The Kassel Family Project Life 365

My list to accomplish today is now complete. It is time to pack my clothes. We are off to Colorado tomorrow!

The preparation for our yearly trip to Colorful Colorado has begun!

I have not told many people that Rachel Lowery passed away on July 7. That is probably because it was such a shock, and I have not processed it fully yet. Before the Lowerys moved to Alabama, Rachel was my partner-in-crime for years. We spent a lot of time together, and there are just so many fun memories. There were countless nights at Old Chicago with her and B, lots of amazing holidays like July 4 and Halloween, and so many nights just hanging at our house. She was my drink testing buddy back in the day, and the Year of the Martini was even her idea. The laughs we had when it started with such a dud, the infamous Elf martini that “shall never be spoken of again” (her words, not mine). I remember trying the martini the next month, and she gave me that impish smile where she said, “Thank goodness this one is way better than last month, or my idea for a martini every month was going to be a complete failure.” I remember December that year when I made the first of what would be many Candy Cane Martinis. It turned out to be “the drink,” and eventually became “our drink.”

We got to be such great friends that Rachel was even going to be in the delivery room with me had I not had a C-section. She and B were the type of friends who just always showed up, and the type of friends that you ask to be one set of your kids’ godparents. When Alia was born just two months after John, it was only natural that our kids become the “Three Musketeers” even going to daycare together for years. The kids picked right back up like they had never been apart. The hardest part about today was watching the Three Musketeers together and knowing that it took Rachel passing for us to get together again.

As hard as today was, I am glad that we went to Illinois to celebrate Rachel’s life. I will miss you my friend. Thank you for all the fun over the years and for always being there for me. You were the type of friend that everyone needs, and I love you for it.

All you need to do to determine if your adult children still think like children is to send them to the grocery store for tator tots.

We spent the day celebrating Andy’s birthday in little ways. John took him to lunch, and then I went on a bike ride with him to Cooper’s Landing.

We finished out the evening with an easy family dinner, and Andy and I shared a bottle of wine. It was a nice, relaxing day. Happy Birthday, Andy! We love you!

My coworker is being so “helpful” today. He takes up so much space that I cannot see the bottom of my screen.

I have been having some fun with AI. I wanted some pictures that reflect the names of my soaps. This is what AI did for Forbidden Orchard.

This is what AI did for Sunlit Rhubarb.

I love them. Sometimes, AI can be helpful.