FIVE, 4, THREE, 2, ONE…

Hubby and I are counting the days (5) until we will be officially EMPTY NESTers!!! As sad as I was when the first one left for college…. well, my best neighbor, my best friends, my part-time housekeeper…. all are waiting for my exclamation of celebration and general naked body running through the house and yard next Tuesday morning!!!!

(sorry, but my Girlfriends in the above categories already know my propensity to remain un-clothed)…

So let me update you on our whereabouts…

First, here is what I am listening to as I write:
Handel – Arcadian Duets

(Look that up… a baroque singing cd not to be topped…)

So I am listening to that particular cd because this coming weekend we get to hear Laura Claycomb (one of our VERY FAVORITE opera sopranos, especially in the baroque style … see track 3 and others from that cd) perform a rarely performed opera: Radamisto by Handel in an outdoor theater setting that we have dreamed of attending in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for years.

It just so happens that now our daughter and son-in-law live somewhat in the area so we have arranged months ago for this weekend’s retreat for all of us: they will drive there and we will fly, but we will pay for their hotel room as well as ours.

We booked that time for all of us long before we knew how many of my son-in-law’s family, extended and all, would be moving into the Albuquerque (where FB & SOL live) area this year. Well, now…

Hubby and I recently enjoyed a week-long journey to Montana, specifically, Whitefish, just outside of Glacier National Park. Words cannot express how beautiful and … and… well, words just can’t.

(more later if i get around to it!)

Last week we enjoyed the company of my son’s girlfriend of-more-than-a-year visiting with us in our Houston-area home for about a week. Her first trip to the gulf coast was celebrated by Eduard.

Youngest is off to college (as I take her there) on Monday FIVE days from now (oh yeah, I may have mentioned that!) A friend asked me for her college address, and I had to reply that I would have to get back to them…. I plan to find that out next Monday!

Hubby and I got to visit Israel and Jordan for 2 weeks during March of this year. In a weird coincidence, our only niece on my side also just visited there this month (aug). Still too overwhelming for me to give a short answer to.

Our scuba trip with the entire family to cozumel went pretty well. My FirstBorn was testy and mean to me for most of the week, but in the end relaxed and acted human. Her hubby explained to Hubby and me the pressure she had been in lately at home in New Mexico. The house was awesome. My mom got the inside scoop regarding the owner from the staff while the rest of us were off with the dive boat. Our hired cook was amazing.

That’s about it for now…

xxx, 13D