Hello 2015

2014

2014 Has been a very different year for me. Learning to live as a single has been the biggest change. I know lots of people do this, however this was not my choice. Learning how much stronger not as much physically but more mentally that I am and especially knowing your true friends. Lot of emotions over the year. Not only in my home life but also my work life. I have worked all of my life beginning at high school graduation. I feel I have always been a very dedicated employee. The last twenty years I have worked with Banner Health System. They are a great organization with a lot of growing pains and changes. The changes, especially in the electronic world can be very overwhelming. So, the BIG news for the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015 is that I, Donna Fischer, am actually going to retire! I know, it is a bit unbelievable for me too. Ron would be proud of me and I hear his encouragement all the time. Yep, a little scary too. Another change, Jennifer and her family have moved to Chicago (NW side of). I miss them more than words can say. It is good for them and I am happy for them. AND, of course, vacation location in the HOT summer!!! I am pleased that Matt and his family are here with me and I will be able to visit with them more. They might get tired of seeing me! :) I don't feel old and when I address myself as an ole lady and I always say not OLD but OLE! So, 2015 is coming in strong with a lot more changes happening in my life. I am looking at possibly selling the home. It will be very difficult leaving this place. Ron and I both worked very hard on it and every time I sit on the patio and look over everything I...well you know. However, there is lots to be done before that can happen so I will be busy. I am going to enjoy visits from family in the Spring and am really looking forward to that. I won't be as good a tourist guide as Ron was but there is so much to see in Arizona that is so different from Indiana and I think I will be ok. I look forward to spending more time with friends (lots who are also retiring) that I couldn't while working. Maybe a little travel, however, again, Ron was the traveler and driver. Think I might be flying, not driving! I also look forward, at least for a while, to no time frame/limits. Maybe even sleep in sometimes and not worry about being Late! AND, I am really going to blog more. I know I said that last time, however....I should have more time. Well that is it for 2014. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

First Class....Coach

OMG...night and day. Well maybe not that extreme. I have never flown first class and was able to via the miles collected by my son-in-law from all of his travels. My daughter, Jennifer and Jon sent me a first class ticket to visit them in Chicago from Phoenix last weekend...the end of October. OK, first boarding...great! Why yes, I would love a glass of wine. Definitely the beef with the appetizer and nuts and roll and OMG it was wonderful...wait...I am talking about Airline Food here...it was wonderful. (Ron would have been impressed!). Oh, and in glass and china...Oh yeah. I have to admit as I was getting ready to stand in the pre-board line I just felt like "I don't belong here" However...why not...? I was a little disappointed that I sat next to (going and coming) a young (40ish) business man...suite...sit down, connect up and leave me alone type guys. I don't like to chatter a whole flight but come on...hello, I'm so and so. Oh well. It was great...TSA special security...a quick line...pre boarding...food...lots of room...wonderful and I just can't say thank you JJ and Jon enough. Yep...Coach will never be the same again!

This and That

Not the post I started. It was bit of a whine so erased and doing something different. The weather has started cooling off and it is outdoor time. Cleaning out the front of the house where all the tea roses were. Been there too long and needed to be replaced. Took half them out and replanted in the back. Planted two lantana plants which will spread out nicely. Will finish taking out the rest and plant more lantana next weekend. Lot of work and wore me out so doing half at a time. Decided to do more of a flower garden than vegetables for the winter garden. Got my geraniums and plants. Ron and I always had them every year. Might go back and get some more. My spider plants are doing great as well as most of the other flowers. Guess it kind of helps when you water them regularly! HA HA! Love the rain...it has made the grass grow and everything is green. Yep...got to mow more but I keep thinking of it as exercise! Wears me out but that's okay. In fact had to buy a new spade...oh my word...how old was ours? Might have to buy a new wheelbarrel too...might just buy a new tire...so many decisions!!!! Got to get after the big tree in the front yard too. It is really overgrown and I need to cut some large limbs so will have a lot of work in not just cutting them but getting them cut up and either pitched or burned. Well, that's it for now.

AIR

AIR CONDITIONING....definitely a MUST in Arizona especially in July and August. How in the world can your AC be frozen over when it is encased in metal, on the top of your roof with the temperature of 106 and the Sun beating down on it? Is that really possible??? Well it is. So I had to put a new AC/Heat unit on my roof. WOW...it should be made of gold or at least have gold in it somewhere. And the best part is I now have a new thermostat that I can actually utilize. It even has a light that comes on so I can check it at night without turning lights on. I love it. However, the silver lining is that it is replaced, and I should have no problems again for a long time. That is piece of mind if nothing else. AND, of course the cool air when I walk inside from the heat!

HOME

I was so excited to come home and visit everyone.  The grass, trees...everything so green.  Weather great...not too hot, almost cool.  Seeing family and friends, visiting and seeing the old roads, homes, businesses and all of the new.  Walking thru the cemetary, checking out the family graves, remembering dates, going thru lots of memories.
However, I found out something.  This "was" home and Arizona is home now.  I am thankful for the past, that is what got me here today.  I love seeing and being with family, however I am missing Arizona too.  It's a different lifestyle, and color!  So I think I am a bit homesick.
Not really going anywhere with this, just needed to express it.

Let Me Fly

Let Me Fly Donna was what I was hearing as the wind picked up and blew strongly thru the pines.
Ron wanted his ashes spread in the mountains above Strawberry where he camped and picked wild red blackberries.
After looking at the berry patch I decided on the perfect spot where he always camped.  A stump that later I noticed looked just like a chair with young scrub oaks protecting it on all sides.  We had put together a time box to be buried with the ashes.  I pounded into the ground a long pipe to help recognize the location, planted the box and put a rock over it.  And, put his plaque into the ground down low.  Although later I thought he might enjoy the bullet holes that probably would happen in years to come if it had been high in the air. :)
All the prep had been done and I kept hearing as the wind rose Let Me Fly and I did.  Of course ashes fell to the ground but many flew thru the air, covering where he had camped, where he had hiked and picked berries.  He was and is at peace.
I got the coordinates so that in the future we all have a place to go and visit, although he is not really at one place....he is flying.