The Precious

Yes, both Dennis and I love our grand children more than he loves the fish. Yes, I know that you have seen a picture of the sailfish and not any pictures of our Will and Reese (and Roger). There are excuses. Perhaps not good ones, yet excuses just the same.

There is the old standby that it is not wise, even dangerous perhaps, to put pictures of children on the Internet. Shielded as I am from the very limited people who would ever bother to read this drivel, I have still received this warning from some. I am however comfortable that our anonymity is secure.

Following close behind is the obvious self-serving nature of grandparents foisting endless pictures of children upon friends (aren't Christmas letters enough?). I survive this excuse by the common knowledge among you, my friends, that self-serving just comes second nature to me. You have long ago forgiven me such indulgences.

I am only left with the truth. I find it nearly impossible to figure out how to load pictures from a camera, from the Internet, from one of those Kodak on line album sites, and even from my computer picture file. I was only able to do the fish shot after Jens loaded it for me and made the whole process possible.

I have conquered the fear of blogging, and have put two pictures on these pages already. I go forward with the unwarranted confidence that three more pictures might be possible. I am about to attempt the uploading of pictures of William Hawkins Creighton, Reese Elizabeth Kottke, and Roger Greene the wonder dog (baby to Jacob and Sarah). So here goes..................................

So much for confidence. I seem to be able to upload pictures, but I cannot find a way to get them off the top of the blog and insert them instead were there would make the most dramatic impact--after the "So here goes" in the previous paragraph. Additionally, I note that the pictures appear above in the reverse order from the way they are listed in the text. In other words, the first picture is NOT William. Roger Greene appears first (a position that both Sarah and Jacob would argue ad infinitum is the correct order anyway).

Oh well, they are sure cute, aren't they? We are two lucky grand papas!

Fish on!

It only took a mere gesture toward the ocean for Jens to convince Dennis that it was time for some fishing. Ever the first to personally sacrifice for my family, I stayed home with my grand daughter (and Laura). Thirty mph winds (Dennis claims they were only 20 mph) and waves to match versus time with grand daughter/daughter. . .you do the math.

Little did I know that a monumentally historic event would unfold during my absence from the high seas. After all these years Dennis had a virginal experience.

Yes, Dennis caught his first sailfish. This one was actually as big as Jens and Dennis described it (not a common occurrence with their fish stories). It lived and was returned to the ocean, as are all of the fish they catch. The struggle to land it in the boat lasted a half hour with all the appropriate fish-flying-out-of-the-water that the Learning Channel would show. I am not sure if the rest of the winter even matters to Dennis. He is scouring the T-shirt shops of South Florida for just the right shirt with a picture of a sail fish, hoping it will start conversations with perfect strangers.

As for the plastic ring in his lap, he insists it is to hold the fishing pole. I really did not want to know any more than that.

We triumphantly returned to Key West for a five day visit. No one seemed to notice. Well one did. Our favorite check-out man at Publix Grocery asked where we had been. "Away for the summer" seemed to suffice. "How time flies," he added. "Doesn't it, though?" pretty much wrapped it up.

We came to Key West to join and support our dear friends Jack and Gail in a memorial service for their son, Jes. Aside from the joy of being with them again, the rest was very, very sad. Yet, the sailing ship they had selected and the setting afloat of Jes's ashes just as the sun dipped below the horizon could have been the most beautiful memorial service we have ever experienced. I do not know how a parent survives the loss of a child. Jack and Gail are our heroes in love, courage, and compassion. It was one of those seldom in life honors to be asked to be a part of the celebration of Jes's far too short life. Although you may not know them, please keep them in your prayers.

More good friends, Charlene and Michael (of Boccie ball team fame) also came to our rescue and allowed us to join them in their beautiful home (and guest cottage) perfectly located on Fleming Street in Old Town Key West. We are so blessed to have friends from whom we can be apart for months (or years) and just pick up where we left off when we reunite.

How does one act upon returning to a tourist destination where you no longer live after years of making it your home? Dennis just walks, visits, drinks his con leche (among other adult beverages) and enjoys the place. I, of course, slip into an existential exploration of feelings. Am I a tourist? Am I still kind of a local? I feel at home, but this is no longer my home. I love our new winter life on wheels. However, I am still one of those plants that can sprout roots even without soil.

