What a Wonderful Time!!
I'm home from vacation and basking in the glow of a wonderful weekend spent with family! I cannot even begin to explain how it felt to be spending time with Keith, Valerie and her daughter JoAnne.
Our trip started on Thursday morning driving to Fargo to catch a plane. Thankfully we had good weather and everything was in our favor. We had a bit of a problem getting off the ground in Minneapolis but other than that the flights went well.
Valerie was already waiting for us at the resort. It was actually quite funny. We (Peggy and me) had just gotten in to our room when we heard knocking on the door to the connecting room. I immediately said, "I'm not going to answer that...we don't know anyone here...we're from North Dakota." Peggy said, "just tell them we're not with their party." ~LOL~ The knocking kept on for a few minutes then stopped, at which point knocking began on our door to the room. I looked through the peephole (yes, I work in a prison and I'm cautious!) only to see the beautiful smiling face of Val! Oh my gosh!! ~LOL~
Keith and Diane didn't arrive until Friday but by then all of us were in full chatty mode - catching up on what was going on with each other and getting to know JoAnne better. It was heaven! And when Keith arrived, the party began in earnest! He cracks me up. And Diane, what a lovely soul - such a sweetheart!
Friday found us heading downtown to check out the other casinos while Terry and Marna went to the George Jones concert. (Nope, I didn't go - if it would've been Keith Urban I'd have been there in a heartbeat!) ~L~ The rest of us went back to the Grand Sierra and started drinking...or shall I say -continued! (hehehehe) I had to keep assuring JoAnne that her ND cousins were NOT alcoholics. Right JoAnne?!
I lose track of my days but I think Saturday was spent indoors at the casino. We adopted this little corner of a lounge and just hung out - talking about family history, memories and how we got to be where we are. A lot of laughter, memories, and some tears too. If only our parents (brothers Eddy and Vern) could have seen us...they'd have been proud of us I know. I think Saturday night was also the night that they had the Fur Ball. We started seeing all these younger people walking around in fur....some rather scantily clad I might add. Terry and Keith were enjoying the eye candy, but there were a few guys with nice six-packs walking around too. (Peggy noticed them, of course.....I kept my eyes discreetly averted) (hehehehehe).
Keith and Diane had to leave Sunday morning to head back so he could get on the road. It was hard saying goodbye to them and I admit that I shed a tear watching them drive away. I hate saying goodbye!I tried to give them both an extra super long hug so that they knew how much I loved them. I am grateful that we could spend as much time with them as we did.
The rest of Sunday can be summed up in two words.... Bloody Mary's! I started at 10am and didn't quit until that we ate supper (pizza) around 7pm. Yes, I was a little toasted - but hey! It was my last full day in Reno and I was going to enjoy it to the hilt!. And I did....right up until the time we had to say goodbye to Val and JoAnne that night (we were leaving at 5am in order to catch a flight out of Reno). I cried....just like I used to do when we were kids and she had to leave to go back to California. I am vowing - right here and now- to keep in touch via text messages, blogs, Facebook, phone calls, emails (I'm horrible at writing letters!). I am NOT going to lose touch with her and Keith ever again. Plus, we have the bonus of getting to know the 2nd cousins: Tanner, Ryan, Chyna and JoAnne. I hope that when we have our next reunion (in a year and a half), that they will be able to make it. (JoAnne, it's up to you to fill them in on how wacky their cousins from ND are so they'll want to come check it out for themselves!) :-)
So, that is our trip to Reno in a nutshell. There was lots more that happened of course, but we're under an oath.......what happens in Reno...STAYS in Reno! (grin).
Our trip started on Thursday morning driving to Fargo to catch a plane. Thankfully we had good weather and everything was in our favor. We had a bit of a problem getting off the ground in Minneapolis but other than that the flights went well.
Valerie was already waiting for us at the resort. It was actually quite funny. We (Peggy and me) had just gotten in to our room when we heard knocking on the door to the connecting room. I immediately said, "I'm not going to answer that...we don't know anyone here...we're from North Dakota." Peggy said, "just tell them we're not with their party." ~LOL~ The knocking kept on for a few minutes then stopped, at which point knocking began on our door to the room. I looked through the peephole (yes, I work in a prison and I'm cautious!) only to see the beautiful smiling face of Val! Oh my gosh!! ~LOL~
Keith and Diane didn't arrive until Friday but by then all of us were in full chatty mode - catching up on what was going on with each other and getting to know JoAnne better. It was heaven! And when Keith arrived, the party began in earnest! He cracks me up. And Diane, what a lovely soul - such a sweetheart!
Friday found us heading downtown to check out the other casinos while Terry and Marna went to the George Jones concert. (Nope, I didn't go - if it would've been Keith Urban I'd have been there in a heartbeat!) ~L~ The rest of us went back to the Grand Sierra and started drinking...or shall I say -continued! (hehehehe) I had to keep assuring JoAnne that her ND cousins were NOT alcoholics. Right JoAnne?!
I lose track of my days but I think Saturday was spent indoors at the casino. We adopted this little corner of a lounge and just hung out - talking about family history, memories and how we got to be where we are. A lot of laughter, memories, and some tears too. If only our parents (brothers Eddy and Vern) could have seen us...they'd have been proud of us I know. I think Saturday night was also the night that they had the Fur Ball. We started seeing all these younger people walking around in fur....some rather scantily clad I might add. Terry and Keith were enjoying the eye candy, but there were a few guys with nice six-packs walking around too. (Peggy noticed them, of course.....I kept my eyes discreetly averted) (hehehehehe).
Keith and Diane had to leave Sunday morning to head back so he could get on the road. It was hard saying goodbye to them and I admit that I shed a tear watching them drive away. I hate saying goodbye!I tried to give them both an extra super long hug so that they knew how much I loved them. I am grateful that we could spend as much time with them as we did.
The rest of Sunday can be summed up in two words.... Bloody Mary's! I started at 10am and didn't quit until that we ate supper (pizza) around 7pm. Yes, I was a little toasted - but hey! It was my last full day in Reno and I was going to enjoy it to the hilt!. And I did....right up until the time we had to say goodbye to Val and JoAnne that night (we were leaving at 5am in order to catch a flight out of Reno). I cried....just like I used to do when we were kids and she had to leave to go back to California. I am vowing - right here and now- to keep in touch via text messages, blogs, Facebook, phone calls, emails (I'm horrible at writing letters!). I am NOT going to lose touch with her and Keith ever again. Plus, we have the bonus of getting to know the 2nd cousins: Tanner, Ryan, Chyna and JoAnne. I hope that when we have our next reunion (in a year and a half), that they will be able to make it. (JoAnne, it's up to you to fill them in on how wacky their cousins from ND are so they'll want to come check it out for themselves!) :-)
So, that is our trip to Reno in a nutshell. There was lots more that happened of course, but we're under an oath.......what happens in Reno...STAYS in Reno! (grin).
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