What a Treat!

Saturday, we went to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl parade in downtown Phoenix. Kansas State will play Oregon in the bowl game Jan. 3. The festivities begin with the parade on Saturday and marching band competition on Sunday. Since downtown Phoenix is 32 miles from our resort and we didn't know where to park there, we drove to the Mesa light rail station and took the train downtown.

The parade we saw was very interesting. But all that happened, beginning when we got off the train, was the real treat. It was almost like a late Christmas gift from a Secret Santa. We got off and were trying to decide which way to go (we have never been in downtown Phoenix) when a woman who had also been on the train asked, "Are you going to the parade?" We answered yes and she asked if we would like tickets to sit in the bleachers. We had read about those seats and chose not to spend $25 a person to watch a free parade. But Trisha had extra tickets and offered them to us. We learned that her family had planned to use the tickets to watch one daughter march with the Basha High School band from Chandler. However, her son and husband got tickets to the Fight Hunger Bowl game in San Francisco, where Arizona State University was playing.

Wow! Free seats within a block of the parade starting point, within sight of the reviewing stand! So, we walked with her toward the seats. We came to a large area blocked off and Trish asked one of the Fiesta Bowl officials on a golf cart how we could get around the blockage. He said to hop on the golf cart. Here was our view of the parade route as he drove us to our seats.



Here I am, seated with Trish. Since the parade lasted 2 1/2 hours, we were really glad we were able to sit down.



In case you are more interested in the parade than our good fortune, let me show you some of the things we saw. There were a number of large balloons. I had never seen a parade with balloons before.



There were some really interesting bicycles.



Both high school and college marching bands were there. Participation is by invitation only. This college band was huge.



Trisha's daughter Emily is (I think) the third flute player in on this row.



These biplanes flew over just as the parade began.



One float had blooming saguaros.



Here are some of the Wild Women of the West.



Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his wife rode on the department's tank.



And these young people were singing about "Standing on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona."



We had a great time at the parade and want to thank Trisha for being our Secret Santa. We bought ourselves another late gift, as well.



We have finally moved into the 21st century with our iPhone 5 smart phone. Let me tell you, the learning curve is a little steep, but it does take good pictures.

Frustration

Although, at the end of the day, I accomplished most of the items on my to-do list, this day has not been all I hoped it would be.

I know that the US Postal Service wants to stop Saturday delivery of mail. But I didn't know that the counters at post offices are closed on Saturday. We had some gifts to mail to Sweden. They can't be mailed at the small post office in our resort, so today I drove to first one, then another nearby full-service post office. And neither one is open on Saturday! So those gifts haven't been mailed. I'll do it Monday.

Next, I went to Hobby Lobby to buy Christmas wrapping paper and some boxes for gift cards. I found some really pretty, shiny paper. Unfortunately, when I opened it at home, I discovered it is paper for lining baskets. It is clear! That won't hide the description of gifts for our New Hampshire granddaughters. Since I wanted to get the gifts wrapped and didn't want to drive to the store again, I covered the boxes with typing paper, then with the pretty, clear paper. Not a perfect solution, but the gifts are wrapped.

One task did go as planned. I am taking three dozen cookies to church tomorrow. I got the cookies mixed and baked, with an additional three dozen for John and me.

We have completed all our Christmas shopping for gifts that must be mailed. All of our Christmas cards are mailed or emailed. Two of the three sets of presents to be mailed are wrapped. I guess, since it is just December 1, we are in pretty good shape. How many of you are this far along?

It's Time to Gloat

John says I should do a smarty-pants dance. But I'll just gloat. At noon today we walked out of the post office here at Valley del Oro and all of our Christmas packages and all of our Christmas letters were in the mail. Wow! Does that ever feel good. For the rest of the month, we can relax and have fun. We have worked hard at shopping and making gifts, writing the letter, printing labels, etc, etc, etc. Now we are done.

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas--NOT

We're looking forward to a 70 degree day on Christmas. We don't share the sentiments of the intro to Irving Berlin's famous song, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas."

The sun is shining The grass is green The orange and palm trees sway. I've never seen such a day In Beverly Hills LA. But it's December the 24th.

We, too, see orange and palm trees swaying here in Mesa, AZ.

But this is what we will miss this year. We've only spent Christmas with Rachal (top) and Samantha (bottom) once in their lives. They now live in New Hampshire.






We've spent every Christmas with these two. Kylie (top) and John live in Littleton..






We have no one but ourselves to blame for this situation. We're the ones who left. And we love what we are doing. But all life's choices have both an up side and a down. Being away from family on this holiday, especially, is a down side.

However, I am here with my best friend in all the world and we are surrounded by hundreds of people here at Valle del Oro who also are away from family and we will enjoy joining many of them for a festive dinner on Christmas Day. That will be after we open the many small gifts under our small tree.



We decided that since we weren't going to watch other people open gifts Christmas morning, and we didn't really need or want anything major ourselves, we would buy each other a few small things each. Eric, Liz, Kylie and John sent other gifts. We will have lots of fun this year.

And we have already started enjoying the Hickory Farms foods Doug, Sherry, Rachal and Sami sent us.

Merry Christmas to all of you reading this blog. It's been good to have you share our adventures during the year. We hope you have a blessed holiday and a Happy New Year.