Once we got home, we tried to enjoy the last few days with Patrick’s Dad who was flying back to Switzerland soon. The good bye for Patrick was short lived as he was soon following his dad and travelling to Switzerland to visit his family and friends.
(Patrick’s best friend Martin and his wife Ursula)
The visit was long over due and especially his mom was giddy with excitement to see him. Patrick’s mom, for you who don’t know, has fallen ill with cancer quite a few years ago and the battle against the vicious illness has kept her from coming to visit us. It’s hard to be so far away when one of your loved ones is going through tough times, so it was great for Patrick to be able to go and visit.
The first two weeks of his 4 weeks stay was filled with catching up and visiting friends and family and of course lots and lots of hospital trips to see his mom. Unfortunately enough, she had to stay in the hospital off and on during his first 2 weeks of his stay, but then got released and they all went, with grand kids, for a week to the Black Forest. Even though the illness was always present and sometimes restricted them in their activities their stay was memorable and they had a great time over all.
However her health started to deteriorate rapidly and we decided to extend his stay in Switzerland so he could be with his family in time of need. His mom has since passed away, on the day he was first scheduled to return to the US. We both feel very fortunate and blessed that Patrick got to be there and say his good bye’s and having had the opportunity to go through it all with his family at his side. Thank you all for your condolences and your phone calls and words of encouragement.
Meanwhile as it sometimes seems life stands still and the world quits turning for some, it goes into overdrive for others and with Patrick being in Switzerland and the upcoming community clinic with Pat Wyse was coming up pretty quickly. So the place wasn’t quite as groomed, the arena wasn’t dragged after every session, the home cooked meals weren’t as exquisite and the party Saturday night wasn’t going quite as long – Patrick was missed thoroughly, but with the help from everyone we got through and once again had a successful Community Clinic – thanks everyone for making it just that and for participating! I hope to see y’all next year again!!!
A couple of weeks after everything has quiet down, I finally could pick up Patrick from the airport in Gainesville! How exciting! I felt like I haven’t seen him in years! However shortly after he got home – a week later to be exact – I made the trip south to see MY parents. My mom too, is battling cancer, and is trying to recoup from chemo. So I went to help them, ease everyone’s burden just by taking over the daily chores (for everyone that knows me, knows how much THAT was just my cup of tea…. cooking (yup, ME! I was “cooking” – even made Thanksgiving dinner!!!), ironing (well, granted, it still looked like a cow chewed it up, even after I was done with it LOL), cleaning (I’m better cleaning my barn/stalls than a house), shopping (nope, not for fun, but stuff I needed to cook/prepare a meal… thank goodness there was a convenience store close by!), etc, etc, et – the week went over way to quick and it was time for me to leave again….I’m sure I’ll be headed south again before too long! Now I am/was home this week – just in time to catch up and catch on everything and getting ready for my yearly trip to the NCHA Futurity on Monday. I didn’t think I was going to go – actually didn’t plan on it till just a few weeks ago. But circumstances have changed my mind and I booked the airplane ticket. I’ll be meeting Pat and Doreen there who have as well decided at the last minute to take the trip. So we’ll see what this year will bring!!!! I’ll be sure to let you know and keep you up to date!!!
here a few more pictures from his Swiss-Trip:
Patrick’s brother Andy (green shirt, standing) his Dad (center), his sister Sandy and her hubby Andi (blue shirt) and their two wonderful kids Lara (center) and Noemi (front, left)
Patrick and his god daughter Martina met for dinner one evening
yes, it is true – all the pictures you see of Switzerland – it REALLY is that beautiful!
Kappeler Brugg – Lucerne
“hiking the swiss way” ha, ha, ha (see the plastic bags?!)
Patrick who misses the mountains just as much as he misses his family in Switzerland, got lots of hiking done while he was there!
isn’t this a fun way to stack wood?