Six months in the US

We spent six months in the States following Panama, spending time with family and friends and generally doing what we do when we travel - live and enjoy.

In April I started a consulting job. It felt similar to returning as a counselor to a favorite summer camp.  The people are great there, the work is interesting and I got paid!

The big excitement in May was our son Paul's engagement to Kara.  In addition William took his parents to Four Winds Casino for their Mother's Day and Father's Day presents.  They enjoyed the gambling facility and thought the hotel was very nice.  No one came away a winner, but they had lots of laughs.  We also had the opportunity to see the play The King and I at the Lyric Opera with our friend Lois.

In June I went to Logan, Utah to celebrate my parents 60th Wedding Anniversary.  My sister, one of my brother's, a sister-in-law and a niece as well as some of my parents friends were also able to join in the festivities.  I felt so fortunate to have my parents and to be able to celebrate with them.

A highlight of summer is always the 4th of July holiday.  This year William and I took the top off the convertible and drove to Bismarck, North Dakota to celebrate with my aunt and cousins.  They have a huge party at the farm and put on a fireworks display that rivals what is seen at the State Capital.

William took a trip to Las Vegas on business in August....but he also found some time to visit the tables where he had some modest success.  We also celebrated a wedding shower/picnic for our niece Ashley and her fiancé Chris.

September was a busy month.  William and I went to Chicago's Jazz Fest, and staying downtown allowed us to easily meet up with some good friends who live in the city.

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​The following weekend we drove to LaCrosse, Wisconsin to attend Ashley and Chris' wedding.  Arriving on Thursday meant we could meet up with friends we have not seen for 20+ years, although William and Jeff are friends on Facebook and exchange messages often.  We enjoyed seeing them in person.  Ashley and Chris' wedding was fantastic and everyone had a great time (including the Grandmothers of the couple who were the flower girls).

 The third weekend I went to Milwaukee for our niece  Katy's wedding shower.  It was a beautiful day and a fun time.  Along with others in the family we spent an afternoon with William's parents on celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary on September 24th.  Lastly we went to visit a Paul and Kara in Charlotte, North Carolina for a long weekend were I got to go shopping for bridal dresses with Kara and her mom.  She looks even more gorgeous in the dress she picked out. 

In between all of that the wanderlust struck again.  So, we made plans for our next big trips - Ecuador, New Zealand and British Columbia, Canada at various points in October through March.

The six months flew by very fast.