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"You Dance Like a 20-Year Old

That was a compliment last night from a stranger at the Todos Santos concert. Other people will come up to me and tell me they love watching me dance, there or at the Clayton concerts. I learned to dance with my mother in our living room and watching Dick Clark's American Bandstand. I miss my dance partner of 28 years though.

Michael on a Pacifica Hike

Conklins, etc.

Top picture my father Joseph Conklin top left, his father Robert Roscoe Conklin in hat; Mina has a head scarf. Oval picture Joseph Geno Conklin and Mary Jane Wells. "Sitting in air" picture possibly Robert Conklin as young man? Smiling single man James Pendleton Harris. Other pictures unidentified.

Boats!

We first bought a silver rowboat from a neighbor, went on Lafayette Reservoir and didn't like it much and sold it. We bought an unwieldy raft we used a few summers before selling it and getting another small inflatable. We used a two-person inflatable kayak once and I sold that last week along with two new inflatable Sevylor 3-person boats, never opened. Michael told me to just buy one but I wanted one for each of us. What I'd really like is a tiny, sturdy, inflatable kayak with oar. Mainly I love to have my own boat on the lake near where we camp every summer. Boating is fun!

My Home Reflects the Changing Seasons

I have plates/bowls; bed spreads/towels; curtains/drapes/valances/afghans/chair covers for spring/summer and fall/winter decor at home. I enjoy celebrating the seasons by changing colors and prints with each new season. I'm also careful about what I wear in each season. Spring cleaning has been a major part of each year but I've fallen behind. Michael and I would move out the appliances so I could clean and he often cleaned the window exteriors and fridge interior so I miss our team effort, and I miss our team.

Michael is Most Popular Name in 100 Years

The name Michael has had the top spot 44 times as the most popular name for the last 100 years.

Paul is On His Way to Utah

The day has come that Paul is returning to school and friends in Provo. We've had some good times while he's spent the summer here and he's seen friends and worked a bit here and there. I always miss him when he leaves, knowing he thrives and does well where he's headed. I found him a ride in a van with father and daughter off of craigslist. Thanks for the memories my son. It's been fun.

Painting the House Trim

Paul and I have white paint on our hands from sanding, priming and painting the white trim after Brother Moore replaced rotted wood on two north-facing windows. There was peeling on the garage trim and areas in the front too. First I had to look for sandpaper, a brush, masking tape, primer and paint in the garage and in the process found two pair of painting pants. I put the smaller pair on but Paul declined wearing the other. It was a full day and a rare experience to work together doing what I'd always relied on Michael to do. We had to pick up some new paint and got a detail brush, then enjoyed eating sandwiches in the patio. I'm feeling much better about the wood being sealed and painted and glad for Paul's help and company. I took a deserved 30-minute swim before we made tortilla casserole and apple crisp using our own picked green apples. He thanked me multiple times for dinner as well as Adam when he came home after work and working out in the city.

August 8 at Memory Gardens

Adam, Steph, Paul and I were able to pay a small tribute to the memory of Michael after the placing of his marker August 5 by placing a fragrant red rose on it, singing Come Thou Fount and Paul praying as we stood together. We are all very pleased with the way the marker looks and grateful to be together to see it before they leave for school in Utah.

Eating in the Patio

Last night Paul and I ate sandwiches in the patio and talked. I can't say I've spent much time there since Michael left last summer. It was nice to share the moment with Paul and reminisce. We thought we saw a white bird perched in a far tree but it stayed there so long we weren't sure what it was. A hummingbird paid a visit to the bottlebrush tree behind us. Good times.

Clayton Summer Movies and Concerts

Paul and I went to all four Friday outdoor movies this summer enjoying Nation's or Cinco de Mayo takeout. Offerings were Monsters vs Aliens, Night at the Museum 2, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and The Blind Side. We even returned from camping in time to see Cloudy. We enjoyed two Saturday concerts as well trying Skipolini's Hawaiian calzone after National Dance Day, although Clayton didn't get the memo. Hardly anyone danced to the wonderful big band music. I did. Thank you Paul! It's been fun.

http://www.ci.clayton.ca.us/documents/concerts2010.pdf