On Turning 59

A couple weeks ago I turned 59.  Once again, Steve and I are the same age!  Not exactly looking forward to a "0" birthday next January, 2025....  However, many good things are coming along.  Like practicing chords on the new ukulele Steve gave me as a birthday present.  

And thinking about a trip back to Europe.  Steve and my 10th wedding anniversary.  Getting a little closer to retirement.  Continuing to be enjoy being your Mom, with the daydream of grandchildren in the future.  I have noticed a drop in my overall energy level, but as long as I pace myself can still get plenty done.  Not overly fond of driving longer distances (maybe the concentration makes me tired?), 5-6 hours a day is preferable.  I appreciate simple things like good coffee, a warm (or cool) house, comfortable car (love my Chevy Equinox), and relaxing in the living room easy chair.  Still have trouble with pronouncing a few words....  like coupon.  Should it be koo-pon or kyoo-pon?

Another joy is listening to music.  In thinking about what can be accomplished over a lifetime, I find older artists to be inspirational.  Cher, Dolly Parton, Brian May and Paul McCartney are examples.  On our way to Wyncote on Saturday, we listened to this classic 1972 song by the Eagles.  Here's a wonderful, kind of mesmerizing performance of Take It Easy performed by this mature, incredible band in the mid 1990's.  Watch the guitar player!

 

Mid-Summer Surprise

Um, I forgot something.... (!!)  Last weekend as I was writing away, I apologize Alex - I didn't think about the incredible tattoo you got last summer!  It's your second one, quite different in style from the Scottish broadsword on your forearm.  One July (or August?) evening, Steve and I were sitting on the front porch.  You asked us to come in, and pulled up your sleeve to show the outline of a "Mom" tattoo on your upper arm - featuring a dragonfly with a heart.  It was SO unexpected, I was practically speechless.  Obviously, I recognize how much thought you put into the design including bright colors.  You know I love dragonfiles, and at the Susquehanna River where you often fish you've seen many over the summers.  Dragonfiles here are usually a slightly irridescent, dusky blue color - sometimes they ride along with us on canoes.  With ink colors added later on, below is the completed artwork.  I'm still suprised and truly honored that you want to "take me along" in this special way.   Thank you Alex!!!

Climate Change - What DOES it mean to us?

I'm thinking about this topic as we enjoy a gorgeous, snowy morning.  It's a Big Picture question....  Around the world, we know the devastation being caused by worsening wild fires, storms, floods and rising ocean levels.  Mass migrations from worst affected areas are beginning, and will continue through your lifetimes.  We are lucky that the northeast US will have be impacted less that many other places.  But change here will be significant - there are projections that by 2050, Pennsylvania's climate will be similar to what's now typical in Arkansas.  There are more gloomy details available from PA state government:  PA Climate Change

In West Pittston specifically, the evidence for climate change is right here.  Do you remember having a couple weeks off from school after the 2011 flood?  And the resulting clean-up, and rebuilding of many homes?  More recently there has been a government buyout program, resulting in homes being razed.  Here is a historical story about hard-hit communities in our area including our town:  One Flood Too Many   And since we own 2 houses in West Pittston (although our houses are outside of flood zones), we absolutely do care.  I think about the possibility that a future flood could potentially affect our homes, and we have a direct interest in the local tax base.  The most obvious changes that we noticed in 2023 were higher temperatures year-round, comparatively more rain and less snow, air quality problems due to smoke from Canadian wild fires.  

There is certainly hope a better situation in West Pittston if a levee is constructed.  Take a look at this article, which is encouraging - and I know from a recent discussion with a West Pittston councilman that the borough continues to pursue funding agressively: West Pittston Levee   This article mentions “...dirty rumors” that the borough missed out on a levee in the past because some residents did not want to ruin their river view.  Years ago when Dad was a Wyoming Councilman (I'm guessing in the early 1990's), he came home from a West Pittston community meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers.  After sharing maps showing a proposed levee for the borough, he told me some people spoke about not wanting to lose their river view, largely of Pittston City.  He could hardly believe this happened!  And that shortly after, the Army engineers rolled up their maps and left.  So I would say not a rumor.  I absolutely understand the cost-benefit analysis that needs to be considered for major infrastructure investments.  And there are compelling arguments that property values and tax revenues from West Pittston's flood zones (including large, beautiful homes - many dating from the Victorian era) are critical to local for West Pittston and Wyoming Area School District.  So let's do what we can to advocate for a levee, and in the meantime continue to enjoy this lovely river town.  

