Friends -Part I

As most of you know, I like people. To that end, we have a lot of friends here in Bulow and I will find any excuse to have a "get together". So, when I retired last year that was a cause for celebration and we did. All of our friends are very cognizant of Betty not being able to get around very well sometimes, so our house is usually the gathering place. I also think they like to see what new "goody" I'm going to spring on them. Whenever we have our gatherings, everyone brings some type of goody to share. As you can tell by the following pictures, no one goes away hungry. The best part about it is when everyone leaves, most of the clean-up is done, as they all help. In fact, Betty and I really do very little cleaning after they leave. Nice to have friends like that.

Now to share some pictures, with comments of course. this will be a multi-part post over the next couple of days. Today's post is just introducing the "players" (last names left off to protect the innocent).

My name tag, used when I was instructing.

The two sisters Mary (on left) and Shirlie (on right) with Frannie in the middle.
Shirlie and her husband Bill (no picture) were one of the first families to move into Bulow on Osprey Lane. Mary and Keith moved in after we did but had previously purchased a home for Mary and Shirlie's parents. Frannie lost her husband just after we moved here so we didn't know him, but Frannie is someone Betty relates to very well.

Sister set number 2: Pat (on left) and Diane
Pat lives with Diane and her husband Dave. she moved in with them a couple of years ago. Her husband had dies several years ago and she wanted to get out of the cold is the Northeast. I will tell you Diane makes the best potato salad I have had.

This is Keith, Mary's husband (on left) and Dave, Diane's husband.
Keith is "The Lawnboy" as he started a lawn service here in Bulow, and all the "older" ladies love him. He and Mary also own part of an internet "sweepstakes" (it's gambling) business. Dave on the other hand is what you might call a "car buff". He changes cars like most people change underwear. Since we have known them, he has had at least 8 different cars.

Toni and Bob.
The newest of our "group", Toni and Bob moved here from Michigan. Bob is very quiet and reserved and Toni, well, lets say she is very outgoing. They fit in with the rest of our friends quite well.

The next two pictures are of Marti and Neil. Marti lost her husband to a massive heart attack while he was on the 7th Tee of a golf course. She moved up to Jacksonville to be closer to her daughters, and a couple of years ago, she met Neil. He is just opposite of her first husband and a really nice individual. He does have one major flaw,and that is he is a die-hard fan of the Florida Gators. Well, everyone has a burden to bear.

There are a couple of our friends missing as they were not able to attend. Skip and Mo, Marti's brother and sister-in-law, were in Illinois at Mo's mothers, and Carole was just out with her new beau. Shirlie's husband Bill is also missing as he was in charge of the camera.

More tomorrow from this gathering.