Today we left Steve and Denise’s for the trip back to Vermont. We jokingly called their house ‘little house on the prarie.. though they have neighbors on both sides, the next houses after that are about a half mile away.. All around them are green rolling hlls.. and I do mean.. that’s all that’s around them…

 

 

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And lots of these (not our relatives though)

 

 

 

 

 

    One thing I haven’t mentioned about Denise is that In keeping with the ‘Little Home’ theme, she’s a fabulous quilter. Before we left this morning we got a tout of just the stuff that was on the top of her and her mother Alice’s quilting pile. Evidently there was much more that we didn’t get to see. These pictures don’t do these things justice.. they are absolutely works of art.

 

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   We left Leavenworth about noon for the 45 minute drive to the airport. . Before we did, we planted a SamStone near the base of a newly planted tree…

 

 We got to the Kansas City Airport in plenty of time.. unfortunately our incoming plane had been delayed in Denver.. so we were going to miss our connection in Chicago.  Judging by the lines that sprung up, everyone else was going to miss their connection as well.   After three frustrating calls to the United phone service center  we inbally got our new flights squared way.. but not before we were sent over to another terminal to get on a Delta flight they had supposedly rebooked us on.. but eveidently failed to do so..

 

We sprinted back to our original terminal and made the later Chicago connection with only seconds to spare.. or so we thought. We ended up spending another 45 minutes waiting on the runway due to anticipated landing delays in Chicago.. Sheeeesh…   It’s never easy

   We’re now safely in the air again and headed to Burlignton. In the end we should get there only 3 hours late (I hope) .. .   Here I am on the plane frantically trying to catch up for all the IBM work I refused to do while I was traveling with my family (good for me.. I think/hope). I have a big meeting on Tuesday I’m just not prepared for.. but I really, really, really had a good vacation with my family..

 

 

 We’re eager to get home and see Scott, Mary and Chai.. and.. to be around Sam’s stuff. This trip has taken us to all four time zones in the continental US.. The four of us have really enjoyed being together and relaxing .. Of course we miss Sam like crazy . We’ve found ways of working him into our trip every day.. it’s a strange new life for us..

    Tomorrow marks the sixth month anniversary of Sam’s death.. It’s so hard to believe that it’s been a half a year already.. It literally seems like last week to me.. the memories are that sharp., If you’re reading this.. please mark the day by thinking of Sam.. thinking of us.. and really sending some love to your family and good friends. We’ll be doing the same..   

     On a related note…

 

Sam’s 15^th birthday would have been a week from tomorrow.. May 28^th.. that’s memorial Day. We’re going to mark his birthday with an Ultimate Frisbee Tournament in Volunteers Green in Richmond starting at Noon (5/28) .. followed by Ice cream, cake and of course, music. Please spread the word around ! Let us know if you’re available to play music !  

We love you all.. and we really love you Sam…

-me

ps. Gabe lost a tooth on the plane !