Hello Again

To say that it has been a busy summer would certainly be an understatement. To say that I have not been on the computer would be an untruth. So why has the blog not seen more action? No good answer for that. Perhaps the blog has served its purpose and I don't have the need for the emotional support that I got from writing to my friends and family; knowing they looked at the blog to see how we were all doing was very comforting at times. The responses were always great. I loved sharing everything and knowing that people were interested. I think a lot of this summer has been living life instead of recording it. I am sure I will look back on this blog and read about events that I do not really remember because I only got through them. Writing about these events will give me a history of a dark time period in my life. The fact is that I am living life and being very busy with daily details.  I still really miss John but life has gone on and all of the good things in his life are still here. The memories are not so painful now. I laugh, I have fun, I can enjoy my life. I didn't for awhile. It was too hard to understand the whys of some of the events and not remember the good things. I will not say I am totally past that now, but I am definitely getting there.

So with a rainy day on the horizon and a cup of coffee here is the latest in the Stanford household.

Jessica is now a student at Brandeis University in Boston. She started classes Monday, working toward her MBA with a focus in international business and marketing.  I still have a road trip in the works to transport the rest of her stuff to Boston sometime later this month. This will complete my coast to coast summer adventure. Being in the same time zone is going to be a real bonus for mother daughter phone conversations. And with Boston being only a 10-11 hour road trip I expect we will see more of each other too.

Mike has moved into his new digs in Bowling Green and is doing OK. He is struggling with cooking for himself and his weight has become an issue. He has all of the tools and information to diet and exercise, but like many of us taking action is the hardest part. He enjoyed spending time with Jessica this summer.

Jesi just had a birthday party for AJ who turned 4, on August 28th. It is so much fun to see Marty and Annal, but it also reminds me of AJ's first party when John was there to watch his son. Some raw memories will never go away. But Saturday was fun. AJ is such an intelligent young man. So much like his Dad and Mom. He is truly a mix of both John and Jesi, not only in looks but in personality too. I love being around him, although I am beginning to understand why we have families when we are young. His energy level wears me out. We go to the museum and the zoo together and have even visited Steve's office after a trip to the Imagination Station (the Toledo science museum or old COSI). AJ liked having lunch with Grandpa in the office conference room and looking down at Toledo from high above his usual viewpoint. We all continue to learn more about diabetes and hope within AJ's lifetime a cure is found. He now has a pump which delivers the insulin continuously and has the long range potential to make his life easier. Jesi does an amazing job of parenting.

Steve and I have enjoyed the summer. Our trip through the California, Oregon and Washington State wineries with Jessica went too quickly. Our time on the golf course and the back deck will sadly be winding down for another year. We missed Tortola this year but have a plan in the works for sometime next year.

So I end with a thoughtful quote. Have a great day and take time to enjoy life!

"Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies. "~Erich Fromm