My wonderful son, has at last graduated.....

Lovely photos and congrats to him. Yes, definitely a proud Mum, and rightly so.

My son graduated last year too, no ceremony. They offered one for this year though previously it was to be held in a marquee in the grounds of a beautiful estate, now it'll be held in some hall in a dingy area so he's not going. They don't seem to have made much effort at all.

Oh many congratulations to your son too Fran. I wish I'd known about the ceremony, because I'd have loved to have gone to it. I can understand your son not wanting to attend his ceremony this year, if they were setting it in a dingy hall.

Congratulations Tony! Of course you're proud! What mother wouldn't be? Well deserved!

Exactly - he worked so hard for it, and had had 26 years after college working for the Government and at last after that - he had the chance of doing things he'd wanted to do since he left college. So I'm so pleased.

Its really great when someone does it like Tony. Had a dream and got it. I think its sweeter for the extra effort.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Isn't that just GRAND!!! Oh Jenny, I'm delighted for you! :D

I am FINALLY BACK to posting, can you believe it?! I am sure you noticed that I have been by to give you some stars...I haven't felt the energy to post until now. We arrived home on Oct 19 and it's been quite the adjustment to be home. All is well though. I did have my first root canal a few days after we got back and that was enough to put me down for nearly a week of pain and bleariness from pain meds. Finally the pain is 99% gone (the root canal was on a major tooth, bottom rear) and though I won't be chewing on that side for literally a month (!!), I'm finally feeling normal again.

Anyway, it's been lovely to see your pictures and all of your artistic endeavors, what a busy bee you are! :)

Missed you very much my dear, hope you are feeling dandy!

Oh dear not a great return home. I haven't had a root canal done, which considering my age, is quite good. Not that I want one though, but my sympathies are with you sweetie, it must have hurt like hell.

Thanks for the congratulations on Tony's achievement - yes I'm a very proud mum. I'm so glad that you are back again, and I look forward to seeing your pics of your time away.

Hello there! TY for the visit to my pictures! And no worries on not originally seeing my bridge picture but I am glad you eventually saw it, as I'm quite fond of how it came out and would want you to see it! You know, when I was young, I used to customize and paint model horse figurines and when I'd finish one, I'd bring it to my mom so she could see it. She always gushed over my artistic skills and made me feel so great. It was the best thing about our otherwise messed-up/terrible relationship. When it came to creativity, mom loved anything I did. And I'm so glad that I can look back on our relationship and see that shining aspect. To flip this over to you, as my internet mom, I do the very same thing..."HEY MOM!! MOM!! LOOK!! I HAVE A NEW PICTURE TO SEE!! AND LOOK! I HAVE OTHERS!!! LOOKY!!!" :D :D I'm glad you enjoy them, it sure does make me feel great! :)

You remarked about Delta--yeah, it's nothing to mess around with. I'm sorry it freaks you out too, but at the same time, we must be diligent. The alternative could be bad indeed. :P

I hope you'll get to see your dear son again sometime soon! Wouldn't that be nice?! My younger brother hoped we could drive (8 hrs) to visit over Thanksgiving (at the end of the month) but I found out they wouldn't be able to house us there, as their little air b&b apt is rented and both kids are at home now...we'd be staying on the couches in the living room? My brother doesn't' think things through sometimes...that wouldn't work, and Steve doesn't feel comfortable staying elsewhere because it's just not safe. So we'll be home for the holidays. I'm still feeling rather miffed that Brian brought the idea up in the first place--and making me look forward to seeing him--when it was obviously not going to work out. I love him but sometimes he's...a little brother! But...gosh it's nice that he loves me so! The feeling is mutual. :)

Ok, off I go! Hope you have a lovely day!

Oh sweetie, how lovely that you think of me as your internet mom. I, of course, just love seeing your photos - they're always so beautiful. I would love to sit down with you and go through all of them, have a giggle and hear about what you were thinking when you took the picture.

Yes it would be great if I were to see Tony soon, but I do understand how busy his life is now, as well as having two children he has to care for, his wife - Stevie - tends to just enjoy the Mumsie bit, without the cooking etc for them!!!! Such a shame about your younger not really thinking out where you and Steve would stay for Thanksgiving and it's almost upon you, so not a lot of time to get things ready. Couldn't you go in your RV? Then you would have somewhere to sleep. I love my son, but I do find myself making excuses for him!! I know he loves me too, but sometimes, it would be great if he remembered that he has just one sister and one mum. I think Stevie tends to make arrangements before thinking about whether Tony would like to come up and visit me.

Okay sweetie, have fun - I hope you are at long last getting used to being in your home and not galivanting all over the place.!! xx

I'm sure that your son's graduation was a proud moment for you, Jenny .

Oui je suis Pat. C'était quelque chose qu'il avait voulu faire quand il était adolescent, au Collège. Malheureusement, j'étais une mère célibataire et je n'avais pas les moyens de l'envoyer à l'université à l'époque. J'ai de la chance qu'il ne ressente pas ce fait, parce qu'il l'a fait maintenant, qu'il a passé 26 ans en tant qu'agent des douanes et qu'il a vécu une vie et qu'il a utilisé ces informations pour réaliser et réaliser son film. Donc ça s'est bien passé. Je suis tellement fière de lui et je continue de lui dire ce que je ressens.

What a fun note you've left for me! :) Yep, it's true, you're Internet Mom! :) And it would be grand to share with you and spend time with you too. Mandi is the lucky stinker!! Except that she's in Turkey :(

Visiting Brian in our RV really does sound like the perfect idea! It would be, except for the fact that they live in the (very congested) San Francisco bay area and the little hamlet where they live is full of tiny, twisty roads which would be a challenge to maneuver in our long-bed truck...just imagining an RV in tow...it's hilariously not possible! Yes, we could find a place to park elsewhere but anywhere reasonably close would mean driving into the horrendously over-populated bay area. It's just going to have to wait, sadly.

A bummer that Tony is too busy to see you much, but at least it's possible once in a while now.

Finally, we are actually beginning our next year's trip!!

So you are at home for the next couple of months, if you are already planning next year's trip. I had a picture in my head of your long, large RV negotiating that windy road, famous in SF. It looks a nightmare with ordinary cars, certainly not an RV. Yes Mandi and I talk most days on Messenger, which is the only way I can cope with not seeing her personally. Thank heavens for technology - I wouldn't have survived this length of time without seeing her. So take care of yourself - I've had my flu jab and now am awaiting my booster vaccine for COVID. I don't care how many jabs I have, as long as I stay fit and well - I know that my body wouldn't be able to cope with anything bad. So this is your Internet Mom saying - take care of yourself, stay safe and we'll chat again very soon. xx