Adios 2017

Trying to squeeze in one last letter before the clock strikes midnight.  Plenty of time.

Where to start?  How about the weather?  John and Marilyn sent us pictures today of them playing golf and later swimming.  They had obviously returned to Florida from a week or so up here with their children.  We talked to them and they were enjoying their week of winter, but obviously eager to put away the fleeces and head back to outside warmth.

Elsewhere, frigid cold.  Today, we reached a high of 5 degrees.  Haven't felt like this since we left Ottawa.  One of Mary's friends from there wrote her and said it was minus 30.  That ought to make you feel warmer already.

We had a full household, including Annie, who came in from Oakland - via Boston - and then headed out to Nicaragua for a friend's wedding.  She too has sent pictures of the beach there and sea turtles.  Andrew and Margaret (and D) drove up, and they got to stay in our newly renovated basement suite.  And the little electric heater works.  They went into NYC to see Bruce Springsteen on Broadway one night, which sounded terrific.  

They they left, with an incomplete jigsaw puzzle on the coffee table.  Not sure we're going to get around to finish it.  But, we'll make sure we send a photo to prove it.

We talked with Joe and Leonor, and even Thomas, quite a few times this past week.  It sounds like Thomas was a good passenger, but had trouble adjusting to the new timetable.  They are renting an apartment for a month in Lisbon, right around the corner from Leonor's mother.  Wonderful to see Thomas surrounded by his large Portuguese family - so happy.

The Dundee Dicksons were all home for the holidays, including Daniel and Claire, and Bill and Jen.  We even got to hear the voices of Miles and Auden shouting Merry Christmas (Elliot not quite yet talking.)

Remember when it was warm, just a couple of weeks ago?  Mary and I spent a long weekend in New York City, living it up.  We saw a play called The Band's Visit (recommended, and we saw it featured on the PBS News Hour a few days later.)  We exhausted ourselves in the Met art museum walking through with 25,000 of our closest friends the Micelangelo exhibition.  If that were not enough, we went to a bar and watched football, and then went to a movie about Churchill, The Darkest Hour.  The next day, we had our meeting at the UN on refugees and migration.  Too much fun, too much money.

 

We've been to a couple of other movies up here, it being the good movie season.  We all went to the new Star Wars movie, the day after Christmas and had another celebrity siting - Al Roker.  Then, we watched Get Out at home.  We still have a number of others we want to watch, but not the one Al Roker went to: Jumanji.  Really?  Yes, you heard it here first.

Anyway, we will try to brave the cold tonight to go to a New Year's party.  Marj and Lew are here, and we'll see if the cars start so we can go to Bob and Jody's.

Got any resolutions?  Of course, you do.  It's what we do.  

We saw some wonderful Christmas celebrations from around PWL world on Facebook.  We'll close with a couple from Fairport and NJ.

Happy New Year.  Stay safe.  Love from up here..

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The Best of 2017

Seems like there's a best of 2017 everywhere you look these days.  So why not do that in Pops Weekly Letter?  

We know what the best book was, right?  Berkshire County's Industrial Heritage!  And we know who the best quarterback is, right?  Don't even have to write that answer.

How about best new member of the family?  A tie - Erin and Thomas.  

We also know the best swimmer.  At least she proved that last weekend at the New England Master's.  Mary entered 11 events; she (or her relay team) placed first in all but two.  One relay set a New England record, perhaps even beating Michael Phelps.  I did watch quite a bit of the meet, but I also got a chance to explore Worcester a little.  A lot of changes in 17 years, since we were last there.  I set out looking for Spag's, thinking I might even be able to include a triple header this week,  Unfortunately, I couldn't find it, so I checked my best friend who knows everything (rhymes with frugal) and found that Spag's went into bankruptcy in 2004.  It had to be they couldn't stay afloat without Pop's weekly trips to buy toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant. As you saw in Facebook, the building was torn down and replaced by Whole Foods.  Could you get any different from Spag's?  Sadly, I didn't get a haircut either, but I did go to an almost dump - Habitat Restore to drop off a couple of cabinet doors that we replaced in our bedroom.  Also in Worcester, I went to the city art museum where they had a Winslow Homer exhibition.  Beautiful.

Do we have a vote for the best vacation?  I bet there are quite a few nominees, including near (Fairport and the Finger Lakes, Shenandoah, Holland MI, Eastern Shore of Maryland, Poconos) and far (Guadeloupe, Italy, Oregon, India)

How 'bout best political event?  Not gonna touch that one.

Best reader?  We saw three nominees on Facebook last week - Donald, Elliott and Thomas.  Best movie? (We just saw a good one, that we thought was a bio-pic about "Lady Bird" Johnson.  NOT.)  Best TV show?  Best song? Best book?  Best cereal?  I could go on and on.

What about concerts?  Stephen Stills and Judy Collins is a runner up to Claire's conducting performance, I suspect.  (Speaking of Claire, she got a job, teaching music at two elementary schools in Allegan, Michigan.  Her student teaching ends in December so the timing is perfect, and she doesn't have to move!)

Best celebrity sighting?  Margaret saw Big Papi in the lobby of the hotel she was staying at in Santo Domingo, and John gave a tour at Shaker Village to Natalie Merchant.  Any others?  I'm sure there are.

Best animal sighting?  I spotted a bobcat in our back yard last week, which was better than the two raccoons on our screened in porch.

Lots of bests, since it was, all in all another wonderful year.  Hard to believe how much gets packed in during the course of a year.  

And final best for this letter:  Best mystery photo of 2017.  Whose feet are these, at the Poconos?  Love from up here.

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It's Official

Sean's engaged.  And Erin's engaged!  To each other!  Wonderful news, and, piecing together the posts on Facebook, I would venture to say that Sean popped the question on a hike.  For those of us scared of heights, we were thrilled with the news, but a little worried about the drop behind an otherwise very happy Sean and Erin.  Or is it Erin and Sean.  And did we say CONGRATULATIONS!  

Speaking of Facebook, an idea came up over the weekend to start a Pop's Weekly Letter group on Facebook.  And so I did.  I invited whoever I could, but some of us are not on Facebook or at least not my friend (hint, hint).  That's okay, since I'll continue to write the blog posts.  But this may encourage everyone to share shorter stuff with the group, and just so you know, it's a secret group so only the readers of Pop's weekly Letter can see it.   Plus the Russians.

It begs the question.  What would Pop say?  Well, we know he was resistant to using Grandma's computer, and he enjoyed his pencil and paper and carbon copies and individual letters to each of us, sometimes filled with articles he cut out.  So, we can probably guess.  Still, I think if we start a Pop's Weekly Letter Twitter feed, that might be one step too far.  So, please feel free to post stuff on it, not that anyone is shy about posting stuff on your regular accounts.  

