Wrapping It Up

Left this huge Manatee behind at Marker 1 for Christmas in Tennessee

We flew to Nashville for a wonderful Christmas on the 17^th and quickly immersed ourselves into family.  This was a quicker trip than expected because the Tennessee Vols are in the Tampa’s Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day (and this area is our homeport right now).  Julia and Robin graciously allowed us to stay at their Lakehouse near Cookeville, Tn.  so we can be near the grandkids and still close enough to Nashville to see Nick and our friends. 
 The Leeton Clan gathered for a weekend of festivities:

Leeton and Holden were on good behavior--they know Santa is watching
 

The Clan

We spent Christmas Eve at the Barksdales' party:

Julia always puts on a great spread.

Girlfriends

We have spent every Christmas Eve with these friends since 1985



The Piñata is always a highlight.

 
 
Spent Christmas morning in Cookeville with the family:



Katie and Scott took us all in 

 Santa was good to us and then it started to get under 60 degrees so we returned to Marker 1 on Dec. 29^th.

Cold front and nasty weather came into Center Hill

Holden , Fitz and I had to go to the dock, see the Gilliams and pay homage to the full moon

 The Outback Bowl was an awesome experience:  Elizabeth and Charley came in and stayed in Dunedin on the 30th and Julia and Robin arrived on the 31^st and stayed just down the road about 10 miles in Clearwater Beach.   The Vols got a great win against a higher ranked Northwestern and we got to experience it with some of our best friends. 

Tailgating with the Orange

 

Great seats on the 3rd row

 

New Years Eve with the Barksdale's and the Deitrich's

It is now 2016, a time for renewal and moving to the next phase of our life.  We finished the Loop--what now?  This winter we will live in Florida moving south when it gets cold or even chilly.  I need to learn how to be retired –suggestions welcomed. Terry has always wanted to spend winter where it is warm and we can now do this.  We are lining up friends and family to come visit --Terry and Julie O’Donnell will come in on Jan. 19, Katie and the kids are visiting for Spring Break and we have a promise from our sisters –Thelma and Louise- to come for a stay. 

 First order of business—wrap up the Loop focus of this blog.  It was set up specifically to chronical our Loop and while I will review the different parts of the trip to add some pictures (during the first part of the trip blogspot did not upload the pictures very well) and correct spelling/grammar, I will not make any more Loop specific additions.  There are sites that offer to make your blog into a book-we will eventually have that done. The blog does, however, serve another role in that it is an occasional post card to family and friends on where we are and how we are doing. Plus, I find it very therapeutic to download/organize our pictures and journal our experience of the time.  This is a great backup (plus a good reference for correcting each other’s stories).  We joke that when we are in the nursing home 30 years down the line we can read about our experience and smile even in the fog that will be our minds   Many thanks to all you who have kept up with our travels, shared advice, corrected errors but mainly for caring.  The Loop is a trip of a lifetime and we have many people to thank for making this happen—we are blessed.