Monday, December 17, 2018
 

            This year was certainly filled with new adventures.  Mark really did retire so we decided to take advantage of the free time.  Granted it took a lot more work to close a business than to sell it.  But by April we had convinced the government we were actually retired and no, do not have to file more quarterly returns.

            In January we drove to northern Minnesota to Grand Marais, MN, for winter photography.  Paula fished the great Fishing Extravaganza on Gull Lake and was skunked.  Mark went up in a helicopter to photograph the event.  She tried her luck again on Mille Lacs Lake a week later with the same results.  Her cousin Bob caught fish ten feet from her both times.

            In May we traveled to England and were hosted by our friends Paul and Teresa Hirst at their place in Maidenhead.  We visited Bletchley Park where secret encrypted communications were decoded in WWII.  A real highlight for Mark.  We then traveled to London for six days to see all the sites – what a city - and of course checked out some London pubs.  Then it was off to Scotland with the Hirsts for four days of seeing castles and the countryside.  Thankfully Paul drove -- those roundabouts are tricky.

            We returned so Mark was able to co-pilot a Ford Tri-Motor airplane from the 1920s and attend the EAA Airventure in Oshkosh, WI, for five days. 

            In October Mark was awarded the prestigious Engineer of the Year award from the Society of Broadcast Engineers, a 5000 member world-wide organization of engineers.  So we flew out to Boston for the ceremony and took time to walk the freedom trail and enjoy the city.  We both thoroughly enjoyed the history and restaurants. 

            Paula continues to work on her family genealogy and was admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution after working on it for over two years.  Documenting seven generations was no small task but my has her history knowledge improved and the things she learned about her heritage.  Mark keeps looking for the horse thief.  What a guy.

            In December we took a 14 day/3300 mile road trip to see the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, a Grand Ole Opry performance in Nashville, the sights and tastes of New Orleans along with much, much more.  Check it out on our blog at http://www.gilbertlodge.com 

May you enjoy good health, special memories, peace and love this Christmas Season and in the upcoming year.  Mark and Paula Persons