What we have already seen there are a couple of photos from Margaret who ended her Thanksgiving weekend by heading to Haiti on Sunday.  From there, she's going to Santo Domingo, before heading home.  All work, and maybe a little fun.  Hopefully. By the way, she did have a little fun on a work trip to NYC when she met up with Johanna for dinner.

Margaret and Andrew hosted all of us on Thanksgiving, and this year we had a new person at the table - Thomas.  He did so well, even with all the commotion.  By the end of dinner, he had ended up with Annie and Margaret, dancing and singing.

Jeff and Melodie were also able to join us.  They had tried a couple of years ago, but they had come down with colds and pulled out at the last minute.  This year, with mac and cheese, with baked brie and apple pies, they made it.  

Annie made her first trip back to the east coast since moving out to the other coast.  We had toyed with the idea of her catching an Uber from the airport, but when I went to pick her up, I realized how impossible that might have been.  There were a few other people there who were also probably looking for an Uber.  She might have missed Thanksgiving.  Anyway, she left DC for a week in Montreal.  For work, and hopefully a little fun as well. 

How come Joe didn't go anywhere after Thanksgiving?  Well, because he had just gotten back from a week in Australia.  Holy shrimp on the barbie!  (Do they say that down under?  Do they even say down under?)

All in all, it was a wonderful Thanksgiving, and you guessed it, there was way too much food.  Even more than last year.  It was nice to have Andrew's mom and dad there with us - they had come down from Lancaster for the night.

Thomas by the way is growing up rapidly, by the day.  More alert, more happy, and more intellectual.  Leonor takes him to story time at the local library and yoga classes!

So, how was your Thanksgiving?  We heard that David and Paula were with Tina's parents, along with Matthew and Oliver and Donald, who also seems to be growing by the day, and happier by the day.  We see regularly see him flipping the pages of a book as well, so he must also be more intellectual.  

Andrew mentioned that they had a houseful with Claire and Daniel home, and Lur's sister up from Florida.  And Peter and Janet headed for Janet's cousin Dede's for the day, along with Johanna and Sean and Erin.  Was there too much food at your celebrations as well?  

We touched base with John and Marilyn on our long drive down to DC, and they were going to friends for the big day.  We made plans for a trip to Florida this spring.  That's hopeful.

More importantly, how did you spend Black Friday?  We went to the mall, as we were told but we didn't see anyone else shopping.  (The mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building.)  Or small business Saturday?  Or, cyber Monday and giving Tuesday?  So what's tomorrow?  Weight loss Wednesday?  Sounds good to me.

Has anyone else been receiving catalogs?  I don't know how they make money printing all those catalogs.  We must get 4 from Land's End and LL Bean each week.  I did read that only 20% of retail is on line so I guess there's still money to be made out there somewhere.

So, the wreath is up, but I won't turn the lights on until December.  Just a thing I have.  I did see something from Jeffrey that he may get the award for the Dickson with the most lights.  Send us a picture.

Anyway, it's a wonderful holiday, everyone's favorite.  Hope you all enjoyed it.  This year was made special by Sean and Erin's announcement.

Love from up here.

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Giving thanks

The papers that arrived at the end of our driveway today were so big they could hardly fit in the protective plastic bags.  That could only mean one thing:  one day closer to Black Friday.  If only Thanksgiving didn't get in the way.  (You're supposed to be laughing, not cringing.)

It's not as if we haven't had enough cringe-worthy news lately.  Uggh.  At the same time, Mary has retreated back to the marvels of Andy of Mayberry, which she watches with her Aunt Mary every Tuesday afternoon when she goes to visit.  You can get Mary going on the subject, but it may be time to start streaming Andy Griffith.  

Anyway, we headed south to Washington last week for a colleague's retirement party ostensibly, but really that was just an excuse to check in on Thomas, who is wonderful.  Healthy and happy, growing and alert.  We even got to watch him all by ourselves.  I should say all by Mary's self, although as luck would have it, after holding him for all of 30 seconds over a two hour period, Leonor chose that moment to come home and see Thomas in my arms.  Grandpa John got and took all the credit.   

We were able to spend time with Margaret and Andrew, enjoying dinner with them, thanks to a lamb and corn pie that Uncle Andrew had sent.  Gerry and Dennis joined us and they were busy doing door-to-door canvassing in Virginia for their candidate.  (Guess??)  Joe was not home, since he had traveled to Sydney for a week's worth of meetings.  That's not Sydney Maine or Ohio.  Australia.  The wonder of technology is that he could do video calls from there every day to check in on his son, who became animated every time he saw his father on the little screen.

Both Margaret and Andrew are busy at work, with Margaret taking Spanish classes and Andrew in the middle of another semester of public health schoolwork.  

How do you measure how wonderful the weekend was?  The scale.  I gained five pounds.  Too much, so when we got back we spent the new few days on a "cleanse" but I think I've gained it all back again.  It's hard this time of year, especially because of my wacky theory that we humans are just like animals and need to beef up for the long winter hibernation.  A good excuse for indulging between Halloween and Christmas. 

On the drive home, we talked to Annie, who was just finishing a long hike through a nearby redwood forest.  Heavenly.  We also checked in with John and Marilyn who were planning their schedule over the next year, to include a cruise along the Rhine River.  And Mary finally reached her brother Tim, to wish him a happy birthday.  Tim threw out that he was thinking of moving back to Pittsfield.

News from Dundee is that Billy has a new job with Cisco.  Congratulations!!  

 Other news: We had dinner one night with Colleen, who had stayed here looking after the cat while we were in Italy.  We saw on Facebook that Matthew had had a twinge of sorts in his back which they were worried might be a return of his spine issues.  After a day of tests, it looks like all is well.  Phew.

We just finished the makeover of our basement, which has involved going through all the stuff we had stored in there, including boxes that had been taped up as far back as Silver Spring so many years ago.  One box, which must have come from Pomfret was labeled "Ann."  In it were a number of letters and photos that were in Ann had in her apartment in Cincinnati.  I will send around a few of the important, sad letters, but I did want to share a couple of photos in this letter.  One is of a Thanksgiving in Wilton with Grandma and a very young Paula; the other I'm not sure if it's from Wilton, but featured is a very happy auntie holding a very young Matthew with a very young father.

When we were young.  

With that, love from up here.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

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It's dark outside

First off, apologies are in order if what follows appears too much like a travelogue.  But, we had a grand old time in Italy and recommend a trip there to everyone.

