Cozumel Fireworks in the Rain Rain Rain

Independence Day photo courtesy of Bill Bryan

The theme of this year's Independence Day festitivies is rain, rain, rain. We are now on our third week of rain. Hard to believe but true. Not complaining as the rains keep the ocean cool and prevent a hurricane coming our way. But I have to admit, it is getting kind of old.

Fireworks photo courtesy of Bill Bryan

Around 11:30 last night, I was woken from a light sleep by the fireworks. I wasn't sure they were even going to have them. A few hours earlier, we had guests at our gate, well really not guests, but locals who had gotten stuck in the rain and hid under our car port (glued to our gates) ... one even had a moped. We went to bed, so not sure how long they were out there.

Another shot by Bill Bryan

Happy Independence Day, all! It is still raining.

Cincinnati Visit Part 2

Bobby Lammert and family

You know the old saying, you can't go home again. Well I did, but boy was my memory lousy. I happened to sit in a room across from one of my brother's best friends for many hours and never realized who he was. My brother even gave me prompts, like remember Bob this or Bob that. But the guy I remembered was named Bobby and was thirty years younger! Sorry, Bobby Lammert, and if you make it to Cozumel, I promise to cook you that flank steak you liked so well.

We have a new tradition of meeting up each summer, my brother and his girls and a few select friends of my brother. One of the ones I enjoy speaking to and also talk to throughout the year is Liz. She is just such a wonderful, warm and together person.

Liz and me

The other is Tom, who shared his home with all of us. He has been a constant in the lives of my nieces and really like another Dad. I am honored to call him my friend.

Tom, my brother's good friend

One of the highlights of the Cincinnati visit was a party that my niece, Sarah, put together for us to see our first cousins, Julie and Lisa, their children and spouses and one of my favorite people in the whole world, Uncle Bud. Everybody should have an Uncle Bud, a guy who always believed in us, clowned with us and loved us unconditionally.

Uncle Bud

Our cousins Lisa and Julie

Seeing Jule and Lisa again was awesome. It was a tiny bit sad as their mom passed away in January. But she will live on in all our memories, love you, Aunt Peggy. I really need to pull out some of the old photos with Bud with Elvis hair and Peggy with her beehive and cat glasses. I just love those old photos!

Adorable Emmet with one of the puppies

One of my favorite photos from that day was of my cousin Lisa's younger son, Emmet. What a doll and of course, he is holding a puppy!