shocked if I don't look like my siblings because actually I am an only child. My Dad's late wife had 6 kids so really they are stepsiblings, stepnieces, etc. Here goes:

First photo: my dad of course

Second photo: Ann & Samantha are sisters, Johnathan is nephew, Phyllis is sister-in-law

Third photo: Eddie is brother-inlaw, Drew is nephew, Paul is brother-in-law

Fourth photo: Sommer is niece

Fifth photo: Judy is sister

Sixth photo: Michael & Jerrod are nephews

Seventh photo: Phyllis is sister-in-law & Terrell is brother

Eighth photo: Reba is sister

One sibling is deceased but there was a family member there to represent him ;)

Hospital Photos

Daddy-o in his hospital bed before his heart cath procedure.

Waiting room photos during the procedure - Ann, Samantha, Jonathan, & Phyllis.

Eddie, Drew, & Paul

Sommer

Judy

All the guys in the waiting room on my dad's floor - there were too many of us for his room, LOL.

Michael & Jarrod

Phyllis & Terrell

Reba

OK, that's the family. Now see if you can construct the families. Come on, give it a try! It will be fun. Here's some hints:

1 - There are 3 couples in these photos but they may not necessarily be sitting or standing together

2 - There are two step sisters pictured who do not have a spouse pictured (one not there, one is single)

3 - There are 4 grandsons pictured but only one grand daughter (somehow one granddaughter escaped being photographed)

4 - One couple has two boys and all four of them are pictured.

5 - One couple has 3 kids but only one pictured.

6 - One couple has only one child and she is the only granddaughter photoed.

7 - There is also a grandson there whose dad, my stepbrohter, is deceased so he has no parent in the photos.