We drove down yesterday, and went straight to Joe's temporary quarters where they'll stay until they find something more permanent. They look like they've had a fun-filled, glorious time in Portugal the last few weeks, and now they're coming back to ????
Moreover, we saw Simon this morning before he went off to school/daycare. Surprised him actually, since we got here after his bedtime last night. He's a real boy now, getting dressed by himself and more. They grow up so fast. (We also saw Margaret and Andrew!)
And, while we meet family, we also said goodbye. To Annie, who started her adventure in India, with a long plane trip, but probably welcome after all the last minute crush of stuff to do before leaving. She's in Chennai, staying at Sankar's family apartment, getting over jet leg and doing, she says, touristy stuff. Here's a snippet from her letter: "It's been a week since I arrived in Chennai, and overall, things are going great. As I've likely told some of you already, it is much more chill than I was led to believe. With the exception of the traffic - now, that is nuts. Sankar has been chauffeuring us around in a Maruti Suzuki Swift, a small white four seater that seems to have come right out of Roger Rabbit - it can pivot on a dime and squeeze into virtually any gap. I've found the best way to get through a particularly treacherous stretch of chaos is to simply close my eyes." We have spoken to her a couple of times, the latest when she was watching Sankar and his friends play cricket.
We spoke with David and Paula. They had hosted Matthew and family for Everett's birthday party. Paula says she's on the mend, and she sounded strong. She's been doing PT, and her caregiver (David) is doing it all, except when he's on the porch recovering with a glass of something in his hand. Along with this new job, he has rejoined the board of the state insurance agents association.
Out in Illinois, Andrew and Lur have been cat-sitting for Claire's kitty. She was back in Michigan supervising her move, only to find that the ferry across Lake Michigan has shut down, making her journey longer than expected.
It's been a busy first part of August back in Pittsfield. The highlight has been the work done by an arborist last week, who came out to save our storm-battered hydrangea tree, and the old crabapple tree that blooms so rarely now. It was a real treat to talk to someone who had insights into each of our trees, and admired quite a few.
What do you do when they close the Y swimming pool for annual maintenance? Mary swims in the lake, and yesterday before we left, she did a lake swim in the rain. Who cares, she says? You're already getting wet! John stays home in the dry house.
We had our annual Melville weekend, marking his birthday and his hike with Nathaniel Hawthorne up Monument Mountain. I was able to corral a few of my college roommates to read at the Moby Dick marathon. Maybe next year, I could get family members to read with me! I think Kiernan might be ready, since he's getting in a lot of practice!
More on the cultural front – we went to "Film Night" at Tanglewood along with 20,000 of our closest friends. We all braved the traffic and tight quarters to listen to John Williams conduct music from his many film scores. We also went to a play, Fences, performed at Shakespeare and Company. Magnificent. And the New York Times carried stories about both recently!
Oh, I should mention the cover. Thanks to all who voted – the cover with the photos was the clear favorite, although the publisher thought the typewriter and blank space one was an award-winning cover. Wouldn't think of trying to overturn this election. (Ouch)
And so, hope you're all well. Love from DC
