Last Day at REI

     Leaving REI has been  bittersweet  for me.  These people brought me in, trained me, and made me feel part of a fantastic group.  I have worked  a very long time and NEVER  have I been treated as well and with such appreciation  as here. 

     There is a saying "Do What You Love...Love What You Do"  That pretty much sums it up for my experience at the Redmond Town Center Store. 

      We are embarking on a completely new phase of our lives and I am so excited.  Working at Grizzly RV Park in West Yellowstone, MT. has been the goal we've talked and planned for many,many years.  Realizing that dream still feels surreal. 

       My biggest fear, at this point, is leaving friends behind.  Norm & I have always said we were un-adoptable.  We are so very independent and usually do our own thing .  We leave  the area for months at a time  always knowing we would  be back so friendships continued.  Now, however, that is changing.  I know in my heart we are also venturing out and will be meeting new friends and that is exciting !  Because of the computer training I received at REI, I am confident that technology will help me stay in touch with all of you !
Please stay in touch !

      This week has been all about getting all our 'stuff'' organized.  Norm is a stickler when it comes to weight.  No, not mine !  The maximum weight our coach can carry and pull.  We each have tubs for our own 'stuff'' and we must be careful not to overload.  It's amazing how much we have accumulated in our little house in the past few months !  So... some things must go.   Too bad, most of it is Norm's !  I really need to keep ALL those shoes ! 

       Well, this time next week we will be on our way East.  The weather is the biggest issue we are facing.  Hopefully the roads will be clear and the drive relaxing ! 

We were bitten by the 'wanderlust bug'  early in our relationship !  Our first roadtrip was in a 1967  3/4 ton Chevy P/U.  Norm finished off the interior of the canopy we put on the truckbed so we had a very cozy sleeping area and cabinets for storage and our Coleman stove.

Our destination was Yellowstone National Park.  We were in awe of the volcanic features there! Bison were lumbering across the fields and roads, huge white pelicans drifting down the Yellowstone River, river otters sliding playfully down the banks and even an occassional mama bear with her cubs making an appearance for all to see.  Crowds collected to view these events causing "jams" .  Norm would often just pull to the side of the road, get out his binoculars and see how many people/cars would stop to try and see what he was looking at ! He loved creating "jams", still does ! Yes, Yellowstone grabbed us hard !

Now, we are retired !  Griz is the name of our  Safari Motorhome and we tow a Jeep Liberty named T-Bear.  A new chapter is unfolding for us.  We are leaving our home area in Washington the end of April, 2011 and heading for YELLOWSTONE !!  We managed to secure 'work' in the town of West Yellowstone, MT at Grizzly RV Park.  It is a meticulously manicured RV park  right in the area we so enjoy.  It sits in the middle of about 5 of the best Blue Ribbon Fly Fishing rivers in the country.  Norm has been spending hours tying flies to catch all those elusive brown trout he has been dreaming of.  He wakes me up at night as he sits up in bed, still asleep,  casting his flyrod !  Most disconcerting !

All is well in our world for now.  I look with anticipation to the adventures awaiting us.  Of course, being married to Norm has always been an adventure !