Sunseeking 2020

Although I did travel to Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Indiana over the summer, it seems like forever since we've taken Sunny out for a spin. Thursday morning, we scratched that itch and set out for Bradenton, Florida. Three and a half days of rain later, we arrived at our home base for the winter. We have about 400 neighbors living in a variety of abodes, mostly mobile, surrounding a small lake (large pond) on the outskirts of Bradenton. Two of our neighbors are from Ohio (not unusual in these parts) and one is from Alabama. Today the weather is brilliantly sunny, warm, and welcoming. This is the view I am enjoying.

​We have been spending time in this area for the better part of the last forty years--Doug even longer than that--so we are familiar with these parts. Last evening at sunset, we drove into town for a bite to eat at the Riverside Cafe--a place we've visited many times.. It's at a marina on the Manatee River. ​We reminisced about an evening we spent there 20 years ago. Andrew was 16 and Katie 13. We celebrated Christmas here that year with extended family. My parents were with us along with my Aunt Louise, Doug's mom and her friend Ray, Doug's brother and his family. We developed a habit of celebrating a random family member's birthday every evening, surprising the appointed celebrant with a complimentary dessert. The night we were at the Riverside we were entertained by a local singer named Roni. I don't recall whose 'birthday' it was (maybe Chris'?), but we all remember Roni. We were delighted to see that the stage looked exactly the same when we walked in last night!

That was a fun trip. Andy and Seth went jet skiing, we all went parasailing, Katie got to ride in the 'fun' car, I went to the Ringling Museum with Aunt Louse, and we flew home New Year's Eve arriving safely, Y2K notwithstanding!