Summer of 2020

 Summer is winding down....  

It was been a hot one (which we can expect with global warming), with some nasty storms in August.  Kingston and Wilkes-Barre had the worst of it with wind and some local flooding damage (it is sobering to see photos of sheared-off utility poles, wires down across the street, etc.). West Pittston & Exeter have been mostly spared at least so far.  It has been an unusual summer, and we're fortunate that all of us are healthy.  Alex, the COVID tests that you and Taylor took in July came back negative - what a relief!

Here at home, which is mostly where we've been.....  With Steve's time off this spring & summer, thanks to his effort the front porch window, railings and floor were scraped, repaired and repainted.  Our flowers along the front walkway, the deck and back yard are gorgeous (below see Mexican sunflower blooms, with a monarch butterfly!).  Also, we had the parking area in front of the garage professionally leveled & graveled, which we hope means less mud & ice there in the winters.  Plus he re-organized the garage so the kayaks are now mounted on the back wall. Theoretically we could park a car inside now (how about that?!)  Steve likes to be busy and it shows.  I am SSOOOO lucky that way.  However, he is more than ready to go back to work - interviews have picked up, so hopefully that will be soon.

A typical vacation (as in a week away) did not happen this year.  That is basically ok given considerations of avoiding crowds, not catching COVID and college-related expenses.  Alex, not sure if you were away at all....  You were busy this summer working at Gerrity's and with your internship.  I'm glad I just looked at Volunteers in Medicine website to learn more about the local clinic....Volunteers in Medicine, W-B  You've liked this experience, especially once you could work on site instead of remotely.  The grant-writing experience you got there could be useful for future career opportunities.  

In late July, Rob and I spent 3 days in New York, visiting Ellen & Dave at Lake Skaneateles and doing college visits.  Ellen was wonderful to take us to her alma mater.  We toured SUNY's Environmental Science and Forestry college with her, and walked around Syracuse University as they share some facilities (construction on the massive Carrier Dome was in progress).  I kept wanting to call it EFS, but finally got it straight after you suggested, Rob, to think of "ESP" and then change the last initial to "F".  Plus you tried out jet skiing at the lake for the first time.  In Rochester, we went to the science museum which included a lot of information about Rochester's history of activism and support of the abolitionist and suffrage movements.  I loved walking along the Erie Canal.  A stop at the fantastic Wegman's flagship store was topped off by the discovery that restrooms include diapers of various sizes (free!).  We got an official tour of RIT which is an interesting and impressive school.  And walked through the University of Rochester river campus - a traditional private school, quite beautiful along the Genesee River.  Since then, Rob you received a letter from Rochester congratulating you on winning the Frederick Douglass and Susan B Anthony Award, which comes with a scholarship offer of at least $10,000/year.  This sounds great, though once you checked and found the university's tuition is $56,000+ you wondered how much of a difference it would make (?)  But still a very nice offer!

Rob, you turned 18 on Aug 8 !!  After 23+ years, officially I am no longer responsible for a "child" (although you & Alex are still going through the launch process to adulthood).  A hibachi dinner was not feasible this year due to COVID, so on Aug. 9 we had dinner at American Grill, out back under the covered pavilion.  The food was delicious and it was great to have relaxing time together.  Then it was back to Montgomery Ave for chocolate cake & presents.  It was a very nice evening.  Here is your "happy birthday / cake" shot taken by Aunt Pam, followed by a great photo of Rambo and Jean Luc - Steve gave you a framed version for your birthday.

I took a week off in August, the highlight of which for me was a canoe trip on the Susquehanna.  It has been well over 20 years since I last canoed on the river - this was something I did many times with Dad both during and after our summers at Camp Lackawanna (for years before you were born, we organized canoe trips with our friends as well as Rivers aunts/uncle on Memorial Day weekend from Laceyville back to camp).  I find it incredibly lovely and relaxing to paddle along, listen to tree frogs & birds, watch the dragonflies, etc.  We saw deer, herons, red tailed hawks and a bald eagle (Alex, you and Taylor's brother Mark, who was your canoeing & fishing buddy, saw several eagles).  It was a success in that it didn't rain, no one got stuck in the shallows, capsized their canoe/kayak, or missed the Endless Mountain Outfitters landing spot in Sugar Run.  Steve was somewhat uncomfortable with no back support and minimal leg room in the front of our canoe.  Rob's shoulders were sore from paddling his kayak.  It was not a success in that Steve, Rob and I were almost immediately separated from Alex & Mark who were fishing (and also unfortunately each lost a pole) before you guys could use the sun tan lotion.  Alex, I think you got the first really bad sunburn of your life especially on your legs which were still red days later.  It's miserable and there's not much to be done except wait until it goes away and carefully avoid more sun exposure in the next few days.  I am grateful that your skin didn't blister.  I had the same type of experience in my early 20's, after which I was much more careful.

Later in the week, Rob you spent a couple days at Waneta Lake, NY with Aunt Pam, her friend Dawn & her son Noah.  Steve and I spent a couple days in Matamoras, PA.  We enjoyed wonderful vistas from High Point Park in NJ.  Along the river in Port Jervis, NY we unexpectedly found a boundary marker stone for NY, NJ and PA.  New Jersey and New York are great options this year, since Pennsylvanians are not required to quarantine for 14 days (unlike in most states including Maine where we originally expected to spend a week with Grammie and Grandad at Lake Damariscotta, however cancelled our reservation).

One last significant development.....  Yesterday was a big day.  Rob, we visited Wilkes University (which you are not especially interested in, but as I told you the campus is greatly improved since my MBA student days @ 30 years ago).  AND then finished up a stint of driving instruction at Quad A Driving Academy with a successful driver's test.  Yay!  You have your temporary license, and we'll get your permanent one from the License Center by Nanticoke soon.  Today you drove yourself to Grooming Cottage for work :-)  You are ready for Senior year, except for the final task of getting a WA parking permit which I very much hope you will use after the first marking period (which we learned last week will be remote).

Continuing a summer tradition, I made a blueberry pie today (Aunt Ginny's recipe) - Alex, I just texted you this picture as an incentive to stop over for a visit.

A final note, Rob you asked me recently what my super power would be if I could pick one.  What a great question!  We talked about this, and I'm now polling all of us to see what everyone says.  Here are the results:

Super Power Preferences:

• Rob - Going back in time to observe the past.
• Alex - Read minds.
• Taylor - All her life she has wanted the ability to fly, or otherwise to move objects telepathically.
• Mom - Cure mental illness, or otherwise have the ability to shapeshift from human to bird. 
• Steve - Steve would like to fly (like Superman but without a cape), or otherwise be able to shoot lasers from his eyes.  Yes, really!