Yesterday we had a wonderful day with my son Travis and his wife Geli celebrating his birthday. But it was like it was my birthday, because I got to enjoy three of my favorite things.
Geli is a nurse and works the night shift, so we told them not to let us interrupt their regular living or work routines. She has the weekend off, so after she came home and slept for a while they came to see us about 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
Before they got here I was busy putting together the third edition of my authors newsletter, which will probably go out to the newsletter subscribers today. It includes a discussion about language that some may find offensive in books, and a short story by Russell Blake, one of the most prolific authors I know. If you’re not a subscriber to the newsletter and want to be, send me an email at editor@gypsyjournal.net and I’ll add you to the list. There is no cost, and I promise never to share your contact information with anyone.
While I was busy doing that, Miss Terry was making a vegan carrot cake for Travis’ birthday. I don’t like vegetables, but I do like carrot cake, and I have to admit I was a little skeptical about the whole vegan thing. But I have to tell you, it was delicious! I’m pretty sure Terry could find a way to make mosquitoes and grubs taste good, if she could find a knife small enough to filet them with.
After that delicious cake with its rich frosting, Travis and I worked off 1 1/2 or maybe 2 calories flying my DJI Phantom drone over this end of the RV park, since there were no other rigs parked close to us. About the time my third battery was running low, it started to rain so we came back inside just as it began to pour. Geli said it must be great to sleep to the sound of the rain hitting the roof of our motorhome and we assured her it was.
We visited for a few hours, talking about anything and everything that came to mind. Geli has a goal to become a traveling nurse someday so they can enjoy the RV lifestyle themselves. I think that would be really cool.
About 6 o’clock we all went to dinner at Mr. Chen’s Chinese Restaurant, one of our favorite places to eat here in Tuscaloosa. We have never had a bad meal there, and this time was no exception. The restaurant also has an excellent Chinese market, so after we ate Terry and Geli spent some time browsing the aisles looking at all the exotic goodies displayed on the shelves.
We went back to their house for a while, and the rain during the day really seem to have helped Travis’ garden. I’m amazed at how into growing things he is, though I probably shouldn’t be. Don’t let his beard and tattoos fool you, my son has one of the gentlest soul’s there ever was.
We talked a little bit about hydroponic gardening, and I think by the end of our conversation he was ready to do some research and give it a try. I just wish he could figure out a way to grow cheeseburgers and rib eye steaks!
And what’s in store for today? More family fun, of course! We’re looking forward to it.
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Thought For The Day – The happiest people in life are the givers, not the getters.
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Nick Russell
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That’s one thing I really miss about the RV lifestyle …. gardening. I tried the kitchen garden, but ended up with cactus and a bonsai that I have to park outside the door every day. Neither produce anything but finger pricks and dead leaves. 🙁