So … to continue the roller-coaster ride, whereas Part 1 was a high, and Part 2 a definitive low, it is time for another high … being Part 3.
A number of people have asked me (in the context of co-authoring “The Odessa Chronicles”), how Carolyn and I met. My answer was always an honest “We have never met, unless you count the time we visited Moonbeam Farm.”
Visiting the fictional Moonbeam Farm was difficult enough to explain to fictional Dewey, Jaxon and Odessa. Imagine trying to explain it to a human (see link below)
https://meandray.com/2018/09/17/visiting-moonbeam-farm/
My long distance internet relationship with Carolyn expanded to include my daughter Melanie who lives in the Vancouver area. They both have histories which could be shared, and be beneficial to both of them. The relationship between Carolyn and Melanie grew to the extent that it was decided (by Carolyn’s family) to take a vacation and visit her!
I tend to visit Vancouver late in the year but, under these circumstances, could not miss a golden opportunity to meet my co-author, and of course her family, hence my recent absence from blogging (and my broken laptop)!
I have now met my second blogger and bonus, her husband and both her (adult) children. I have had isolated dialogues with all of them for various reasons so it was a delight to actually meet everybody.
Sitting with Melanie (left) and Carolyn (right)
Sitting with Tiya (left) and Jason (right)
Needless to say it was lovely to meet Carolyn and her family, and be able to share some of their vacation time with them … and still have some time for Melanie!
A New Direction Perhaps? 
Awesome! I am jealous of both you and Carolyn, for I would have loved to meet you both … and Ray, of course!!!
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Of course Ray! 🙂
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What a bonus to see pictures of all of you! I am still actively praying for your daughter, and will ramp up the frequency now.
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Thank you Rae.
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Being able to meet up is just so cool. So glad you (finally) got to meet up with your co-author. 😊
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It had to happen one day!!!! 🙂
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It was so nice to finally see the man behind the computer screen! Kinda like the “man behind the curtain” in the Wizard of Oz.
I think the most shocking thing for Colin was to see how “tall” I was! 😃
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🙂
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🤣
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Pretty pictures! Hope you had a great time. 😊
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Hi Suri – Considering the recent events, I did have a great time thank you.
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Good to know that.
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🙂
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so happy for you all!
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🙂
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Hopefully things are remaining good with your daughter.💜
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Thanks Willow. Given the potential options, things are very good with her. 🙂
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Ivan so glad to hear that 💜💜💜
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🙂
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How is your daughter doing healthwise? She looks good!
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Her mental ability is much like mine and expected to deteriorate. Generally attributed to excessive radiation. She has to be extremely organized to function, and has balance issues. She is a real trooper though and just keeps pushing forward. She has already exceeded her projected life span and has no intention of slowing down just yet! I am very proud of her! 🙂
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Fingers crossed!
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That’s pretty much all we can do, plus pray, and will positive thoughts in her direction.
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It warmed my heart in so many ways to meet the delightful Chappell duo!
That story about us meeting at Moonbeam Farm was a fun story, but so much more fun to meet in real life of course. We did share tea in real life, just like the story , and Odessa did try to point out to you how short I was, but you and Melanie still were shocked. Odessa was probably rolling her eyes at you 2. LOL!
Oh and I should point out that unlike the story, I didn’t have socks on with my flip flops either, if you noticed. 🙂
But “the stones” in the story were right. They were a sign, remember. I knew it would be a wonderful adventure to meet you, and I wasn’t disappointed, it was! 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed your first trip north of your border! 🙂
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That’s great, that you guys got to meet. The internet is nice, but there’s nothing like meeting someone face-to-face. That’s probably the best way to get to know someone.
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Yes it’s always nice to have that face-to-face conversation, and take advantage of all the inherent body language that is missing over the internet. In Carolyn’s case, she really is not 6ft tall … but rather around 4ft 10″ (and perhaps a little more). You can lie so easily on the internet! 🙂
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Ha Ha! Yes, that body language is at work right now, too bad you can’t see it! 🙂
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🙂
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Well shame on her for trying to pass herself off as an Amazonian. So she’s straight out of munchkin land, eh? I guess I won’t try to recruit her for my basketball team.
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She probably can’t even see the net from down there where she is so no … don’t recruit her until she has a growth spurt. 🙂
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“Very funny!”
Believe it or not, I have made baskets before! 🙂
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Of course you have … little ones! 🙂
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Its still a basket though, whether little or not, and the basket was off the ground! 🙂
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Yes of course it was. 🙂
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Yeah, I should probably say no more. LOL!
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🙂
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Oh gosh, yeah should have known better than to try and fool you 2! :p!
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🙂
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Happy days Colin!
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indeed … and necessary at times! 🙂
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