It was my first experience at a book festival.  I had high hopes, and lots of copies to sell, but what I received instead was so many new author-friends who had a wealth of information to share.  The weather in Galveston that Saturday was overcast and chilly.  To make matters worse, the spring breakers were more interested in surfing, shopping, eating, and drinking, than searching a lineup of of local authors.  Can’t say that I blame them:)

Patty Raymond, from McAllen, has been selling her children’s western-style books for years, and she was happy to share what those years have taught her.  Her knowledge brought her a few sales this Saturday, but not what she is accustomed to.  This made me feel a bit better about the even fewer sales I experienced.

There was Curt Locklear, who wrote a trilogy of fascinating Civil War era novels.  His booth was fun to visit, as he serenaded us with some very talented banjo strumming.  Dirk Weisiger tells a very interesting story from his motorcycle road trip, over 2,000 miles through Argentina, from top to bottom.  Marc Liebman stopped by my table, Matt’s model of an older prop plane caught his eye.  We wound up swapping books, as he was a Vietnam-era pilot who has written six books about his sorties during the war.

The most invaluable lesson learned was there are better venues to hawk your book, especially if you are a newly-published author.  If the customers won’t come to you, then go to the customer.  I have signed up for a program sponsored by Kroger, where you are set up at a table (hopefully near the Starbucks:) and you can catch the shopper’s eye with your unique story.  That’s a story for another day.

In every young person’s life there are those moments of learning new skills that are etched in our memories as a joyful event that we carry for a lifetime.  Hopefully Tobyn and Paisley, my nephew’s kids, will remember spring break 2018 as one of those golden moments.  I certainly will.  They are studious hard-working kids who spend more time preparing for their future than most, and they deserve this time in the sun.  The water was, I won’t lie, frigid at best.  The sky was overcast and offered little sun to warm us.  No problem for Tobyn and Paisley.  This was their chance to check surfing off their bucket list, and they weren’t holding back.  Dad Joey had to brave the water too, when he realized they weren’t going to learn through osmosis.

The first day we brought out the long and very stable paddle board.  After some frustrating (and icy) falls, they both got up for at least a moment.  Joey and I thought after an hour of so of wipeouts, they would turn to other fun stuff, like floating the lazy river.  Much to our surprise, after a good night’s sleep, they woke up the next morning to tackle the surf again, this time with a real surfboard.  Sheer determination and will powered them out there to even bigger surf.  Aunt Rita (that would be me) stood in thigh-deep chilly water as far as I could force myself to go, opting to take pictures rather than show my pathetic knowledge of surfing.  At the end of the day, the exhausted family headed back to civilization with a promise to come back within a month and finish what they started.  I can’t wait!

Once we were the beloved fur-babies, carried on silk pillows, lavished with love, and awarded with treats just for existing.  All that was Before Bo:)  The arrival of this strangely furless baby has been a major adjustment for us.  While we’re curious about what kind of puppy this is, we can’t help but notice the lavishing seems to be diverted to this rather naked-looking tiny one.  Our human parents assure us we are still very loved, and in time we will enjoy playing with this little one when he becomes mobile.  We certainly hope so, because our walks are pretty much non-existent now.  The new little prince gets walked everyday.  I guess it’s a good thing we have each other!

Bo Kenneth Wilcox finally arrived January 10 of this wonderful new year.  Global warming seems to be coming to an end at his birth, as temperatures have been wavering between the mid-20’s to the upper 40’s.  Maybe it’s the warm glow of that precious face entering this world, or maybe it’s that he’s half Swede and just can’t live without a little snow.  The forecast today is for possible snow, even if it doesn’t stick that’s a record in one 30-day period in east Texas.  Don’t worry Bo, you’re parents and your Farmor (formerly known as Mamou) will see that you are skiing in the fluffy white stuff in a couple of years.  There’s always New Mexico or Colorado nearby!  There’s also Mom’s homeland, Sweden, where she promises she learned to ski at 3.  I’ve skied with her and know she’s not exaggerating.

There are so many exciting outdoor experiences we want to share with Bo.  Dad will be taking him on the traditional LaBelle Ranch trips for a little bird hunting (or photo safari if Ika has anything to say about it:)  Farmor will be swimming, floating the river, paddle boarding and kayaking with him until he’s old enough to prefer his friends.  I know that will be sooner rather than later, so let’s get Bo to Diamond Beach soon!

Deja vu memories from 1983 come to mind this year, as my son Matt and his wife Ika await the birth of their first, Bo Kenneth Wilcox.  I too was due in mid-January, which proved to be a bit conservative, as Matt was born December 28th.  Matt, of course, is hoping for Bo to enter this world by midnight tonight, there is a tax savings to be had.  All who know him will smile knowingly:)  Ika, on the other hand, would love to see him born closer to his due date, so his birthday party will be special.  Mamou, that would be me, wants Bo to be born happy and healthy, whenever he’s supposed to.  I just want to be there, in the hospital, this time!

