Poconos2025

When we used to teach, the end of July was a little scary. The summer's almost over. Even without the teaching deadline hanging over our heads, it's still a little sad that we're seeing too much summer in the rear view mirror.

But what a summer it's been so far. First of all, does anyone remember the Poconos? Seems like a long ways back. But, as Andrew wrote in a note afterwards, it was different but differently great. It was too bad David and Paula had to pull out at the last minute as Paula had come down with pneumonia.  We were able to give them a call on the last night and have them join the birthday celebrations.

We had a couple of new traditions, First, some of us stayed an extra night, Sunday, which allowed others to hang out longer on Sunday and even use the showers in the three cabins we kept. Second, Margaret and Andrew inherited a pinata, and one evening we watched as the boys took pretty vigorous whacks at the number five hanging from a tree. This time, the pinata was fully loaded, bringing to mind a Christmas pinata in Mexico when we didn't know you have to fill it with stuff.  There was disappointment then but an enduring story.

Highlights? I'm sure everyone has their own, but the five boys eagerly awaiting the birthday cake arrival was exciting. Wish it had lasted forever. And then there was the usual chatting, and eating, and swimming out to the dock, and playing in the sand, and swinging and tetherball, walking and boating. Those too I wish could last forever.

Melodie started us off on some musing over how many years we have been spending a July weekend together at Mountain Springs. We came up with a magic number 10, but then remembered that we took at least one year off in 2020 due to Covid. And, I just checked, we also skipped 2021 for the same reason. You can compare the two group photos from 2015 and 2025.

Anyway, we signed up for next year, and the dates are …. Thursday July 16-Monday July 20.

One more memory from the Poconos was of Joe driving up on Thursday at 11:30 after cleaning out their house in DC. His car was stuffed, and he had a box spring on the roof of his car, that he thought we wanted. Anyway, it was family reunification of sorts, for at least the boys in his family. Then a week later they got on a plane, in business class no less, and had a full reunification in London with Leonor and Luisa. They're off on their next adventure, and the photos they're sending along so far look fantastic. I should add here that we were sad to see them depart, as we enjoyed three never-get-back weeks with two wonderful boys.

Margaret and Andrew are having their own stressful days as they prepare to make their move to a new house, tomorrow. We are going down to help out with another wonderful boy while they pack up, drive the block to their new abode, and unpack. You can place your bets that there will be a lot of pool time this weekend.  Hope it doesn't rain.

There were birthdays and a lot of them.  Mary and Donald share one day, then Thomas, and tomorrow is Everett's. Oh boy! Ice cream cake is my downfall.

Finally, there's a story from India with Annie and Sankar taking a walk through the forest and getting attacked by leeches. Maybe attacked isn't the right word, but then again, maybe it is. Are they the first in the family to have too pull leeches off their bodies?

On that happy note, wishing you all happy days for the rest of the summer.

Love from up here.

 

This week, the Poconos

It's grandchildren, non-stop in Pittsfield. First, Simon and Margaret came up for a week at Camp Baba and Mimi that included, perhaps most importantly, Simon as the official groundhog chaser, done with such enthusiasm. We had campfires, did water slides, played baseball and went for walks over to the lake where, most importantly, we discovered a dead bird.

We also went to the 4^th of July parade and had a barbecue. Joining us were the John and Marilyn Boyle family, or at least most of them who could make it. John's grandson Robbie set up a tent along the parade route, staking his claim at 4:30 in the morning. Thank you! A lot of reminiscing and inspecting our no-mow lawn and pumpkin patch where Grandma Boyle's house used to be. It's actually turning out to be no rain-summer, making for a pretty slow-growing pollinator field/pumpkin patch next door.

They also inspected our latest project, a grape pergola in the backyard, built with posts from Grandma Boyle's porches. Before the teardown, we salvaged a few sentimental objects, including the number Seven that now adorns the pergola. We have two grape vines, so we're crossing our fingers.

We do have raspberries, the most we've ever had, and a few strawberries. Blueberries are just starting to come in, and lots of lettuce.

The day after the 4^th, we had the changing of the guard. Margaret and Simon left in the am, and later that afternoon, Joe, Thomas and John pulled in the driveway. Joe had to get back to DC for house-closing work and end-of-work work. He will be unemployed basically when he arrives in the Poconos.

