look back at summer 2012

It was the best of times, it was (not quite) the worst of times...

Among the best were our annual Resch Family Reunion, held at my cousin Verlys' farm up in Pine City (she was living w/mom and dad and was the first Resch to see me!), a Sabas family picnic/Olympics at Resort da Sabas, which doubles as my Aunt Sheila's place, a Fourth of July picnic on Lake Minnetonka, hosted by my Aunt Toddie and Uncle Bob, and sweet summer afternoons sitting out in our backyard with George and Fiona. Also, I got two unbelievably amazing Twins tickets from my friends Gary and Mary Margaret Hoden, so my pal Patti and I went and sat in THE LEGENDS CLUB. Really, I could get used to living like this!

There were only two things to make my summer less than happy: my birthmom had hip surgery (she's doing great now, in the hospital they called her a rock star), and I sort of totaled my car and wound up with a very nasty, mean case of whiplash. So I have no car, plus I'm having neck pain and headaches; however, I've started physical therapy and my doctor is being very kind about muscle relaxers, so I am hanging in there, albeit not at top speed. Well, there was a third--namely, a huge PTSD flare when some new memories surfaced. I was tormented by flashbacks and nightmares for a while, but thanks to the help of God and my beloved therapist, I'm doing much better now. As usual, I can't say enough about the support and love of all my family, especially George.

Oh yes, one other highlight of my summer was the opportunity to have dinner at Bulldog NE with my two stepbrothers, Alex and Kelley, and George was even able to join us! Kelley lives in Tokyo so I only get to see him a few times a year, and Alex keeps incredibly busy with his band Deadweight (he is the drummer--and an awesome one too in my totally unbiased opinion) and school, PLUS an August trip to Vietnam with his lovely (fiancée?) Tee (Tina). So it was extra special for the four of us to get to spend some time together--every time I see either of my brothers, I like them more! It's beyond cool to grow up an only child and suddenly gain a couple of little brothers.

When I look back at my summer, I have to admit that despite the PTSD and car accident, it was a blessed time of love and laughter. I'm attempting to upload a bunch of pictures on my mobile, so we will see how the Great Photo experiment goes!

The Resch Reunion

Me with lovely Sabas cousins Elissa and Deanna

Sandi Sybrandt and family at Resch Reunion

My poor Metro!!

Instagram version, Elissa, Deanna, and me

Sabas gals!!

Kelita and Levi Robertson at Resch Reunion

Mari-Lea and Kathy Oberg and Aunt Jo, Resch Reunion

Resch cousins come all the way from Montana!

Me with Auntie Sheila (Sabas)

My sleepy Fiona (with her favorite toy)

Joe and Nancy Mallery, Linda and Breanna Cook, Resch Reunion

Sabas Olympics!! (Bocce Ball)

Fiona snoozing

Naptime for George and Fiona

Patti and me with Kirby Puckett!

Me with Harmon "The Killer" Killebrew!!!!

George and me enjoying a drink at Kieran's after mass at the Basilica

A truly awful picture of me with my beloved aunties Marie, Jo, and Julie, Resch Reunion

Aunt Marie, Aunt Jo, Aunt Julie, Resch Reunion

My sleepy baby!

Joni-lea and Faith at Sabas picnic

Wildflowers finally bloom in August, turn out to be Goldenrod (relative of the Evil Ragweed)

vacation, all i ever wanted

Vacation all I ever wanted
Vacation have to get away

That's all I can remember from the song by the Go-Go's (I think it was a hit long ago, like in the '80s.) That didn't stop me from humming it constantly last month though, when George and I went up to Duluth/the North Shore for a couple of days last month. We ate, drank, saw family and friends (George is from the Iron Range, graduated from UMD, and worked for now-defunct KDLH for several years after college. And his sister Fran and her family live there.), ate, drank, ate some more, etc.

We stayed at The Lake Breeze Resort, which is located a few miles north of Duluth on Hwy 61. Our cabin was adorable, and reminded me of vacations up north with my mom and dad when I was little. Very cute, very kitschy:



It was PERFECT, very romantic in a fun, silly way! (I copied these pics from their website; that's why they are all different sizes.)

These were all taken at Brighton Beach, right down the road for our "resort."
Here's the Lake our first day there:

And the day we left:
George took this one of me:
And this is our self-portrait (a better picture of him than me, as usual--it's not fair!) :
And best of all, little Fiona welcoming us home:

Actually, this vacation was better than last year, even though we stayed longer then (and at an incredible B&B). Last year my depression was bad enough that I was weepy and preoccupied; this year I had fun.