A Red-Letter Day: Transplant Reunion and Rock Ridge Park

On Saturday, October 13, Judy and I were

pleased to attend her fourth Liver Transplant

Reunion.  It was at White Oak Campground

on Jordan Lake and we celebrated with dozens

of other transplant recipients and their families

as well as some UNC Hospital staff that are

very dear to us.

There was some extra good live music to

accompany our great barbecue picnic.

But even better than the food and entertainment

is renewing friendships with folks that have

been through what you've been through.

Meet Danny and Re, who we always have

a great time swapping stories with.

It was a cool but beautiful fall day for families
to celebrate the gift of life.

Judy, like many others, stepped to the microphone to
share just what her transplant has meant to her.
Especially the good health to fully enjoy our grandkids!

Here's Judy with our dear Transplant Coordinator,
Noriko, and her daughter.  Noriko was one of Judy's
nurses during her transplant in March 2007.

Here's a simple and true statement.
Are you an organ donor?

To make a full day of it, we stopped off
at a new park just south of Pittsboro on our
way home.  The 3M corporation donated
land to the town and the park has only been
open since November 2011.

Click  Rock Ridge Park  to find out more about
the wonderful facilities at this new park near Pittsboro.

Here's a wide view as you enter the central activity
area.  All trails are paved and fully handicapped
accessible.  Many plans for additional features are
still on the drawing board.

This is an ultra cool German Pendulum Swing.  A
video at the end will demonstrate how much fun it is,
both for kids and grownups.

We really liked this rustic log seesaw, which was
also perfectly suitable for adults or kids.

And it's equipped with rubber shock absorbers under
end in case your partner decides to hop off abruptly
(not recommended)!

This young man agreed to demonstrate the 80-foot
zip line for us.  It doesn't go very fast, it's not very
high, but the price is right!  FREE!

We didn't play on this super duper fort
playground since the grandchildren weren't
with us.  But I was certainly tempted!

80 feet is a pretty good ride!

Ride 'em, cowgirl!

Giddyap!

Now for a couple of videos to

wind up today's blog offering.

First, the zip line.

At the end of this video I utter a little "BOOMP."

That's specifically for the grandkids.  And

predictably, Evan demanded that I show this

video repeatedly Friday.  And he would look

up, grin, and add the "BOOMP."  Precious!

And last, the German Pendulum Swing!

Many of my readers are a short ride from

this nice, new adventure park.  Directions and

 more information are at the link cited above.

Even more exciting things have been happening

to us since that great day and more blogs will

follow soon.