The short version is Siena.  It's a city that is as close to seeing what it must have looked like in medieval times as any that I have seen.  It has it all: narrow alleys, buildings dating back to the 1300s and earlier, magnificent churches, with no effort or expense spared to praise God, what must be one of the most dramatic plazas on the planet, and of course great restaurants and shopping.

The longer version is that our expectations starting off were low.  We remembered Pop asking Margaret what she thought about Rome after we stopped there on our way home in 1990: "old and dirty," was her childlike, direct and honest answer.  And, with somewhat low expectations,we were pleasantly blown away by our ten days there.  The history, the art, the food and wine, the scenery, the culture.  I mean, how did they build these domed churches and palaces with such ornate mosaics on every square inch inside over a thousand years ago?  How have people been living in buildings surrounded by a maze of endless canals of water (Venice)?  Maybe we'll be seeing more of that in the future.  

We had some wonderful coincidences.  In the three minutes we were in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, the Pope decided to walk out.  How does that happen?  When told the line for the Sistine Chapel was two hours, it turned out to be ten minutes -- and then another hour winding our way through room after room of art and treasure to get to the chapel.  We also had some unfortunate coincidences, such as arriving in Florence on the day the two major museums were shut down.

I can see why Italy is the most visited country for foreign tourists in the world.  On any city block in Rome or Venice, there was a palace or a church or a plaza, or a fountain that would be the major tourist attraction in any other country.  So much to see and so little time, and so many crowds.

We were there near the beginning of the off-season, ostensibly, but, the crowds were overwhelming in Florence, in Venice, at the Vatican.  Perhaps that's why we, and our traveling companions from Pittsfield, Jody and Bob, liked the relative calm of Siena and the surrounding countryside.  Mary confirmed her status as the go-to driver in foreign lands, with just a short hair-raising cliff climb, that scarcely approached the Douro valley in Portugal.

There was a lot that did remind us of Portugal: the dry terrain, the vineyards, the hospitality, the old world beauty and charm.  But not the prices.  Oh my.  We did splurge. 

So we came home to a darker, but not colder climate.  It was chillier in Venice than in Pittsfield, but there were fewer daylight hours here than we remember on departure (ought not to be surprise.)  I managed to keep my track record of getting sick on vacation, sharing my cold with Mary and Jody, if not every other person on the plane home.  So generous.

We traded travel photos with Joe who had gone to a wedding in Portland Maine and sent us a picture of his lobster dinner; with Margaret and Andrew who joined Leonor and Leonor's brother Sebastian, and Melodie, and, of course, Thomas, for an outing in Virginia; with Annie who had gone to Colorado to prepare for her role as officiant in a friend's wedding in Nicaragua next year. 

We kept up with Facebook news, mostly showing Halloween preparations and early costumes try-outs in San Francisco, Washington, Illinois, Provincetown and New Jersey - did I see Dasha in a Halloween costume?  

And there were birthday celebrations.  A few nights ago was Billy's 35th birthday party (can it be?) followed by Kathleen's big day and earlier in the month was Janet's happy celebration.  

Finally, we want to thank Colleen for staying here and watching our furry friend while we were gone.     

We end with a few photos of the next generation.  Love from up here.

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The Endless Summer

Just ended.  After several false starts, fall weather is finally here.  We complained last week about how hot it was, but now I'm complaining that I had to turn on the heat.  Mary's not looking back but is ready to enjoy the change of seasons.

It's quiet here.  We enjoyed Andrew's visit for several days here.  The last time he was here?  2011, for Grandma's 80th birthday party, and our house warming.  We remember that weekend, right?  Check out the photo below.  A lot has happened in all our families since 2011.  

Anyway, with Andrew here, we did a butcher and old car tour of Pittsfield, and then we went to the Norman Rockwell Museum with him, stopping at the Red Lion Inn to complete his "36 hours in the Berkshires" tour.  A couple of barbecues later, he left Friday morning to make the two-day trek back to Dundee to make sure he got home in time for Auden's birthday party.  We spent endless hours chatting, but the conversation always seemed to veer towards a certain resident of the White House.  I think we covered every possible angle of the national anthem at football games as well.

Speaking of parties, I gave birthday wishes at the end of the last letter and thought I was forgetting someone.  Thanks to Facebook, I know it was Tina's birthday this past week (sorry).  Johanna's birthday is tomorrow.  Enjoy the festivities!

Andrew had stopped in Fairport on the way out to see first-hand David and Paula's not-so-new home, as they've been in it for over a year now.  He was able to take in the local sites with David, and joined Matthew and Tina and Oliver and Donald for dinner one night.  

One morning this week, both Mary and I were awakened by a crash, from obviously somewhere in or near the house.  It sounded like some animal had tipped over the compost bucket on the back porch.  I ran (ok, cautiously edged) downstairs and saw the bucket intact.  When I went into the kitchen, I noticed that there was a cushion on the ground on the porch, and the sofa cushions had fallen on their sides.  Hmm?  A few seconds later, a big furry raccoon came out from behind the sofa, and then another one followed him (her?)  Thee screened door must have shut behind them and they couldn't make their way out so they were busy knocking over as much as they could on the porch.  I got a long pole and from the outside, pushed the door open, and this time I actually did run.  Mary saw the raccoons cautiously edge their way off the porch and back into the woods.  Too much excitement for 6 in the morning.

Another exciting story.  Yes, there were actually two this week, apart from Andrew's visit.  I had a tour to do at Shaker Village on Friday, and as usual, I secretly hope no one shows up, so I can go home.  When I walked into the ticket desk, I was told there was one person, and this woman came around the corner, and she looked familiar.  I asked her if I knew her, and she answered, maybe.  Then the woman at the ticket counter, introduced me to Natalie who would be on my tour.  I looked at the woman, and said, I love your music.  It was Natalie Merchant, and I gave her a tour, and was glad I did not go home early,  A nice, normal, classy lady.  If you don't know who she is, I suggest downloading "My Skin," among several others.  

Mary had spent last weekend with Joe and Leonor in Washington, as well as Thomas.  She sees so much growth and happiness - he's smiling and looks like he might even be laughing.  Margaret and Andrew came over for dinner one night.  I couldn't go as I had a conference on historic preservation in Lowell where I had been asked to present about our campaign last year to pass the Community Preservation Act last year.

Speaking of last year, Mary reminded me that at this time a year ago, we had returned from our tour to northern Portugal and had a day or two left before heading home.  That was one fun trip.

So, hope you all are well, healthy and happy and enjoying the new season.

Love from up here.

