Last year I quoted, ”It just don’t get no better than this”.. Well, I was wrong! It does! What a super year this has been. Good times with friends and family, safe travels for all and blessings in abundance. I hardly know where to start.
Nate & Gina.. Living here on Marco in a little house with 2 dogs and at least 5 snakes of all sizes, shapes and colors. I just don’t know where he gets that snake obsession. Doing his music thing and seems to keep busy and pay the rent. Also started working as a waiter in a local restaurant recently.(Now that might be his notch) . You might recall that I “donated” the old Harley to Nate last year. It is now scattered around his garage in a hundred parts. He decided that the paint needed updating and he has been working on it all this time.. It might never see the road again. Gina is still working at the Coach Store and seems to be coping with Nate’s idiosyncrasies. We still have Pongu (Nates not-so-bright-Beagle) but GAM says he goes when we move into the new house.
New House?? As I mentioned in last year’s letter, Gara Ann wanted a new house so we tore down the old and put up the new. This is happening on Marco with increased frequency due to the tremendous inflation of any property with a view. We will be moving in about the time you are reading this letter. A couple of compromises had to be met to get me to agree to the new home.. #1. A garage; (not just a garage) but a real GARAGE! One bay is 46’ long and 14’ high for a motor home plus 2 other oversize stalls for cars and workshop. #2. A room dedicated to my selfish self. I call my hangout “Margaritaville” and it will be an exclusive club ( by invitation only). It is upstairs overlooking Stillwater Bay with a large (unscreened) balcony. I get to garnish it any way I choose. Probably early Hemmingway with a touch of hodpodge. (have anything to donate?). Already have a 6’Blue Marlin mount (named Homer) for the wall. Donated by good friend and great killer of fish, Mark Lockhart. He made us come to Indianapolis to collect it but that story is in another paragraph. Gara Ann’s part of the home is “normal”. She enlisted the aid of her sister (the artist) and they trooped up to High Point, NC to buy furniture and accessories. A real fun time if you are into that sort of thing. She had the builder make certain adjustments to the design to accommodate some artifacts from her parents home in Centralia. Some stained glass windows, an antique lantern and a day bed. They will be a nice touch. My input was minimal into the home design and colors and nonexistent in decorating. (my choice).
Grannies and others. My mom has been with us nearly 2 years now and is doing very well. She is excited about the move to the new home. She has purchased a bed specifically for her room and is looking forward to the decorating tasks. We have limited her to 1 wall of photos but her closet will accommodate all of her (many) clothes. We joke that if I put her on the street she will need 2 shopping carts for all her clothes.
Grandma Toalson is comfortable in an assisted care home in Springdale, AR. It is really nice and the apartment is spacious. Plus Sister Alice and her family are only minutes away; she is enjoying “retirement”. Gerry Villars is a little house in Mexico, MO and is close to her friends and her church and is also enjoying her retreat from the work force. You are probably getting the idea that Meadowlark farm (Gara Ann’s ancestral home in Centralia, MO) is closed down.. After 50 years and a full generation the farm has been sold. Gara Ann drove up and spent 2 weeks with brother Bill & sister Alice getting ready for the big sale of household possessions and the home and acreage. GAM took my van up and came back loaded with artifacts and family “heirlooms”. It was also Anchor Fest and the Chance family was honored which meant a family reunion and then the celebration of Charlie Toalson’s graduation. The landscape of Meadowlark Farm has already changed with no pond and new houses, but nobody can take the memories and they are treasured by many! She had already spent time with Alice & Bill sorting & packing in the Spring.
Vacations & travels.. I got away on my annual October Mountain jaunt as usual with a few detours. We needed to go to Indianapolis (camped in Mark & Brenda’s back yard), as previously mentioned and had a super visit with all of our Indy friends.. Rode the bike thru Brown County at the height of the Leaf season (stunning) and were entertained lavishly by that Indy bunch. Stopped off in Prospect, KY and camped in Friend Pam Breeland’s back yard. Explored the Ohio river from the bike for a day and then on to Columbia, MO with a stop off in Mexico, MO to visit Gerry Villars. Why Columbia You ask? FOOTBALL! GAM decided that since we were sooo close and MO was playing Nebraska that weekend….. Oh heck, why not. MIZZOU stomped the Cornhuskers and although it rained during the game and everyone was soaked, GAM was the happiest alumni there. The last time MO won against Nebraska in a home game was October 13,1973 (our wedding day)… This was our 30th anniversary!(almost-October 11th,2003).
I didn’t attend the game but watched it from our nephew’s sports bar (D. Rowes) about a mile away. I was dry and happy – consuming smoked ribs and drinking cold Corona. On to Atlanta and I put GAM on a plane for home and work while I went to camp Martin in Blue Ridge, GA for some much needed R & R.
Camp fires & hillbilly music, kids & dogs, nephews & nieces, in-laws & outlaws…. If you haven’t experienced it you are missing out! I hardly get my camp set up when the locals (them Hoopers) start showing up; light a fire and the party starts.. We spend a lot of time around the fire, eating, drinking and lots of laughing. My kids, Jeremy & Jessie are growing up but a new batch are showing up. Check out the pictures at:
http://www.realtor.marco.net/Martins/martins001.htm
http://www.realtor.marco.net/Martins/martins002.htm
Almost as many kids as dogs. I get to pick up my Jessie at school with the bike as often as possible and I think she gets a kick out of that.. We’ve been doing that since she was 8 or 9 yrs old. Niece Jenny and husband Tim ride motorcycles also so we always get in a ride or so. By the way, they looked after Granny while GAM was with me for the first week. Nate sent them down to a friends “zoo” in the Everglades so daughter Danny (age 4) could play with a big snake (18’ and 100 LBS).. She loved it and now we have another snake enthusiast in the family.
Gara Ann came back up for the last week of October and we
left Camp Martin for the bright lights of Gatlinburg, TN. We met up with the Danboms and Gaults at a
campground and spent 3 days enjoying good friends and a real tourist town. Back
to Blue Ridge for some more time with the family then on to Marco Island. As
much fun as it is to travel and visit friends in their home environment, there is
“no place like home”.
The First Baptist Church Marco Island continues to be a focal part of our life and exciting things are happening at that place! December 7 GAM was recognized as being “the oldest church member”…I think that means she has been there the longest – 30 years.
Addresses: E-Mail realtor@marco.net
165 Stillwater Ct. Marco Island, Fl 34145
In closing we ask you the question from our Christmas Musical. ”What will YOU do with King Jesus? He came as a tiny baby, wore a crown of thorns and gave his life for you, but you have to decide …”WILL HE BE KING OF YOUR LIFE?”
Our wishes for a Happy Christmas and Blessed New Year in 2004.
