Cousin Linda, and the calm before the storm

Cousin Linda battled cancer for just over a year before passing away in December 2019. This is a picture of Linda (15), me (5), and my next-door neighbor Debbie (3) that was taken on our back steps in Hancock, NY. Linda provided a home-away-from-home for my brother Tom during his first year of college, and she wrote me many letters when I lived in Guatemala in the mid-1980s. 

She was a wiz at genealogy and wrote at least 4 family histories. An English teacher to middle school kids, she made a point to be there for them. She loved her kids and grandkids, was an expert worrier about their well-being.  

Because of cousin Linda, I met Tom. She was visiting me in Champaign in February 1990 when the Indiana Hoosiers were in town to play the Fighting Illini. She insisted that we watch the game at a bar, and who was I to argue with that decision? After the game we struck up a conversation with a handsome guy (actually, I bought him a drink). It turned out to be Tom!   

I miss her very much.  

Little did we know at the time, but Linda's funeral would be one of the last before the pandemic set in. And just as well because Linda would have had no use for COVID-19.  After the funeral we went to Kevin and Brooke's home to hang out. Here is Kevin, with cousin Tim looking on, making an "Elwood martini." To do so, pour gin on the rocks and wave the bottle of dry vermouth over the top of the gin and there it is!

Tom and I got to see Mom and Dad in February. We hosted a cocktail party and had a great evening out for dinner at Ventura's Italian Ristorante. We knew something was brewing with the "virus" and were glad to get in a visit!

Several weeks later we traveled to Reno, NV to see Tom's Aunt Alberta on her 99th birthday. We had some good laughs despite the hospital stay .  

From Reno it was over to Ukiah to spend a few days with Craig, Monica, and Winston. Wineries, oysters, pork, you name it, we enjoyed it all! 

Also on our travels was a visit to see Uncle Mike and cousins John, Dave, and Paula.
 
Pinnacles National Park did not disappoint. We hiked a few trails and enjoyed the views.  Worth the trip!

Our pint-sized friends, Maddox and Charlotte for her 4th birthday party