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Summer's back

On this first day of fall, it does feel like the middle of summer.  At least for the past week or so, since we had the heat on in the house earlier in the month.  High temps, barbecues, swimming, mowing the lawn, gardening.  

Speaking of the garden, it's been a banner year for cucumbers.  Each time I go out, it seems I bring back another 5 cukes, and say this is the end of it.  Until I go out the next day, and sure enough, five more.  We're in the middle of tomatoes and and at the tail end of green beans.  We haven't even really made a dent in the beets, which just keep getting bigger and bigger.  Not so good this year: I tried brussel sprouts but got nothing, and once again my bad luck with green peppers holds as I will never try them again.  Oh well.

But, you say, who cares about your garden?  Especially when there's so much more family news to report.  Like Tina and Matthew's cruise adventure, into the eye of the hurricane.  I gather there were some unscheduled stops and off-the-grid moments along the way, and the Facebook photos seem that Donald didn't mind.  John and Marilyn waited out the storm at home, on the eastern coast of Florida, and lucked out.  John took a picture of a leaf on his front porch and was wondering when FEMA was going to come by to clean it up.  Sounds like the Deans (Aunt Georgia, Rell, Sarah and Hope) had a bit more dramatic time closer to Miami.  Meanwhile in Houston, we see the affects of the hurricane on Dickson cousins there.  As long as we're on the disaster theme, we heard from friends in Mexico City and beyond that they had pulled through the earthquake with minor damage to homes but after a few very scary moments.  Annie was also on the periphery of the storm, as she headed to Charleston SC for a friend's wedding, but I think the only impact may have been a delayed flight.  She, by the way, is really enjoying her new home in the Bay area.  

Mary is back to work, this time at the local high school, two days a week.  It looks like she will have a whole new book of stories from the high school experience.  Worth a phone call.  Her schedule cramps our travel plans, but only a little.  She's off to DC tomorrow to check in the smiling, cooing, growing Thomas.  This past Sunday, he sat with Joe through the entire Patriots game.  I can't say for sure if he watched any of the game, but the few times we have seen him on FaceTime, his eyes are keenly following his mother and father.  That's a definite step up from his earlier fixation with the ceiling fan.

David and Paula celebrated their first anniversary in their new home, and this year were able to take part in the annual block party in their new neighborhood.   Peter went to his first Princeton football game, where he saw Sean's girlfriend Erin, working the sidelines as part of her residency, tending to a torn ACL and a broken metacarpal.  Translation??  Anyway, I hope Thomas is listening because this is not the sport for him.

Margaret has plans to visit Haiti and Dominican Republic for work later in the fall, and Andrew is back at his studies, as well as probably up to his neck right now in health care legislation.  And Daniel seems to be thriving in his new school.  The photo below is of him and his roommates, all gymnasts.

I found out a good way to lose weight.  Hike the Appalachian Trail.  For several years I had wanted to hike the Mass portion of the trail, and this year arranged with another wanna be hiker from Pittsfield who just retired to embark on this adventure.  We did this section in day hikes, over the past two months, with two overnights.  I can say this - it is hard. That about sums it up.  But, I lost ten pounds over the course of the period, and have managed not to gain it all back since I finished.  

We started work on finishing our basement, so we have another room for guests.  With a half-bath.  So you're all welcome.  

Birthday wishes to Auden and to Paula!!  Anyone else?  I'm sure I'm missing someone.  (sorry)

Love from up here.

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Summer's end

We just pulled in the drive after a short trip to see our grandchild, and Leonor and Joe, of course.  I can report that Thomas is doing well, gaining weight, sleeping almost through the night (seven hours at a stretch) and mesmerizing everyone within eyeshot.  I don't think I am the first grandparent to say how wonderful all this is.  Leonor and Joe are adjusting really well to their new roles, happy and in control.  How were we not like them?  I think it's because they have these "wipe warmers" now, which make the diaper changing easier.

We stayed at Margaret and Andrew's and kind of watched the cats and even Dee while they are away - I'll get to that.  Watching Dee meant that we had to pick him up at Jeff and Melodie's who had volunteered to watch the dog on those days we were not in DC.  They headed out on Saturday for a day of tubing down some river, that sounds both fun and dangerous.  I saw Melodie for just a few minutes as we made the dog transfer.

Margaret and Andrew were on the west coast, in Oregon and Washington State, as you may have seen from our good friends at Facebook.  They had made plans well before they knew that Oregon was ground zero for the eclipse, so they had some company on the first part of their trip,  They ran into smoke from Canadian wildfires, which limited visibility of otherwise spectacular scenery.  Right now they are in Seattle, loving it, and staying with our friend Valerie, who shared a room with Margaret in Lagos, when she was barely one year old.  Margaret, that is.  Where were you for the eclipse?  The next one in 2024, I think, comes close to Pittsfield - we're taking reservations,

On the drive home, we got a call from Annie, who told us she was driving back to Oakland from LA, and had been on the road for 3 hours.  We did the math, since to was 11:00 our time, and, yes, Annie had woken up at 5am to drive back.  Her shipment arrived this week at her new apartment in Oakland, so she is ready for visitors.  Almost.  Anyway, she sounds like she's loving California.  

I wonder how many of you know what the "big house" is.  I do, now.  It's the football stadium for the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and the only reason I know it is that Claire directed a marching band there this past weekend.  Take a look at this stadium behind Andrew, Lur and Claire.  Hard to believe that it is full every time they play there.  Seats something like a million people.  At least 100,000.  Andrew said he wore a Pomfret belt made by Pop to the game, and that the brats he had at the stadium did not measure up to Wisconsin brats.  Tuck that away for future reference.  Anyway, Claire, as a student teacher for Mona Shores High School this fall, traveled to Ann Arbor with the high school football team for an exhibition game there.  We hear that Daniel who has started Paul Mitchell hair salon school is thriving.

Peter and Janet were up here last weekend.  A "life is good" weekend.  The lure was a concert by Stephen Stills and Judy Collins in Great Barrington which was memorable, but so was pizza on the grill, a tour through the guitar exhibit at the Berkshire Museum, and the hours spent "hanging out."  One news item to pass along - Sean won his first jury trial case, that ended in a life imprisonment sentence.  Peter and Janet had just returned from a Texas vacation to Houston and Austin.

We've been following John and Marilyn's trip out west, that ended earlier than they expected due to the wildfires in Canada.  Trying to escape the Florida heat, they planned a long drive out to the Pacific Northwest but ran into the same visibility issues, and decided to come home early rather than stay in highway motels and see fog-like views. 

