Recently, we welcomed my 89-year-old dad, sister, and niece for an extended stay at our guest cottage. From the moment they arrived, it was evident that this would be a time filled with laughs (maybe some tears), stories, and perhaps a few challenges along the way. As we settled into the routine of our days, the first few days were the most challenging while setting up the spaces to accommodate dad’s needs. Despite the mobility struggles, dad was determined to embrace activities. Sometimes the activities tired him out and overwhelmed him, so we made adjustments.
Here we are taking a Kubota ride to the "main house" for dinner.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this visit is witnessing the resilience of the human spirit. My sister, Rosé (because she loves rosé wine), has been the rock holding everything together as we care for dad for three weeks while his wife recovers from surgery. My sister and I are spending more time together in this visit than we have in the past ten years, if not more. We have been enjoying coffee talk on the porch most mornings. She lives in Ohio and has a busy life, so it is difficult to get together for extended visits. However, we did meet up in Kentucky in October ’23 and you can see that here: Kentucky Bourbon (wineandwhiskeytravelers.com)
Here is my sister and niece, for which we need to come up with a W&W pseudonym.
Back to dad…Navigating the quaint pathways and uneven terrain of the outdoors became an exercise in patience and understanding. Simple tasks like walking on uneven outdoor walkways and paths required a slower pace and a helping hand. But rather than viewing these challenges as obstacles, we chose to see them as opportunities to come together as a family, offering support and companionship every step of the way.
Amidst our family bonding, we also made time to reconnect with old friends Mar-Mar, venturing out to local establishment for cocktails and conversations. It was a reminder that while family provides a sense of grounding and belonging, friendships offer a different kind of nourishment – one that ignites a sense of fun and adventure.
I realize that life is a journey filled with twists and turns, and that sometimes, the most meaningful moments arise from the challenges we face along the way. Whether it's learning to navigate the complexities of aging or finding joy in the simplest of pleasures, our family's experience at the guest cottage taught me the importance of embracing each moment with grace and gratitude.
In the end, it's not the destination that matters most, but the journey we take and the people we choose to share it with. And for that, we will always be thankful for the time we spent together; family is forever.
Here is a photo gallery of our time together so far, more to come as we will be together for a while longer. Whiskey did have the time to get the boats in the water and we can fit under the Main St. bridge so stay tuned for lake adventures.
Here is a short video of some of the activities.
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