Planes, Trains & Automobiles

My Aunt Ollie died on Wednesday. I wasn't going to go to the funeral, mainly because it is almost 1100 miles away, who would take the kids to school, and we are preparing to close on our home construction loan any day now.

Then my brother threw down the gauntlet. "I'm going to drive up there because I feel that I should. She was really nice to me. I don't remember if you knew her as well as I did."

The hackles rose. "Of course, I knew her well! Better than you! She was my Godmother!" (do we ever really transcend our roles from early childhood?)

Hubby said he would go in late to work and leave early to cover the kids on Mon & Tues. So, now I am flying up to meet my "big" brother and then he and I together are going to drive the remaining 600 miles. Why am I not flying the whole distance? Try a difference of $470. And, I didn't want my brother driving by himself. My parents are leaving a day earlier and staying a little longer than we want to.

Thanks to Mignon and her interest, I have now put some old photos on here. Yes! I finally got a scanner. I may have to treat you to some ugly elementary photos of myself since everyone else has done it and I know I have laughed my head off at some (well, not YOURS - everyone else!)

Here is a photo of my Aunt Ollie with my husband. I told you she lived on the side of a mountain. That behind them is the mountain next door.
Isn't she teeny? My husband is really not a big guy.

Can you imagine waking up and having a view like that everyday?










Here is a picture of me on the same trip.

No, not the skinny blonde on the left, the one with the bump on her belly (4 mos. along) and TONS of hair! It was the 90's so SHUT-UP AND STOP LAUGHING. I was totally in style. You know you wish you had hair like that. That is all natural curl too.

Now that dress. At the time I thought I was oh, so cute in it. It was from Victoria's Secret and not even a true maternity dress. Now I am thinking that polka dots and pregnancy are not a good mix. Ixnay on the ig-bay uttons-bay too.

This was 13 1/2 years ago and I was pregnant with #2. I am standing by my cousins (one of my Aunt's kids - told ya they were hispanic looking) His wife is the other blonde. These two lived out of an RV for over two years, had their kids at home (and slept in a "family" bed) AND juiced everything or ate it raw. But thats another story.

My grandpa is standing next to me and we are in front of his house. The tiniest little house you have ever seen. He died about 3 years after this photo.

Please send me good thoughts as I will be on the road so much between tomorrow and Tuesday - flying, driving and hooking up with long lost relatives.