There has been a lot to write about this past week. We are still hanging out around Gilroy California. We have been helping Glen and Barb cope with some corrective surgery that Barb needed to get out of the way. Barb is on the mend now, but not without some anxious moments when Barb returned to the hospital for one more night of observation.

We have been doing some fun things too. Neil and Renee came to town. They came into San Francisco on the train from Portland. The occasion is a performance by the Paul Taylor Dancers at the Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts in San Francisco. Neil’s sister, Julie, is a member of the dance troupe. We braved the Friday night commute in the Bay Area and drove up to San Francisco for the performance. It is really fun being part of the “in crowd” with back stage passes and all. After a wonderful performance we all got together and went out for a San Francisco mid-night snack. Glen, Gary and Judy pooped out early and we drove the hour and a half commute back to Gilroy. I say we drove, but really we elected Glen the chauffeur. I avoid any town that has more than six stop lights.

On Saturday Renee and Neil rode the train into San Jose and we picked them up. Same rule applies; San Jose has more than six stoplights. I navigated and Judy drove. I only got us lost once, too. I just cannot remember how we got along without computers, internet, cell phones and GPS. Perhaps we just stayed home.

Next we had a birthday party for Bryce, our grandson. He was six years old on April Fools’ day. There were lots of presents, cake and ice cream. What a fun time with the whole family here at one time. We even celebrated another impending birth. Neil and Renee are expecting a baby in August. We got to hear all of the trials and tribulations of the first trimester. While Renee was doing all the work and surviving all the symptoms, Neil had his hands full trying to keep up with her wildly shifting food cravings. On Sunday we gave Neil and Renee the keys to Little Blue, our Honda Civic, and they headed out to try to beat the snow to the Siskiyou’s. My latest check of the Weather Site indicates that they will probably skinny through without a snow flake falling.

Finally I am in the process of rebuilding Path, our trusty tandem bicycle again. He came up lame in Monterey last week and I have been cutting, filing and brazing at every odd moment for a week now. This morning I repainted the rebuilt frame member and when that is fully set, I will put the tandem back together. Having my shop in the trailer really comes in handy when these crises arise.

Even though we have been sitting still for nearly two months now, there never seems to be a dull moment. It takes us back to my philosophy for life, “Life is a journey; Take time to enjoy the trip.”

Judy and I and all of our family send love and greetings to all of you. Goodbye for now.

Gary and Judy