I used to say we went "home" when we took a trip to Buda. I guess it's now a "there."
ISAAC & RICCI
The boy and his wife flew in from Georgia last Thursday. We met Ricci's mom at Payne's in Gas City and picked them up (they flew into Indy). It was the first time they had been here in a year. It was good to see them. They stayed until today (and flew out of Fort Wayne).
VISIT TO BUDA
Our entire crew went to Buda last Friday. The Feipels in their vehicle, and Isaac & Ricci with us in ours. We all stayed at my moms. The tent pictured above is where Jane and I slept both nights we were there. The grandsons also slept with us the first night but not the second. They claim I snored too loud. Either way, I kind of like sleeping in the tent (in the back yard anyway). It's plenty big, and we have a queen air mattress which is pretty comfy. I forgot to take a pic until I had it halfway torn down. We were there from Friday evening until early Sunday afternoon.
PRATT FAMILY REUNION
On Saturday, July 3, we attended Jane's family's family reunion (of sorts). All her brothers except the one in Colorado, and most of their kids and grandkids were present. I think I heard there were 59 in attendance. Doctor Tim and his lovely wife hosted the event. It was a beautiful day, and everything was very nice, but I was pretty seriously stressed the entire time and have since been pretty depressed. Maybe I was imagining things, but it seemed I was being shunned by most of the people there. My family are probably the only 'non-conservatives' of the bunch, and I suppose my opinions shared on Facebook about politics and the pandemic and whatnot just don't set well with some. I tried to speak to a couple people and they pretty much just outright ignored me. So I spent most of the time sitting with Carrie other than the visits I had with Tim, Joe and David. It was pretty humbling, humiliating, and sad. This was also the eve of the 40th anniversary of the death of Jane's dad.
BACK 'HOME'
When we came back to Fort Wayne, we still had several days to spend with Isaac & Ricci (and, of course, the Feipels). Sunday night (the 4th) we hung out at the Feipel farm and watched various fireworks light up the skies over the Fort.
Monday we kept the kids (along with Isaac & Ricci) and experienced Science Central. It was a fun time, and a good thing to do in air conditioning since it was extremely hot and humid outside. The pic below is of them in the F1 wind tunnel. We then made a stop at Sweets On Main for a treat.
Monday night all nine of us went to The Club Room for supper. It was also the weekly blues jam night of live music. Aside from dropping a couple hundred on food and drinks, it was a very nice time.
On Tuesday the Feipels all went their own way while we took Isaac and Ricci to the Fort Wayne Museum of Art. It's not something I would do on my own, but it's a neat place to visit occasionally. After that we stopped in at the Hyde Brothers bookstore on Wells Street. It's a very cool old place that has all kinds of used books. From there we had a snack at Welch's Ale House, then connected back with Carrie and the kids back at our house.
Today (Wednesday) I had to go back to work. Jane was off all week until tomorrow, so she took Isaac & Ricci to Utopian Coffee+Kitchen for breakfast, then they stopped off at my work before heading to the airport.
All in all, it was quite the weekend. It was so nice having the other Horwedels around for so long. I believe this is the longest they've spent with us for as long as I can remember, maybe ever. There were some tears that they had to go - especially from poor little Anna. She loves her aunt and uncle so. I always appreciate how Ricci dignifies her and doesn't belittle her feelings. She's a class act.
I wish we could have spent more time with my mom. I always feel bad that we can't visit more often, or stay longer when we do. That area is just not "home" anymore. We don't feel overly welcome and it seems we are strangers in a strange land. Sunday and Monday morning were two of my bluest in a long time. I didn't want to get out of bed. I suppose it's some kind of Karmic joke that someone who wants to be liked so much has to be so off-putting to others. I tried, but I can't really change who I am.
It was difficult going back to work today. I have grown to hate that place too. I'm afraid Jane feels about the same towards her job. We don't have a lot to celebrate at the moment... but at least we had a really good visit from our kids, and for that I am thankful.
***
Habakkuk 3:17-18
"Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior."
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