In the meantime, John and Thomas have been in summer day camp which they love. They have managed to slow down only when one of their parents calls. Leonor went to Lisbon this weekend with Luisa who will stay there when Leonor goes back to London for work. Sound complicated? It is, but it's what you have to do in the middle of these big life changes. So far so good. Except for one 4am visit to the emergency room for Mary and John. All's well that ends well.

We are enjoying the short time we have with little boys, even those moments when things go off the rails. They love the outdoors, feeding the ducks, throwing and skipping rocks in the lakes, and seeing a beaver at the pond in the park. Of course, we've had campfires (with Simon too), and played all kinds of games in the yard.  At the end of each day, we all kind of collapse.

We didn't miss Annie's birthday, who called from a beachfront in Kerala where she and Sankar had gone for the occasion. It was a nice respite from their land building projects.

We couldn't forget Andrew's birthday either. And his and Lur's anniversary, which go hand in hand, as we remember the Oscar Swan Inn festivities so many years ago.

Quick check-in via Facebook reveals that the Matthew Dickson were at Fort Niagara for a battle reenactment, Claire wrapped up her Ireland and Scotland tour, Bill and Jen went to Colorado Springs. Here's a photo with Billy on a four-wheeler. At least, it's not a motorcycle, Grandma!

Finally, in anticipation for this Thursday, John told us the other day that the Poconos is his favorite place in the world, better than Massachusetts, Brazil, Portugal and Washington DC. Unfortunately, Paula came down with a bout of pneumonia so they're going to have to miss this grand adventure, again. They were so looking forward to it. What a shame.  We'll send photos but it won't be the same. We'll miss you.

Love from up here, and see you this week. 

 

Birthdays and travel and more

There's a thunderstorm outside right now. We've needed the rain, and even some wind to blow the humidity and heat away. Hope it works. But it's also a good time to write a letter.

Guess who's here, in Pittsfield? Simon.  And Margaret. Not Andrew, who stayed in DC since he still has to accumulate leave hours. Last year, they could work virtually. But not no more.

Margaret and Simon drove up yesterday, a few days after we left DC. We had spent a week down there, hoping to help out Joe and Leonor with their pack-out. Watching them, surprisingly we did not get PTSD from our many moves, but we did recognize it's a lot of work. The movers left them with a pretty empty house but with some borrowed items, they are making do for a couple of weeks. It was hot, so we spent a lot of time at Margaret and Andrew's pool they recently joined. Reminds me of the Indian Hill pool. Perfect for boys with boundless energy.

Timmy completed his move. He is down in his own house, near Daytona, not too far from John and Marilyn who have helped him tremendously in his move. They are escaping the heat of Florida to come up here for the 4^th of July, but I can't make any promises on cool, Berkshire weather.

Three June birthdays! First, Melodie, who looked to be enjoying the festivities in Minnesota!  Without Jeff, who's probably in the same boat as Andrew, accumulating leave hours. Then Miles, and then Leonor. Guess who went bowling on their birthday? Why not? Maybe Melodie and Miles also went bowling, but I didn't see any photos.

Andrew and Lur spent the week at their annual retreat on Green Lake in Wisconsin. They time it every year to coincide with the Ripon reunions, which they attended. A special place for them. Claire couldn't join them this year because she's in (cue the drum roll) …. Ireland. She joined a choral group a while back and they are singing their way through Ireland. The photos are great. 

There's a photo here of a new building on Annie and Sankhar's place. I have already picked out my room, so you better put your requests in soon.

So that's a lot of family travel, but I'm wondering if anyone went to Venice to attend Jeff Bezos' wedding. I checked the photos but didn't see anyone I knew.  Kind of upset I wasn't invited.

Instead, we headed to Boston, the day after we got back from DC, giving our old cars a real workout.  I had a few appointments, check-ins mostly and my favorite – a blood draw. Next time I'll take a selfie of the experience. It'll show me with my head down, fists clenched, afraid to look up and see what's going on. Of more interest was our meeting with the nutritionist. I asked her what she gets when she goes to Dunkin' Donuts. You know what she said? She doesn't go there. Imagine that.

In a few short weeks we'll be in the Poconos. We'll have ample space this year, and the resort even took back one cabin, at no charge. Anyway, looking forward to seeing you all. 

Love from up here. Happy 4^th!