With all the events and happenings here at Dry Creek, I totally forgot to post a short update on what I was up to BEFORE all these things transpired.
My brother in law, Don Burgess, passed away after a long illness and us Hanson girls decided it was probably a good idea to all converge at my sister Alexandra Hanson Burgess' family home in Springfield MO and spend some sisterly time together...
This is easier said than done since my youngest sis. Marina Hanson Alvarez lives in Buenos Aires Arg. I live in Alaska, and Karenza, our oldest sis. , lives in Texas. By a stroke of sheer good providence, miracle God workings and just plain "luck" I had enough miles (plus some
$$) from our Europe trip to make it and so we all converged in Springfield MO. As it happened Marina put her good standing and retiree benefits from the airlines into use, and was able to fly standby for most of the way from South America.
My trip was uneventful but for the 10 hours lay over in the Dallas airport because of the blizzard/icy conditions...I finally spoke some sweet words into an agents ear and she put me on the standby list and got me on the 10pm. plane...which got me into Springfield at midnight, rather than 4 pm as intended...but...all was well...
The best part is that I had my sister San all to myself for a couple of days...and that was nice!
Two days later we picked Marina and my niece Jessie up and then K and her friend Mary Summers arrived after driving 8 hours from Jefferson TX. K was in the throes of having just returned from our trip to Europe and then in the midst of a very busy Christmas season for the shop she manages - but was able to make it nonetheless..
We spend a lovely week or so with San and her family, a sweet time of being together as it was Christmas and New Year as well. The gift giving under the tree went on for days it seems, as somebody or something new arrived each day...San's two 5 year old grand kids, Tristan and Charlize, were happy for THAT part I am sure! There was always something xtra under the tree for them...I wonder what they made of all these older ladies - loud ones at that - milling around the house and stealing their precious gramma away from them!
As it is, Tristan kept asking us: "Are you my grammas sister?"...so cute! He would come into our bedroom and jump on the big bed and I think he enjoyed his eccentric great aunts....my niece Jessie and him got on like a house on fire, we could hear them whispering to each other over little games and cuddles, Jessie launching out into her English and conversing which was a very cool...
We were treated to a nice New Year's dinner hosted by my nephews Daniel and Benjamin and his lovely wife Jeshua. Sang songs around the coffee table and just enjoyed each other's company until it was bed time for the old timers (us gals...haha). At midnight we were duly awakened by somebody setting of a rather loud fireworks or gunshot or something...and then Dan called us to wish us HAPPY NEW 2013! Their part of the neighborhood had been clanking cow bells to bring in the year...
I was amazed at the large variety of thrift shops and antique stores and just LARGE Walmarts and other big stores which we do not have up here in Alaska...at least not in that variety. We shopped for all sorts of things. The antique store was actually like a large SAMS CLUB with bookhoodles of "stuff", statues, furniture, jewelry...an antique buff's dream...Ani would have loved it..I picked up an antique lapis-lazuli and silver pinkie ring and an original Murano glass ring for her at a good price...
A visit to BASS PRO headquarters was a must, and my nephew Dan was sweet enough to take me for my second visit ever (the first was when I had May, Ani and Rob with me in 2009), it was very upgraded and even boasted a live alligator... many good sales on so I picked up a nice Carhartt jacket for Rob at less than half the price of what it costs up here...
In the end we all gave each other so many gifts that I had to actually purchase a new roller bag - also at a fraction of the cost - to bring up with me...good thing I had packed light so I only had one checked piece.
We even squeezed in a short visit to nearby Branson city (where Silver Dollar City is) and rode the bumper cars...what fun! Never had done that before...
A visit to remember and cherish down through the years...at times likes these one is confronted with the fact that our lives are "but a vapor" and one must try and keep chance meetings as gifts from above...just like Ani and my trip to Europe....things like that do not happen just because....God has a plan...Thank you Lord!
Thank you girls for making the effort to cross the miles that separate us... thanks San for sharing your sweet family with us, and hosting us so generously, thanks Benj and Jeshua and sweet Charleze, Daniel and Tucker (I want him for Rob! haha...) and Fi...thanks for sharing your little Tristan with us, he is such an awesome kid and you're a good momma..
Blessings to you all and may we meet again soon somewhere on the globe...let's keep updating and connecting with each other...life is too short not to!!
Love you all
your sis, aunt and great aunt...Gri
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