Day 8 - Bend, Oregon

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We had a very quiet morning and just rested. I talked with my cousins and we arranged a time to meet. Ed and Rhonda had been out camping with their motorcycle club and were going to come in the afternoon and Rick was going to see how many of his kids he could round up and bring.

So we got to Aunt Mary's around noon and Mariann was waiting for us to get there. We got out and Aunt Mary was standing on the porch too..she knew that the boys and I were coming as they had told her that just to prepare her that they were going to have visitors...and then Dad walked up and she looked at him a bit then said "Are you MY Joe???" and then she grabbed him and hugged him and they were both in tears. It was really sweet! We went inside and the two of them sat down and talked..and talked..for hours! Mariann and I then did the same and a bit later then we went to get some pizzas for lunch. It was pretty amazing to see them all again after 35-40 years!! I had brought a photo album that had their (Dad's) family pictures from growing up and we all looked through them and then Rick had brought some of his own albums too for us to look at. Ed & Rhonda got there in mid-afternoon too!

Anyway..later in the afternoon then, Rick wanted to take us out to do a little sight seeing so we followed him and his family up to Pilot Butte for a panoramic view of the area. From there we could see the Cascade Mountains very easily and even Mt. Hood in the distance.

All and all..this was what we came for and it was worth the trip!!! What an emotional day.

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Photos

Bend
Aunt Mary & Dad

Cascades
I can't remember all the names of the mountains but the ones on the extreme right next to the trees are the Sisters..then the one in the middle (right of center) is called Broken Top (for obvious reasons). You can't really see it in the picture since I was taking pictures into the sun but nearly all were snow covered

Mt. Hood
It will be hard to see as I could not quite pull it out of the picture any better, but if you look very carefully between the trees, you might be able to see Mt. Hood way in the distance.

Stephen & Thomas
What fun is being on the top of a Butte if you can't throw a rock over it!!!

Top of Pilot Butte
Had to get the daily picture of the "3 Amigos" at Pilot Butte

Rick's family
His wife Theresa on the left, then daughter Mary and son Judah.