Life events

Let's start with Matthew and Tina's news. Another addition to the family.  We're so happy for the expecting parents, for Oliver and for the grandparents.  Congratulations.  Full stop.  In so many ways.

And then there was Margaret and Andrew's engagement party last weekend.  Happy days.  We went down to DC to join them for this celebration, and it was just that.  Nice to see all your friends, from your different eras, including going all the way back to Durban and then 2nd grade!  We saw Jeff and Melodie as well, and had a chance to talk about plans for camping at Assateague MD this summer.  (Hard to imagine summer now, but nice to dream about it.)  And we met Joe's girlfriend Leslie.  A surprise bonus.

Not in the same category at all, but hard to avoid mentioning was a 60th birthday that is turning out to be more of a birth-week, or birth-month, than a birth-day.  You all went all out, and it's humbling.  Several times this week, I have teared up, at your generosity and effusiveness.  What a family.  Did I say thank you?  Can I say it again?  And again?

It actually started with dinner (and cake) last week with Margaret and Andrew in DC, but it even started hours earlier when we saw Annie and Greg in New York on our way down to DC.  Annie couldn't come to DC with us, as she had a weekend class, on conflict resolution.  We need more of that.  Then on the actual day, John and Marilyn came over for dinner (meat loaf and cheesecake!)  Joe called, from a plane in Houston, as he was en route to Nicaragua for a wedding.  He wrote a few times from there, as we were getting socked up and down the east coast, and the midwest, that he was at a pool, or on the beach, sipping a cold one.  He was only trying to make us jealous, and he succeeded.

We were able to chat with Dundee and Fairport as well and catch up on news a couple of times.  Claire was accepted as an RA for school next year which is a nice honor.  Daniel is tearing up the basketball court, and as you can see, Bill and Jen came over, and we can enjoy a nice photo of Lur and Auden.  David and Paula are happy expecting grandparents, even with snow and shoveling and did I say snow?

Peter and Janet were able to take advantage of a brief break in the weather to make the drive up here on Friday for the weekend.  I was confused, surprised and awed at the delivery of a kayak. I have since heard it was a feat involving many people and matched only perhaps by the building of the pyramids.  Unbelievable. Makes me want to work harder to finish my school work and to anticipate the arrival of a relaxing spring and summer.  Can I say thank you again?  We went out to dinner and then did a main street tour of a very nice exhibit of Berkshire collectors, a few shops, and then lunch.  We are supporting the revitalization of Pittsfield.  Peter made a spectacular dinner and we covered many subjects, including Gov. Christie, the Oscars, baseball, the Olympics and snow.

Mary is off school this week, and she is ready for a break.  Too much birthday.  She is in the kitchen now, humming the Olympic theme song, as we have just watched the replay of the U.S.-Russia hockey game.  Easier this time since we knew the outcome.  I said to Peter as we were watching it live, that I knew why Pop couldn't watch sports.  Too much tension, for the a 60-year old.

Speaking of tension and competitive events, Colleen and Pauline won again at the Westminster Kennel Dog Show in New York, for her Borzoi breed! Congrats.

And one more time, thank you all again.  Love and hugs and kisses.