What else?  I did a book signing at Barnes and Noble for my Berkshire industry book, where I learned just how many friends and family Mary has around here.  Loyal.  Mary's back has been bothering her, but she's still swimming.  And, I'm slowly making my way through Massachusetts on the Appalachian trail - at least 45 miles so far, or half way there.  Great exercise, and I lose 5 pounds every time out there.  Makes it easier to go to Friendly's for a milk shake.  Speaking of food, anyone want cucumbers?  A bumper crop this year.  

On the way home, we saw a number of trees starting to turn.  The nights here are seeing temperatures in the 40s so that must mean we're getting close to the endof the most glorious season of all.  Followed though by another glorious season.  

And, we think of the Dickson cousins in Texas and hope they are coping with the flooding and weather. Love from up here.  

Welcome Thomas

Thomas Collins Fontoura Dickson arrived at 2am on July 29!  He weighed in just under 6 pounds but stretched out to 21 inches.  There was more than a little suspense and worry in the birth, but all was well shortly afterwards.  Leonor looked strong and happy when we first saw her the next day, but we knew she was in pain.  A week later, and she is much better, as both father and mother are adapting to their new roles.  That is easier every time you look at him!

Saturday we celebrated his one week birthday, with his mother and father, aunts and uncle as well as two grandmothers and a grandfather.  

In Mexico, there is a saying "no tiene abuela" which means "has no grandmother" and is used for people who boast about themselves, because they have no grandmother to boast about them.  In Thomas' case he has Patricia and Mary, two grandmothers who couldn't keep grinning and laughing and staring at him.  He'll never have to boast.    

Thomas and his parents reminded us when Joe, Margaret and Annie were born.  Newborns are so small, their hands and feet and ears.  They look so fragile as they start life - Joe said their doctor spoke of the first three months of life as the "fourth trimester."  

Seeing Leonor and Joe also reminded us how time stops with the birth, how nothing else is going on in the world, and how everything changes.  

And we all know, but it's worth repeating - he's a miracle.  

There's other news to report, but we'll let Thomas have his own page.   ​

 Love   

 
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Mt Springs - recap

Fun, fun, fun.  

That's the only way to summarize another weekend in the Poconos, by the lake, reading, walking, running, fishing, playing guitar, singing happy birthday, playing games, chatting, and of course, eating and drinking.

I hope on your drives home, that you did what Mary and I did.  Review the weekend, relive its highlights, forget the downlights (rain), and talk about how to make it even better for next year.   

Mark your calendars, by the way.  Last weekend in July 2018 - July 26, 27, 28.  We've signed up for three nights, Thursday through Saturday, with the possibility of adding a Wednesday night for one or more cabins if there's interest.

In the what-a-difference-a-year-makes category, consider this

-- Donald is now walking, running, talking, playing on screens and laughing heartily

-- David and Paula are in a new house

-- Sean is in a new job, and has a caseload in his first year that would fill up its own mini-series on tv

-- Margaret has a new job; Andrew has one year of MPH program under his belt and they're off to Oregon in a few weeks for well deserved vacation

-- Annie has moved to Cleveland and is now leaving for San Francisco in the next couple of weeks

-- Peter is working his way through a transmission line case, and replaced the transmission on his Saturn (the two may actually be connected - one paid for the other)

-- Janet has sold her Solara 

-- Johanna has a new job with an office in the "flatiron" building in New York City

-- Matthew continues to make progress with his mobility, and it shows.  He has a new car Kia Soul

-- Oliver is heading toward a quantum physics summer program - enough said.

-- Erin made a nice, happy new addition to the weekend retreat

-- Jeff and Melodie have a new house, and so do Andrew and Margaret

-- the rest of us are happily plugging along.

We missed the Dundee Dicksons and Joe and Leonor, who called in to say they were happily, anxiously awaiting the first signs that it's time to get to the hospital.  So are we all.  When Joe called, we all immediately thought he was on his way to or at the hospital.  Soon come.

We are unpacked but still have some reminders of the weekend - photos to organize, bagels in the freezer, Paula's broccoli recipe, a few extra pounds on the scale. One way was for me to start my walk on the Massachusetts portion of the Appalachian trail - we ticked off 7 1/2 miles yesterday in 5 1/2 hours, and I can say one thing - it's not like walking in Pittsfield State Park.  Rough and exhausting. Steep and scary in parts. But I got to sleep in my own bed last night, and not in a tent.  It was a good reality check.

We're off to Vermont for a couple of nights today 

Love from up here.  (our panorama photo had some glitches, sorry)

Say it Ain't So

A whole month slipped by and no weekly letter?  Lots of interpretations, I guess.  Old age comes first to mind.  Too much on my plate, but only as a distraction, not that I didn't have time.  Time flies would be the best explanation, though, especially when you're having fun.

And we're having fun.  It's summer.  Sandals and t-shirts, lettuce from the garden, sitting on the porch, walking in the woods, mowing the lawn, Tanglewood, and the list goes on.

So a lot to catch up on.  Father's Day!  In DC for the weekend, we celebrated with Joe and Leonor, Margaret and Andrew.  Barbecue and brunch and time to hear about their work gossip, their studies, their travels.  Annie was in Cleveland celebrating, but also pondering her next move to San Francisco which is now official.  She'll be moving shortly after our get-together in the Poconos.  We also crashed Melodie's birthday party celebration at their new house, which they have set up nicely.  

And, happy birthday Melodie and Leonor and Matthew and Andrew and Marilyn, and happy anniversaries to David and Paula, Peter and Janet.  Who did I miss?  See what happens when more than a month goes by without a weekly letter?

We had a week down memory lane, with visitors here who joined the Foreign Service in the same class as us, the Dickmeyers and the Nealons.  Both men are still working, and the question came up how our lives would have been different if we hadn't been selected.  Well, we found out a few days later when we went to a retirement party for our colleague from the Deerfield NH school where we taught in the 1980s.  Paul had stayed on to become principal in the same school, retiring after 39 years there.  We saw a number of teachers who we worked with, as well as our landlords from Claremont NH, who were also both teachers, one of whom worked at Deerfield after we left.  A lot of fun, and really wonderful and inspiring to see them at the end of a career where they had such an impact on so many people.  I am confident I made the right choice, as teaching was just too hard, especially the classroom management side of the work.

We went from there to the Rhode Island beaches for a weekend with Marj and Lew, and a drive by our summer rentals, Trustom Pond, the market and East Matunuck beach.  We even passed the famous Moonstone Beach, and relayed our favorite story from there.  You know the one.  And, we reflected on another case of what could have been, since we might have offered to buy that summer house if we had known it was up for sale.

