Traveling and Grieving...

I never would have thought these two would go together, 

but for me they sure have!  

Since January I've seen all 5 siblings, my mom
and some dear old friends!   

Being with family and friends and having the
wonderful distraction of traveling is a healing thing!!!

I've been to Durham NC, Rock Hill SC, 

Rockville MD, Baltimore MD, Washington DC, 

Fremont OH, Cincinnati OH, Dayton OH, 

South Bend IN, Chicago IL, El Paso TX, 

Denver CO, Dillon CO, Sedona AZ and Ferndale, CA
... all in 6 months!

Thankful to have so many people in so many places,
Beka in the tour of WICKED
AND Southwest Travel Points!!!

What a blessing from the Lord!

I had a trip planned to meet Beka in Durham, NC.  

We were planning 2+ weeks of finally getting her in order, 

after a whirlwind first 5 months as part of the

Munchkinland Tour of WICKED.  

I stayed with her in her hotel and had a car so we could shop 

for good big luggage and organizational things

 to help her life be a bit easier on the road! 

While there I was able to drive a couple hours to visit 

brother Joe and his family in Rock Hill, SC!  

Hard to believe this was the first time at his home!  

What a blessing to spend a couple days with him
and his amazing family!  It was great to see his
wife, Lisa ... it had been so long!  She's not a fan
of getting her picture taken :)  Also saw Joe's son,
Joe and his new townhouse ... very special!

Big smile from niece Emily and a great dinner out!

Joe finished his fire pit after I left...

but I was happy to be there as he was planning it!

Such a busy season it was from when my sister died,

Oct. 11th, 2014 through the end of the year.  

There was no time to actually feel and process the grief.  

Then while home from the end of January until the end of April 

EVERYTHING HIT HARD! 

I spent many hours reading, praying, crying, writing, talking, 
sitting and just processing the loss of my sister ... 
some things can NOT be hurried.  

Not sure if I'll actually ever get to an end of this grief, 

but traveling, being with family and 

having a few quiet months to myself have been just wonderful! 

Beka was scheduled to go on as Glinda 4 times at the end of April 

in Baltimore.  My sister Carrie lives nearby in Rockville, MD

so we got tickets to see Beka!  Carrie and her 2 boys, a few friends, 

and I had great seats to see her as Glinda!   

Before the show all together!

Carrie and her wonderful boys!

Touring Washington, DC!  ... It was Cold!!!

What a great time I had with my little sister...almost a week together!  

This was the first time I'd ever been to her home...

and actually the first time we had EVER been alone together!!! 

There are 15 years between us!  

It was such a bonding and healing time for both of us!!!
We got just a bit goofy :) 

SUCH  a blessing to be with her and her boys in their world!

Then I flew to Dayton, WICKED's next city!  

Mom picked me up at Dayton airport, and I was able to be at 

Mom's in Fremont for a few days... 

helping with chores and enjoying being together!  Such a blessing!

We then drove to Columbus to pick up brother Tom, 

before heading to brother Steve's in Cincinnati!

Sister Lisa and niece Abby joined us there!  

We had a wonderful family time!  

Had a great Kentucky Derby party, 

complete with Mint Julips and Derby hats!!! 

Eight of us went to see WICKED in Dayton!  

Such great times to be together!

Then I went home with Lisa to South Bend!  

I hadn't been to her home in over 10 years!!!  

So great to see where she lives and experience her world!   

She showed me her stomping grounds...Notre Dame campus, her work, 

South Bend hot spots, Michigan wine country and Lake Michigan!  

Then we took a train ride into Chicago, 

where she had a hotel all ready for us!  

We spent a few days running around Chicago, seeing all the sights...

won the lottery to see The Book of Mormon!  

We put 10 miles a day on our walking feet and even took
a 3 hour bike tour to see historic Chicago!

We walked to where Peter works and had an awesome Sushi dinner.  

Then got to have breakfast together before I had to leave!

What a wonderful, healing time to be with my sister! 

I barely got home from that trip and Beka flew home for 2 nights.  

Then Tim and I drove Beka to her next city, El Paso!  

We spent a couple nights in an awesome hotel next to the theater.  

Tim finally got to see Beka in WICKED and meet some cast mates!  

It was great to spend some time with our girl and help her out a bit!

Then I was home just over a week, again, before flying to Denver 

- Beka's next city!  

The plan was to meet my 2 high school buddies who live there, 

see WICKED, and celebrate all of us turning 60 this year!!!  

WOW!!!  What a trip! 

With Connie and MaryPat!!

So far this year alone, I've seen WICKED 7 times in 5 different cities

 - plus 5 times in Toronto in November!!!  

So only 12 times!  

I mean look how many I've missed ... over 10 months at 8 shows a week??  

I've missed over 300!!!!  I actually won the lottery for many of these!

Look at us!!! 

 Three friends from high school turning 60 within 3 months of each other!

So much in common and so much connection after 42 years!  

We hiked and biked for miles and miles near beautiful Dillon, CO!!  

So very refreshing and such a part of my healing process!
Thankful for these 2 gals!!!

Colorado views!

Time to leave this beautiful place :(

So then home for 2 weeks before Tim and I were able
to get away TOGETHER for 4 wonderful days in Sedona, AZ!!!
A much needed break for with my dear hubby!

Beautiful Arizona!

In Sedona ... waiting for the sunset!

So worth it!!!

 Lovely hikes!

Next stop ... Ferndale, CA!!!
I just made plans to be at brother Tom's
55th Birthday Celebration!
I'll be away July 14-26th!!

Then maybe home for a while???
After writing about all of this I'm wondering why I'm not
completely exhausted!  But all this traveling, visiting
and re-connecting with dear family and friends has
been just what I needed!!!
Feeling grateful!!!

(I keep this blog basically just to log what happens in life!
If anyone actually comes here, just know it's basically
for me - to help me remember ...
I realize it isn't exactly exciting!!)

Pics!