March, 2005
For us, in Casa Grande, Arizona, March "came in like a lamb."  We were finally having some sunny, dry weather and we were definitely taking advantage of it.  We started off the month with a visit from Bonnie and Don Wolfe.  They lived in Toledo once upon a time, now live in Las Vegas and were our cruise buddies in January.  They also are fairly new owners of a 37' Southwind motor home.  They stopped to check out Casa Grande and Palm Creek and were parked just a short distance from us.  We gave them a grand tour of the town and the RV park and took a trip out into the desert to see the Casa Grande National Monument and also to watch the jumpers at SkyDive Arizona. We enjoyed their visit and hope to cross paths again in Ohio in the summer.
Bonnie and Don Wolfe at the Casa Grande National Monument...the "big house" built around 1300AD
Mary's 60th birthday celebration turned into a several day affair.  A visit from Reid had been planned, but when we went to Sky Harbor in Phoenix to meet his plane on Saturday night, March 5th, Ann surprised her mom by arriving as well.  On Sunday we spent a cool, damp day touring the town and RV park and going out for a nice dinner at a new restaurant in town, Johnny Carrino's...yummy Italian food.  Monday was a gorgeous day and we drove to Picacho Peak State Park about 20 miles south of town and took a walk in the desert mountain park enjoying the spring wildflowers.  On the way home we stopped once more at SkyDive Arizona.  If we'd had more time, we think Reid would have joined in the fun!  Arriving home at "Happy Hour" time, Mary was surprised once again --- finding about 40 people gathered for a party.  Tom did a good job of getting it all organized and keeping it a secret.   Ann had to return to Ohio on Tuesday morning and Reid was able to stay till Thursday night.   It was great having them both for a visit!  Tom and Reid managed to get in 63 holes of golf before Reid headed back to Colorado, so they were pleased!
We have been working as volunteers at the golf course, acting as a "starter,"  taking a 4 to 5 hour shift once a week.  It's an opportunity to meet people, practice a little putting and chipping when there's a break in players, and we earn 9 holes of play per shift.  On Friday night, March 11 the park gave a big party in the parking lot for all the volunteers.  We had a great catered dinner and live music and an enjoyable evening with friends.  The next day, Palm Creek sponsored a "Classic Car Show."  There was a large gathering of old cars  --  some of them not so old, in our opinion!  It was fun to see them and appreciate all the work it takes to restore them and keep them all shiny.  On Saturday night, the park's weekly dance was moved outdoors as the glorious warm weather had continued.  That gave those of us that don't dance a chance to sit in the park and enjoy the great music.  We've found that most of the parties and dances in the park these days are having 50s and 60s music...looks like we're making a shift from the "30s and 40s big band sound."   
Palm Creek had a booth at the Arizona State Chili Cook-Off held at the municipal park in Casa Grande on Saturday, March 5.  Lots of volunteers from the park cooked gallons of chili and dozens of cookies and then entertained and served chili and cookies in the blazing sun.  Their efforts paid off....the park won first place for entertainment and "people's choice."  We were among the many who paid $3.00 for a bowl and spoon and then made our way around the park getting a scoop of chili from each of the participating booths.  We found our favorites and some "not-so-favorites" quite easily!
"Cirque de Chile".....Palm Creek's booth at the Arizona State Chili Cook-off.
Ann, Mary and Reid at Palm Creek celebrating Mary's 60th birthday.
Ann and Tom among the cactus at Picacho Peak State Park.
It's almost like his first car - a '54 Buick...Tom with a '55 Buick, one of the "old cars" at the Palm Creek Classic Car Show.
Tom was up early on Sunday morning, March 13, as the shuttle to Sky Harbor picked him up at 5:30am.  He was off to Bellingham, WA as part of a Head Start Review Team.  After he left, Mary played a round of golf and then attended a St. Patrick's Day Celebration with the tennis club.  She headed to Sky Harbor on Monday morning and flew to McAllen, TX to spend a few days visiting her Mom and step-dad.  We both found ourselves drenched in humidity.  Tom's week in Bellingham went well...it was a successful review and he had a chance to visit with his former bridge partner who now lives in Bellingham.  In Texas, Mary took part in lots of activities at her mother's park, Holiday Village, and also had a chance to visit with RVing friends, the Morgans, whom we hadn't seen since our paths crossed in Canada last summer.
For more of our March adventures click on "forward" above.
The party people in our "yard" for Mary's birthday.
March, 2005
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Friday night, March 18 we arrived back at Sky Harbor in two different terminals, managed to find each other and the car and make it back to Casa Grande.  The weekend was a little dreary and wet, but that gave us the opportunity to get caught up at home.  On Monday morning we joined a group of Palm Creek residents, at 8am, at the Eloy, AZ airport/Arizona Skydive.  Nine of our buddies had decided to make tandem jumps.  Yes, jump out of a perfectly good airplane at 13,000 feet altitude, free fall for about a mile and then trust their partner to open the parachute and guide them to a safe landing right in front of all us spectators.  Remember, too, that all of these people are over 60.  Do we live among some adventurous people, or what???  They all made a successful jump (unlike a solo jumper we had witnessed on a trip to the airport several weeks previous), and there was quite a crowd of supporters to celebrate with them and watch the videos when it was all over.

 

Easter Sunday, March 27 was probably the best weather day we've had.  There was little wind and the day started out around 60*.  By 9:30am we were both on the golf course....Mary went with a group of ladies for an 18-hole round to an "executive course" in town...Tom played at the Palm Creek course which was open for "free play" on the holiday and went 36 holes.             Around 4:30 the temperature was closer to 80* and we gathered in our 'yard' with our British Columbia neighbors, the Nikitas and the McGoverns, for a "happy hour" followed by dinner and then a game of dominoes.  We had a great day!
With the season coming to an end at Palm Creek, it became "party central."  The park had a big "end of the season" buffet dinner and dance.  Various groups of neighbors and friends had "happy hours" and the organized groups had their "final flings."  There was laughter and food and drink everywhere you turned!    The golf course and tennis courts were busy as we were all trying to get in as much playing as we could before we hit the road.
The adventurous jumpers...Bonnie, Roger, Cliff, Bob, and Karen
Hope, Peggy, Veronica and Helen.
Helen coming in for a landing.
Bev, Cathy, Don, Peter and Tom enjoying Easter dinner.
A  game of water balloon volleyball in progress at a TBIAO (too bad its almost over) party given by some of our tennis buddies.
For more of our March adventures click on "back" above.
March had "come in like a lamb" for us, and it's a matter of debate whether it went out the same.  For the last week of the month we had bright sunny days, but we did have some wind.  As the month came ot an end, many rigs were leaving and the park was feeling pretty empty.  We assume it will be even more bare next week.  We plan to head east on April 7...so stay tuned!