Black Friday

So I didn't get to the computer yesterday to update our Thanksgiving holiday. This has been kind of a rough week, leading into our first major holiday season without John. There were lots of memories this week including that I started this Blog one year ago. The premise of the blog was to bring our Stanford Times Christmas newsletter into the 21st century of instant computer updates. In reality we knew it was to keep our family and friends informed about John's melanoma status. I have enjoyed the blogging both as a way of expressing some of my own feelings and as a way of keeping in touch with friends. I love when you comment but I also know some of you enjoy lurking. That is fine too. Sometimes it has helped me to know you lurkers know what is going on but we don't have to talk about it. I continue to be amazed at how quickly life moves on and we return to a somewhat normal daily routine. It is wonderful to know we can laugh and enjoy life and friends and family. For that I am thankful. I am also amazed at how much John continues to be in our thoughts. For that I am thankful too. He needs to be remembered because he was a special part of our family and we do all miss him.

For now we are OK. The holiday itself was much easier than the week leading up to it. We enjoyed a brined turkey again this year that was the best ever. We were surrounded by friends and family. We are thankful to be here now and have our health (and jobs). Life goes on and it is good.

"We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter what may be the burden of our wants, or the special subject of our petitions."
Albert Barnes

A trip to Nashville

Steve had a meeting in Nashville this week so I tagged along. I was pleasantly surprised by Nashville. I started out Thursday morning on a walking tour I found online. Not being a huge country music fan I thought twice about visiting the Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame, but I paid the admission price and got the audio tour. It was delightful! Really much more of a history of country music and evolution of the genre than anything. I loved it and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Nashville. My next stop was the Ryman Theater which was the original home of the Grand Ole Opry. This too was a wonderful historical building with a self guided tour. Some of the other venues on this walking tour were Fort Nashbourgh, Tennessee Titans Stadium, the Tennessee War Memorial and Museum and the State Capital. I skipped over most of the Honky Tonks as the afternoon is probably not the best time to catch the latest new artists playing but that would be a great addition to a longer stay. We were staying at the Hermitage Hotel which is a historic building itself, built in 1910. Nashville is definitely a city I would recommend a visit to.


Country Music Museum and Hall of Fame






The stage at the Ryman Theater





Titans Stadium





City skyline





Fort Nashbourgh Cabin





The Tennessee War Memorial and Museum



ATT building downtown

November 14, 1984

On November 14th, 1984, my life changed. Michael Jeffrey Stanford came into our lives and we learned all about Down Syndrome. It was not the happy times usually associated with a birth but he was part of our family and we were all going to learn together how to proceed into this new adventure. He was kind of scrawny and had a hole in his heart but all the love and perhaps some prayer soon resolved that problem.


At Christmas that year he was doing well but still looked small compared to the popular Cabbage Patch Dolls that Grandma Stanford managed to find for all the granddaughters.



By the fall of 1986 Mike was already dressed to support Ohio State although I think it may have been a hand me down from John's wardrobe of baby shower gifts.



On his 10th birthday he recieved a trip to New York City with Dad. The rest of the family joined them for Thanksgiving with the NY relatives. Grandpa Stanford managed to get us Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade tickets and it will remain a family vacation highlight. This photo was taken before mom arrived. Part of the 10th birthday trip with Dad was to spend special time alone with Dad and see that Dads do things differently than moms.



A solo trip to Los Angeles some years later had him persuading Jessica to take him to see the Walk of the Stars. Does it surprise anyone that knows Mike whose star he got photographed with.



He loved being in John's wedding with Annal as best man and Mike as best brother. The toast he gave at the wedding was special.



But most of all Mike likes being photgraphed with pretty girls. Here he is with his cousin Christine at her wedding.



Somewhere in my writings I think there is a book of Mike stories that will get published but for now here's to Mike today! He is 24 and a very accomplished young man. Someday we will all be dancing at his wedding. (but not too soon)

Happy Birthday Mike!

A Quick Trip to Key West

A change in plans meant Steve was able to take a few days off after his meeting in Fort Myers last week and we headed for Key West. Steve had never been to Key West and it had been about 33 years since I had visited. We enjoyed the drive from Fort Myers taking the old back roads across southern FLorida. The bridges from the mainland to Key West are not what they used to be. The drive is easy now with wide lanes and shoulders on all of the bridges. We stayed in a little Bed and Breakfast right on Duval Street in the old section of Key West, rode bikes around the island visiting the tourist sites and took a sunset sail. It was a relaxing mini vacation but both Steve and I agree that Key West is no Tortola and we will probably not make a return visit. Here we are at the Southern most point in the USA.