Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day - Cozumel Style

November 26th and 27th

Cozumel, Days Four and Five

David and Spencer arrived this afternoon from their overnight stay at the Westin at the Dallas Fort Worth airport.  And, yes, they did deliver my shoe, safe and sound and none the worse for wear, or travel, I should say.  So, our group has increased to ten, a full house here at Residencia Reef.

Spencer, upon arrival, delivering my "lost" shoe

Kari and Jeff, along with one of Kari’s EPIC Tri clients, Amanda, did another very short workout this afternoon, a very windy day indeed.  As we move closer to the Ironman on Sunday, the weather may not be cooperating, as we’ve been hoping.  The wind today has been very strong and tomorrow’s forecast is for the same; today’s temperature only reached about 70F (21.1C), tomorrow we expect more wind, but warmer.  Sunday’s forecast, at this time, is partly cloudy with thunder, lightning, and possible rain.  Rain doesn’t bother the athletes for the swim or the run, but riding 112 miles on a bicycle can be really unpleasant in the rain.  We’ll just keep on praying for the Great Spirit to make the weather good for Sunday.  They’ve been doing a lot of training in California central valley heat and the Cozumel Caribbean water temp negates the need for a wetsuit; it’s just that bike ride that calls out for pleasant weather.  Oh, I’d add that the run could be unpleasant if the wind continues to be strong.

Cozumel Ironman Animated Course

Alice, David and I, as "chief observers" are beginning to make our plans for where we want to be at various times during the race; covering so much territory makes the logistics of being in the right place at the right time for catching a glimpse of our athletes as they fly by in need of planning.  I continue to be impressed with just how tranquil the athletes seem to be; I’m guessing that Saturday might be a day of self-hypnosis for all the athletes - just getting into that zone they need to be in to even THINK about going the distance.  I love them both and only hope they’ll come through it unscathed and full of wondrous gratitude for the opportunity to accomplish this feat together.

The twins and the triplets are all here now and the attraction during the day is beach volleyball.  All five of them are volleyball players on high school teams, so they really get going with some good competition.  And, Alice is right in there with them; she’s a real sport, well actually, she’s a kid at heart.

Avery and Malia on the volleyball court (sand)

Tate (in foreground) and Malia ready for anything

This evening was my turn to make dinner, so we had a great lasagna made with Jeff’s spaghetti sauce from two nights ago with lots of ricotta, Monterey Jack and Parmesan - not a speck was left in the casserole at the end of dinner.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I have so much to be grateful for.  First, in this holiday season, I’m thankful for my three children, their spouses and significant others, and 8 wonderful grandchildren who are proudly carrying the torch into the next generation.  And, eleven months from now, we’ll welcome Landon into the family when he and my oldest granddaughter, Quinn, tie the knot in October 2015.  I’m a very lucky person. 

Thanksgiving Day, 2014 

Cozumel, Mexico

Yes, we’re preparing a close-to-authenic USA Thanksgiving dinner: roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, large salad - the works - maybe even a pumpkin pie, if we can find one at the store.  Otherwise, it's going to be Cozumel rum cake, not an all-bad replacement! I got up early and to get the bird in the oven in time to serve dinner about 1pm.  Jeff got the potatoes in to boil and mash (with a fork!), and Kari and I made dressings, without all the familiar spices. After that, Jeff and Kari left to get to race headquarters into town to register and receive their packets of information and numbers, etc.  Later this afternoon, they'll head back into retrieve their bikes that have been transported from UC Davis, where they delivered them two weeks ago.  They’ll ride their bikes ‘home’ to the condo and that will be their Thanksgiving workout, about a six-mile easy ride, taking them less than 30-minutes!  Oh, to be in that .  And, they want to be home in time to get a group to the sports bar in town that will be showing the 49er game, at 7pm our time.

Wishing you and yours a

very happy and healthy

Thanksgiving.

Mary-Pat (AKA Mimi)

Tuesday

Yesterday marked three weeks of recovery from total knee surgery.  Yesterday was also the day that I was discharged from home health and physical therapy visits.  I'll be starting physical therapy appointments at a local Kaiser facility and hopefully will be driving my car in the not-to-distant future.  As for heading out in Floribunda, that may take a while.

Being here at my daughter's house for this time is proving to be a wonderful reintroduction to the worlds of, not only my own kids, but those of my grandchildren as well.  I cannot impress on you how fast time flies regarding this grandmother and her grandchildren.  And, the feeling has become so prominent with the recent marriage proposal and engagement of Landon and Quinn. 

Then there's Addison who's living in Colorado Springs, where she's a 4th grade teacher fulfilling her Teach For America 2-year contract.  Her interest in public education is turning towards educational policy; her plan now is to pursue a master's degree in that field of study.  Addy's coming 'home' for the summer; during her stay here she'll be in an intern program in Sacramento, working and learning with the California State government in lobbying for advancements in California public education policy.

Holland has returned from her study period in Germany and will be entering Cal State Sacramento in the Fall 2014.  Her "before college" ambition is to become a public school counselor.  We'll see if that ambition changes as she experiences university life.

The triplets (Spencer, Avery and Tate) will be graduating from 8th grade next month; they'll all be matriculating in Oakridge High School in El Dorado Hills.  Last, but certainly not least, my son, Jeff's twins, Malia and Samantha, will also be graduating from 8th grade and entering high school in the Fall up in northern California.  I'm planning on moving my RV up to their house as soon as I can manage it - to spend some quality time with that part of my family.

I'm feeling a little nostalgic - they're not little kids any more.  Each has his/her individual personality, intelligence and energy; I feel confidant they'll all do well in whatever they decide is their life's ambition.

Spencer and Mom/Mimi on Easter Sunday - the day before surgery and a few days before Spencer 

returned "home" to Brussels, Belgium

Mimi and Avery on Mother's Day

And, finally, another antic of Bailey with the fractured pelvis - she climbed up on the arm of the Lazy Boy to gain access to Eleanor's food on my bedside table!

That's all for today!