Hi, folks! I'm in Alabama. I'm doing good. Really good. I get to see my team tomorrow! And I'm loving being with the Blue team. So, there's an update for ya.

When you are about to say goodbye to a place that you love and cherish, you're mind is acutely more aware of all the "last" moment. The last time you see this person, the last time you look out your window at the sunset, the last time you get a hug from a good friend, the last load of laundry, the last trip into town, the last drive down the road towards your house, the last night in your own bed. Even the most trivial things of life can strangely become so much more magnified in your mind's eye, as those last moments slip away, drawing you towards the inevitable. And as you watch those moments flash before your eyes, you know that some of these "last" might truly be the last, as some people who you love and hold dear may not always be there to greet you when you return.

The last hug. The last time double-checking of the luggage. The last picture. The last meaningful face-to-face moment. The last goodbye. Saying goodbye for me is never a joyous moment. I have come to heartily dread parting with people and places that I love. I find it hard to wrap my mind around the fact that parting is not forever, it seems there is so much time after the goodbye before the "welcome home" can happen. But I always find out that after the goodbyes are said and the tears have dried, and I see the adventure stretching before me, I see the glory of it all, and absolutely love it!

But on that cheery note, folks, this is my last post. Well, my last post while being in the state of California. When and where I'll post? Nobody knows! It's all part of the travelling life adventure! And so, adventure...bring it on!

Hello, public! My name is Link. You probably haven't seen me before, and chances are pretty good that you've never even heard of me before, or at least heard of me directly. But, none-withstanding, I am still a very important personage of the Trout family, which must never for a moment be forgotten. I am a cat, and I know that rises many mixed, but grossly misguided reactions in many of you reading this, but that only goes to show the narrow-mindedness that you live in. But I do realize that some of my race have erred in their upholding of the Cat Code, and please hear me when I say,  I am not the stereotypical "cat" that has saturated the feline race with condemnation.

I currently have 9 brothers and sisters, and we have all been raised by our dedicated mother, Elf. I personally am of the second batch of kittens that she ushered so delicately into the world. Bruce, Caspian, Bree, Phillip, and Atkins are the oldest, and have modelled for us younger ones, namely Donovan, Trix, Whitaker, Barney, and myself, the perfect example of well-behaved and lovable felines.

Thank you all, my public, for reading my first post. This is consequently my first appearance upon the stage of writing, and if all goes well, I may endeavor to take pen in paw to enlighten you with more words from me at a later date. Until then, I remain---

Your ever Faithful and Lovable Kitten,

Link

So today has been the 19th time that I have celebrated Christmas Day. And boy, over the past 19 years, a whole lot has changed! Check it out....

December 1988 -- The curly-headed baby of the family...that I was!

December 1989 -- Showing the Trout spirit!

December 1995 -- Aaaah.....

December 1998 -- Look at those cute little kids in the front row...

December 2006 -- Ha, the family's gotten so big...where's the flippin' tree??

Ah, a lot sure has changed, that's evident. But family love never does! And Christmas day has always been full of it in our family! Merry Christmas, folks!

I love my family! Each one is so different, so unique in their own personality and disposition, but each one so near and dear to the very heartbeat of my life. Being gone has developed in me such a keener awareness of the place that they have in my heart, and how vital they are to me being who I am. 

And it's here at home, with my family, that there is safety to be who I  really am, in the security where there is no judgment and no condemnation...just love and laughter, safety and comfort. For me, home has been a shelter from the outside. But it's also the place that has prepared me to face the real world, sitting at the feet of my mother and hearing her words of wisdom, watching the steadfast example of my father, observing and learing from the failures and triumphs of my older siblings, and striving to set that same godly example to the younger ones.

That's how it is for me and my family. I praise the Lord for blessing me with such a wondrous family, so loving and excepting of me..the "real me," who I am when I don't feel the pressure of a status quo, of an image to uphold, of a mask to wear. Where all that disapears...and it's just me and the other 9 heartbeats of my life that makes my family what it is.

Day #3 with Krysten:

We had a lot planned to do with Krysten while she was here, and since ice-skating is her passion, that was on the top of our list to do! And so, off we drove to Yosemite National Park to their out-door ice-rink! According to Krysten, it was perfect! And I am in complete agreement!

Me and Krysten, ready to hit the ice!

Steven, Cavy, myself, and Krysten (and Katheryn took the picture!)

Are we alike or what??

Ah, good times...but good times go by too fast. It's off to the airport tomorrow morning, bringing our much-anticipated visit together to an end. Great sadness. Well, it makes us look forward to next time even more!

Day #2 with Krysten:

Whoever invented Geo cashing was brilliant!! Armed with GPS and printed instructions, Steven, Katheryn, Krysten, and myself hopped into a car, and went on the ultimate treasure hunt throughout Ripon today! After finding a few, let me tell you...you see your surroundings in a whole new way!

At the fountain....

Yeah!! I found one! My moment of glory and triumph! And wouldn't you like to know where I was....

So...who else wants to go?? It's the bomb-diggity-bomb, folks!! Things just don't get funner than that!

Guess who's here?? Yup, it's Krysten, my "California Buddy!!" It's great! Hasn't even been 24 hours, but it's already been a blast!

And of course, Californians who travel all over the US have to eat at In-N-Out together, and celebrate a good thing!

A Saturday is a good day to spend with friends! And Colombia (an old-time little touristy town up near the mountains, for you out of state-ers!) was the perfect place to spend it.

My friend/brother-in-law's sister Esther, myself, and two desperate convicts (also known as my my sister Kristine and her husband, Mark)

"Odd Fellows Way"...you're tellin' me! Oh, and that's in a cemetery, by the way!

Good times with good friends! Can never get enough of 'em!

The first batch of mini pizzas I made for dinner tonight turned out great! But the second batch, however....

Yeah, that's right. Burned 'em good. Will I ever conquer this??