Kathleen Johns:  

Life In 1968 I met the guy I would eventually marry. We got married in 1972. In 1974, baby #1 arrived, a daughter, and I became a full time MOM. In 1977, baby #2 arrived, a son. Hubby said 2 kids is enough and I planned on finally going to University but he said I should wait till both kids were in school full time. Guess what happened!!! Baby #3 showed up before I could start school again, another boy. Baby #4 arrived 25 months later, another girl, and my plans to go back to school evaporated. I became a Grandma in 1991, a cute little granddaughter who stole my heart. In 1995, my daughter married and a year later gave me a grandson. He is so much like his father in many ways. I am still waiting for the other 3 kids to get married and give me more grandkids. The first 2 grandkids are growing up too fast and I love babies. My Dad passed away in 1999 and Mom finally decided in the fall of 2008 to move out of the house into Concordia Village. It was a lot of work to sort through 57 years of accumulated possession and decide what she would take with her, what her children could use and what was to be sent to a charitable organization or thrown in the garbage. As my brothers live out of town and my sister works full time, I spent a lot of time packing and cleaning so the house could be sold. Then as Mom doesn't understand how to invest her money from the sale of the house, I looked after that for her too. Unfortunately, the interest rates took a terrible tumble before we could get it invested but I did my best. Hopefully, the money will last as long as she needs it. Mom passed away on June 20, 2013. after being paralyzed on her left side from a stroke on June 19. 2012. My Hubby (Ed) retired in Dec. 2005 and we are enjoying our freedom from going to work everyday. We have taken a winter vacation every year since Jan. 2004 and have gone to 5 different cities in Cuba. The last 3 trips were to the same resort as we found a place that we liked more than the other places. The friendliness of the staff, as well as the other tourists is amazing and a good majority of the tourists at this resort come back year after year, some as many as 15-20 times. If you are looking for a fun and friendly place to go in the winter and don't need a 5 star resort, try Club Amigo Guardalavaca in Holguin, Cuba. It is only a 3 star but the grounds, the pools and the beach are fantastic. The Villas are the newest rooms and the most modern but the room is only needed to sleep, shower and change clothes. The rooms are clean in the other parts of the resort but not as modern but they ...Expand for more