Von & Laurel, Loved your similar stories! My husband works part time (on days he's not at his regular job) at Abbott Farms here in Baldwinsville. They like to joke with him that most wives call to ask their husbands to pick up a loaf of bread on the way home from work, but that I call to ask him to bring home manure/topsoil or mulch!! :0) Phyl

Good Morning All, BJ, WOW, what a post. I cannot believe your incredible energy. I have not read or seen the Ya Ya Sisterhood, I suppose I am going to have to now. Might be a nice rainy Saturday afternoon thing to do. But for now I am going to call you Sister of endless energy and enthusiasm! I read every word of your post. Talk about catching up TIMES 10! LOL I am thinking of you too Raeanne, out there in Chicago, Chicago. Hope you are having fun. Too bad you and Gretchen can't hook up. Tikanas, I must have missed some posting as I did not know you were recently widowed. I am not aware of the circumstances but I am sorry to hear that. Sounds like you are indeed being good to yourself. I admire your committment to yourself to get/stay in shape. I have not even had the chance to talk to DH about the retreat. The truth of the matter is that he has not been home but for one evening since this whole thing blew up! He has been away working and when not working taking care of his DS's needs, getting him to court, doctors and dentist. Nicely managing to avoid having to deal with his life here! He calls dutifully every night to make sure things are "alright". We haven't even spoken of therapy or retreats, etc. This is the way it will go too I suspect until he "blows up" again. I am determined to go to this retreat it sounds good. The people who recommended it are the brother and SIL of my good friend who I ride with. I have never met her brother but I know they have had some real issues. Someone suggested this retreat to them and they went. They said that when they got there the looked around and said to each other that there was no way this was going to work and wanted to leave. The impression was that it the husband and wife were real "granola" ,(no offense to anyone), and nuts and seeds 60's type people. BUT they stuck it out and got so much out of it that they are going back for a refresher! The only other complaint was that all the meals were vegetarian. DH is strickly meat and potatoes but I won't even talk to him about the food. So, I hope that DH can find the time to come home long enough to talk to him about this. I have to admit that I feel very lonely lately. I think a big part of it is that I can't ride Sweet Pea and I am sort of cut off from alot of activities.........like the campout this weekend. It will be okay and I will get some fun time in before summer is out. Today I am cleaning all my grooming brushes and cleaning harness and saddle really well so they will be ready for Sweet Pea's return to work! Dosen't that sound like fun! I was going to drive my trailer down into the pasture and set up camp with the horses but my sister told me that was really pathetic!! I am still thinking about it only it's rainy. Marci, I can't believe you have the energy to organize a yard sale! They are a lot of work but I guess there is lots of money to be made. I am doing HORSE LAUNDRY right now. Saddle pads, trail packs, etc. They have to be washed twice!! First load is spinning right now............I will check in later.

Are you musically inclined and patient with children? How about organizing the grand and great grand children to put on a performance for their grandparents. They can dress in the style that was popular when they married and they can sing the songs that have the most meaning to the couple. I saw this recently and it was a hit. You can even take it a step further and have them (or you) read out prices of items from 50 years ago, and headlines. Hopefully you're close enough to the family to do this without feeling like you're intruding, but it's something unique that they probably won't forget.

My parents will be celebrating their 50th in a few years, and I can assure you they will NOT want gifts. My mom has been relentlessly purging for what seems like 10 years, lol! They haven't downsized yet, but man will they be ready when it's time. Mom takes particular pleasure in gloating to me that her attic is now, finally, EMPTY! :) They are an age where they have everything they want and need. They no longer value "things" they value time with family and friends, extensive travel, and leisure time activities (golf, gardening, etc.) They will LOVE the large party we will throw, but would not LOVE gifts. I have a few years to plan, but am already concerned about how to get the "no gifts" point across in an etiquette-acceptable way!