MAN OVERBOARD!

HOWARD'S END - CAPE MAY, NJ





Or I should say "women overboard". I got a very sad email the other day - Melissa and Alda Mandell have had to drop out of the cruise. Sad, but true. We will miss them.


I have had such a busy summer that I haven't had much time to think about what is it like to be a retiree. I traveled to Watertown, NY at the end of June for a graduation party for Ryan Kenyon, Graham and Rena's son. BeVard parties are always a lot of fun. I stayed an extra day to travel further north to Ogdensburg for nostalgia sake. Then spent a fun evening in Syracuse with family.

I headed down to Lewes, DE the third week of July to pick Hannah up from Field Hockey camp. We spent a couple of days in Rehoboth Beach, driving to Assateague Island to see the wild ponies, spending a couple of hours at a spa getting massages and pedicures, and riding bikes all around town. (It is true what they say about riding a bike - I had not in many many years, and got right back on and took off like a pro - well maybe not like a pro)

On Saturday the 25th we got on a ferry and ferried over the Delware Bay to Cape May, NJ and met up with the rest of the family for a week at the beach. We all fell in love with the house we had rented and didn't want to leave when it was time to go home. Jillian, Brett, Peter, and Aaron joined us from VA, Courtney from NY, and the Kelly's and I from PA. It was a fun week of relaxation and bonding with family. I guess I should mention here that my second attempt at bike riding was not so successful. I ended up laying in the street between two parked cars with multiple cuts, bruises and strains. I did, however, get up, get back on, and ride around for about half an hour just to say I did. Then I nursed my wounds.

On the way home I stopped in York, PA to attend the graduation party for Hope, Don and Doris' daughter. Then the day after I got home I drove to Syracuse for Maleka's baby shower hosted by Amy and Laurie. More pics on facebook for those of you who indulge in that recreation.


I was home for only four days, then headed to NC to visit Stephanie and Ruthie. Ruthie is leaving to live in France for a while to improve her foreign language skills and to experience a different lifestyle. We will miss her, but at the same time envy the wonderful experience she will have.

I had the added pleasure of renewing a relationship with Milan and meeting his son Lars. The five of us headed to Morehead City, NC to spend a couple of days with Bob and just hang out and have fun. Again, more pics on facebook.


From NC I drove to Northern VA to attend a surprise birthday party for an Arlington colleague of mine, then spent a few days with Jillian and Brett and the boys. Later in the week I drove to the Eastern Shore to my friend Lynn's where we spent a couple of days seeing "Julie and Julia" going to the spa, and just enjoying being together. While shopping at the outlets I bought a travel purse and a billfold that will hold my passport, credit card, money, etc. (Always thinking about the cruise!)

I am home again and have said adieu this morning to the French students and chaperone who have been visiting Tunkhannock for three weeks. School will start soon and I will know what it feels like for the first time not to be there!