Our stay in Alana’s driveway extended longer than we thought it would. The time flew by much too quickly none the less.

It was great spending time together, playing Uno games with Gabi and Lainey and enjoying meals together. At the same time, life went on for all of us as Alana and Lainey had work schedules, I worked on the coach and Donna had a couple of media interviews. Unfortunately we weren’t able to meet up with many of the people we wanted to visit in the area this time. We’ll be back again though.

Dining al fresco with the girls

On Saturday evening, Donna made her famous crab cakes for dinner. They were delicious as always. We stayed up later than we should have – Alana had to work an early shift over the weekend, leaving the house before 6am.

Crab cake with roasted sweet potatoes

Lainey got up early Sunday morning to drive Alana to work. She did this so we could have Alana’s car for the day.

Donna and I drove Alana’s car down to Edmonds for the Celebration of Life Memorial Service for our friend Bob Schmitt. Bob was a retired fireman – a Battalion Chief in the Edmonds fire department. There was a procession of fire department vehicles carrying family and close friends through town, stopping at a fallen firefighters memorial before leaving them at the Holy Rosary Church hall.

Fire department procession

The memorial service began with the fire department honor guard placing a large photograph of Bob at the front of the hall and presenting an American flag that flew over his firehouse to his wife Sini.

His eulogy was written by two of his sons and delivered by a member of the Snohomish County District One fire department. All three of his sons then spoke about their father. We all lifted a glass and toasted to his memory.

It was a celebration of life for a man that embraced each day and life to the fullest. It was a sad day as well. The sudden passing of Bob Schmitt left me with an empty feeling inside.  I haven’t had much motivation to blog about our daily life knowing that the bright light this man brought to each day has been snuffed out.

Sini, Bob and Donna – Cave Creek, AZ February 2015

This morning I need to finish packing the trailer and making the coach ready for travel. We’ll hit the free dump station at the I-5 rest area at mile post 207, then drive over the North Cascades Highway (WA20) to Winthrop. We have three nights booked there followed by six weeks of unknown destinations.