Happy New Year from Milton and Shellie to all our Friends and Family!
It was indeed a year of Friends and Family for us, as all of our travels involved reuniting with family and enjoying the world with great friends as travel companions.
In February we celebrated Valentine’s Day in British Columbia at one of our favorite heliskiing destinations with our friends Jerry and Jayn Karl. We are heading back to the Cariboos this year with extended-family-friends Doug Knisley and Gerri Walsh.
Valentine’s Day in the Cariboos
In the spring we joined a wonderful group of friends (with Doug and Gerri at the epicenter) on an EcoTour cruise in Alaska. I think I remember two sunny days but it was a fabulous week! From Alaska we continued on a road trip of the Pacific Northwest that featured golfing at Bandon Dunes and visiting with Shellie’s business friends Gordy and Bev Halverson and Amy and John Tykeson–plus Shellie’s high school buddy Anne Bell and Madie and Dan on Vashon Island. We also got to see Silverthorne friends Jacques and Lyn DeLorimier, and cycled in the beautiful Columbia Valley.
Doug scoops up glacial ice for our cocktails in the Endicott Arm
Shellie made a trip to Bel Air, MD to visit her uncle Dan Rosser and Lisa Lutche Rosser, and spent some time getting to know cousins Lindsay and Sam (the spitting image of his granddad namesake!) What a special treat to see Lindsay’s talent as Peter Pan in a professional quality production. This young lady is going places. She sings, dances, acts and flies!
With Peter Pan after the show
We celebrated Milton’s birthday in Rhode Island with sons Matt and Josh and their beaming brides Sue and Oni. Grandsons Cal (now 20!!!) and Grayson (all of 2 1/2) bring us pride and joy whenever we visit, although we just don’t get enough of them.
Milton with Gray and Josh
Cal, Milton and Matt
We returned to Italy with our good friends Bill Latoza and Joanne Bauer, who were game companions on our cycling tour across Italy, from the Adriatic to the Mediterranean. The food, wine, company and setting were great rewards at the end of each tiring day. We then went on to Marrakech, where we spent a few days with John and Josee Rostenberg–so fun to enjoy the exotic with our Colorado peeps!
Ahh, Italy!
John and Milton loving the snails in Jemma el-Fnaa Square, Marrakech
And of course there were the rugs…
From Marrakech we went our separate ways, which involved another week of touring for Milton and Shellie, including a stay in the Fez Medinah and overnight in a Bouduin camp in the Sahara Desert. We loved being transported into a lifestyle that hasn’t changed in hundreds of years.
Milton swears this was his last camel ride
The Sahara dunes at sunset
Back at home for a week or two, and off again for our annual theatre jaunt, this year in Chicago with Bill and Joanne, John and Josee, and Trish and Steve Shapiro. We thrilled at front row seats for Steppenwolf’s premiere of “The Minutes” and got to see “Hamilton” again. Chicago still tops Shellie’s Favorite Cities of the World list, and it was such a treat to share it with dear friends.
Joanne and Trish at Girl and the Goat
Our year ended on a very sad note, with the loss of Shellie’s dad Al Rosser. He painted and sculpted to the very end, and endeared himself to all the residents and staff at his assisted living facility. He passed peacefully in his sleep, just as he wanted to go. But we miss him every day.
Al’s last sculpture
Cousin Chris Rosser and Tami with Al, so happy they visited in September
Farewell party as Al left his assisted living apartment for the Skilled Nursing Facility
We are happy to be moving on to 2018, and wish all of our friends and family Love, Health and Joy in the coming year, and the gift of seizing the best of every day.
Shellie and Milton