Big City Driving

I HATE driving in the Twin Cities

I DREADED the thought of driving in the Twin Cities BY MYSELF.

I ALMOST goofed up so many times.

Somehow, I managed to make it through and I feel a little more confident driving up there.

Friday was AWESOME!  The whole reason I went to Minnesota this weekend was because my grandpa had an Army reunion.  I ended up driving separate.  At one point, I called them and they were ahead of me.  I somehow managed to make it to the hotel just fine with some close calls on taking left side exits.  I called and they said they got lost and that I beat them.  Finally they arrived and so did some of the other couples.  The only thing I can relate this to is when we all see each other at camp.  There was plenty of hugs, laughter, handshakes, and LOTS of talking.  There was so much talking throughout the entire weekend.  Many of these couples I have known since I was a little girl dancing at the reunion entertainment of Howard Linder on accordion.  The evening was spent playing cards.  There is never a reunion without plenty of card playing!  :)

The next day, Mac attempted to teach me Blackjack. I don't think I was a very good student.

The Kim family is a Korean couple who were young children at the time of the war.  They are so very appreciative of the American soldiers and every year they hold a picnic to honor those who served.  That is what we attended on Saturday.  What a beautiful day it was!  They had Korean food as well as American food.  I sure didn't go away hungry!  There was a lot of people there and it was a wonderful program that was put on.  One of the ladies from the group brought a Flat Stanley along so she could do something for her grandkids!  :)

I wish I could even attempt to describe the talent that was our entertainment for the afternoon!  They were one family and were all so gifted!  Their little girl is 5 and she sang How Great Thou Art and It Is Well in English as well as Korean!  It was wonderful!  She also sang Tomorrow from Annie and it was ADORABLE!

After arriving back at the hotel, I struck out to visit with Matt & Emily.  I somehow managed to ALMOST make it to their church by simply taking a road because it looked  right.  I did manage to make it to church on time too!  :)  Church was wonderful.  It was so wonderful to spend time with them and Nathan again.  I just don't see them enough!  It was so good to catch up and hear how the youth group is growing and to even get asked to go to a retreat to help chaperon, too bad I can't.  :(  It's hard to believe that their little boy is walking already!  I just saw him at the beginning of August and he wasn't there yet.  He even chased me a little bit!  :)  Before long, though, it was time to head back to the hotel.  I managed to make it back in the dark!  I even came back to Gramps, Grammy, and some other couples still up playing cards!  Last night was a little bit of a late night.  I also found out from a man wearing a smirk that he volunteered to host the reunion next year.  I joked with Grammy that she will never really be rid of the rock.

The rock was passed on to the Erikson's since they hosted the reunion this year.  This is a traveling rock and Gramps and Grammy have had it for so many years because a certain someone is always eager to volunteer!  :)

It was a good weekend and I had to leave too early, but not before I raided our room!  :)  Some of the other ladies are stock piling stuff too, just for me!  :)  I've seen FRIENDS.  I know what to do!  :)

One of the guys joked that I needed to hang a red can of spray paint out my car to leave a trail for Gramps and Grammy.  It was a WONDERFUL weekend and I can't wait to help host next year's!  :)