Our Clear Lake Friends, the Dicksons, got a new boat just in time for Memorial Weekend.  Matt Dickson finally realized that if he was going to entice his wife Joann into riding around Clear Lake via water, he was going to have to get a bigger boat!   Fortunately the weather cleared Memorial Day, just in time for a trek across the bay to Topwater Grill.  Captains Matt Wilcox and Lucas Dickson put their navigating skills together and got us there in record time, if not a little worse for wear:)  Topwater is one of the few restaurants on the bay that offers a dock to tie up to while you enjoy their very fresh (note the shrimp boat nearby) seafood entrees.  After a very relaxing time, and a few glasses of vino, we headed back to Clear Lake to raft up and watch the sun set.  A good time had by all!  Great memory, especially on this very wet weekend.  The sun WILL shine again soon, I guarantee (as the Cajuns say).

Graduation day has arrived for Shannon Lumbra and everyone in the family could not possibly be prouder.  It’s been a long four years filled with a lifetime of memories for Shannon and her family, as she dove her way to this graduation in between classes, exams, encouraging and leading teammates to mention a few.  What makes Shannon so special to us is not just her athletic talent or academic success, but her personal fortitude and strength of character.  In a sea of students who search for answers to so many of life’s confusing choices, Shannon stands out as one who is unwavering in her life decisions.  She will be choosing to do the right thing.  Nancy and Dan, my hat is off to you as amazing parents.  As I did, I’m sure you both prayed your way through the last 20 years, and it shows.  Congratulations Lumbra’s!

They are so pampered by Mamou, their moms and dads, and uncles and aunts too!  Our family’s fur babies are getting on in years (thus the red wagon to get downstairs to the walkway:)  Frankie, as in hot dog frank, is the only one under 10 years old.  She’s the one climbing the rocks while the others watch with mild interest. That means in dog years Maui and Sumo are antiques!  That’s why they love to watch Frankie climbing, leaping and running like lightening across the grass.  They have become spectators, as they both approach 90 in dog years.  At this point they eat, sleep, and watch life go by.  That’s perfectly fine with me, I’m right there with them.  They have earned their retirement of overseeing the seagulls from the balcony, barking at the dogs on tv, and begging treats from their Mamou.  I hope they see 100!

Evia is inarguably the classiest off-the-water neighborhood on the island.  It is a community of island professionals that remind us there is more to the island than surfing, fishing, kayaking and sun tans.  Here we celebrate spring with local musicians, artists and chefs extraordinaire.  Free and open to the public, everyone on the island is invited to join in the fun.  That’s the wonder of the island.   We are an eclectic group of folks who share a passion for the beach life, but there is much more to us than that.  As you can see, talent abounds here.  One thing is for sure, there’s is always something going on in Galveston; and everyone is invited!  Come on down.

Parting is such sweet sorrow ~ heavy on the sweet!  As we wished Mac & Martha a happy retirement in Tyler (near the grandkids of course:) discussions were already underway for their next visit.  Martha has been a bright light, with that always joy-filled smile of hers, at our water aerobics class.  A positive spirit, she will be sorely missed by the Island Divas!  As you can see we outdid ourselves with everyone’s best dish, Maryellen’s fabulous party-ready house, and our favorite “island casual” attire (with expanding waist bands of course).  The parting gift from the hostesses was a beautiful photograph, digitalized on aluminum, by our island photographer Barbara Rabek. So proud of all the talent on this island!  Tears and cheers were led by Maryellen; not a dry eye in the house when Martha & Mac began to thank everyone.  Hope to see you at water aerobics soon Martha, don’t forget to bring your suit when you come back:)

Atlanta held many surprises for my cousins and I, not the least of which was the Atlanta Historic Center.  What an amazing job the local community has done with preserving the pre-civil war era.  Above is a log cabin that was used to house the slaves of the farm. There was a working fireplace for warmth and a loft accessed by the ladder for sleeping.  The farmhouse was a few yards away, with a kitchen separate from the house for safety.  They actually had a small vegetable garden where the docents shared the work and the produce. We met a couple of gentlemen on the front porch of the farmhouse, who did an excellent job of recreating the music, costumes and feelings of the locals during the 1860’s.  We learned that there was genuine fear among those of Atlanta at the time, as they were rumored to be targeted for mass destruction by the North.  It did come to pass that Atlanta was burned to the ground for the most part.  These buildings were moved to the site from outlying areas.  Below are pictures of the “Swan House”, which was more of a plantation.  The hand carved fireplace mantel and bookcases reminded us of our Mamou’s house, filled with antiques and beautiful paintings.  It brought back memories of gathering there for holidays. We cousins felt blessed to have known our grandmother, and to witness first hand a lifestyle that has vanished as we move toward automating everything.