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Happy 40th Don!

40 years ago today I was lucky to become a big sister.  

Have a great day Don. I love you.

Everyone else: Go wish Don a happy birthday at all of his sites....

• donnunn.com
• Facebook
• Twitter

 

55 and counting

One of my favorite places turned 55 today.  Here are some of my memories from there.

 This was taken earlier this year when I went on vacation by myself.  I had a great time.

Don, Katharine and Gammy near Main Street.

Katharine and Gammy on the People Mover. 

"Indiana" Nancy 

 Don, Katharine and Jerry on the Matterhorn.

Some of my best memories are at Disneyland.  We used to go every couple of years when we would visit my grandmother in Arcadia.  We would plan our days and have such fun.  I can't imagine my life without my family and Disneyland.

10 years ago...

I was preparing to move up here from Salt Lake City, UT with my friend Sonya.  We had scoped out an apartment, found jobs at North Creek Analytical and were running around doing final preparations before moving.

On the drive up here we had a moving van, Sonya's truck and my car.   I am notorious for my inability to drive for any length of time, and this trip was no different.  Depending on whom you ask, I made it about an hour and a half or two hours before I was drifting off and called my Mom to take my place at the wheel of my car.  After the switch I believe I lasted about 2 seconds before I fell asleep in the cab of the moving truck with Don driving.

I don't remember much of the drive - just that I really wanted to get here.  Once we did - our apartment was on the 3rd floor in a complex in Kenmore, WA - we proceeded to unload.  At the time I had quite a large collection of VHS movies (over 400) and I am fairly sure that Don was ready to chuck them in the trash.  I also had quite a few boxes of books that I had packed without trying to lift - what a mistake.  My Mom and Don were amazing and we got it all unloaded so that Sonya and I could spend the weekend unpacking and getting settled before starting work on Monday.  

I love it here and I am so grateful for the support I had to get here.  It has been an amazing 10 years and hopefully it will be many, many more.

 

Ian

My first cousin once removed, Ian came for a visit.  He has always made me smile, but today he was particularly goofy:

I haven't seen him since July 2002 and he has grown so much.  Here is a picture from the visit in 2002:

Thank you for visiting and making me smile.  You are awesome!

Yak Attack! Mmmm...

Mango daiquiri with wild berry flavors. Don had a Safari Amber Ale.

Waiting....

Don waiting for the Magical Express bus to take us to the Magic Kingdom.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I think Don covered it here but I will add: 

Here is a Happy Birthday hug from Fezzik and Buto

 

Have a wonderful day

Dear Gammy

I miss your smile.  Especially the devious little one you did when you were up to something. 

I miss your perfume and powder. 

I miss the card games and laughter over old stories. 

I miss the way you used to tickle my arm or my neck for hours. 

I miss the smell of lavender soap and watching you get your hair done. 

I think of you every time I see a hummingbird or use Yardley's soap.  I find myself wondering what you would think of the state of our country.  I am sad that I can't hear stories from you about when you were young: the depression, the wars, our family.  They were comforting.  It helped to know that our country made it through hard times and you survived. I find myself searching for that strength now since we are again in dark times.  I would prefer to hug you and hear the stories and have you tell me everything will be ok.  Instead I will hug myself and think back to the many times we sat on the deck in Arcadia and enjoyed each other and all of the beautiful flowers. I know that where ever you are, you are looking over all of us and smiling.

You will always be alive in my memories.

Love

K

Happy Mother's Day

I was trying to find a picture to post for today when I found this one. My Mom asked me to take it and give it to my brother quite a while back. I think it's only fitting since while he was visiting her last week he had a cold and was coughing up a storm. As mother's do - she told him to buy some cough drops but he didn't do it for several days and when he finally did he twittered: "I hate it when my mother is right."

I myself have experienced the same phenomenon. My greatest memory of my mother being right was her strong recommendation to take Latin in high school. Of course I didn't take it and it made my biology and literature courses in college that much harder. It probably would have helped with my French as well.

So my advice to all: Listen to your Mother - she is probably right. ;)

To my Mother:

Thank you for all of your love and support. I wouldn't be who I am today without it. I miss you and love you and hope you have a wonderful day.