But then there might not have been mills in town to write about.  Speaking of mills (notice how the topic gets around to my projects?), my historic images book came out this week.  Nice to hold the final product in my hands after many hours huddled over this keyboard and in the archives.  

Oh and did we mention July 4?  Where were you?  Andrew and Lur were at Green Lake, on a boat, and we assume Danny was up there, and Claire was at the nearby camp.  We saw lots of Facebook entries from Washington and New Jersey and upstate New York, with young Donald attending classical music concert.  I know Peter and Janet didn't go to the Jersey shore, since the beaches were closed, except for their &##$*@* governor.  We were enjoying the parade and later lobsters and smores with Maura and Steve and Elsie who were up for a short visit.  

We also missed this month Canal Days in Fairport, that David and Paula had a front row seat from their porch, with 200,000 visitors to the village.  I would have liked to have the ice cream concession that weekend.  

What else?  Leonor is doing well, though tired, updating us on her doctor's visits with good news.  Johnny landed back in the hospital with an infection from his neck surgery, but all is cleared up, and they are getting ready for a cross country driving trip coming up.

And we're getting ready for the Poconos.  Can't wait. 

So, I have now set a reminder on my phone so I won't forget making my irregular twice a month submissions.  And, it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, that anyone can post their own letter simply by writing an email to popsweeklyletter.bubba@blogger.com.     

Love from up here!!  

 

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You know life is good when....

Joe calls and asks what's new and the only thing we can think of is that there's a robin made her nest in the hanging flower pot on the back porch.  Maybe not so good for the robin, as the cat has been perched under the flower for a few hours each day, trying to figure out how to get up there.  But we keep chasing the cat away.

Memorial Day.  I remember Pop's weekly letters including the Memorial Day parade in Pomfret, sometimes his marching.  Here's one from 1995:  "Memorial Day.  And in Pomfret, it's a bigger day than any other. Half the town marches, and the other half watches. There are Lions (the sponsors), Girl Scouts, Brownies, Boys Scouts, Little Leaguers, Fire Engines, Ambulances, Horses, Sheep, National Guard, an Air Guard fly-over, etc. And the inevitable recitation of the Gettysburg Address by Howard Baker, now in his '90's, and afterwards, many people will say, this may be Howard's last year... and we have been hearing that since we moved here."

Did anyone go to a Memorial Day parade?  Sheepishly,no, I admit, but next year I will do better. 

Joe and Lenor were on their way to the Eastern Shore for a week of vacation, baby-moon, they are calling it.  Leonor is well, albeit uncomfortable.  They had just gotten back from a wedding in Minnesota.  Margaret was here, for half the day anyway.  She had come up for her 10th college reunion (10 years?) and then spent Sunday here before heading back to Hartford to catch a plane.  Andrew stayed home with the pets, but mostly to do school work.  At this moment she should be flying the friendly skies.  Annie found those skies are often unfriendly, as she had one of the experiences with cancelled flights, layovers, and arguments before finally arriving in Paris a day late for the wedding of a Hamilton friend.  But she made it, and will spend a few days this week in the city of lights on vacation.  

We saw on Facebook that a)  Billy and Jen went camping with their children.  I wonder if I should rustle up a few Dickson camping photos, from the 1950s.  Their posts looked great, but they admitted to exhaustion.  Kids love camping.  b) that Jeffrey had some help in completing his raised bed gardening project. ​c) that Donald has a little tykes car that is the same as the one Joe got in 1982.  I wonder what other auto company could survive with the same style from 1982.

We do have news from here:  Mary did her usual record-setting times in a swim meet last weekend, especially as she had never swum the backstroke in a meet.  I went to a stone-wall workshop at Arrowhead, with a group of teenagers and a ranger who worked at the Weir Farm National Park, in Wilton Conn.  Another small world.  And, we've been gardening, getting the flower beds and vegetables in.  In fact, we've even had some asparagus, our first year from the garden.  As soon as I finish this, I'm heading out to put the rest of veggies in the ground.

But before that, we can also report that David and Paul have put their flower beds in order, with a new dagwood tree and their own hanging baskets gracing their porch.  And Johnny reports progress in his recovery from surgery on his neck.

Reading recommendations: Underground Railroad (although I think I'm the last one on the planet to have read that) and Man of Good Hope, which Mary was riveted to for a couple of weeks.  Film recommendation - Finding Oscar, which featured a few people who I knew in Mexico.  And finally, how many of you have done this: order a movie from Netflix that you've already seen?  Our Kind of Traitor, we watched with Margaret last night, but could only vaguely remember.  Embarrassing.

With that, out to the garden.  Love from up here.  

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Happy Mothers' Day

Happy Birthday to Sean, happy birthday to Elliot, and Happy Mothers' Day to all the mothers.  In honor of this big day, there was a wonderful New York Times article about the life of mothers before they became mothers, prompted by a photo.  So, the photos for this letter are of Georganna and Loretta, before they became wives and mothers.  It doesn't end there.  Last night, we went to an intellectual movie of sorts, Snatched, with Amy Shumer and Goldie Hawn where a photo of the mother before she became a mother featured prominently.  A very funny movie, at least the first part which sent me into an asthma attack I was laughing so hard. Happy Mothers Day, again.

How did you spend your mothers day?  We went to brunch, to the nursery, to the garden, to the bed for a nap, and to our easy chairs for reading and for telephone calls.  Tonight, steak on the grill and chocolate ice cream.  Perfect.

Last weekend, I went down to Lawrenceville for my 45th high school reunion.  I remember going to my first reunion, but not since then.  So, it was a little strange to see people I had not seen since 1972.  There was one guy who not only went to Lawrenceville but also Drake Road Elementary in Cincinnati.  There were a few who had gone to Princeton, and who I had seen in the intervening years as well.  Other impressions?  People were for the most part in good health, and keeping fit. I think it was seeing David at his 50th reunion at Darrow last year that inspired me to return.

I stayed with Peter and Janet and had a chance to catch up with them as Peter related his recent court case, Sean's first trial, and all the books Johanna gets as part of her job publicizing books.  Johanna was there as well, and you'll have to ask her about the choice e-mails she's been getting related to Bill O'Reilly, an author her company publishes.  Janet and Peter went out to a McCarter gala that featured Wynton Marsalis.  Very special.

David and Paula spent a couple of days in New York City this week, where David had meetings, but more importantly, they went to see Hello Dolly with Bette Midler.  Fun.  Not so much fun was the news from Florida where Johnny had surgery on his neck to clear an artery.  A successful surgery but an uncomfortable recovery.  He says the incision went from his ear to his collar bone.  

