Here's To Life!

Today is the last day of my summer break.  I return to work on Monday.  In some ways it has been a quiet summer, in other ways, not so much because a lot did seem to get done.  Here are some of those accomplishments - Had lunch with high school/college friend, Susan Reid Henson Helped with Vacation bible school Helped to make room in the garage for John and Sasha's belongings and car Finished reading13 books Vacationed to Chautauqua Institution and Cape Cod Spent time with Mom Had a fence installed in the backyard Saw Kristin successfully moved into her own apartment Took a weekend trip to Michigan to see Joy and Dan's new house Made reservations for vacation travel in 2016 Arranged to have some painting done in September Looking forward to going back to work - to fall - and many of the activities fall brings.

Joy and Dan bought a house in Michigan this year and spent most of the summer there.  It is just north of Elk Rapids and sits on the beach of Grand Traverse Bay.   It is an A-frame house with a great view of the bay.  Paul and I drove there on Friday afternoon - traffic was very slow going in some places and it started raining so it took longer than it should have to get there.  We did arrive about 8:30 - in time for supper with Joy, Dan, Mom and Anna.  Saturday was a much nicer day and we had a chance to see what a great place Joy and Dan have.  They have their own piece of beach to sit and watch the water, kayaks and a paddleboard to play in the water and a fire pit for the evenings.  Paul and I decided to go to Old Mission Peninsula which we could see from Joy and Dan's place across the bay - but to get to it had to drive south along the bay and then north on the peninsula.  Drove to the very end where there is a light house - stopped to look -...

Paul and I flew out to Boston a couple of weeks ago, took the bus to Cape Cod and spent a week plus a few days with my mother - both on the Cape and at Chautauqua Institution on Lake Chautauqua, New York.  We drove with Mom to Chautauqua and stayed with her cousin, Miriam on the grounds of the institution.  The theme for the week was Immigration - and there were several very interesting speakers on the subject.  We also saw the opera, MacBeth, heard the Chautauqua symphony and listened to the lively music of Pink Martini.  It was a very interesting week.  Chautauqua is kind of like a gated community - it took a little getting used to having to show passes to get in and off the grounds.  Also, Miriam does not lock her condo, so leaving the door shut but not locked took a little getting used to.  Being a community with few cars though made it a wonderful place to walk and Paul and I did a lot of that.  Paul and I had the added bonus of having friend...

Well, June is just about over - one more day left after today - June 30th - which just happens to be my sister's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Joy!  It is like one third of the summer is gone - and we haven't even had much summer like weather so far.  Too much rain for one thing, and maybe one hot day and then some not so hot days.  When it is not raining it has been alright weather wise - as long as one doesn't want to swim in an outdoor pool.  Of course, kids are probably enjoying the water. We finished Vacation Bible School last week - 3 hours of food, fun, kids and Bible stories Monday through Friday.  We talked about Mt. Everest and God's power and raised money for earthquake victims in Nepal.  Had about 60 kids signed up, not as many as the last few years, but a good number.  I participated as an adult leader overseeing three groups of kids led by a middle or high schooler.  There were 5 or 6 kids in each group - all grade schoolers. ...

It was my birthday this week and it is Father's Day today!  These are markers as we go through the summer.  Had lunch with two friends on Tuesday who also have June birthdays which was very nice.  Got a manicure and pedicure on Wednesday.  My birthday was Thursday and I watched the Blackhawks celebration on tv and had dinner with Paul when he got home from work.  We ate at Hemingway's Bistro in Oak Park which was very nice - we have been there before and have always liked the food.  Today is Father's Day and we are having a cookout at John's place to celebrate.  It will be one of the last few times we can use his deck.  We helped move boxes out of his place yesterday and took some of our garden decorations back.  We shall see what we come home with today.  The rest of the week I spent going through papers, reading my books and watching tv.  Not too exciting but it is enough.  I have decided that I would also like to listen to s...

Here it is - almost the end of the first week of no school, i.e. summer vacation.  The week started out on two high notes with Joy visiting Sunday night into Monday morning being the first.  Joy was in Chicago for her 35th college reunion from the University of Chicago and when that was finished she came out to Elmwood Park to see us.  The day threatened rain all afternoon - but we managed to sit on the deck for awhile, get in a walk and then walked to the restaurant where we ate dinner.   Had ice cream at home and watched the end of the Tony awards and played on our Ipads.  Took Joy to Midway Airport on Monday morning for her flight home.  Looking forward to visiting her in Michigan later this summer. Late Monday morning was the second high note of the week - having lunch and visiting with Susan Reid Henson and her mom.  Susan and I were best friends in high school in Jersey City and we both went to Augustana College - where we ran around in differe...