Kathleen, Sitka was my favorite port when I cruised there a couple years ago with a friend of mine. I'm very excited that I will be able to have DH experience the beauty on this year's cruise. Jodi-

Sake barrels at a Shinto shrine in Kobe, Japan. Good friends of mine got married there. I absolutely fell in love with the barrels and just recently, while looking for Japanese home decor on Craig's List, found an authentic barrel for $10. TEN DOLLARS! Others I've seen for sale ran between $300 and $800. I'll be posting a photo of mine some time in the future asking for help determining what I can spray or brush on it to preserve the rope and decorative cover. Below is a link regarding the meaning of sake barrels at Shinto shrines. Jodi- Here is a link that might be useful: Sake barrels at Shinto shrines

Love memories like this.. I see my old flame on Facebook.. I chat with him from time to time. He still lives in our hometown. He has been married 5 times, me once, and is quite the drinker.. His mother never thought I was good enough for him.. Oh well. Funny thing is his mom and mine were roommates in the nursing home when they both died. All in all he was and still is a nice guy. I still have a charm bracelet he gave me for Christmas one year. It has a heart on it with Sue on one side and Ronnie on the other.. Funny how an old picture brings back so many memories.. Susan, nice looking group..

Karen, you live in the most picturesque place. I've never seen so many photos of places and objects that are, for lack of a better word, odd. I mean that in the best possible way. Mare