More congratulations are in order for Claire who graduated last weekend from Hope College.  She won an award for music performance.  Andrew, Lur and Daniel went out for the weekend, and it took two cars to haul her stuff home.  Andrew is still struggling with his back issues.

More news - Joe went to Switzerland last week for work, and Leonor went to Canada, I think.  They have started childbirth classes.  We spoke with Annie after her week in San Francisco, and she sounded tired.  Last weekend Margaret and Andrew joined Jeff and Melodie for a tour of wine country in Virginia.

A quiet few weeks for us, staying home and catching up.  I'm taking two classes through the life long learning institute on Shakespeare tragedies and fly fishing.  Mary did double duty teaching swimming two nights a week in April, and she has been spending time with her Aunt Mary who is recovering from a couple of falls.

It looks like spring and maybe even summer may be returning this week.  I've had to mow the lawn a few times, and we're working on the flower beds and vegetable garden.  Ahh summer.

Hope you all are well and enjoying the season and the day.  Love from up here.

Spring break

Most people (of a certain age) go south for their spring school break.  For Mary's spring break, we followed Horace Greeley's advice and went west.  All the way to Michigan, through Rochester and Cleveland, and back home via Stratford, Ontario.  There were many highlights, but top among them was seeing you all - David and Paula, Annie, Andrew Lur and Claire.  More later.

First, though, we begin our spring letter with Easter, which we hosted here with Joe and Leonor, Margaret and Andrew and Annie joining us for the long weekend.  We were pleased that Lenor's mother, Patricia, was able to see this neck of the woods, as she had come over from Portugal for a two-week visit that coincided with Easter.  It was the first time we overflowed, but we figured out sleeping arrangements with Joe drawing the short straw and getting the couch.  The experience caused us to bring in a local architect to figure out how to finish the basement.

Anyway, back to the weekend, with first arrivals coming Thursday.  Margaret called to say that D had been attacked by dogs at their park and as a result of his wounds they were unlikely to be able to come.  When they woke on Friday, the dog was normal despite the wounds around his neck and leg, that included some plastic tube to drain the yucky stuff (medical terminology).  So they made it up.   It was another 36 hours in the Berkshires with trips to the outlets, to our favorite wine and food store, a special lecture at the library (featuring me expounding on the old mills in the county,) Easter service, and our latest tradition, dinner at the Red Lion Inn.  

With our house emptied out, we welcomed Maura and her 7-year-old daughter Elsie the following day.  It had been a while since we had seen them and Elsie had grown up.  One of her favorite things is writing.  She left little notes around the house, for Joe and Leonor with names for boys, and other things.  Cute.  Elsie also helped plant our first crop - potatoes.  We set out on our journey the following day, but they stayed in Pittsfield a few more days, taking care of the kitty, and then performing a heroic service that saved one day of our trip.

Anyway, on to Rochester and David and Paula's lovely village home, that looks even lovelier in the spring.  What a great town.  I keep saying it looks like a movie set.  Besides heading to our favorite ice cream place (only once - will power), we sampled local cuisine, including a nice Mediterranean place, and went for a walk around the canal which only partially balanced the ice cream.  We then weathered a day of rain to take in one of the Finger Lakes, going through Geneva and seeing their colleges and then touring some of the local wineries.  

Our next destination was Holland Michigan but to get there you have to drive through Cleveland.  So we stopped to see Annie for lunch, and she showed us around the GE lighting campus, with buildings from the early 1900s.  Annie was getting ready to head off for her own spring break, to Philadelphia and San Francisco.  A wedding and work.

We made it to Hope College in time for a concert where Claire conducted the wind ensemble.  Wow.  She was great, and playing the oboe, she gets to sit right up front.  We stayed at the campus hotel with Andrew and Lur, who showed us around the area the following day.  This part of Michigan has not lost its manufacturing base.  Nor its prosperity.  Andrew is still struggling with pain from his back surgery, unfortunately.

Claire had one last concert, her final one at Hope.  We are lucky to take in a number of classical performances here with Tanglewood close by, but none have moved me as much as the Symphony No 4, of David Maslanka that the ensemble interpreted.  Check it out on YouTube with the US Navy Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2xcMoQ6ML4.  It's 30 minutes long, but worth it if you can make it to the end!  Needless to say, Claire was magnificent and has a wonderful group of friends.

Now here comes the part where Maura saved one leg of our trip.  We had decided to stop in Stratford Ontario on the way home, just a short way off the quickest route home.  Having worked at the Embassy when the passport requirement for cross-border travel came into effect, you'd think that I'd know or at least remember that we needed passports.  Nope, we left them home.  Anyway, Maura found them and had them delivered to the Hope College Hotel so we were able to cross the border with ease.  And get a view of Niagara Falls along the way!  

Now we're home, and the house is quiet.  We have some work to do in losing the many pounds we collected along the way, but I have to say they were worth it.

Other news:  Peter and Johnny had birthdays, Joe is on his way to Switzerland for work for the rest of this week, and Annie is enjoying her final leadership retreat in San Francisco this week.

Baseball has started, and we have lots of seedlings ready to get in the ground.  Spring is here.  

Love from up here. 

A few notes from the New Jersey contingent.

- I just finished a grueling two week trial representing a citizens' group opposing a proposal by JCP&L to construct a monstrously stupid huge transmission line through portions of Monmouth County that included the town where Janet's parents used to live. We were married in the back yard of their house and Johanna and Sean were baptized by Uncle Bob in the Reformed Church in Middletown. It's not over yet but it looks as if we have killed it. It's nice to be able to make a real difference.

- Doing a trial like this is all-consuming. You more or less leave the world as you know it and live in the trial. I got by on about three hours of sleep a night, getting ready for the next day after each day's twists, turns and surprises.

- I said to one of the other lawyers that I enjoyed a Trump-free experience for those two weeks. It was nice!

- Johanna is working with some interesting authors at Henry Holt. I am getting lots of free books – galley proofs as well as final prints. This week's catch is a book about books. How could I resist?

- Sean's first trial keeps getting pushed back. I can't wait.

- It's also been a tense time. One of Janet's cousins is now in hospice and David and Andrew had surgeries.

- Want to hear some utility jokes? A chemist, a biologist and an electrical engineer were on death row waiting to go in the electric chair. The chemist was brought forward first. "Do you have anything you want to say?" asked the executioner, strapping him in. "No," replied the chemist. The executioner flicked the switch and nothing happened. Under this particular State's law, if an execution attempt fails, the prisoner is to be released, so the chemist was released. Then the biologist was brought forward. "Do you have anything you want to say?" "No, just get on with it." The executioner flicked the switch, and again nothing happened, so the biologist was released. Then the electrical engineer was brought forward. "Do you have anything you want to say?" asked the executioner. "Yes," replied the engineer. "If you swap the red and the blue wires over, you might make this thing work."

