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.
