Wednesday - March 4

Very foggy this morning, but didn't take too long to burn off.    We went to 8:15 Mass at St. Francis and then to Java Coffee House.    Ran a few more errands and then home for just a bit.    Met my high school classmate, Linda and her hubby, Gilbert at Connors.    It was sooo good to be with them and chat about classmates, our families, travels, etc.    Of course, lunch was great, too!  

They are in Fort Myers for part of the winter.

Connors for lunch

Mark, Pat, Linda, Gilbert 

Gilbert and Linda

Friends and classmates

Class of '66

Beautiful day and evening.....walked in the park just before dark!    First things first....phone conversation with "Chatty Cathy" (aka Blair)!!!

Maeve and Luke dressed up for "Wacky Wednesday" 

8 years ago today!!!

Uncle Ryan and "little" nephews

Tuesday - March 3

Yikes.....TEN years ago today we were hit by the car in St. Pete!    Where-oh-where do the years go?    Very thankful that my shoulder is doing fine!

So, another pretty day in Fort Myers.......Mark got a haircut and ran some errands.    I went to the meeting at clubhouse  to meet candidates for our HOA board (election is next week).   Huge crowd and some very capable and dedicated.

We met Claire, Mike, Dana and Herb at the Boathouse for lunch....so good to see all of them.    After lunch they all came back to Cypress Trail and we sat on Flo's patio and yakked the afternoon away.    Bye bye to these dear friends and then we walked around the park!

Herb, Dana, Claire, Mike

So very heartbreaking about the Nashville and surrounding areas devastation,    Heartbreaking.

Praying for those victims and their families and the 3 victims of the plane crash in Lincoln, IL today.

Euchre tonight - I had best score for the women!    Yeah!!!

Today would've been Mark's Mother's 94th birthday!

Monday - March 2

UGH.....we were up very early (4:15 AM) and off to O'Hare for our flight back to Fort Myers.    Good flight on Spirit and nice to be back in the warm sunshine arriving on Flo around 11..    Yesterday it got to 57 in Bloomington, so not too shabby!   Hope their warm-up continues!

Many folks were wearing masks at the airport and shuttle bus.    Scary times with the coronavirus.    I was amazed standing in line at Starbucks this morning.  At 5:00 AM in Chicago, the majority of coffee drinkers were enjoying iced beverages instead of hot......thought that was strange.   Oh well, whatever makes you happy!

Unpacked and just took it easy this afternoon.    Later I got a manicure and a few groceries at Publix.

Mark and I played "Lucky 13" at the clubhouse - another fun evening and another huge crowd.

It's good to be back home, but so happy we were able to attend Patrick's "celebration of life".    It was a true testament to how much he was loved, respected and admired by his family, friends, fans and the community as he gave back so much to feed the hungry and homeless.    His legacy will continue on for Home Sweet Home Ministries by other bands and that would certainly make Patrick smile.

Friday-Sunday, February 28-March 1

Hello from Chicago where we are settled in for the night near O'Hare - tomorrow, we have early-morning flight back to Fort Myers.    We had a wonderful whirlwind weekend with family/friends with the big party last night honoring Patrick.

Friday - we left Fort Myers on Spirit Airlines (Philip's employer) and flew to Chicago where it was very cold but sunny.    We arrived 40 minutes early and had a gate waiting for us!     Got our car rental and off to Bloomington.    The sunshine didn't last long in our travels as it was very dreary when we arrived in Bloomington.

Great to be back with Anne and boys, AND Auntie Karen and Drew who were there for the weekend.    We all (except Liam) went to the Corpus Christi (Connor's school) fish fry which was delicious - fish, baked potato, cole slaw, bread and a big assortment of desserts.   They had two 50/50 raffles and Anne won the 2nd one - $130.     Yeah!!!   Liam got a ride to Peoria for hockey game since he had to be there an hour early. 

