What a great place this is! The bad weather followed us down, *sigh* but we've been gabbing non-stop since we got off the plane . . . we can do that in the rain . . . no worries.

The kids and grandkids are all doing well . . . I was looking around the table and realizing that were it not for decisions we'd all made as little as ten years ago, more than half the people there wouldn't be in our lives . . . kind of crazy, but a real big motivation for taking risks and following your heart.

S and J have a number of habiscus plants in their flower boxes. Every morning we're greeted with new blooms that nod a bittersweet fairwell to us as we smoke our last dose of nicotine late in the night. One single, perfect day to share with us. I'm making it a solemn duty to show them lots of laughter.

Other highpoints of the day!

I'm still the reigning Scrabble champ
We met the owner of a great barbecue place who fussed over us for no apparent reason - just made of nice!
Introduced the children to the joy that is Captain Crunch. Little Meri is my new best friend.
There's a possible romance brewing . . . . maybe more details later ? ? ?
We're stepping up our house hunting efforts . . . I actually could see myself living here.

We're off to Jamestown with the kiddies - hopefully I'll find my camera cable and upload some photos later.

Missing y'all (Oooh! I'm even starting to pick up the lingo!).

Peace and Love!

I survived the week, and now it's time for vacation! I can't wait to play.

Still haven't decided if I'm going to lug around the laptop . . .

We'll be in Virginia with the WHOLE family . . . it's going to be a wild week. I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Starting things off by watching Priscilla, Queen of the Desert . . . what fun! I want a giant silver slingback on the top of my Subaru!!!!!!

On the road to Montreal, we’re the second car in this modern day caravan. The group is large, and we only know one couple well . . . But there’s the promise of adventure, and good music, and of course, romance. Feet out the window, Springsteen wailing through the speakers, it’s a perfect day for a road trip.

. . . feeding you trail mix

      my happy place, beside you

      kisses to your ear . . .

The rolling hills of Vermont take me by surprise. From the highway, it seems as if the entire state is a well-manicured cemetery. Despite the bright sun, I remove my shades, to drink greedily the shades of green I have not yet learned names for. Each tidy church steeple drives home the fact that quaint postcard landscapes do, indeed, depict real places.

. . . you laugh at my shock

      that this paradise exists

      even the cows smile . . .

As we head into Canada, I again find my breath. There are signs of life, a life that I recognize. There is a balding man wearing socks and sandals, checking the morning mail. A plump, young mother in pink stretch pants hands her daughter a Snickers bar. An enormous sign on the roof of a converted barn boasts “Exotic Dancers”.

. . . less self-conscious now

      of the grit that clings to me

      I relax, enjoy . . .