Big Plans in the Making

Soon the blog will be having a whole new theme: Our trip from South to North, from West to East across the States. We're treating ourselves to a one-time glorious vacation.

We're also celebrating Julie's retirement from the Costa Rican school system after about 20 years of service.

We leave here on April 9th for Miami, travel by car as far North as Amherst, MA., then by Amtrak across the North to Chicago, Missoula and out to Vancouver and Seattle. Then down the West coast to LA and across to Albuquerque (still on the train), and finally we fly from NM back to Miami and home again on May 31st.

Along the way we're programmed to stay with family and friends. When travelling by train we'll hop off at strategic spots, rent a car (or be picked up at the train stop in certain instances) hang out for a day or two and then get back on the train to continue on.

Here are some of the people we'll be seeing: My son, Ali at his brand-new house in Point St. Lucie, Florida: (In this picture he was visiting the family in Albuquerque and is shown here with his half-sister, Kisthell, and her daughter, Celeste.)
And more recently during my last Florida visit:
My half-brother, Sean McKinney, shown here-with mustache, and some of his family (unfortunately, his sister, Gail, in the blue blouse, lives in Australia, so we won't get to see her).Colin, Britt, Isaiah and Aman Ruhe in Amherst (here with us a while back. Colin's cousin, Zoey, is sitting next to Julie with Isaiah on her lap):
Gilberto, Faranak and Sofia in Chicago:
Kit and Xiao Yan whom we'll drive out to Madison from Chicago to see:
And in Washington State, near Seattle, we will stay with my Aunt Trudy:Ken and Leslie Lerner in California (shown here a few years ago in Santa Fe):
My old high school buddy, Tom Hunolt, and his wife, Susie, who live near Point Arena, Cal:In California we'll probably see most of these folks- my family, the Moore Clan (less Lisa Nardini, front right, who lives in Rome):
In Albuquerque, my daughter, Lisa Caldwell, here with my grand daughter, Anisa:
Anisa with her sister, Mariana:Mariana's dad, Eddie Caldwell:And daughter, grand daughters and an unknown winter guest:
Also in ABQ is Patrik and Carolina, with their daughter, Akeva (see blog links for details):
And our youngest daughter, Aria, here with husband, James, and Sasha:
A better shot of James and Aria:And James' dad, Pat, and mom, Patti:There are about forty more people scheduled into our itinerary, but this'll give you an idea of the variety.