The Last Ten Days

Casa Grande, Arizona

I've had a few emails wondering what's been going on.  Well the 57th Escapade has occupied all of my time.

We arrived on the 16th and our parking space was one over from the last Escapade in Tucson.  Very convenient and I wasn't on a scooter this year.  

Usually, that day is very busy but when we picked up our packet it didn't have anything for the staff listed.

We sat outside and visited with Nanc and Jim Tidball.  That's when I realized that the staff sheet for the 16th had been missing in our packet.  We would have helped do the registration packets and eat the pizza, if we had known.

The Schoolcraft's and Morey's arrived the following day.  It was hot.  No other way to say it.  We worked on our booth and then met them for lunch.  

Linda passed out and fell backward off the picnic table bench.  911 was called and the great Escapade staff showed their stuff.  All RV's that were coming in were stopped so the EMT's and ambulance could get in.  George rode in the ambulance and we followed behind.  That was some ride, and at speeds we aren't used to.  The hospital took excellent care of Linda and checked to make sure the seizures weren't caused by anything other than heat stroke. She was released a few hours later.  

Saturday was early registration and the hall was packed.  The row reps were very busy making their chapter or BOF's tables inviting.  I must say Chapter 45's looked great.  Sorry I didn't take a photo of it.

We had new assistants this year and they were very helpful.  Judy and Bob Christian's and Beth and Wayne Robert's were 
great.  For a while we had the lost and found in the far corner and the Robert's manned it while Judy and Bob worked with us.  Our booth was next to registration so anyone who wanted to volunteer for anything couldn't miss us.  There were actually people who were disappointed that former positions weren't available.  

There was a jam session and first timers Escapade orientation that was well attended.  Everyone walked over to Thurber Hall for the Opening Ceremony.  Of course the highlight was listening to Kay Peterson, co-founder, speak.  At 90 years old, she can still bring the house down.

Travis gave everyone a laugh with the pink panties.

The opening ceremony was followed by an ice cream social. Sorry, to busy eating the ice cream to take photos.

The Boyd's hosted a Happy Hour for the Chapter 45 members.  Unfortunately, many of the members attended the Phil Evert Happy Hour as they didn't get the invitation in time.

Those of us that attended enjoyed ourselves.

It was nice that they had shade and grass for the happy hour.

The evening entertainment was one of the best I've ever seen at an Escapade.  The title was Native Spirit and they have preformed all over the world.  The leader Brian Hammill and his son are world champion hoop dancers.

Bill and I were lucky enough to be able to have a little time to visit with Rick and Kathy Rousseau.  He writes a blog--"It's about time." 

Anyone that knows me, knows I take a lot of photos.  Well, not the past 10 days.  We were just too busy and having too much fun to take any.

I'm not sure what night this was and what Paul Evert's was serving for Happy Hour.  It might have been margarita's.

Since we were so close we just took our chairs over instead of trying to find an empty table.

George just can't stand not to be doing anything.  He convinced us that we needed a motion detector light.  Thanks, again George for installing it.

We did have a very nice Loosey Goosey meeting that Mark Nemeth hosted.  Sue Valentine gave us a bunch of options of ways to communicate while we are in Alaska.  It's so nice to personally get to know the group.

Dennis and Carol Hill were in California and said they'd be in town on Friday so of course there was another Loosey Goosey dinner.  

The TTT truckstop wasn't big enough that we could all sit together.  Bill and I both ordered the seafood platter but after we had our salad, they said they were out of the seafood.  It was difficult to make another selection after we really wanted the seafood.  

We did celebrate Jim's 77th birthday.

Greg and Jan White ended up in a booth by themselves.

We are back in Casa Grande where we will be before we take off for Alaska.  Carlena and Harry are on their way.  Don and Sharon Del Rosario are en route to California and we'll see them again soon before the WARE rally.  A few doctor appointments and we won't be far behind.

Turtle Safely........