Its a Celebration

The last entry about my trip includes my trip to Orlando to see the Pifer family and some of my friends from Tampa - we had a great time.

One of the exciting parts of the trip was seeing my great-nephews play ball.

Grant coming across home plate.

Next day we got to see Owen running the football all over the field - they are both great players. I was so proud of them - and the crazy announcements over the sound system about the firefighters -

Here is Owen looking very dapper in his football jersey.

And of course there was pizza when it was all over.

The joyousness of children - we all have so much to learn about how life can be filled with joy.

My friend David and his partner Vince came to meet Chris and me in Orlando - we did Cirque of course and were all amazed. Chris and Vince were Cirque virgins - I think they were stunned as we all are when we first see the show.

Here we are being silly - what? us?

Chris, David and I find some fun art behind the House of Blues. I look at this picture and can hardly believe it is me.

I still dont like the climate but seeing my family and friends in Florida was one of the joys of this year - it has been WAY to long.

Following this part of the trip Chris and I headed back to Hilton Head and the next day I flew from Jacksonville home to Albuquerque.

O I just couldnt leave this entry without saying something about "no child left behind" and this has nothing to do with the idiotic educational plan that the fool from Crawford imposed upon the world. Well - maybe for those of you in Orlando and PA who read this - thats enough said - I am still laughing about the famed lost child.

Blessings to you all.

Chuck

Chapter 2

Good evening - and thanx for coming back. I have been so busy lately and doing so many things that blogging is coming more easily each time.

Following the fun Hans, Brian and Sherri and I had at the Balloon Fiesta - I was ready to take a trip home to see my family - I was also very ready to do that. My family, with the exception of my sister, had not seen me since my surgery - so this was going to be the big reveal.

To be in PA in the fall was heaven - Fall is my very favorite time of the year no matter where I am - but in PA it is truly breathtaking.

This is a view of the Susquehanna River and my sister's front lawn. The colors are so clear in this picture - but they were beautiful.

It was homecoming and my great nephew Cody and great niece Chrissy were all dressed and ready to do - pictured here with my niece Kim and her husband Chuck.

My sister and her husband and I spent a day at their hunting retreat in the mountains of north central PA - and as you can see the vistas we amazing.

I didn't get one picture of my sister that she wouldn't kill me for posting here so I wont. But she is a very beautiful blond - and one of these days she will show up on these pages.

The trip home was very special. I only wish my mom and dad could see the progress I have made with the weight loss. My family was thrilled and it was so very good to see them all.

Following this part of the trip I spend a few days on Hilton Head Island with my friend Chris. His place is beautiful and just about 100 feet from an amazing beach and the ocean and his cat loved me.

Chris and I then spent a few wild days in Orlando visiting friends and more of my family.

There are several very fun stories about that trip- and lots more pictures - so do come back and read them - maybe tomorrow?

I preached today at First Congregational in Albuquerque and it felt great to get back into the pulpit - My sermon was entitled The Right Way to Worry. It was a day full of meaning in a number of different ways. And, as usual, I learned more about myself that I might have wanted to know. Blessings - Chuck

Happy November! Can you believe it is November? Holy smoke.

Well - we certainly have things to have mixed emotions over don't we? We have a new and wonderful President - but folks in California, Florida, and other places continue to prove that hatred and ignorance flourishes no matter what. Pray folks - that is all we can do.

Well where do I begin?

I spend a wonderful 12 days on the road visiting family in PA and was there on my birthday. Left PA for a few days in Hilton Head Island with my friend Chris and he and I did the Orlando trip to visit the rest of my wonderful family and some friends.

Let me begin with the Balloon Fiesta weekend and the trip to the Trinity site (where the first atomic bomb was dropped). Brian and Sherri came from Phoenix for both events and we had a wonderful time.

Sherri, my co-worker Jeanette and I board the bus for the WAY to long trip home.

The visit to this site was very interesting. Being in the very house where the bomb was put together; standing where it was dropped, finding Trinitite on the ground (the green rock formed when the bomb melted the NM sand), and I am not sure I have ever been that far in the middle of nowhere. And of course - in the true middle of nowhere - on 1 of the only 2 days a year this site is open - I ran into someone I knew - go figure.

Here is Brian at the site of the drop. Very moving to realize what has happened since.

Then came the Balloon Fiesta. Wow - it is such an amazing event and so much fun - you must all come to visit during this time and join in the fun.

The next morning - we should have been at the filed by 6 AM - thank God for rain - but that night we went to the Night Glow - when the balloons are tethered and just light up at night - with fireworks after. It was colder than hell - but we had a great time.

An idea of how pretty this event can be - multiple this by 200 and it is really breathtaking.

This is the night I discovered that I had no warm clothing at all in my size - time to shop - there is a God.

Hans, Brian, Sherri and me - all huddled

keeping warm in the cold desert night.

Later that night we all discovered Two Fools Tavern - a delightful English Pub with outstanding fish and chips and LOTS of hot tea for Sherri and I to keep warm - the boys drank their way to warm - some horrible, thick, warm beer.

It was a really wonderful weekend and I believe we learned that, although Hans is constantly on me about being a compulsive shopper - when it comes to the Balloon Fiesta - he can out shop me any day. Hmmmm?

Well - again - the Balloon Fiesta was a huge watermark in my journey through weight loss and recovery. My first year at the Fiesta I pretty much walked into the park and sat down - didn't move and saw what I could. The second year my sister was here and neither of us could walk as she was suffering from an injury and I was huge. Although when my Nephew and his family came for the second half of the fiesta - I rented one of those scooters and did have a great time at the event. Last year I spent the Fiesta in beautiful Lubbock TX in the hospital. This year we walked all over the place - saw all the stands and went back several days for more. The progress is amazing.

I am going to sign this entry off and come back to blogging in an hour or so - to continue the journey through October - come on back - there is much more to see and read.

Be well - always - Chuck