Who loves summer?

I do, I do.  We emerge from our own hibernation caves and enjoy life.  And, as usual we are packing 12 months into three.

Our dateline is Washington DC, where Mary and I headed yesterday in order to take in a Paul Simon concert with Margaret, Andrew, Joe and Leonor tomorrow night.  Jeffrey and Melodie joined us for a barbecue dinner last night, and much rapid-fire conversation about Brexit, Game of Thrones, and Mr. Trumpet.  Fun, and a preview of Mt. Springs.

We have stolen that name from Garrison Keillor who had a funny skit about someone blowing his own trumpet.  Did I mention that Saturday night we saw him (GK, not DT) at one of his final performances. If not, then you saw it on Facebook, as he walked right by us. I hope he's stepping down like the Rolling Stones and Frank Sinatra did.  With many more "final shows."  (I also hope DT is stepping down, but not coming back.)

Enough politics.  The news down here is wedding and houses and pets and preparing for the Poconos.  Yeah.  Just a couple of weeks away.

Speaking of houses, David and Paula are moving toward the purchase of a wonderful new house in the middle of the village at Fairport.  I can almost hear someone saying "Fantastic."  It's in walking distance of so much; it's beautifully painted yellow and white; it's flat with a sidewalk in front; and best of all, it has guest rooms!  (Sorry David, couldn't resist - I'll change the beds!)  That means lots of preparations for them over the next couple of months to put their house on the market and to pack and get ready.  

David and Paula had come over to Pittsfield last weekend for David's 50th Darrow reunion, when they sprang the news and talked with real excitement about it.  Matthew and Tina have been over to check it out, and given their thumbs up.  

I joined David over at Darrow for lunch and a walk around the school and the Shaker buildings.  We saw a few of his classmates - all very nice, and I got a sense of the Darrow family.  We came home (for naps of course) and then David and Paula went back for dinner. We all learned then how we can't hear the doorbell from our living room with the television on, as they were locked out for more than a few minutes.  I keep shaking my head. The photo below is in front of the infirmary room where David ended up after he broke his back sledding down a hill.  He showed me the hill, but they have cut down the tree that jumped in his way.  Ah youth. 

Other news is that Lur was named volunteer of the year at the hospital where she helps out.  That is a wonderful recognition of all that she does over there.  They must be getting ready to head up to Green Lake for their annual pilgrimage north.  And, Claire got home from Austria.  That went fast, and I bet she has stories and chalked up a lot of music performing.  

What else?  Facebook updates include Annie at a bachelorette party and Janet doing audio description for West Side Story and Peter Pan, perhaps?  

What close observers may have noticed is not a lot of baseball talk this year.  A frustrating season for the Reds.  I know now what rebuilding means.  It's a euphemism for greedy owners who get rid of their high paid stars and save money.  Anyway, it looks like there have been some frustrating days for Mets and Yankee and Brewer fans in the family.  Maybe it's time to switch to the Nats or the Cubs.  Or the Cavaliers. 

Hope you all are well and enjoying the sandal weather.  Love from down here.

 

summer vacation

Today was Mary's first day of summer vacation.  She had her last day with students last week, and so the fun begins.  If only the weather would cooperate.  It was very warm up here a few weeks ago, but we've had to turn the heat back on as the nights are quite cold.  No frosts, but the temps have dipped down into the 40s each night for a week or so.  It is not enough to dissuade us from going to baseball games, twice so far this season, and then out for an ice cream after.  Then a longer workout the following day.

One of those games we went to on Friday with Margaret and Andrew who were up here for the weekend, with D.  Andrew does his own "36 hours in the Berkshires" when they come up, and this weekend it included (besides baseball) an X-men movie, a golf game in the rain, miniature golf, a wonderful salmon dinner, and a few naps.

Some of you may have seen on Facebook that Joe and Leonor posted from New Orleans.  They were supposed to be in Italy for a friend's wedding, but travel documents did not arrive in time.  So, they stayed in the U.S. and headed south for vacation.  Not sure of all their stops, but he did write from Charleston that he was learning all about how the Civil War really started (different business climates and taxes, he was told.)

We saw on Facebook that Janet has also finished school, or at least the students at PDS have finished.  And, watching the Tony awards last night, we saw that one of the theaters that Janet works at received the award for best regional theater.  Probably because of Janet's audio descriptions!  We saw a bunch of photos of Peter at reunions, and at the P-rade.

Since our last letter, we've seen Annie a few times, on trips to Boston.  Once, we decided to act like grown-ups and do a cultural tour to Boston.  We started in Lowell to visit the textile museum there, and then headed down to Boston for a Massachusetts Historical Commission award ceremony.  Last week, Mary saw Annie when she went to an art opening for a friend's daughter in Boston.  Annie's doing well, and seems more settled in her new apartment and neighborhood.  She has also seen Kathleen a few times, before she moves to New York.

We hear that Claire is having a wonderful time in Austria. Andrew let drop in one conversation that Claire not only plays the oboe but also the mandolin!  Andrew has signed up to work at a food bank one day a week.

Last weekend, was a Williamstown affair, when Charlie (my best man) and his family were here for their son, Josh's graduation.  His four years at Williams went by so fast, and it was nice to have an excuse to go up there for dinner or a lecture or a movie every now and then.  So, anyone know another student at Williams we can adopt for four years?  Or maybe we could just go up there on our own.

Over Memorial Day, we played host to other Peace Corps friends, Cliff and Sheila, who stopped by on their way up to Montreal.  They left a special wedding present for Joe and Leonor, and it has something to do with Scotch, but only peripherally.

That's what we love about summer up here - all the visitors.  Please come.  We're looking forward to David and Paula next weekend, as David plans on attending his Darrow School alumni weekend.  I think it's his 10th reunion.  Times five.

Other than that, lots of gardening, a little exercise (Mary received a top ten swimming award again), reading and other assorted projects.  Throw in a nap here and there.  Life is good.

That's a wrap.  Love from up here.  Hope you all are thriving.