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March - Rebecca

Debbi's niece Rebecca is 17 and came to visit for a week, during her spring break. In order to get plane tickets Easter weekend we had to go for Thursday night and the flight was due at 11:30 PM our time. So we made arrangements to see some friends in the Phoenix area for dinner before hand. We were about two blocks from their home when Rebecca called to say the plane was delayed and she was not going to be able to make her connection so they rebooked her for Friday!. So after dinner we went home (it's 2 hours each way) and came back the next day. At least this time it arrived a bit earlier.

On Saturday Bill and I were scheduled to help with the Cornville Easter Egg Hunt so Rebecca helped us with that, and then we had dinner, watched sunset and saw a play (very silly "Murder at the Howard Johnson". Sunday we had a day of rest while Rebecca got used to the climate, and acquired a bit too much sun... Tuesday we did the usual Sunset Crater - Wupatki - Grand Canyon day trip (long day). Well, she had to be able to prove she really went somewhere sunny, didn't she? We spent part of a day in Jerome also, but the highlight of the trip was the day we spent at Out of Africa Wild Animal Park. Bill and I had not been there previously so none of us knew what to expect. The animals were incredible.

April - New Orleans

Rebecca's flight left around Noon and ours for New Orleans left at 1:00, from the same terminal. Pretty good planning, don't you think? Saved an extra trip to Phoenix for us, and she didn't have to wait around for 2 hours alone. We spent a week at a timeshare that we'd been to previously and have enjoyed. We walked about 30 miles during the week, saw parts of a movie being filmed, ate a lot (oysters, gumbo, shrimp) and drank plenty of hurricanes. The French Quarter is finally seeing significant recovery from Katrina, and there were many more tourists than during our 2007 trip. More places were open during the week and the atmosphere was greatly improved. We understand that the devastated neighborhoods are still in poor shape, though. Hopefully, our contributions to the economy will help at least a tiny bit.

April - Marilyn & Joe

This visit they arrived on Wednesday and we again went to our favorite salad spot in Phoenix for lunch. By the time we get them to our place they are ready for a nap, and Debbi had an exam to take in Spanish. Thursday we splurged on the crab legs special at the Sedona Airport. Of all places, who would expect this, but every week, year-round they have this great meal, reservations definitely required. Friday we saw "Romantic Comedy" at a local theater. Herb & Miriam were supposed to be here this week, but had car trouble on the way and returned to California to regroup. We did get to see Adrienne & Laura on Saturday evening for cocktails and dinner. Sunday we called Marilyn's sister Helene to wish her Happy 85th Birthday (not on her birthday, but at the party they had for her which we all couldn't attend). On Tuesday we drove them to Laughlin and dropped them at the car rental counter. We had dinner with Gary & Glenda and stayed overnight, returning home on Weds. in time for Spanish class.

May- Wayne & Pat

The next weekend, we had a visit from rally friends for many years from Rochester, Wayne and Pat. They have built a second home in Tucson where they spend the winter months. We arranged to see them during one of our rally trips and had such a good time with them we invited them to visit. Both of them are artists (painters) as well as hikers and birders. We met them Friday afternoon at Montezuma Castle, then had cocktails and went to the Sedona First Friday Art Walk. Galleries are open late and have beverages & munchies for browsers. On Saturday we hiked at Red Rock Park, then went to Jerome where we walked for a while, then did the Jerome First Saturday Art Walk, and finally a nice dinner. We had a terrific weekend and look forward to having them come back for more art and whatever. At this point Debbi was frantically studying for her last exam and oral interview of the semester which occurred on Wednesday. If she still has an A average, the she doesn't have to take the 2 days of finals next week and we can go camping early.

May- David

The following weekend, Debbi's cousin David had a business meeting in Tucson and made his travel arrangements to include an overnight via Phoenix on the way home. We picked him up Saturday and came home. Went for one of our favorite hikes on the Broken Arrow Trail to Chicken Point. It was too late in the day to do the entire trail, but we got in a bit of exercise anyhow. Sunday we left pretty early to return David to Phoenix - 2 hours to get there, 2 hours of "airport stuff" and waiting around for the flight. Part of the way there David got a message that his flight was delayed so he contacted the airline and learned they had re-booked him on a later flight. So, now we had plenty of time so we stopped for a salad lunch and an extra hour or two of time together.

See the Winnebago page for the story of our Utah adventure from May 13 - 27.

May-June Clint & Vera

Clint was scheduled to participate in a Flute conference in Oregon in June and they were able to schedule their trip to include coming through Phoenix where they saw some other friends, then drove up to see us in their rental Prius. What a hoot that car was as Clint and Bill played around trying to figure out the control panel and how to get better mileage. We always have a terrific time with them and this time was no exception. From cocktails on Sunday afternoon through a visit to Jerome on Monday until they left on Tuesday, we talked and laughed. Clint taught Debbi some exceedingly rudimentary tips on playing a flute (he has a major collection so seeing some in a store was a highpoint). There are still so many things to see and do the next time.

Vera and Clint left Tuesday and we left that afternoon for Phoenix. Overnight at a hotel and off to the airport in the morning for our annual trip to the right coast. See the family pages Laitenberger and Segall for the family pictures.

June- Visits with friends, etc.