Sept. 10 - to Eagan, MN to visit Tom's mom and other family members

Thursday
High 60's
We have a guest room in the assisted living center, The Commons, where his mom lives.
Dinner with her, his sister, and husband.

At 3:00 this morning, someone used a key to enter our room.  Maybe to take a nap on her shift?  The same thing happened last year.  Today management said our 5 nights here were free, rather than $69 per night, and all our meals, because of this incident and since Tom will do a concert on Sunday!  We had asked for a queen bed to replace the double one.  When Tom jumped at the sound of the door opening, he fell out of bed.  We had already been awake several times.  They also brought another easy chair.  Now we are settled nicely.
Friday
It was 48 degrees this morning.  High of 63.  Relaxed around the home.  Tom went for beer with brother-in-law, Bob, and nephew, Zach.  Zach's wife, Lily, is deployed on a cruise missile ship with the Navy.  They were just together a few days in San Diego while her ship was docked halfway through her 7 month tour.
Saturday
Tom played several instrumentals as the prelude to worship here and then sang two songs.  Everyone enjoyed it.  We always enjoy Chaplain Beth's messages.

This home is very nice and serves excellent meals.  Many people never have visitors.  The wait staff are mainly high schoolers and they know all the residents' names and often remember what they want to drink, what their breakfast choices are, etc. 

Many residents are developing dementia and will eventually be moved to the Alzheimers wing here.  Others are in poor physical condition.  Gen is doing quite well, considering she'll be 93 in two months.  Tom's sister, Kathy, decorates her walker for the seasons.  Now she has Fall leaves on it. I saw one of the gray walkers yesterday with white, high top baby shoes with pink lacy socks inside on the bottom of two legs, instead of tennis balls like most people use.  The woman said the shoes are 65 yrs old.  There are several weekly activities, but the highlight for many is the meals in the dining room.

Sunday
Tom, Zach, and Bob went shooting.  Lily would have gone if she'd been here.  She performed greatly on board ship the other day in her shooting.  Tonight Zach said they told Tom they weren't going to invite him anymore if he didn't quit shooting so well.

This afternoon Tom played and sang for the residents here for an hour, which they all enjoyed.

Tonight we spent 4 hours at the brewery/restaurant next door as various brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews and Gen and Kathy came to see us.
Monday
Kathy had a day off and took us shopping and to lunch at the Red Lobster.
In the evening we attended a travelogue on Denmark.  We plan to travel there next summer.
Tuesday
Ate breakfast with Mom, packed the car, and headed out on the 3 hour drive to Iowa.