This has been a very emotionally draining week. Every year it gets harder to say goodbye to friends for six months. This is my eighth year here and my close friends are my family. The ties grow stronger with every year that I’m here.

Steve came over on Monday and we reminisced a little about Mexico and how I wound up becoming a snowbird between Mexico and Washington state. Of course that first visit back in 2016 wound up stretching to four months instead of the intended two weeks. The snow chased me away that year.

Connie, Joyce and I went out for drinks on Tuesday. We taught fitness classes together in Leavenworth. Joyce moved to Wenatchee, I’m in East Wenatchee and Connie is still in Leavenworth. The three of us don’t see each other nearly as often as we used to.

Joanne and I went out for dinner on Tuesday. She is the reason why Cashmere was selected as a home to Spirit of America. Joanne corralled me as a volunteer at Apple Days for several years and this year at the 9/11 service. She wanted me at Octoberfest and Pioneer Days this coming weekend but I had to bow out as it’s my last weekend before I leave for Mexico. But Joanne already has other volunteer opportunities lined up for me when I return in April.

On Wednesday I bid a fond farewell to Lisa at Shears. But the good news is that she already has me in her appointment book for when I return in April. Flights booked and hair appointment made. Let’s get our priorities straight here.

Yesterday Linda and I got together one last time and we finished watching the last three episodes of The Lincoln Lawyer. Linda and I go back to our days of doing craft and play at VBS. And I even got her out to a couple of Tai Chi classes this year.

Tai Chi. Now this was a really gut-wrenching goodbye today. I have taught a lot of fitness classes, participated in a lot of fitness classes, but never before have met such an amazing group of people who are so positive and so encouraging. We show up long before class starts just to schmooze. We compare war stories about cataracts and other surgeries. Our fearless leader is eighty-nine years young and it was quite emotional as we hugged each other goodbye this afternoon. My Tai Chi buddies presented me with a farewell card, a Thanksgiving card and a vase of flowers. And of course we all hugged and I admit my eyes were welling with tears.

Other goodbyes were to places. Last trip into Leavenworth where the trees are beginning to change color. Last visit to Cashmere to see my tree, scarecrows and Halloween decorations. And I guess it’s really time to go because I picked up my annual Kinkade calendar. 2024 is coming fast.

This is my last post from East Wenatchee. I won’t be posting again until I get settled back in Aguascalientes.

Take are and remember…life is for the living, so live!