So the last blog ended with Chris, Marie, and I heading to Oshkosh. We then spent the second week of July in Oshkosh and prepared to head north again. July 12-26^th we were in Door County joined by MJ and our old friends Jeff and Donna. And of course our multiple old friends from all of the years of camping together. We had a great time. MJ kept the list of favorite places we needed to get to, and we finished her list. We had some golf time, lot’s of walking the towns, and a of course some food and drink.

After Door County it was back to Oshkosh for Chris, Marie and I. We settled in for awhile and enjoyed some warm Oshkosh weather. We caught up with old friends which is the reason we come back to Wisconsin. So much fun and so many stories to share. Chris and I had plans in August that we wanted to accomplish. We continued our years of attending Irishfest. Marie held down the fort in Oshkosh as we headed to Milwaukee to join Jeff and Donna for 3 days of music, food, and beer. We made some good decisions (mixed in with a few bad ones) and had a good time as usual. VW joined us which was a pleasant surprise. We spent Friday night with music, and with Noel and Jo Ann. I think we fit in 5 hours at the festival and then headed to the hotel bar! Saturday was a nice breakfast downtown and then down to the festival to start the afternoon. We had booked some VIP tickets, thinking of last years hot days and wanting a nice place to sit in the shade for awhile, on comfy chairs. It turned out to be a great idea, because it was a relaxing place to sit out some rain and catch up. Plus the private bar and bathrooms. We ended up leaving early in the evening as the rain came back, which gave us more time to bond with the hotel bartender. And Sunday always starts out with Mass on the grounds to get us in a positive mood. After mass the day gets started. My coffee started with Irish Cream which was perfect. We met up with Steve and Tiff at Mass and spent a number of hours together. We found good music, corned beef, and a beer or two. And all throughout the weekend we met other friends and shared a toast or two. Sunday was predicted for rain in the morning and then cloudy, and turned into the best day of the festival. Lot’s of sun and perfect weather along Lake Michigan. We put a full day in, caught some sunburn, and closed the hotel bar. That led to breakfast at Cafe Benelux downtown the next morning, another tradition, then heading home. Marie did well on her own in Oshkosh and welcomed us back. Chris caught up with doing the wash, I caught up with some golf, and the 3 of us caught up with dinner with friends.

 The next weekend we were privileged to be invited to Mark and Terry’s son’s wedding in far north Wisconsin. Chris and I headed up Friday night and caught dinner in a classic northern Wisconsin pub, then headed to the Friday night welcome party. We had a motel room on the Minocqua island and could walk to the party. We met up with Steve and Nancee who came in from KC and we spent some quality hours. The next day we met up for a nice lunch and then headed to the ceremony and reception. It was all well done with no short cuts taken. At the reception we sat with the Oshkosh crowd, partook of the wonderful food areas, and just had a fun time. We left well after dark, leaving the reception to the young folks, and found our way out of the woods and back to our hotels. Sunday morning it was back to Oshkosh for Chris and I. Marie did well on her own again and we went out for a late lunch together when we arrived back in Oshkosh. Monday was time for my last Wisconsin golf round for the year, and Chris for more wash.

So it was a good summer, each New Day of the summer brought an opportunity for something new, or to remember something of the past. We have lived a good life so we can enjoy those memories.

 Each New Day gave us a chance to spend a few minutes with friends that we had previously spent countless hours of enjoyment with, and maybe had a few minutes of foolishness.

A chance for a few minutes with restaurant owners we spent countless Friday nights catching up on business and family.

A chance to spend a few minutes with those kids growing up- who now have their own sons and daughters graduating college and living their own life.

Or a chance to spend a few minutes with someone who we did not know well but still left a memory.

 Each New Day brings thoughts of those – those who their new day brought a life challenging change – that all we can do now for them now is to give prayers; prayers that they can deal with each new challenging day.

Our New Day is a chance to reflect on those that we lost this year and last- who left a strong mark on our hearts and the memories that still bring us joy.

All those opportunities for each day are also reminders that we have lived long lives and we need to find enjoyment for each day that is left. It is too easy to dwell on today’s problem, that soon will be forgotten. Thank you to those of you have added to our good life and are part of each new day.

So back to our recent days: we had a Monday and Tuesday to pack because on Wednesday Chris, Marie, and I headed out on our Florida trip. The first day drive was to Champaign IL, exactly on our 5 hours drive time. We ended up with a new hotel for us, which was right on the U of I campus. It was clean and beautiful so Chris has it penciled in for the next time through Champaign. Modern and great staff. A relaxing 5 hour drive from there was Bowling Green KY. Do you East coasters know how many farm fields there are through out the country? The corn and soybean fields all looked good; and as we came south they are already harvesting corn. It was mostly county and state highways and went from flat Illinois to the rolling hills of Kentucky. All going well and uneventful. The next day we went past Nashville and started to experience more traffic as we headed East. And worse. 30 miles outside of Chattanooga we started to hit stop and go traffic; no good reason. And heading down to Atlanta there were multiple accidents and delays. So we added an hour to our 5 hour plan. Good for us we had a very nice hotel booked, and walked to a nice meal with drinks. So one more night ahead of us, a stop in Gainsville FL, then Sunday on to Boynton Beach.