Sallie turned 14 this month. We had our family dinner celebration. She chose stroganoff with a strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Naturally, like all parents we have a hard time accepting the passage of time and that our little girl is growing up. We are very blessed with 4 amazing kids....but could they please stop growing so fast??? Russell is 21!!! No way!! Ryan graduating from high school and headed to be a Red Raider! Really??? Already??? And then we have Robert..turning 11 in one week. Stop! I want to get off. :)

For a party for Sallie we invited friends to show up at the beach. I brought cupcakes and drinks. We spent the day hanging out. Kids swam and played Red Rover. Then we watched the Red Bull Air races over the water. Fun day.

Mike and I took a walk the other day. Laughingly, we talked about what we don't take for granted anymore. Clean windows. Parking spaces. Green grass. Quiet nights. Seeing family and old friends without jet lag kicking us or them. Cars that don't honk at us. And then, we were honest with ourselves....what we would miss about living here: Chilis and everyone else who delivers to our front door. Walking along the beach a block from our apt. Making friends with people from all over the world. Full service gas stations. Every once in awhile it is good to count your blessings. :)

So, one more blessing? Perspectives finished last night. 20 people completed the 15 week course. It was good. I've included a picture of the signs my friends, Patty and Marty, painted for the class. The words represent each week's theme.

By the way, 104 degrees today. Kind of miss those April showers bringing May flowers. :)

Abu Dhabi's Finest

Had my first experience with the police this week. I got a call Monday evening after Perspectives from my friend Patty. Her car was hit at a stoplight by a driver who turned too widely from the side road and then smacked Patty's bumper. He then waved at her as if to say "Oh, it's nothing!" and drove off. You know what? He was right. Just a ding and scratch. Unless you are driving a rental car. If that is the case, as with Patty and Barry, then you MUST have a police report or you have to pay for the repairs. With a report the rental agency takes care of it. Not a bad deal. Unless you are the one trying to get the police to come and write up the report. Needless to say, Barry and Patty spent the next 2 hours trying to chase down the police to get the report. They called the number and after waiting awhile were sent out to a police station, who then sent them back to the scene to wait some more. By then they were starving. They went to eat. Barry went home(early early day the next day) and Patty called me to come sit with her as it was getting late, and she did not want to sit outside alone waiting. We sat outside waiting for the police. I guess we were there about an hour before they came. Patty drew and acted out the accident. I was there for moral support and comic relief. :) The English was minimal so it was pretty entertaining.....
Got the report and were told to go to another station with it. Which we did. By now it is 10:30 or so. No other women around. Awkward. As Patty gets her turn, the policeman says..You have No objection Letter? Uh..no. Come back tomorrow with letter from Insurance. Sigh. Ok.
End of my story?
Nope. Next day Mike gets scratched all the way down the side of his car. Could be somebody keyed him. Not sure. Can't get any repairs here without that police report. He calls. He waits. Then is sent to police station. I ride with him. Can't find it. Calls again. Sent back to scene. We wait. and wait. We leave. He calls again. Go to this station. Ok. We will...another day. :)
By the way. Patty was told at the Rental agency that they take care of all of it. Just give them the papers. And here's a different car. Now THAT was good news!!!! :) Our issue not resolved yet. But, oh well!
Happy Spring ,Everyone. We're off to church and then tomorrow to the beach for an informal birthday party for Sallie. Everyone is invited. I'm just bringing cupcakes. :)