Looks like we're getting about 6 inches of snow (Aunt Pam texted me, Dallas probably will be closer to 10 inches).  Alex, you began shoveling both here are at North Street late last night.  Here are winter wonderland pictures looking out from 215 Montgomery Ave earlier this morning.....  They bring back fond memories of getting you guys into snow pants & boots, and heading out to Frances Slocum or the dike near the Midway Shopping Center for sledding.  

Still 2 Carroll Boys at Home

It's been about 6 months since I wrote about what's going on your lives.  So here is an update, written on the evening of this winter's first snow storm.  You've both stayed busy.

Alex - The closing for your home on North St. was in late August.  Wow, you bought a house!!  I will write a separate post specifically about that, with some photos of before & after remodeling.  Although the house needed primarily cosmetic work, it has been quite an undertaking.  There is one final improvement to come soon - new flooring in the kitchen, back hall & downstairs bathroom.  Maybe you'll be moved in by the end of January?  whatever!!  Meanwhile, things are going well at AZEK. During September, you filled in for a week at the Dahlonega, GA facility (unfortunately, it takes most of a day to travel each way from/to Scranton).  Good relationships with your HR team and other co-workers, nice year-end bonus, expanded work responsibilities - partly due to a recent organization change that resulted in moving your office (and Scranton location HR files, thanks to you) from Corey St. to the Keyser Ave. facility.  See more in this article:  Plaskolite Sale.  You bought a new guitar this fall.  Also, did stuff with friends including Jeff and Tyler....  like fishing, went to concerts (I can't remember what bands) and spent an overnight in NYC just before Christmas.  You took this stunning Christmas tree with a sleepy Oren photo a couple weeks ago:

Rob - So exciting, you went back to LCCC for the fall semester and got top grades in 4 classes - including calculus and chemistry.  And a speech class in which you made interesting presentations, for example about the 1972 Bobby Fischer chess championship.  This is a huge accomplishment, and all because you are Feeling Better!!  Thankfully, your headaches seem relatively infrequent (Botox treatments are effective for you) and you're fully recovered from the Target concussion.  This is absolutely fantastic, you are going on with your life !  In the meantime, you've continued working at Cracker Barrell on the weekends.  Your apron is now adorned with "Robert" and 2 stars 😄  I went to Cracker Barrell's holiday party with you in November, it was a nice event.  And we did some shopping together on friends & family days.  Plus on a Sunday in December, Laura, Steve and I came for an early evening dinner and visited with you a bit.  On a sad note, after a long decline Kyra and Luke's grandmother Lynne Bloom passed in early October and we went to her funeral.  Here's a picture of Steve and me when we stopped in to Cracker Barrell to see the Christmas Tree you assembed in July.  

On the family front, Aunt Pam hosted you both for Thanksgiving (Alex, she roasted your AZEK employee holiday turkey).  Meanwhile, Steve and I spent a few days with Grammie and Grandad.  Aunt Pam is doing fine, though challenged with some recent health scares with both Wolfie (who has turned 18!) and Freddy.  Our kitties are fine.  Steve has been working too many hours at AllOne Health.  I've kept up with my goal of spending a weekend a month helping out in Wyncote.  Grandad is struggling with late-stage Parkinson's Disease, you each made treks to Wyncote last year and had time with him and Grammie.  Martha the cat is good company for them, quite adorable and happy for visitors.  Here are photos of Rambo at home, also Martha balancing on the upstairs railing in Wyncote.

We had a nice Christmas.  As usual, Christmas Eve at Aunt Pam's house.  Then she and Steve's brothers Rich and Joe came to our house for Christmas dinner.  Below is a snapshot of our tree on Christmas morning.  Alex, your big gift was an amp to go with the new guitar.  Rob, yours was a tablet to use for classes.  Now it's on to 2024 - Happy New Year to us!