Happy Holidays!
2019 began with Claire and Audrey and their children with us in Tucson for a few days. We hiked, built fires, and went to Colossal Cave. We celebrated our 38th anniversary on January 3... a good way to start the new year!
We took a driving trip to California in late January, staying in Santa Barbara and Carmel, and visiting Spanish Missions along the way plus Hearst Castle, and enjoying the drive along HWY 1 through Big Sur. A highlight was seeing over 50 whale spouts while having breakfast in Carmel. We took another driving trip in May, to Canyon de Chelly, another favorite place, with friends Rachel and Bill, and their daughter Rebecca meeting us. We enjoyed a visit with friends, Joanne and Janice, Navajo jewelry makers. Rachel and Lulu nominated Joanne for a Master Artist award at the Southwest Folkart Alliance and she won! We hosted Joanne's family for a weekend in Tucson in October.
We met Audrey’s family in Eleuthera, Bahamas in March, for a week on French Leave Beach. We spent a few days in Dallas in May, with Whitney and Brian’s families, plus saw long time friend, Linda. We are fortunate to see Claire’s family every month or so, since they are in Phoenix. Colby invited Lulu to his first grade Mother’s Day Tea in May, and he and Emerson spent a week with us in June. We took them to Old Tucson in September and watch old Western movies every time we’re together. We enjoyed visits with Whitney’s family in Arizona, in March for spring break and again for Labor Day weekend. We visited Lulu’s parents in Kentucky in September, decorating Lulu’s Dad and Martha’s apartment with Mary and Rick, and spending time with cousins Dickie and Susan, then flew to Omaha to visit Audrey’s family in their new home. We made several trips to San Antonio through the year, visiting Lynne and helping her with a move.
Tucson keeps us busy! We stay in touch with our Boys and Girls Club kids that are growing up! We hosted them in May and again in August for breakfasts. We see them individually and enjoy keeping up with their education and career choices, a quinceanera, a baby shower, and more. We went to Wa:k Pow Wow in March and the International Mariachi Festival in April with friends Rachel and Bill, and we visit the UA campus often, for Engineering Day, Tucson Book Festival, lunches and dinners with scholarship recipients, and lectures. We see Papa’s childhood friend, Jennie and her mom, Jovita, for an occasional lunch or dinner. Jennie met us at the Tucson Museum of Art a few weeks ago. Our neighborhood has a new supper club. We hosted supper club in late April and have enjoyed several suppers since, getting to know our neighbors.
We were away for much of the summer. We spent ten days on Mallorca with Audrey and her girls joining us for a week of exploring beaches, caves, markets, and Palma. We flew to Bordeaux and met Lulu’s childhood friend, Pam and her husband, Kenith, for ten days of exploring along the Dordogne River and the Bordeaux region. Pam and Kenith flew with us to Bari, Italy, and we spent a week at Masseria San Paulo Grande near Ostuni, exploring towns full of trulli and Baroque architecture. We spent two nights in ancient Matera, the 2019 Cultural Capital of Europe. Friends from London, Nico and Neil, joined us for dinner in Matera. We said goodbye to Pam and Kenith in Italy, and flew to Athens where we rented a car and spent two weeks on the Peloponnesus, visiting Corinth, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Sparta, Nafplio, Pylos, Olympia, then up to Meteora, Delphi, and ending our visit south of Athens at Poseidon’s Temple. It was a wonderful trip!
We left in early November for two weeks in Portugal and met Audrey, Brian, and Whitney’s families in Iceland for Thanksgiving Week. Favorite memories were made at the Blue Lagoon and seeing the Northern Lights. Lulu spent a week in Dallas in December, staying with Toby and Greta, while Whitney went to Shanghai, a course requirement for her MBA. Papa stayed home and was invited for dinners with friends, Jennie and Jovita, Judith and Toby, and Rachel and Bill.
Papa has done various leather projects for family throughout the year. When at home, he rides his bike a few times/week on The Loop Trail. Lulu walks with neighborhood friend, Ornella, a few times/week. We hike in the mountains of Tucson from October through May. Life is good! Come see us! We’ll take you on a hike!
Love, Lulu and Papa
