I was told about Elderhostel International and later took two delightful trips with them: to Rome, Italy, and Athen and the Cycladic Islands.

I was joined by a highly gifted group of party goers to make shrink art ornaments.  This task was daunting to them.  I quipped, “My special kids can do better.”

On another time Timothy’s dear Aunt Mary joined me us at Christmas time and she loved to play a certain card game. What we played now escapes me.  I kept trying to change it to Scrabble but she wasn’t interested.  That was the year  I’d had a terrible fall in my basement and my legs were killing me.  We took a jaunt to downtown San Francisco and I can still feel the excruiating pain I felt with every step I took!  All that from someone who loves to shop at Union Square, especially at Christmas time.

One year we went to see Ted and Didi and their extended family.  I remember playing some Triva Pursuit came via T.V. on the T.V. series Friends.  I’d watched the show for several years but Ted and Didi knew their names, habits, etc. etc.  I remember feeling stupid.  My gift was a beautiful lamp but it was far to fragile for me put in my suitcase.