Rest of us headed to Peoria - very cold night and what a thrill to watch Liam and his Sharks team play in 1st game of tournament.   In triple overtime and then sudden death, the Sharks lost 4-3, but what a nail biter!!!      AND, tonight we had the added pleasure of my cousin Jane and hubby Joe to visit with and enjoy this heart stopper!!!    Late night when we got home, but so fun!!!

Liam, the Shark

 Cheering section

Jane, Pat, Joe, Mark

Saturday - It's Leap Year Day and been waiting for this day for quite a long time to celebrate Patrick.    First of all, we slept in and then met at Garden of Paradise for breakfast (brunch).

Liam, Connor, Anne, Drew, Karen, Mark

  The guys went their way to Upper Limits for some rock climbing with Grandpa watching.   We girls went on home and later in the afternoon, Karen went to Barnes and Noble, Anne, to VFW to deliver some things for tonight's party and Drew took the boys to "stick 'n puck" hockey.    Mark and I went back to Eastland Suites and rested a bit.

The Rock Climbers

Connor

Drew 

Liam

Drew, Mark and I went to happy hour at ES and then to Patrick's celebration.

Celebrating before the celebration... 

  Walked into the VFW at 5:45 into a sea of black and white Jury's Out shirts.    It was quite a party with a packed house and jammed dance floor.    The Jury's Out band members along with other musicians filling in were really jammin' and the crowd loved it all.    The tears, hugs and emotions were at a high level.

A caterer was there serving pulled pork sandwiches, mac 'n cheese, cole slaw and potato salad.    Unfortunately, he didn't bring enough food and by 6:30, was packing up his stuff and outta there.    Ours was very good.     So awesome to have family and friends there.....

Mark's sister, Joan, hubby, Joe, their daughter, Lisa and boyfriend, John

Tonight was a very successful celebration of Patrick's life.    He would've been humbled and so proud of the big turnout and so much LOVE in the air....

We love you, Patrick!

This  picture popped up on Facebook - 4 years ago today....

February 29, 2016 in El Centro, CA - # 5 (our Blue Angel) doing his thing!

Sunday - Welcome March!   Drew left for Iowa City around 8:30 after stopping at Anne's to say good bye.    Rest of us went to 10:00 Mass at Holy Trinity.    Then we went to lunch at Culver's.  

The Campbell's

  Connor had baseball practice from 1-3.   Karen left around 2:30 and we were on our way to Chicago shortly after.   

Such a fun weekend.    So appreciate the ongoing love and support shown Anne, Liam and Connor.    Truly blessed with great friends and although it can't possibly be 5 months (but it is), we continue to keep on going on.    We'll never forget this great compassionate, kind guy who because of his big celebration raised $4,700 last night for Home Sweet Home Ministries!!!

Thank you Patrick.....RIP

Thursday - February 27

Sunny, windy and cool....only in the 60's today.     We all slept in and then Mark and Marilyn were off to Bennett's for donuts and ran some errands.   Kevin, the landscaper was to stop by sometime today to talk about replacing the bougainvillea tree, so didn't want to miss him.

I did laundry and organized our closet and some drawers.....when they returned, we played 3-handed euchre with Mark winning 2 of the 3 games (I won the other game).

Mark took Marilyn to the Punta Gorda airport around 12:15 for her flight back to IL.   We had a busy fun 4 days and checked off just about everything she wanted to do while down here (list made 1 year ago)!

Siblings - #2 and #6 

Great time with Marilyn and already planning her 2021 trip to Fort Myers.

Mark took Jim and Lydia to the Fort Myers airport at 4:30 - they are flying back to St. Louis for special family time with their kids/grandkids.

Daddy and his toothless buddy

And... the Princess with her Daddy

Tomorrow we are flying back to IL......Can't wait to see Anne, Liam and Connor.  Saturday night is Patrick's "Celebration of Life" - an evening of music and fellowship hosted by his band mates and fellow musicians.  

I'm sure it will be one grand and emotional party!    My kleenex is packed. 😥