A Day with Judi

Today Helen and I went to see an old high school classmate, Judi Spellman, nee Smollett. We really didn't know Judi in high school, but chatted with her just prior to the QHS Class of '61 reunion in 2001. Then we met at the reunion. Sometime later Judi came to Florida to see another classmate and spent a day in Inverness. She's the kind of person that you feel is an old friend even if you only know her a few minutes. She recently moved into a new apartment across from St. John's Church and it is a major change from her old place. It's light and roomy with a view of the city and even of the ocean sometimes, on the right day and with the right conditions. Judi makes it a point to remind most of us that she is younger than most of us in the Class of '61, but that doesn't mean that she is 39 while the rest of us are 65. Judi is 65 also, it just took her an extra month or two to get here. We had a couple of hours of delightful conversation and company. You can always count on that with Miz Spellman.

Gen and Larry Constas

Gen and Larry are friends from Quincy, Massachusetts. Gen was one of my customers a million years ago when we lived up north. They now reside at 100 Southern Artery in Quincy Point, but until a month ago, Gen lived her whole life within a quarter mile of her childhood home. West Quincy born and bred. I never though she would move. Interesting is the fact that Gen's house shared a backyard with the house my Dad grew up in, and that was just across the street from the house my mother grew up in. I have no earthly idea how Larry the Greek muscled his way into the Italian conclave of West Quincy. They have been married for many, many years, and unlike couples of today, they have onlt been married to each other.

Like a number of our other friends, Gen and Larry display a great sense of humor and seem to enjoy their journey through life. Not letting moss grow under them, they'll be off to Alaska in August on a trip that combines a cruise with a lot of land travel. Helen and I are envious as we've been bitten with the Alaska bug.

After a delicious dinner at Maria's, we returned to their home for more interesting conversation. When we finally parted, we got something of a promise that they would visit us this winter.

Cousins

Thursday Helen and I met several cousins and Aunt "Annie" for lunch at Joe's American Bar and Grille" in Hanover. It was a very nice meeting that I'm sure we all enjoyed. At the left of the picture is cousin Jean, who is so tanned because she spent the winter in Naples, Florida. Next to Jean is Me, hiding a good portion of my girth. Next is the baby of the group, Diane, as pleasant a person as you would want to meet. Seated in front is Carol, looking very good after a hellish year of health problems. In the rear is Aunt Estelle, or Annie as she is now known to me.

We had a couple of hours of pleasant conversation and recollections of days gone by. We all had a very good time and I'mj sure we'll do this again.

Back and Forth to Cape Cod

Here is our camping spot in Wompatuck State Park. It's a very nice location, clean and quiet, and a great place to take the dogs. Yesterday, Helen and I drove down the Cape to pick up her Aunt Marie and take her up to Braintree to see Charlie Harrington. For those who don't know the history, Aunt Marie and her late husband, Bill, had Helen stay with them one summer when she worked on the Cape. They have been a continued source of inspiration to those of us who consider it a treat to spend time on Cape Cod, particularly in the old days when it was much less populated. Charlie's late wife, Ellen, was my mother-in-laws cousin and they were always close.

Helen and I would spend a lot of time on the Cape courtesy of these people and we regard them very highly. The Harringtons had a cottage right on a lake in Dennis and even had an "authentic" Finnish Sauna. Charlie's Irish, but when you marry a Finn...... Charlie is now 95, but his spirit has not declined a bit.

We had a very nice visit, and all too soon it was time to return Marie to the Cape.
Charlie was moist eyed as we parted. Helen and I will try to do this again as we pass by on our way south.

I've contacted some of my cousins and we're going to meet at some restaurant Thursday afternoon. I'll have more to say later.

"Camping" at Rick and Linda's

This is our style of camping in Massachusetts for a few days. I was very concerned about my entrance and exit from Ricks because this RV is so much longer than those we've had in the past. I made it in OK, but I nearly took out their tree to the right of the driveway. I spent a few days, with Rick's help, removing the generator and getting ready to do some preventative maintenance. Once on the ground, everything looked perfect, so we just put it all back.

Yesterday, we moved to Wompatuck State Park, a very nice recreation area in Hingham, Massachusetts. Hingham is a very upscale community and I'm a bit surprised that such a nice place exists here in such a restrictive community. Of course, the state park predates Hingham's rise in status so that might make a difference. Not too far from here is the dog park we took the Labs to a couple of years ago. That was also in Hingham and also on VERY PRIME property, a peninsula into Boston Harbor.

At CABELA"S in PA

When we were planning this trip north, we wanted to stop at this outdoor persons utopia. It has to have everything and anything the hiker, hunter, fisherman, camper, or wildlife observer might want. The place is huge! Way down behind the mountain you can see at the far end of the store is a full size Piper floeat plane hanging from the ceiling. A better view of the plane is in picture four.

Around the mountain are numerous stuffed animals from snakes and prarie dogs to moose, grizzly bears and there's even an elephant. All are in lifelik surroundings and it's awesome. Hunting is not my cup of tea, but the array is impressive anyway. There is a stream with live trout and an aquarium. I didn't check out the guns, but the fishing tackle assortment has got to be at least twice as big as anything I've ever seen. Helen got as great deal on some shirts. I wanted to get some stuff, but there was SO MUCH that I got confused and bought nothing. I figure that I'll be fly fishing in Canada, and the last time the guide insisted that I use his equipment and gear.

Cabela's allows RVers to camp in their lot. A lot of place allow that, but Cabela's brings it to a new level. They have drinking water. They have a dump station. They have covered dog kennels so your dogs can stay outside while you shop. They even have a horse corral and exercise area! All of this is a free perk!

I have to admit that although I didn't buy anything this time, Helen and I are frequent buyers from their catalog. They have items that you can't find anywhere else.

Now I'm out and about getting a few parts for the motorhome. It was cold this morning and I wasn't about to climb under the RV to start work on the generator. I'm camped in my brother's driveway in Pembroke, Massachusetts and I'll be here until I get the work done. Helen is at her girlfriend's house in Quincy. At least she'll be occupied while I keep myself and my brother busy.

More later,

Paul

Sad Day at the Pool

What a system I have for the pool. In the Spring, I get the water at the correct chemical point, pH, chlorine, dissolved minerals and such. Then, I finally gets to a good temperature, above 85 degrees, and I shut it down, cover it up, and go away. Duh!