time warp...back to thursday...

Wednesday night we stayed with Angie & Brandon.... Thursday morning Mom & Dad came down...Miss Emma had swimming lessons in Pella...

May 1995

Since moving to Texas [7 years ago] I lost touch with one of my very, very dear friends...Joy & I were the best of friends in nursing school...we were in each others weddings...we traveled together...laughed...stayed up late talking...smoked...studied...helped each other survive life as nursing students...we had an instant bond the day we met...I knew she & I could be life long friends. Joy lives in Pella. So, on the way to Emma's lesson we stopped in for a surprise visit. I hopped out of Angie's mini-van, Joy came to the door...did a huge double take and started screaming...."WHAT IS GOING ON!?! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" **HUG** It sort of looked like an episode from Maury Povich or Jerry Springer :) I stayed with Joy & visited while the girls went to the swimming lesson. I thoroughly enjoyed our visit & vow to never let 7 years pass between us again....I love you Joy! Pella is a gorgeous little community...cobble stone streets, beautiful town square, Dutch letters, meat markets, perfectly groomed flowers... My girls... While we were off surprising Joy & learning to swim....Dad & Brian went to photograph/chase the Union Pacific Steam Train that was running through Iowa....nicknamed the Corn Belt Special. Brian used his connections & got us a ride on the rails..... We all took turns and "drove" for awhile...under the watchful eye of Jim the engineer. Not exactly Dad's kind of horse power...he is more accustom to the John Deere green variety! :) The rear view view...the train was over 1 mile long... The view from the drivers seat...