Sitting on Margaret and Andrew's front porch and I can hear the sounds of excited children through the neighborhood. Anticipation at the coming few hours, I guess. Houses are decorated with skeletons and graveyards and all kinds of mayhem. In the midst of it is one very non-scary Winnie the Pooh Simon. And of course he's not totally sure what to make of all of it.
We came down to DC for the weekend as our last visit before we head to Brazil. We hope. The airlines has already canceled our flights and then sent another message changing the schedule. Then with all the tests and other requirements we'll see if we actually get there.
Last Sunday night Andrew and Lur were in Pittsfield, and we didn't let them have a moment's rest. Museums, walks, a play, tv shows (Ted Lasso) and then the movie Love Actually were the big distractions away from eating pies and donuts and steak and salmon. And don't forget the naps.
The play we saw was a new musical featuring Billy Crystal who starred in an adaptation of his movie Mr Saturday Night. In Pittsfield!! If it ever gets to Broadway, we'd recommend it.
News from the Illinois clan - Daniel's in a new apartment with one bedroom home to his barber chair for cuts. Billy had a big birthday party and Claire is now teaching macrame, as well as her school music duties.
We had our first frost of the year, very late. I remember one Halloween a few years ago when Peter and Janet were in Pittsfield when it snowed. We picked the last of the tomatoes and had another crop of lettuce. But when we came down here and saw all of Andrew's tomatoes still on the vine. He harvested one crop but there's more on the way.
Sad news this week as we learned that our good friend from Gabon, John Peter Lindeme passed away. A bit of a shock since a highlight of our trips back to Gabon was visiting with him. He had come to visit us in Claremont and then 30 years later in Bethesda.
Annie hopped on a plane for a weekend in Maine with her Hamilton friends. And down in Brazil, Joe and Leonor have been coping with a cycle of sickness in their home.
Our new bathroom project is supposed to start Tuesday after postponements for the past two months. It makes the timing awkward especially as we will be away for three weeks. But one bay in garage is now home to 17 boxes of bathroom fixtures.
On the volunteer news front, I had my last tour of the season at Arrowhead. Just in time as my one morning a week in Springfield organizing donations for refugees started last Thursday. Mary continues to teach English to her adult student from Congo who is filling the role of recent immigrant, holding down two jobs, and trying to settle into his new life here.
This week, we see the temps going down to the 20s at night. Just in time to head to the beaches of Brazil.
Love from up here.
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