2017 Update - I Know, It's About Time

Reading over the last two blogs, it is hard to believe it has been several years since I wrote one. So much in life has changed.


The amazing band that my husband J had with his grandsons kept us busy, playing local shows and traveling to Mackinac Island, Put-in-Bay, OH, Grand Rapids and lots of other places. They opened for Bret Michael, Guess Who and Starship at the Traverse City Music Festival. We traveled by car and ferry with all the equipment. At first they needed me as an extra driver. As they grew up, the young men could help drive so I stayed home at times. And then last fall, they decided to stop playing together.

My mother lost her battle with cancer. My two feline companions left me after 18 and 19 years. I worked at the Costume Shop, I sang for Hospice patients until I decided to take a break. (I could not leave a patient so I stayed with Carol. She  was 94, how long could it be? Now she is going strong at 96.)  I am trying to figure how to deal with osteoporosis without drugs. My husband had cancer surgery and is still recovering from side effects of the successful surgery.

We have had two amazing vacations, among our many adventures, My bucket list item was to return to the Grenadines where I had enjoyed an amazing day sailing and snorkeling while on a cruise for my parents' 40th Anniversary.

In 2015, we booked an Island Windjammer cruise out of Grenada and enjoyed an amazing time sailing there and in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. With twelve passengers and 6 crew, it was a memorable experience. We sailed to the most beautiful beaches I have seen, snorkeled with turtles, hiked around islands, visited Happy Island at sunset, shared stories with fellow passengers and made some wonderful new friends.

Last year, Jerry decided we should try bareboat sailing in the British Virgin Islands and added a great visit to friends living in St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Island) on the front end. Most people go for a week, but we were delighted to be there for over two weeks. J , did most of the cooking including making fresh bread, and enjoyed the local rum.

J was still getting over his recent surgery so we were delighted to find a popular drink in the British Virgin Islands called a Painkiller. Of course, we had to 'take' one every chance we got. He was also very proud that his guesstimates on how much food and water came out almost perfect - we had just half a bottle of drinking water to use up the last day.







This year, J had the opportunity to visit Cuba with a train-enthusiast friend  who wanted to document the trains there before they are replaced with modern equipment. They set an itinerary to photograph and take video of as many trains as they could in ten days.




J was fascinated by the many musicians and various kinds of music he saw and heard on that trip,  and we decided to go back this summer to study the music.

There were bands everywhere we went, such as the many strolling musicians on the Malecon in Havana where we found a huge crowd on Wednesday night.

J found musicians in neighborhood bars. They were delighted we knew many songs and encouraged him to sing and play with them

There were bands every day at this beach resort in Varadero. Not a bad place to hang out and study the music scene.

We found these guys in a restaurant in a much smaller town, Santa Clara. J talked to them, bought their CD to study further and even played in. 

We usually travel with a guitar, so we entertained the hosts at the casa particulars (B&B's) where we stayed. Even though they did not all speak English well enough to understand the words, they kept time and hummed along, and one ninety-year old grandmother sang a love song for us. Music is truly a universal language.

So that brings you up to date, generally speaking. I hope to be back soon with more on the trips and maybe some more serious topics.