We no longer live in our tin can Georgetown RV (Georgie) but in a one bedroom apartment a few blocks away from Oliver and Reagan. (For our first year we lived in another complex about 2 miles away because Cassady North Apartments, where we currently reside, was undergoing major renovations.) It’s a small building of 84 one and two bedroom apartments barely in Bexley but we can walk out the door and walk into a beautiful neighborhood.
Instead of a wandering gypsy going with the flow of discovering new places to explore, I became a wondering gypsy going with the flow of discovering how I could help my son and his family care for a beautiful boy with Sanfilippo Syndrome and his younger neuro-typical sister. Helping, of course, also meant doing chores, running errands, grocery shopping, and just being available. My other two sons, Andy and John, questioned me about this decision to stop traveling and move to Columbus, Ohio. “Is this how you want to spend your retirement years (euphemism for the rest of your remaining years on this earth)?”
I honestly didn’t know if I did, but… My heart told me yes. Of course I questioned if this was the right decision. Would I have time for myself to grow and explore? Would I lose my freedom? Would I regret returning to the Preserve and Port Orford? Not to mention if Jeff was okay with this. His family is in Colorado and he has a quadriplegic son who needs assistance and another son and daughter-in-law and 4 grandchildren. Was I being selfish?
I can’t answer all that just yet, but, oh my!… Most of these special moments, from 2021, I would have missed if I didn’t live here:
Reagan, dog whisperer and lady of fashion:
Oh, Ollie! Next door neighbors let us borrow their blow-up water slide…
Taking Ms. Kelsey out for her birthday for some Johnson’s ice cream:
So yum! And so much fun with Ms. Kelsey, neighbor and Reagan’s Bungalow Branch Daycare provider for 2 years…
My handsome boy who dressed himself with his shirt inside-out:
Reagan’s adorable sleep mask… and yes she brings it to sleepover at Grammy L’s!
Raising money to find a cure for Sanfilippo Syndrome:
Setting up…
We borrowed this homemade stand from Henry’s dad, Steve!
“O,Reagan,O”… our sweet new Sanfilippo friend and hero who passed away a few weeks after we met her…
Taking Reagan to the Zoo…
And heading home…
Ollie’s first day of school… First Grade…
Dad and Reagan make a Zoo with her 96+ stuffies:
The tents dad builds for Oliver and Reagan…
John and Olivia are an hour and a half drive away… and that’s the Ohio River as seen from their balcony…
Happy Birthday, Reagan! Rainbow cupcakes were a success…
Rainbow cake and cupcakes…
The birthday cake!
Reagan’s party…
A great place for a party!
Reagan and her BF, Charlotte, eating rainbow cake…
Bath time at Grammy L’s:
A beautiful Bexley sunset!
Chase and Skye…
Henry and Ollie…
Halloween Parade at Pre-School…
Reagan takes ukulele lessons…
Best Buds: Oliver, Henry, Jack, and Charlie…
Chilling at Grammy L’s…
Snowflakes keep falling on my head…
And yes, that snowflake fell at the perfect photo shoot moment giving Oliver a snowflake mustache! Oh, Ollie!
Thanksgiving in Cincinnati with Olivia’s family, now my family too!
A December morning walk at Innis Woods…
Ollie and his vehicles… can’t leave home without at least one!
Christmas Eve at the Zoo…
Christmas morning:
Just what I wanted!
What is this?
Go Ollie!
I just love dragons!
Thank you, Magaw!
Let’s play together!
Such precious moments! Did I forget to mention that Reagan and I slept downstairs together on Christmas Eve? (Jeff was in Colorado because his son, David was in and out of the hospital with pneumonia.)
Since we were in the basement, we decided we would look for Santa’s boots on the driveway before he climbed the chimney. Unfortunately, we fell asleep instead…
Meanwhile, across the pond, Claire and Andy sent me this picture from France:
Andy and Claire in France with her family…
wandering gypsy Laurel 