One away, one home, both in Tampa!

It was a bonus weekend in Tampa - FSU was playing away at USF in what had become known as the rematch of the season in these parts.  Yes, USF beat FSU three years ago in Tallahassee and revenge was to be had.   Since home for us is Tampa, we offered to coordinate and host the tailgate.  What we thought would be 15-20 attendees blossomed exploded into 60 people!

Frank engineered the whole thing!  Food was ordered and procured.  A rendezvous spot and time was set and the departure time announced.  We thought for sure it would be like herding butterflies (what with 15 vehicles and all) but everyone was there - early!

Rendezvous

Frank leading the "Drivers Meeting"

The caravan begins!

We anticipated we would be able to park in the lot we usually park in for Bucs games.  But it was full!  Not to worry, the next lot had spots and the attendants accommodated all our cars.  Thankfully we got a great spot right under a tree!  Everyone helped - tents pitched, tables set up and dressed, chairs emptied from bags and within 20 minutes, food was on the table!

A Tampa-themed menu was in order - Cuban sandwiches, black beans, yellow rice, plantains and guava pastries.

Frank and Leann with token Bull, brother Richard

 Scenes from our tailgate area:

Yep, the only place in the entire state where it was raining - right over the stadium and our tailgate!

How many people can we fit under two tents?? 

Post-rain beer pong resumes.

The amazing group of almost 60 people gathered for the picture!

Cutest Nole girls!

Our motorhome mentors came to Tampa for the game:

Frank, Leann, Ron, Rob, Bonnie, Lynne and brother Richard

Here come the Seminoles!

Whew!  It certainly wasn't the prettiest of wins!

And now for the home game.  The Bucs were playing the Redskins on Sunday in Tampa.  It's been quite a while since we've done a two-football-game weekend.  Not sure how we used to do it - football game in Tallahassee on Saturday, get back to Tampa in time to tailgate 3 hours before kickoff.  

Flyover.  :o)

Less than 24 hours later, we were back in almost the same spot!

"Let Me Throw" Greg and Frank.

(You should see his throwback uniform!)  

Thanks to the Holley's for hosting today's tailgate!

Parachute jumpers enter the stadium.

Precision landing!

Bring on the Bucs!

And so in this weekend of football games - the Indians won both.

Reunited - 11 years later

Eleven years ago to the day, Frank's father was interred at Arlington National Cemetery.  (Since you're probably not looking at a calendar, that was September 10, 2001.  Yes, the day before September 11.  THE September 11th.)

And so it was very fitting that arrangements were made for Frank's mom Alice to be interred on the same day, in the same place.

Not only is the date meaningful, but also the location.  While Frank and Alice grew up in the same town in Ohio they never knew each other.  But they happened to be in Washington, DC at the same time.  He on some military business and she in nursing school.  And as they say, the rest is history.

And so after nearly 60 years of marriage before his passing, they are reunited eleven years later in the city where it all started.

The weather was absolutely perfect and many family members from all over the country gathered to pay their respects.

 

"The Old Guard" - military funeral

Not sure if any of these were "Marine One" but these helicopters were coming from the White House. 

A somber day but we know Alice has been reunited with her beloved husband, sisters, other family members and friends.  Until we see you again...

Dinner - Hungarian Style

As mentioned in the prior post, we traveled to Washington, DC to lay Frank's mom to rest.

Alice was of Hungarian descent and was well-known for several of the traditional dishes like Chicken Paprikash with homemade spaetzle, Gisella's Chicken, stuffed peppers and poppy seed/nut rolls (to name a few).

No Hungarian restaurants in DC so arrangements were made with a local German restaurant where we could dine as a large group and enjoy some of the dishes we've come to love.

Old Europe Restaurant

Matt, Jackie, Christina, Rich, Andrea, Allison, Frank

Rich, Jackie, Christina, Andrea, Allison, Frank, Leann

We had the whole downstairs!

Frank and his daughters, Andrea and Allison

Frank and cousins from Ohio (front cousin Kathy and husband Freeman, daughter Morgan.  

Cousin  Gary and wife Kathy.)

Rich and cousin Kathy with husband Freeman and daughter Morgan

One llllooooooonnnnngggg table!

More family arrives.

Everyone catching up.

Ray's clan arrives.

The fare was more German than Hungarian but it was all tasty nonetheless.

Pickled herring in sour cream sauce.

"House salad" - all sorts of pickled things like cabbage, cucumbers and parsnips.

The meal was served family-style.  Yummy spaetzle.

Weiner Schnitzel 

Stuffed peppers

Dessert - no poppy seed rolls but apple strudel, crepes and a sundae bar

Charlie and Will  :o)

It was a wonderful evening and nice way to catch up with everyone.