We visited Mississippi/Louisiana for several days this past week. I took the direct route flying through New Orleans. Your dad took the long way driving 2300 miles cross country from Orinda to Liberty, Mississippi. He encountered heavy rain storms and lightning across New Mexico and Texas. Fortunately the dust storms in Phoenix did not reach him in Flagstaff. Bert Blalock was thrilled to become the new owner of his dream car, BMW 3M convertible.This should provide more comfort and class transportation than his truck, to/from stake meetings in Denham Springs, Louisiana sixty miles each way. A little mishap occurred when Bert's big truck backed into my tiny Yaris rental car bumper.
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| Jocelyn, Carolyn, Gay & Lenora |
Gay and I "
found our thrill on blueberry hill" as Fats Domino would say. Three mornings, Gay woke me up at 6 am (note 4 am CA time), to help her pick blueberries from commercial grower in Liberty she met on her mail route. They have about fifteen acres, so we did not even make a dent with our about forty gallons. Everyone's freezer is now filled to capacity for years supply of yummy smoothies, pies, etc. I opted to bring home the butter beans from garden instead. We spent mornings picking berries, afternoon shelling beans and evenings picking more beans. Bert's large garden suffering from lack of rain. Unfortunately, the red bugs (chiggers) enjoyed dining on me! Both legs were covered with too-many-to-count itchy bites. I resorted to buying some Listerine mouthwash from airport store to swab on legs to calm the itch while flying home. Not much selection in the airport medicine department. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention.
Nice to visit with Aunt Dorothy, Uncle Carl, Ruben, Kathy and other family members for Sunday dinner. Nice to overflow into Gay's new enclosed patio family room off kitchen.
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| Sue, Carl, Dorothy, Gay, Ruben, Kathy |
Kellyn and I are teaming up for summer shape up challenge by working out with trainer at local fitness place. Must begin with losing several extra pounds gained on trip to South. I have a long way to go from the measured (calipers) 29% body fat. Ugh! For the first time since college, I donated blood for the Red Cross Interfaith Blood Drive. I barely passed the requirement of 12.5 hematocrit by one tenth at 12.6. The LDS Church is partnering with Catholic Diocese of Oakland plus other denominations for largest blood drive with goal of 1500 units. My rare AB+ will hopefully be blessing to someone.
