WEEK TWO, NEAR GULF COAST OF FLORIDA



There has been so much going on in our lives over the past week because of the loss of Audrey's next oldest brother, that it will be difficult to go back two weeks in my little pea brain for Blog material.  But I will try!

 

Brother, Wayne, was 77 and has suffered with congestive heart failure for several years.  His life of heart troubles began when he was only 39 with two open heart surgeries within ten years.  He had a dream to travel the US with a Toy hauler for his motorcycle, but he never got that far and had a long face when we began our travels.  He did make several trips across the country just with the motorcycle and the little trailer behind, before his motorcycle riding days came to an end.  He was in his glory!!  We will all miss him terribly.  He was at our home many holidays over the years to participate in family gatherings, thus making this loss hard on our boys.

 

Sunday evening, December 15th, we attended a concert with Debbie Myers and Tommy Thompson in Big Tree RV Park in Arcadia FL (home to us for December) .  They were very good and Tommy at age 82 was awesome on the steel guitar.  He said that he has a twelve string on order, so you can imagine his music ability.

Monday our only outing activity was Bingo.  Gary went with me, wonder of wonders!!  I think that he just wanted to see if he got as much a thrill out of it as he does at a Casino spending a penny at a time!!  One was about as expensive of an entertainment as the other.

We had reservations for Tuesday to go to Bradenton for dinner at Golden Coral and on to Sarasota to the Mertz Theatre by bus to see the musical "Showboat".  It was well played and their scenery sets were great.  It was a wonderful evening.


Lobby

The beginning of what turned in to a full house.

 

Awesome Privacy Box and Balcony



Center ceiling

This Mertz Theatre was dismantled and brought to Florida from Scotland.  It was dedicated here in January of 1990.

 

 
 
 

 

Our Wednesday was a full day taking Audrey's niece, Tina, to the Tampa airport to pick up Tina's son, daughter-in-law, and new granddaughter.  They were coming in from Texas for the holidays. 

Approaching bridge to cross the Tampa Bay Bridge

 

Getting closer to top!

View of Tampa skyline when leaving bridge.

It was great to see the kids and the baby was so easy to make up to.  We stopped at Hungry Howie's for pizza as everyone was hungry, on the trip back to Tina's to let them get settled in after their trip.
I did not get to use the camera again!!  Or just forgot, I should say.

The week has been full already, but we are not finished!!  Thursday we took off for N Fort Myers to meet up with a high school classmate of Gary's and his wife to do lunch at The Shell Factory.  Very good fish and wonderful fellowship.  We will have to do that again.

Audrey, Gary, Barbara and Jim

Thursday was also Jam Night at Big Tree.  Many talented musicians and singers in the park, and many enjoyed dancing to the music.  There are many who live year around in this park as well as many who are annual Snowbirds.  Then there are us transients, fly by night gypsies!

And Bill (in Arizona) we just had to show you that Crocs and socks are IN!  Never fear.

Home is where the motorhome, trailer, or park model is!!

This week was followed with a call on Sunday morning about brother, Wayne, so our morning turned from getting dressed for church to packing suitcases to begin our travels north in the Jeep.
After a week preparing for a funeral and emptying an apartment and beginning other business arrangements, we are packing today to leave for Florida again.  We are taking sister, Pearl, with us so that she can spend some more time with her daughter, Tina.  So pray for our safe travels. 

You all take care and stay warm.  You can have this cold and snow even though it was beautiful watching it fall.  We hope that we are ahead of the "clipper" that is forecast!!!  We will be driving slow for sure.