I did not take many pictures of family events in 2005, which I now regret (and which is why I now carry a camera around everywhere and take as many pictures as I can). I started the year by visiting the ancient site Teotihuacan, about 40 miles northeast of Mexico City in Mexico, with Adele. We visited the site for a brief 5 days. I felt a strong connection with this site, especially the Pyramid of the Sun.
In March Adele and I traveled to Palenque and other Mayan cities in Chiapas, Mexico, with our friends Aluna Joy and Raphael and the group they brought together, beginning my love affair with the Maya Lands. I have returned to the Maya Lands many times over the years and hope to keep visiting them as long as I live. I still have several Mayan cities to visit, including the cities in Belize and El Salvador. And of course, I want to return to Palenque and Copan again.
In April, we returned to Egypt with the group that David Wilcock brought together, incuding several friends we made during David's first trip cruising the Caribbean in October 2004. This trip to Egypt was easier than the 1st time because we were traveling with a group. I still found the experience challenging and intense.
In May we went to France to celebrate Adele's Birthday in Paris and then join a group that visited Chartres and other Sacred Sites in southern France. This trip was amazing. I love France, especially Paris. We also visited the French Impressionist Painter Monet's home in Giverny, which was also magnificent.
In July I returned to Louisiana for the Pitre cousin reunion that Felix and Gai and Julie organized (great job guys!). They rounded up all of the remaining Pitre sisters, Aunt Lou, most of our remaining Uncles, along with 50 zillion cousins. Definitely a great experience! We have talked about doing another Pitre Cousin Reunion, but so far the closest we have come was Julia and Jonathan's Wedding and a gathering at John Dempsey's house in central Louisiana.
In August Adele and I returned to the Big Island of Hawai'i to swim with the dolphins once again (a real blast, everybody should swim with wild dolphins at least once in their life). I absolutely loved this experience :-)
In September, we had our contractor fix all of the leaks in our windows and roofs... finally! Not having to dread rain anymore was a fantastic feeling :-) We also got our Septic System repaired. All of these projects were a foretaste of our house addition the following year.
In November I returned to Louisiana to spend what turned out to be Mom's last Thanksgiving with her and Marc (I took plenty of pictures of New Orleans post-Katrina but unfortunately no family pictures). I also celebrated my Birthday, although I can no longer recall what we did. Probably ate at COPELAND'S restaurant :-)
And in December, we all flew out to San Francisco to celebrate Christmas with Jackie and Steve and their twin boys John and James.
Adele and I arrived 2 days before Christmas. Mom and Marc were already visiting. In fact, Steve and Marc came to the airport to pick us up. The next day Adele and I rented a car and visited the beautiful Redwood forest of Big Basin Redwoods State Park south of San Francisco. For Christmas we arrived around 09:00AM in the morning to open gifts with John and James, along with Jackie and Steve. Marc and Adele and I were staying across the street at a fancy hotel. Mom was staying with Jackie and Steve, so she was already up and about. Adele took lots of pictures, including of me , and most of these pictures are hers.
The rest of the day was spent preparing for Christmas Dinner. Well, mainly Jackie and Steve cooking to prepare for our Christmas Dinner. Our cousin Carol and her husband Robert, along with Jackie and Steve's friends Jules and Ellie, joined us in the afternoon and visited for a while. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and company. I felt happy to spend Christmas with Mom, Marc, Jackie and Steve again after missing the previous 2 years.
The next day Adele and I flew home. Sadly, this Christmas turned out to be Mom's last Christmas; she passed away the following Summer. After Mom passed, I was glad that I made this Christmas visit.
And that was my 2005.
Most of these images are Copyright 2005 Adele F. Sands.
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