The Livin' is Easy

Summertime!  It's here at last.  But that means it's almost over.  The anticipation is always better, right?

This summer up here means wildlife.  We had another first yesterday: a snapping turtle in the yard. And all the excitement that went with that. Reminded me of the time a snapping turtle had snuck into Pop's garden and the scary moment when I tried to lift him/her out with a snow shovel. He/she later went on his/her own.  (too many pronouns?)

Speaking of garden, we've had a few strawberries (very red but small), good lettuce, a couple of broccoli pieces and radishes. Other stuff is growing well, now that we've had all this rain. Maybe the turtle thought our yard was a swamp.

Busy as ever up here. Mary has been teaching a couple of Afghan children how to swim, and they learned, after a few weeks! We continue teaching English, and I've been teaching a class at the lifelong learning institute.  I've got two more starting in July, and then I'll be able to relax.  But we still find time to do story time with the crew in Brazil, who sat through 200 pages the other night of a book on ocean life.

Annie and Sankar have figured out (everyone hopes) the cats' travel arrangements, after scheduling 4 or 5, maybe even 6, different flights.  We have reached the stage where our cat and theirs are now tolerating each others' presence. Not best friends, but not mortal enemies either. And they both have been helping out on the yardwork!  நன்றி  Nanri!  (Thank you in Tamil.)

New Jersey update – Peter and Janet are getting things ready for a new arrival, a mixed schnauzer, about 2 years old. Janet says she thinks the dog was found in a kill shelter in Mexico and is now in a foster home in Texas and will arrive at in NJ before the Poconos.  She added this in an email – "We are both still working. I just finished my 25th year at PDS. Wow. I never thought I would have a job that lasted more than a year. My attention span didn't last long. I am moving with the 7th grade up to 8th grade next year because the class is so large ….. And tomorrow I start summer programs …. I am also teaching two classes on Mystery Mayhem, which I taught last year and had a lot of fun. Two that I would not have chosen if the only classes left were bear wrangling... a pond class based on Thoreau's Walden Pond, and a class based on Caine's Arcade.

Illinois update - Andrew and Lur made it safely back to Illinois after their east coast trip, but then they packed up and headed north for their annual pilgrimage to Green Lake. The owner of their rental, also a former Ripon professor, passed away this winter, so it's a different feeling, they said. Also a different smell, as the smoke from the wildfires is enveloping the lake.  (Here too, and I imagine elsewhere in the Dickson orbit, but hopefully not in Brazil.)

Fairport update - "we're hanging there."

We were hosts for one night to Mary's niece Maura and her daughter Elsie. Maura's husband Steve used to fish lobster but gave that up for electrician work this year, meaning we had burgers and chicken on the barbecue this year. We had an emergency consult with Steve when the smoke alarm batteries started dinging and driving everyone crazy. After two sets of fresh batteries, we figured out one alarm was malfunctioning.

Too much boring stuff for you?  Well, how 'bout this? Today is Leonor's birthday!  Parabens chica. Anyone remember who else was born on this day?  Gramps, George Abiathar Dean.  1899.

And finally, did someone mention Father's Day?  Here's a photo of three fathers hanging out with one son, at a brunch in Georgetown.  We drove down so my children could enjoy my presence on this spectacular day. We went to a Nats baseball game the afternoon before.  Simon didn't appreciate the hit-and-run play that I tried to explain to him, but he did like the seats that folded up.

And, it wasn't just Father's Day, I should add, but Melodie's birthday.  Another parabens shout out.

And with all that excitement, this letter is a wrap. Love from up here.