A Blipfoto and Friends Moment

Friends are priceless!

Deb, her "Taxman" hubby (who is not really a taxman), her niece, Kelly, Mr. Fun and I all spent a special sliver of time together this afternoon. Today was the memorial service for Deb's dad.

The two of us had two places to be today. We had just enough time to get from the Orange County holiday luncheon to Los Angeles County, except we got a little lost on the highway. So we were running late, but our timing was perfect.

We walked through the door into a room filled to capacity. We arrived at the very moment that the men of the American Legion were finishing their presentation. Then Deb's niece, Kelly, stepped to the microphone; I leaned over to Mr. Fun and said, "Oh my gosh, that's Kelly!"

I've never met Kelly. We are, though, blipfoto friends. I have watched her journal for a couple years and we've shared comments numerous times. Deb and I have both been "blipping" together for almost three years.

Kelly spoke a tribute about her grandfather that was nothing less than stunning. She captured his humor, his history, his emotion, and she did so elegantly. All of us were wiping tears as she spoke. She also caused us to bust out laughing as she told some funnies about her grandpa. At a funeral or memorial service there is nothing better than listening to relatives and friends recount the wonder of person we will no longer spend earthly time with. Today a granddaughter did so and she did it well.

When the memorial concluded and just before the meal began, we had a few precious moments with Deb, her taxman, and Kelly. I also had a couple moments to hug both of Deb's daughters, Haylee and Nikki. We've known Deb and her family for years, but it has been years since we've been with them.

We didn't stay long. We had come from a Christmas luncheon and we didn't need another meal. We knew that Deb and Kelly had lots of family and friends that they needed to spend time with. Today was a down-payment on a future leisure, long moment with them. Deb and I agreed that we need to travel a river together -- she knows that Mr. Fun & I love to travel rivers.

When I arrived home I opened Blipfoto and found a comment on yesterday's page that Rob had left me and it fits today so well that I am going to repeat it: "Not all riches are measured in dollars." Wow! I can testify to the truth of that.

Good night from Southern California.
Rosie (& Mr. Fun), aka Carol

P.S. In order to be gone most of the day, we left Chloe, Mitzi, and Max at the PetSmart Hotel for "doggie daycare." We've got three pooped puppies here tonight. They had such a good time while we were gone. We need to let them do that more often. We also soon need to get another backyard fence so these three cannot get to the pool when we are not home; then the backyard will be safe for them.