Well, hope you enjoy following us as Dennis finds yet another fishing mountain to climb, and I nurture that old rollin' stone that gathers no moss that must be somewhere inside of me. Hell, if I can figure out how to blog, I can do anything, right?

No bragging about grandkids, I lied

Welcome to the Tom and Dennis travel blog (and you all thought this old dog could not possibly learn new tricks)! Hopefully this will end my children's humiliation with my mass emails, allow you to avoid our news if you choose, and drag the rest of you kicking and screaming into the blogisphere. This may be fun or soon become the longest unwanted Christmas letter in history. Time will tell.

For those untold million others who have already found our blog, you should know this is actually the third rambling from the road. All you need to know about the other two is that I am the Tom half of the equation, and that I promised to not spend my time bragging about my grandchildren.

As for the "Tom" part, I told the truth. As for the no "Grandchildren" bragging part, I lied.

We arrived in Durham, NC, parked the COW (condominium on wheels), and headed to Rob and Rebekah's house. It was Halloween. The door flew open and a little orange man (probably a pumpkin) sprang out, ran toward us and shrieked "Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii". As Tom Cruise said in that "show me the money" movie, "You had me at 'Hello'."

Will is a wonderful child with exceptionally good taste in grandpa's. After noticing Rob (sorry Rob but grandchildren just do that to grandpas), we settled in to await Rebekah's return from work at the hospital. A great 10 days ensued.

Rob, Will, Dennis and I took a trip to the outer banks for a couple days. Rob had stuff to do and some kite boarding to attempt (not necessarily in that order). We wanted to see it.

Who knew that a Nor-easter (wind, rain, and cold) could be just as comfortable turning into a sou-easter. It rained like hell with hurricane force winds and was freezing cold. As adept as we are at making lemonade out of lemons, we hunkered down for some grand quality time with Rob and Will. We got to sit in the elements one morning to watch Rob impressively kite boarding (all I know is it involves a short surf board, a kite, a harness, and lots of wind.) For the first time in a week a swaddled Will did not even squirm on Dennis' lap. Will believed, I assume (and accurately so) that he was about to freeze to death. Believing the same, I was not squirming on any laps either. (Keep it clean Friedman)

Rob advised us that we both could easily kite board. Rob and I obviously still have a vastly different definition for the word "easily". I can honestly report that kite boarding ranks right up next to sky diving on my list of must-never-do things. Surprise to you all--Dennis thought it sounded fun.

The place we parked the COW in Durham made the casino parking lots of the last couple days look clean and inviting. It still beat the motels we had previously frequented on these trips with someone else's linens and the pungent smell of curry wafting out from the room behind the check-in desk.

Off to Florida. From the valley to the mountain top. We made a stop in South Carolina at an amazing peaceful family campground on the hill. We had dinner with Kathleen (my recently found sister) and her husband Gary, then on to Florida. As always the time with Kathleen and Gary was magical and amazing.

FLORIDA--'nuff said!

We had both forgotten that one dare not move at Minnesota speed in Florida heat. As we scrambled to set up the COW, I advised Dennis that I was pretty sure I was going to faint. The heat and humidity was of the summer kind. Suffice it to say, I was in a near-death experience. If going toward the light had not sounded so hot, I might have just done it!

Laura and Reese brought lunch. It will astonish all of you that although you know me to be an instantly lovable person, Reese was unsure. It must be a primal judgment that has kept our species alive to distrust obviously dangerous people. Reese in other words has impeccable judgment of people. Although we are pretty sure Laura and Jens are here too, I will have to limit observations to Reese. At eleven months Reese is smart, beautiful, funny, wise beyond her years, capable of playing the concert violin, volunteering at charity events, and able to run a sub-4 minute mile. This blog may be the first you hear of her talent, but you should keep you eyes on CNN for news of her (and Will's) inevitable future accomplishments.

We have settled into Yacht Haven (not as fancy as it sounds) and anticipate our first prolonged stay in our Condominium on Wheels. (I wonder if I can put pictures in a Blog--Oh the frontiers yet to cross). On Monday we head to Key West for a four day stay. I will report any news I can remember or dare put in print.