Seeing Cameron Park Zoo was a treat but the adventure included (on the way home) a “drive-by” of “The Silos,” Magnolia, and the Dr. Pepper museum. Twenty-two months in Waco, Texas, and that was my first glimpse of those tourist attractions.

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Home again–after lots of walking and fresh air.

I emailed this picture to a dear friend–with this email message:  Deb, I got so excited when I saw the giraffes but they were “too far” away. I was saying “Here giraffe, here giraffe” and they came over. My neighbor said they were posing for me!! I had no desire to be in any other picture–“just a picture with the giraffe–for Deb.”

Here is Deb’s response: “Omg, how cool is that! You can’t see me but I am grinning from ear to ear. They are magnificent creatures, aren’t they? Look how the one (Dad?) is looking at you sideways. And look at the baby! You made my day!”

For more details is “Ha, ha, ha.”

Perhaps ten days ago, Deb said (in an email message) “BOLO.”  I had to think about that for a while; “What does that mean?”  Honestly, I’m not familiar with the abbreviations used in text messages, (This old lady does not “text”).

I’m so grateful for my friend, Deb. We met in 2010, in New Hampshire, and have been “pen pals” (email pals) all these years. ~~ I’m so grateful for friends who have been so gracious to this orphan grandmother.

My enjoyable experience, in New Hampshire, with new friend, Deb. Please check these several blog messages: (1) Greetings from Exeter, New Hampshire; (2): Portsmouth, New Hampshire; (3) Sunday morning in New Hampshire; (4) Helping the local (Exeter) economy; (5) A little humor for your enjoyment.

Changing the subject: I’ve considered writing a blog message about the thermal mug. Why? That mug has been with me daily since 1993 (if my memory serves me correctly). I was visiting a cousin—in Bellingham, Washington—as she and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Cousin Beth and I visited a Thrift Shop and I saw—and purchased—the thermal mug for ten cents. That is one “well-traveled” coffee mug!!

A tiny bit accomplished today. ~~ Before this message was published, a neighbor stopped by—with her adorable two-year-old twin daughters—and invited me to go to the Cameron Park Zoo with them (tomorrow). More fresh air and exercise?!

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For several hours, I searched for information. It was a mystery I wanted to solve. Eventually, my searches brought a couple of answers but the lineage of Elizabeth Billman is still unknown. I counted ten (10) Ancestry Member Family Trees with only her name—married to John Brubaker. Nobody bothered to search… When I saw the “Fiant” name, I put the puzzle pieces together. Here I am “burning the midnight oil”  but considering “time to go to bed.”

See the difference in a relationship after connecting a few more family members? I have a “forest” of family!!

Can’t sleep; a parade of images are flooding my mind. It’s like watching an old-time movie. I’ve heard it said that our life “flash before us” when we are dying. Mine must be a slow death because my images aren’t “flashing”—they are dragging. Why the reflections on the past? So much sad

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At that point (above), at that moment (about 3:50 AM) the computer suddenly shut down. Then it automatically began to reboot. I did not have the Internet and WiFi (but that should not have affected documentation of a blog page should it?). “Divine intervention”!! The message I was prepared to write was not supposed to be written.

This recently-received obituary is a goldmine of information!! I’ve been documenting for five-and-one-half hours and I’m not finished. The families are intertwined and one name led to another, and another. Many of the progenitors were already in my Ancestry database. There’s never a stopping point. (Can I stop for breakfast and/or lunch now?) The dearly departed is the father-in-law of my fifth cousin. Frankly, the more I document… the man may be one of my cousins. It’s a matter of connecting the links.

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GOLD NUGGETS: Marlan is survived by three siblings; Rich Jamison, Ron Jamison, and Dyann (Jamison) Armstrong; and his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Daughter Marla and (Ray) Hawbaker and grandchildren Michael and (Stephanie) & Brogan Hawbaker; Keith & (Tara), Pierce & Grey Hawbaker; Meagan and (Mike) Beesley; Riley and (Sarah), Brynn, Morgan, Ryker & Declan Hawbaker; Toby and (Kaylyn), Weston & Garrison Hawbaker; and Audrey Hawbaker. Daughter Deb and (Jeff) Bauman and grandchildren Abbie and (Joel), Eve, Lily & Ila Miller; Jesse and (Alisha), Tia, Adri, Miles & Eden Bauman; Lindsey and (Karl), Maddox, Zuri & Isaac Bucher; Judah and (Amy), Justus & Everett Bauman. Daughter Jill and (Greg) Custer and grandchildren, Carly and (Taylor) & Hannah Frey; Annabel Custer & Slade Custer.

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I need to be four people!! The past three days, I have worked with four (or is it five?) different branches of the tree. Two individuals contacted me and (obviously) I had to provide information.  Frankly, I found my information needed expanding so time spent on that endeavor. Last night, I couldn’t sleep because I continually thought of “loose ends” and crept out of bed and wrote a note to myself—so I wouldn’t forget. ~~ It was a cold night but a beautiful day. I should be outdoors—in the carport—working on “downsizing.” ~~ But I’d rather “climb trees.”

The title is borrowed from the book titled The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. Today, I accomplished a “purpose” I’ve planned for ten months. When I took pictures–last year–of the Christmas decorations project, I “knew” I’d print the pictures before we decorate this year. The discussion has begun and we will start soon. “Yes,” folks have photos on their SmartPhone but “this old lady” loves an album. ~~~~ This blog message was ready for publication at 6:40 PM, Friday, 29 Oct 2021, but “this old lady” refrained from publication (until a later date) because the album is a gift for the kind, thoughtful, considerate, generous owner-manager of this RV Park. I didn’t want him to read this before gift-giving time.

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The marvels of electronics. These little gizmos contain dozens of pictures. ~~ Click on the pictures (above) for better viewing.