May showers

Our new motto up here is April showers bring May showers.  Nothing but rain for the foreseeable future.  We had a brief wonderful hint at things to come with some warm weather around Easter, but now back to cold, a cruel fake out for the daffodils and flowering trees into blossoming early.  Faked me out, as it's back to warm woolies.  At least we haven't had a blizzard, like Andrew said they endured in Chicago last week.

When I talked to Andrew he said they were watching Elliot and Auden while their parents took Myles to Avengers: Endgame.  I'm wondering if anyone else in the family saw it this weekend?  Perhaps it broke the all-time box-office record for Dickson viewing on the first weekend, leaping ahead of Titanic or the Christmas that Almost Wasn't.

Speaking of Easter, we hit the road and headed to DC for the weekend.  It had been a while since we saw everyone, and as much as Thomas had changed into a little boy, we still recognized him.  Don't know if he recognized us, but he did pull out my favorite book shortly after we saw him.  It was not the Book of Common Prayer that he did open up during the Easter service, but something called Things that Go.  Mary continues to be amazed how boys are drawn to construction equipment, remembering Joe's fascination and Margaret and Annie's complete lack of interest.  Hence pne of the photos this week.  

We had as usual a great weekend, with Easter dinner of ham and salmon over at Margaret and Andrew's.  Melodie and Jeffrey joined us for dinner, and we got caught up on all things Mueller, and importantly, plans for Melodie's birthday party.

Margaret had just returned from a week in Guatemala where she met with current, former and prospective Fulbrighters.  She returned with suitcases loaded down with beautiful weavings.  Put Antigua on your list of places to visit.  Andrew is getting close to the end of his program in public health.  Today, by the way, is Leonor's last day at her work, and she is scouting around for a new job.  Not anyone's favorite periods in life.

Annie started her new job at Doordash last week.  While in DC, we took advantage and did our first order, of Asian food, which came quickly and ready to eat.  We have yet to try it in Pittsfield, as they just started, but we're looking for the right day.

David passed along an article he saw about a Princeton professor, aged 71, marrying a former student, aged 26, who was his thesis advisee and a valedictorian.  I remember seeing an article in the Alumni Weekly a few days prior about a new rule that passed the faculty senate prohibiting relationships between professors and their graduate students.  Wonder why they didn't include undergraduate students?  Anyway, he also mentioned they are in the painting the porch business this spring, keeping up another Dickson tradition.

We saw the photos of Peter's birthday with Johanna and Sean and Erin, including a "P" cake made by Erin.  And we saw other photos of Johanna with John Lennon's son who is one of her book clients.  Fantastic!

John Boyle is still going through the long recovery from his shoulder surgery.  He is going to physical therapy which is so painful it sets him back a few days each time.  The good news – only six more months. 

Speaking of surgeries, we're off to see the doctor this morning to try to figure out what the heck is going on with Mary's hands and arm, we think some unintended consequence from her January back surgery.  She had an electrical test and MRI last week, so hopefully will have a few answers and then a solution.  She is gaming through the pain, trying to get in exercise and even a little swimming.

I've started teaching a class at the life-long learning institute on international relations, and we're filling in days with French conversation groups, hiking and photography workshops, including one on phone cameras that was really interesting and helpful.  We're clearing out gardens and flower beds, did our annual brush burn, ordered compost and mulch.  Nice to be outside, with hints at some wonderful times on their way. 

We're also beginning to plan for the Poconos, after learning that we will be joined by Janie and her daughter Susan this year.   

That's the news from up here, with love.