Got brave and went to a reunion of my sorority at the University of Redlands. Delta Kappa Psi celebrated its 100th birthday at a beautiful luncheon and afternoon tea, and my pledge class celebrated 40 years since we joined.
I haven’t seen most of these Lavender Ladies since graduation, 39 years ago though Christmas cards keep us updated with some. Many hugs, tears, and remembrances! I think we look great (you can tell who we still are, if that makes sense), and are all on the verge, or have just retired and are eagerly tackling new challenges. And not to be trite, but 60 sure looks and acts like the new 40!
A few aches and pains, several grandchildren — or none at all — lots of travel, and all good people. I even made some new delta friends from other classes. Imagine, 425 ladies attended out of the 1200 members that are still alive — a whopping third! We were singing sorority songs, eating, and drinking a lot of wine or ice tea. I never thought I’d be at this end of the spectrum, age wise, but was amazed and challenged by the sisters attending who were in the decades ahead of me.
What a beautiful day to treasure forever!
us in bed on “movie night.” No distractions, settled in, drinking wine, making new friends, being of small service, and sharing the immense sense of marvel. Boy did we fight too! 
I was blown away by the faith of Christians through the many centuries who went on crusades, spent lifetimes building Abbey’s, Cathedrals, walled-cities, who dedicated their lives to sculpting masterpiece, painting ceilings, writing music that glorified God. Sure ,there was greed and self-interest, but you could tell there were hearts who swelled with the love of their Lord to dedicate their lives to doing what they thought was His will. That faith really reached through the centuries and grabbed my heart. 
Day on the Lake
. We had a beautiful, awesome day in the low 70′s,clear, snowy alps, azure water. 
We left a gorgeous day in Montalcino to tearful goodbyes and much happiness for all that we experienced. Heading north, we got on the autostradde just south of Florence and enjoyed some magnificent scenery, from the mountains, to the prairies, to the ocean of Venice.
Ahhhhh, but Venice. There were no gondolas, water taxis, or vaporettos running on this busy Sunday. There were races in the canals of all sorts of floating contraptions, but mostly multi-person skulls. Never saw a start or finish line, but these had commandeered the scene. They were fun to watch but couldn’t get to some places because of crowds now all reduced to walking.
We managed to get to St Mark’s Square, where there is construction limitations on the campanile, only to find it wall to wall people (Multiple cruise ships in port). Lines were so ridiculously long, we passed on all sights and had a cup of hot chocolate, and people-watched and meandered down alley-ways that weren’t impassable.
We celebrated Jeff and Carolyn Serfass arriving from Washington D.C. They have joined us in the celebration of Mothers Day and Steve’s Birthday.
Leonardo di Vinci
What a great day! Our awesome driver, 
into this.