Changes in Mind

Once we get solidly settled, I hope to do some serious computing. One thing I have in mind is updating this website.

Since I first started this site about 3 1/2 years ago, lots of things have changed in the blogging world. Even this site host (blogspot.com) offers themes and features which are not implemented on this blog.

There are other software packages which provide nearly unlimited possibilities as to appearance and features. WordPress impresses me greatly, so I'm thinking of trying it.

I'd like to have the site generate more readership (or course!) and more interactivity. If it were super easy to leave a comment, and have it show up quickly, more of you would comment, right?

Hopefully, we'll find out in the coming months.

By the way, if you have an idea of some feature you'd like to see on this Rockport 35 RV Park blog, please suggest it!

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What Are You Doing, Keith?

Guess I better "show up" here on the blog or readers will think I've gone on permanent vacation. Believe me, we're not on vacation!

We've been in our new digs nearly two weeks now. We're slowly getting things found, organized, and arranged. For example, Friday we went to Lowe's and bought a couple of slide-out trays for Pat's pantry. Now she can reach the cans in the back without resorting to her trusty step stool. A lazy susan for the lower level of the pantry will arrive in a couple of weeks.

The big challenge is getting all the "stuff" still at "the farm" (previous house in the country) sorted and either brought here or put in the "for sale" pile. (It's a very big pile!)

The lawn has continued to grow at a great pace, until this week. We've now gone the longest without rain since April, as I recall. Eight days! And the lawn is showing it.

We invited our friends over to see our new place the other night, so we've had guests once. None overnight, though. Wanna be first?

The new place? Yes, we're going to like it! We're both eagerly awaiting the day when all the stuff is dealt with in one way or the other and the sale is closed. Both should be completed between the 15th and the 30th of September.

Then we think we deserve a little vacation! I'd like to take the trailer out for a week or so—possibly to some CoE parks along the Mississippi River.

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A New Experience!

This morning, I did something I've never done before: I sat in the living room, reading the morning paper, while someone else mowed our lawn.

Condo living might not be so bad after all!

We moved in yesterday, so have been here over 24 hours now. We think it will be just fine!

And I hope to NEVER move again!

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Size of Our Condo

How big is your condo, Pat?

Here's one answer:
Keith vacuumed the carpet on the entire first floor and the stairs to the lower level while the vacuum cleaner was plugged into a single outlet.

Now that's efficient! And small, some might say.

Pat's kitchen has much less cupboard space than our current home. She's cutting waaaay back on her kitchen "things." I tell her that she needs to look at it as a modest step above our trailer in size and storage capability. And we get along just fine in the trailer!

Of course we can always count on a great meal on Thursdays while at Rockport 35 RV Park. That's the night of the famous Friendship Dinner! We eat pretty well down there, don't we!

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A Chat With Bob

This morning, I called Bob Foslien just to let him know that we were thinking of him. I figured a familiar voice might be welcome.

We had a great chat. He said that yesterday he told Michelle, their eldest daughter and who lives in Denver, had a family and her own affairs to take care of and should go home to them. She had been there with Bob and Karen for the last month.

She's the one who kept us all so well informed via CaringBridge and I'm sure was a God-send to Bob during this most difficult of times. I told Bob how much we appreciated her keeping us up to date, and what a difficult job that must have been.

Bob also said that he would be headed back to Rockport 35 RV park, probably in October!

I see this as absolutely wonderful news, for Bob and also for all of us who knew Bob and Karen. He felt it would be much better for him to be among all the good friends they made at the Park than to mope around Sheridan all Winter.

He also said, "Not in a million years would I have envisioned that what happened to Karen would ever happen to us." We talked about how fragile life is.

That naturally lead to a discussion of the value of good friends—and why we and many others return to 35 RV year after year.

Bob's phone number is (307) 674-6749. He just might enjoy hearing from you. I know that I enjoyed talking with him!

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Karen Remembered

These three days, the friends, relatives, and neighbors will be gathering in Billings, Montana, to celebrate the life of one of the great friends at Rockport 35 RV Park: Karen Foslien.

Just this past December, Karen "didn't feel good, probably the flu." It was a form of leukemia, she and Bob treated it the best way anyone (including MD Anderson) knew how, but now, less than eight months later, she has passed away.

Her family will miss her terribly. But a larger family, those at Rockport 35 RV Park, will also miss her to be sure. We've spent the last five winters at that park; that's where we met Bob and Karen. We know what a significant part of life at the park she was. And we will, both personally and collectively, miss her.

Of the several pictures of Karen, I chose this one to post here because I think it represents Karen in several ways:

• It's noticeable, just like Karen. The brilliant red draws our attention just as Karen's smile always drew our attention.
  
  
• It shows her "working" or, in other words, being active in Park events. Here, she's cleaning up after the Mexican Dinner in February, 2009. What isn't obvious is that she probably played a key role in planning the great event, too!
  
  
• She's quietly going about her duties, as usual. Although involved, full of ideas, and a great team player, she never forced her ideas or her way on anyone. She was clever, competent, and confident in her own person.
  
  

We know that other park guests feel the same way, as many commented on CaringBridge during her illness.

We will remember her as one of the shinning stars of the park.

Best of all, we look forward to seeing her again when we are called to our reward. She'll be waiting, with a smile.

And don't be surprised if she has a party all planned, just waiting for friends who come to join her.

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