One thing is certain, Bo will be loved.  He has been a much awaited, much dreamed about little miracle baby.  Since Matt took a new job several months ago, and is in training in Dallas, Mamou has been the primary “watch Bo grow” to help Ika through her limited bed rest period.  All who know Ika, realize how hard it must be to keep her down:)  We did lots of ladies’ luncheons and brief one-store shopping trips, where she was dropped off at the door to prevent too much walking.  It was a lot of fun, though, and I will miss this time.  I know once Bo is born, there will be cocooning time for Matt and Ika as his training winds down.  Mamou will still hover in the not too distant Galveston, ready to babysit at a moment’s notice:)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Clear Lake!  Actual snow on the ground, covering benches and hot tubs, fences and bushes, hasn’t happened at Christmas time here since 2004.  The snowstorm of 2004 lingered into Christmas Day. Galveston received 4.0 inches of snow as did Jamaica Beach. It was the first white Christmas in recorded history for both locations. The feeling of a miraculous Christmas is just beginning at our house.

The doc tells us Bo’s due date is more likely to happen December 28th, his father’s birthday!  What a birthday present for Matt:)  We are all so excited to meet him.  Maybe it’ll snow on his birthday.  Of course his Swedish relatives would die laughing at us, getting all excited by a very ordinary event for them.  For us, it’s nothing short of a miracle!

As you can see, the grandpuppies Fritz & Frankie weren’t getting their paws in that freezing cold stuff:)  It’s their first, and they hope their last, experience with snow.  They’re ready to move back to Florida!

My grandmother (aka Mamou) shared so many stories with us in our youth.  Most were of foreign lands and foreign cultures, as travel was her favorite activity.  In those days of the Cold War, traveling to Russia was not possible, but she searched out the one russian family in Beaumont Texas that she could befriend.  Fascinated by these russian immigrants, who braved a precarious ocean voyage at the end of World War I, she invited them many times to visit her home in Beaumont for elegant dinners.  Once I remember when I was 12, she invited them to her beach house on Bolivar Peninsula.  During these visits, I was fortunate to listen to stories of a time in russian history where fear was rampant, the royal family was under siege, and the streets of St Petersburg were utter chaos.

This story needed to be told.  There is no doubt in my mind of the validity of this family’s journey.  I cannot in good conscience share their assumed name that they currently use, as they still live in fear that the KGB will seek them out to destroy them.  The last thing the current russian regime wants is for a member of the Romanov family to become known.  To this day, there are many in Russia who would love to take up the banner of the old monarchy.  This is not something that the current political leaders of Russia would allow.

The book can be purchased as a digital version, or a paperback, on amazon.  Needless to say, any who wish it signed by the author, need only visit me in Galveston.  Just message me, I’ll find time for you:)

Along with 1,535 other immigrants from over 100 countries, Anna Maria Ulrika Wilcox became an American citizen!  It has been a long journey for Ika; although she came speaking English (somewhat:), there was much about America for Ika to learn.  She now follows the news closely, as our political world is very different from Sweden.  There are some very heated discussions over how we could manage to be the wealthiest nation on earth, yet have only 2 viable political parties.  I must admit she has a point.

Her cute Swedish accent will always be with us, we hope.  It really is pretty funny when she yells to Matt from the kitchen that there is an animal walking across the floor – usually an ant that he must do something about.  Evidently “insect” has not really stuck with her.  So much more has, though.  She has earned a Masters and worked as a school psychologist, all in a foreign language (although less foreign now).  In itself, this was an very impressive accomplishment, as I have spoken english all my life, and after attempting to read a chapter of her psychology textbook, I found it might as well have been written in greek.

One other important step in this process of Americanization, she married Matt.  She has been a joy to our family, and just to top it off, she’s growing my grandson Bo.  Congratulations Anna Maria Ulrika Wilcox, we are so proud of you!

Some things are the same the world over; such as celebrating the birth of a new family member.  What is different, and so much fun, is the foods we bring to the celebration.  The Swedish Princess Cake with a soft green marzipan, powdered with sugar, and topped with a rose is a must for any celebration.  It is layered with what tastes like a raspberry jelly and whipped cream, for a very moist and unusually tart/sweet taste; unlike our American super sugary icings.  Ika chose a forest theme for Bo’s room, with fall colors of pumpkin, forest green and chocolate.  Katarina, Ika’s sister, provided the Swedish expertise; and Tasha, Katarina’s sister-in-law, outdid herself with the decor.  You will notice barefeet in the pictures, because a proper Swede leaves his/her shoes at the door.

Another thing I found refreshing was the number of little ones involved, and welcomed into Katarina’s home.  There was a special “toddler’s table” with tiny princess cakes for them.  They were welcome to join in the games, or hang out in Gunnar’s room and play in his tent:)

Laura Wilcox, Ika’s sister-in-law, did the photography (not these pictures, which I haphazardly took with my iPhone:)  Like the trooper Laura is, in spite of a foot in a boot due to aggravating a sprain during the ACL concert, she hobbled around to document the weekend for Ika & Matt.  Laura’s amazing pictures will be available later, along with some maternity shots she took of Matt and Ika in Galveston the next day.  So creative and filled with the emotion of the event.  I’m so blessed to have such talented people in the family!