Week 73

Positive post Sunday, July 8, 2018- Week 73. 

Balboa Island is not just an island to our family, it’s a very special place with a long history of fun and relaxation, and home of the two of the most generous, humble and faithful people I know, Jim and Mary Madison.  Michele’s family started a tradition of spending their summer vacations on the island back in the late 60’s, renting the Madison’s home on the little island.  Michele has many fond memories of her summer vacations on the island including getting Balboa bars each day, walking around the bay fronts, playing on the beach, shopping downtown, dropline fishing, and most importantly, spending quality time with family.

Fast forward several years.  While Michele and I were staying down on the island, her old summer stomping grounds, she was walking down memory lane, and wanted to stop by and see if the Madisons were still there.  I kept saying, no, don’t bother them.  Boy am I glad she didn’t listen to me and walked over and knocked on their door.  And, as they say, the rest is history.  Not only did Michele reminisce with Jim and Mary that day, over time, she reestablished a deeper and meaningful relationship with them and their daughters Renee and Lisa.  I am so grateful Michele knocked on their door and introduced me to two amazing people who share our love of family, live lives of faith, and who have become our dearest friends.  

Michele, Jim and Mary, thank you for reestablishing a valued and special family tradition.  Thanks to you, Balboa Island will never be just an island to our family.  It will be that special place we go to spend time with good friends, share memories and create new ones, like Patrick proposing to Alison on the bridge, or our girls taking a picture in front of Dad’s saluting Jeff for his service in the Army, or Michele sitting on the beach and at the VI with her dad one last time (tears).  So many memories of quality time as family with so many more to come.

Our family is truly blessed that Michele knocked on the Madison’s door, and reopened a relationship that continues to grow deeper with time.  Thank you Jim and Mary, we love you and will forever be grateful for your generosity and friendship!