IT'S MARCH ALREADY?

We arrived back in California on the 3rd of March after four months in New Zealand. It's been a busy month with pre-scheduled doctors appointments, a visit to Fresno to see family and especially Abby, the first great-grandchild. What a gorgeous little lady she is.

And how about Jace? Diane's first grandson. The picture was taken in October 2008 and he is even more handsome now. April looks like it will be a busy month what with Fed and State taxes, weddings, family visits, university graduations, parties, golf, pickleball and you name it.

Spring has sprung and it's great to see the blossoms and trees sprouting aplenty, as we usually come back to California in May and miss this lovely happening.

BACK IN NEW ZEALAND

It was a long flight and a round about way to get here (via Sydney), but arrive I did with 15 1/2 hours of actual flight time. Diane arrived three days earlier. Two days after arriving and still a bit jet lagged I played 18 holes of golf with 11 of the NZ mates that I usually play with. I haven't walked 18 holes since the last time I played in NZ which was over a year ago. I felt like I was walking on stumps when I finished 18. It's all golf carts when I play in California as that is what most of the old geezers do. My stamina is just great, but surgery on the right and left knees has left them a bit wonky. It is good to be back and see our NZ families again. The weather has been great as spring is now here and summer in waiting. It's funny, but as soon as I get in the car and get behind the drivers right side, a light goes off in my brain and I adjust right away to driving on the left side of the road. I even breeze through the roundabouts like I know what I'm doing. I turned on the TV this AM to hear Fox News of all things, a recent addition to NZ TV. Listening to the voices one feels like they are back in the US.

The Great Grand Daughter

My grand daughter Stephanie and her husband had their first child and my first great grand child on September 19th. Her name is Abigail Lauren and she weighed in at 9 lbs. 3 oz. and 21 inches long. The thought occurred to me that if I make it into my 90's, there is a chance I could be a great great grand father.

SEPTUAGENARIAN BUNGEE JUMPER?

I was celebrating my 60th birthday when the above jump was made over the Kawara River near Queensland, South Island, New Zealand. I was not going to jump, in fact, I thought that any one doing it was crazy. I plead nuts then, because after watching people for almost two hours and listening to some rocking tunes from a Boom Box, I was pumped up and would have jumped off the Empire State Building. My main concern was not fainting on the jump platform and wanting to look good when I dove off. I was measured and weighed so that I entered the water up to my waist and then recoiled out and up to almost where I had jumped from. The adrenaline rush from this jump lasted almost a year. I am older and wiser now, but still a little nutty and may just celebrate my 75th next year with another jump.

GREAT GRANDFATHER-------------ME???

The winsome lass in the picture is my grand daughter Steph and within her womb is my yet to be born great grand child. How can this possibly be? Seems like it was only yesterday that her mother was the same age (26). With two other adult grandchildren, the middle one, Denise, recently married, I would say I have a pretty good chance of even more great grandchildren.

BOCCE BALL WINNERS

My Bocce Ball partner and I were happy to win the Men's Doubles Championship this May. We even won some $$$ which I guess now makes us Professionals. I believe I even spied some Pro Scouts lurking about. Now if my Golf Game would just come about as well.
The weather could not be better for all kinds of outdoor activity and we have been taking full advantage. It will not be too long before temps reach the 100 F mark, but then, it is dry.
Diane has made a quick trip to New Zealand and will be back on the 19th of June.
We have made a couple of changes in our travel plans for next year. Rather than a two week cruise we have booked a one week cruise on the Windstar, from Lisbon to Barcelona and decided to spend more time before the cruise visiting Portugal and Spain by car. We will still be going to New Zealand this coming November and will take the trip to Europe after we return to California in March.

HEALTH UPDATE

I finished up my Chemo Treatments which started on the 21st of December and ended on the 22 of February. No nausea, no hair loss, no negative effects from any of the drugs or infusions that I received, in fact, I continued to be quite active through the whole process, swimming three times weekly as well as tennis and golf. My blood count numbers are heading in the right direction and hopefully I will have a long lasting period of remission. I will be receiving a CAT SCAN in a couple of weeks to see if my affected lymph glands have shrunk. In anticipation of positve readings, Diane and I are planning our next trip. A cruise on the WINDSURF from Lisbon, Portugal to Barbados in November, and then on to New Zealand for a few months. Diane is recovering nicely from her knee surgery on the 24th of March. They did the Keyhole Procedure to repair the torn miniscus. Despite these medical inconveniences, we have continued our active life style here in this "AGE RESTRICTED, ACTIVE ADULT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY" Whew!!!