I just found out about Rebecca

I’ve been working on uploading our pictures from Viet Nam and my mind wandered to Rebecca and Dade, the couple we met a year ago in Puerto Montt, and who inspired me to start this blog. I have her blog bookmarked and thought I’d check in to see what trips they’ve been on, and was surprised to see none listed from Jan ’11 (when we met) until Dec ’11. I clicked on it and saw Katmandu and was thinking to myself – you lucky devils – when I found, reading it, that Dade was obviously alone and he was there on a mission – to spread Rebecca’s ashes! They mentioned that she’d had a bout with melanoma, and was carefully protecting herself from the sun, but ….

So I googled Rebecca Garrison-Sokoloff and found her obituary. She died November 13, 2011 – 34 years old! my God! I also found her facebook page and discovered this picture (which we’ve never seen before)

taken by either Dade or Rebecca from their balcony – coincidentally a deck or two above ours.

Here’s a picture of Rebecca, drinking a pisco sour (we both had one or two!)  taken in the restaurant in Puerto Varas (lifted from her blog)

Rebecca Garrison-Sokoloff

Good times with the little ones

Our time here in WA is drawing nigh and tomorrow we will be up, up and away back to New England. We’ve had lots of cuddles, kisses and slobbers! And best of all saw Greyson crawl for the first time on 12/6 – now here’s no stopping him!

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Sunshine in Amsterdam

We’re back in Amsterdam (staying with our friends) and enjoying the most glorious Indian summer weather – yesterday while out on a walking tour of the city 4 hours), it was on the verge of being too hot!!! No complaints though, as today we are taking their convertible and cruising around the countryside a little. We’ve had enough of cities for a while, as intriguing and interesting as they’ve all been.

We took bikes on the ferry and rode them into the city …. Bicycles EVERYWHERE!!!

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Weekend in Vancouver, WA with the GGkids..

A quick visit into downtown Portland, OR on a brisk, but sunny Saturday. As I imagined, it’s an interesting city and I look forward to visiting again .. with Dennis.

Meanwhile, the intention of the visit is to spend time with Kat, Ian and the GGkids.

First day in WA with the kids

After a narrow escape from Tampa (electric storms, tornado threats and who knows what else), I arrived only 6 hours late in the Pacific northwest. Meanwhile, back in Tampa, Dennis and Lucy ended up in a shelter because of suspicious funnel clouds! Enjoyed a day with Kat, Peter and Greyson — just going grocery shopping, playing, cooking and going to the playground.

7-week old Greyson

Peter, an active 20 month old!

Parents Kat and Ian have their hands full!!