- Q. Why do fluorescent lights hum?
A. Because they can't remember the words.

You get the drift.

April is the cruelest month...NOT

Which photo to choose to go with this letter?  It's the hardest part of this letter, since so much has happened since the last letter, including travel to see so many of you and as always lots of photos on my biggest rival, Facebook.  

We arrived home last night after a weekend in Washington anchored around a baby shower for Leonor and Joe.  Annie had flown in from Cleveland to join Margaret and Andrew for the happy occasion.  The highlight of the shower?  All the "onesie" shirts that some very creative folks drew on for the new baby.  Leonor and Joe are excitedly preparing, reconfiguring their house and stocking up for the arrival of what they are now calling cutie patootie.

The weekend was the end of a tour through the Rocehester-Cleveland-Dundee route with lots to report on there.  

It was a planes, trains and automobiles trip, along with buses.  We spent a night at the Fairport yellow inn, which David and Paula continue to enjoy, taking full advantage of the close walking distances to the village.  One nearby shop has the best home-made ice cream I've tasted.  I recommend the butterscotch ripple, by David swears by the back cherry.  Fun, but a little dangerous.

We drove to Annie's from Rochester, and she also has a great living situation, the ground floor of a house in trendy Tremont, or maybe it's transitional Tremont.  Either way, lots to do in the neighborhood.  We checked out a market in Ohio City (yes there is one) and had lunch with Mary's cousin, Joanne and her husband Scott, who live in Cleveland.  Did I mention an evening with LeBron?  Or should I say John Wall, as the Wizards schooled the Cavs.  Exciting, either way.

Mary headed back to Pittsfield, for school, leaving John to wind his way to Chicago, trying the Megabus, for probably the last time.  At least I can say I did it.  It might work for 3-4 hours, a little cramped for 7 hours.  The price was right.  I love how I save money but undergo unnecessary hardship. 

After a few hours in Chicago at the Field Museum, I hopped on the double-decker train out to Elgin where Andrew picked me up in the stretch van.  The next few days, we spent a lot of time chatting, in between dog walks, hospital visits, and a wonderful evening with Bill and Jen and Miles, Auden, and Elliot.  Unfortunately, Jen was on her first day of a cast, having broken her foot the day before.  They have a full plate as they have started a new business.

Other medical updates were also part and parcel of the past few weeks.  When we arrived in Fairport, David's neighbors walked by and said to him "Welcome home."  David clarified that they hadn't traveled any further than the local hospital to check out a heart issue.  Within ten days, with a few tests, he had a stent implanted to help with a blockage.  Good news.

Yesterday, Andrew had his back surgery which we hope will put behind him the last few months of pain caused by herniated discs.  It was not enough to prevent him and Lur from heading to Hope College to see Claire in her final recital over the weekend.  Anyway, wishing him a speedy recovery.

And, not on the same level, we are still dealing with some lingering intestinal issues (euphemism for diarrhea) from India.  

The drive home included much evidence of the changing seasons.  Grass was greener, red buds appearing on the trees, no gloves and coats....... until we pulled in the driveway, and saw snow everywhere, ice on the lake, etc.  Still, we are optimistic about the next few weeks.  On our list this week is to start seedlings indoors.  Eager

Hope everyone is enjoying the warmth.  Love from up here.

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Travelogue, the sequel

We're home.  I seem to recall that the weekly letter after Pop and Grandma's long trips always began with "It's good to be home" and recounting about going through the mail and unpacking and laundry.  Some things pass on to the next generation.  One interesting note - 30 days of mail and one hand-written note.  The rest were appeals for money, flyers and bills.  

Anyway, we are glad to be home and adjusting to our normal, sedate lives, happy to have bland food and trying to sleep through the night.  We each wake up three times a night, wide awake, and read and force ourselves to go back to sleep.  Hint: read a boring book.  My choice: The Confidence Man, by Melville.  Why, you ask?  Because Philip Roth cited that book as the one best to understand our President.  After 100 or so pages, not sure I've seen what Roth sees, but it does help me go back to sleep.

The second part of our trip was given over to sightseeing, trying to make sense of India on our own, albeit with guides and driver, with various gradations of English abilities.  We went to the places on the normal tourism route, and were awed by the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple in Amritsar, as well as a place not to far from the Taj, called Fatepuhr Sikri, where a King married a Moslem, a Christian and a Hindu wives and built a palace to accommodate all three religions, but abandoned it only a short while later due to water shortages.  

After that, the palaces and forts seemed to kind of blend together,  Spectacular, complex architecture all of them, stunning views, with grisly histories for the most part, dating back thousands of years in some cases.  What a culture, and almost impenetrable to a first time visitor.  

We looked for opportunities to do things off the beaten path and those proved to be eye-opening adventures - a bike ride through a bird sanctuary with a young, enthusiastic guide; a walk through an old, Moslem neighborhood at Friday prayers with a young volunteer for a project called the Hope Project; a visit to the changing of the guard at the India-Pakistan border, where we witnessed a full-throated nationalism on display; a peek behind the scenes at the organization behind feeding 25,000 people a day for free at the Golden Temple.  Among others.

We had our low moments, and they mostly had to do with illness - of the stomach and cold variety.  And we could regale you with our attempts to maneuver walking down and across streets, avoiding the rickshaws, and taxis and trucks and buses and carts and Lexuses and motorcycles and camels.  But, we've had a chance to download with a few people so we can spare everyone the in-person "when-we" stories.  Summed up: we're glad we went, really glad, but it's hard to see us jumping in line to go back, even though the school is a pretty big draw.  Not even sure how to recommend to other people.  

We came back to warm weather, but the bite of 7 degrees this morning when I went out to get the paper, shows we're not out of winter yet. David  made it through a high-wind power outage, enough to host Matthew and Tina who came over to get some warmth.  David also talked about a Shaker woodworking workshop he attended.  Joe and Leonor have been busy with house renovations getting ready for the big arrival; Margaret is trying to navigate the rumors of budgets for the down-sized State Department, and Annie's work has finally picked up.  We have travel ahead plans, on coming weekends, to Arizona for baseball, to Cleveland for basketball, and down to DC for a baby shower.

Next letter, more news from you all.  Love from up here.

Here's a shot from the border ceremony.  Louder than a soccer match. and certainly ore colorful.

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