As Good As It Gets

Rome, NY

 

Of course we miss family. The crushing life carries with it a certain degree of isolation. That's why it is especially delicious when we meet once again with loves ones we haven't seen for a long time. Yesterday was one of those joyous days. <3

 

 

 

 

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Anna At Last

Rome, NY

Finally, we are here to meet our granddaughter Anna for the first time. What a Joy! She's adorable.

Of course it is also great to see Anna's mom, our granddaughter Sara, once again. Sara has become even more beautiful as a mother. She has really flowered. She and Harley seem to thrive as parents. We love them all.

Below, Anna chews on Libby's bracelet. Before Anna, Victoria. Katelyn, Sara, Nick, Dave, Jen, and John all teethed on that same bracelet.

Below is my favorite Anna picture.

 

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Catching Up

Lamar, pA

 

We spent a sobering morning at Soldier's Cemetary in Gettysburg. We didn't go to look at the fields or to get a history lesson. Rather, we wanted to pay homage to the many countrymen who died there defending what they felt to be right. The whole Civil War thing is sobering. It seems so unnecessary and so wasteful of young lives. But, the soldiers defended what they thought right, and we still owe them thanks. "Thank you for your service, american casualties of all wars."

But then we headed East to spend the evening with Chuck and Cindy. They are contemporaries, and high school classmates. Chuck was also a neighbor to Libby before Libby Lowber became Libby Mills. We had lots of stories to swap, and news to hear about classmates. Chuck is very active in keeping touch with all of them. Libby and I weren't. By the way, in case I never mentioned it before, Libby and I met in the cafeteria at Fayetteville Manlius Hugh School in early 1962. We went on a date, and the rest is history. It was my first and last real date.

Thanks so much Chuck and Cindy.

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Beethoven

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

The weather turned nasty. So we are sleeping indoors for two nights instead of camping in the rain. Call us fair weather campers if you want to.

Our last night at Annasteague was funny. Numerous thunderstorms came close to us but never hit. In the midst of thunder and lightning while in our tent, I heard the snort of one of the wild horses. It sounded like he was right next to my ear. Then I heard him munching the grass. I could hear the grass tearing as he bit it. The whole thing reminded me of Beethoven's Fifth.

Muncha muncha munch munch snort snort.

Muncha muncha munch munch boom boom.

The drive over here was terrible because we changed our minds about routing mid trip. We wound up driving north, nearly to Wilmington. Then backtracking south nearly to Baltimore, before heading west to Gettysburg.

The Lollaby pines at the shore are the same species as those in Dave's back yard. But they look very different. I guess. It is adaptation to the local environment.

 

We found this guy in the Forrest. He had a tag on each ear, a GOS tracker on a collar, and what looked like an antenna wire. Running across his back. He seem totally up afraid of us. Probably the result of his repeated manhandling by Feds.

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How Could I Be So Wrong?

Berlin, Maryland

 

Berlin, MD

 

What a pleasant surprise. A beach with brilliant white sand, an barrier dunes. I had no idea that such a nice beach existed north of Florida. (But I did see a news article last week citing Hatteras Beach as one of the best.). More. There is a bay side to this island with salt marshes and crystal clear water. Wild horses roam around our camp site. We met a deer that was very tame. Our camp site is actually on the backside of the barrier dune. We slept last night enveloped in the (loud) sound of surf. It' is a real pleasure to be here.

 

Right now, we are in the nearest town, Berlin MD. It too is a jewel. Libby is having fun exploring he shops.

 

All of this at Assateague Island, on a part of the Delmarva Pennisnula that I had though was unpopulated. You see, we have always traveled past his place 20 or more miles out to sea. My knowledge of the Delmarva was limited to what I see on the nautical charts. The chars show a coast unapproachable by large boats, and with a marshy coastline unsuitable for roads and buildings. Totally wrong! There are lots of people here. Indeed, on the road I to the park is a sign saying, TRAFFIC BACKUPS NEXT 3 MILES WEEKENDS. Horrors; I imagine 1000 cars competing to get one if the 25 parking spots at the national seashore beach. That must be a horror scene. We are so lucky to be here on weekdays before school lets out.

Check out the toenails.