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.