Mom’s 85th Birthday
Congratulations to Cindy Marciel, you are the winner of Pitch Black by Susan Crandall. I’ll be contacting you for your snail mail address (or you can email me on skully at skullybuzz dot com if you see this first) and mailing out your prize!
For this week, I’ve got Demon’s Kiss by Eve Silver, a paranormal. So, post a comment, (you must type in your email address) and I’ll enter you in the drawing for Eve’s book. I’ll also add you to my newsletter for updates on all the fun stuff and releases, too. I’ll announce the winner on the April 6th blog! Good luck!
So, here’s the scoop. Every time my mom reaches a milestone birthday (every five years), the family takes her on vacation. But it’s all a surprise. We get the whole family together, including grandchildren and great grandchildren, and meet up somewhere to surprise the heck out of her. Honestly, she is really surprised every time. We’ve taken her to Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Hilton Head. So where to go this time? We want to do something fairly close to the West Coast (because it’s our brothers’ turn to come out here). My sister was thinking the Albuquerque hot air balloon festival. I was thinking Tahoe. BTW, we plan waaaaaay ahead, so this if for September 2010. She also doesn’t do computers so she’ll never see this blog!
So I’m looking for ideas. Where would you take your 85-year-old parent or grandparent for a fun family get-together? She can still get around very well, but long hikes are still out of it. And no sky diving, either. She leaves that to my sister and I!
I’ve got a special contest running this month that I don’t want you to miss. It runs through April 10th, and you can win a $50 Visa gift card. Here’s the link, it’s Fresh Fiction, and just follow the instructions! Good luck to everyone! http://freshfiction.com/contest.php?id=1682
Jasmine, Jennifer and JB! http://www.skullybuzz.com/ Newsletter: skullybuzz-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Okay, Rita! how do I delete a photo again? I really should have written that down.
Hey,
How about trying to find out what she would like to do? Do you have anyone in the family who could ask her questions without her antennae going up. She might surprise you on what she would like to do. If you can’t go about it that way, I would suggest the Grand Canyon. I would love to go back and visit it again. Have a great day.
The Grand Canyon is a great idea, too. We’ll need to investigate how much walking she has to do. And I am tasked with trying to ferret out what she’d like to do without giving away what we’re doing!!! That’s why I thought I’d ask for suggestions, so that I could present them as if they were a vacation I planned for myself and see her reaction.
And housemouse, don’t forget to give me your email to be entered into the drawing!!! Thanks!
How about Muir Woods? It’s breath-taking!Cindy
My mom will be 87 in Sept. and too is very alert and healthy although not too adventurous lol. Usually a family get together makes her very happy – she’s got 4 grandchildren (3 married) and 7 great grandchildren (all by one grandaughter)and even more amazing is her younger sister and older brother are all still with us and also pretty healthy. Hope your mom enjoys her birthday(s)!
Maybe she would enjoy a trip to San Diego to see the naval ships.
Hi Jasmine, Albuquerque sounds actually kind of nice. You can check out the sights, see the hot air balloons, maybe get a ride in one:-) I like the Southwest but don’t get to visit it much. I fell in love with the Tucson area and I’d like to go back and see the caves in the hills. There;s a famous cave that is only open at certain times of the year. No matter where you decide, I’m sure your Mom will be thrilled.
BTW Can’t wait for ‘Fair Game’-It sounds good;-)
I would go with grandma to the zoo.
I’m figuring you’ve taken care of the picture, right? But if not…just go to Edit Post, click once on the photo, then Delete.
As for suggestions…ugh, I’m so bad at that kind of thing. Maybe I’ll think of something to add to this post later.
Did I understand it correctly though…have you been sky diving? [shudder]
Have you already been to the Bay Area? Not necessarily cheap, but tons to see and do.
Napa/Sonoma?
And San Diego’s awesome, too, as Estella suggested–their museums and zoos and quite impressive and family friendly, and there’s tons for the entire family to enjoy, including some amusement parks (if you enjoy that sort of thing).
Bryce and Zion and those national parks? So beautiful, and you can hike or not as you wish.
Vancouver? Haven’t been yet, but hear it’s quite a great place to visit, too.
Seattle? Portland?
Muir Woods is a great idea, too, Cindy.
Cats, I’m so glad your mom is doing well, too. And you are right, the most important thing is getting the family together for her no matter where. I remember the first time we surprised Mom. She wasn’t expecting my brothers to come to Las Vegas. And she just broke down into tears.
Yes, Estella! I love San Diego!
Ooh, caves, I love caves, Gail! And the balloon ride could be so cool, too. And thanks on Fair Game.
I haven’t been to a zoo in years, Snulfers. Gosh, if we went to San Diego, we could do that, too.
Thank you, Rita! Why can’t I remember how to do that? And yep, I’ve been sky diving. Once. It was a tandem jump. For my 30th birthday. Wow. It was cool. And that got the need out of my system. I wrote a story in Resolutions about it, called Free Fall.
I do actually live in the Bay Area, Fedora, so we’ve done most of that. But I did think of Vancouver and Victoria Island. I’ve never done BC. And I was born in Canada! Bryce and Zion would be great, too. Seattle would be cool.
Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. I’m writing them down!
My mom is aging fast. Her health is failing – very sad.
What a great surprise for your momI’m sure she would enjoy anywhereyou took her as long as the familywas all together.Disneyland soundsfun or a family cruise.
I’m so sorry about your mom, Debby. It is hard to watch our parents get older and more frail.
Disneyland! That sounds fun, Peggy, none of us have been in years. Plus there lots of other stuff around there. But you’re right, mom really won’t care where because we’re all together. That’s what she loves.