Finally, the Sun!

It's been a cool, wet Spring with almost daily showers. Finally the sun has made an appearance, just in time to let me get a picture of the beautiful dogwood before its blooms disappear. Enjoy!

On the road again

Within the next two days a mountain of details will have to be flattened so that we can leave for Washington, DC to atend Jan's godson's honors ceremonies at American University. Then we travel on to Chapel Hill, NC for her niece's MBA graduation there. Time to get moving...

Head of the Charles Weekend

The scene is Saturday, October 18. The location is Cambridge, MA, on the Charles River. Ransom Duncan, Jan's god-daughter Judy Duncan's twin brother, is rowing with other alums from his college in the Head of the Charles regatta. The short clip is the moment that Ransom's boat passed the family's observation post. As you can hear, they were very encouraging!

It was a great weekend. The weather was beautiful, the colors of the foliage were almost at peak, and we were with friends. Life is good!

Celebration Time at the Melting Pot

On Sunday, October 5th, Jan and I gathered with friends to celebrate at the Melting Pot in Westwood, NJ. The FlipVideo provided this short, unfortunately dark, record. However, the conversation was bright and the meal was delicious!

Wedding Day Plus 1

Here are Pam and Tom Watson, the newly minted couple for which we journeyed to Murfreesboro. Their wedding day was Saturday, September 27, and the it could hardly have been nicer. The weather was great, the service over which I officiated went without a noticeable hitch, and the reception included some great dancing for Jan and me.

It was also a super time because all of my siblings -- Louise (mother of the bride), Barbara and Leonard were all together along with a good number of their children -- nieces and nephews and great-nieces. With our families spread from Colorado to New Jersey, from Minnesota to Texas, an occasion such as this is precious. This morning, after all the excitement, my sister Louise and husband Doug Smith hosted a family brunch before we all spread out on our separate paths.

Tonight Jan and I are in Louisville to visit her uncle and aunt, Gerald and Frieda Wheeler, who are in a Louisville nursing home, and her cousin Barbara Wheeler. Tomorrow, we head back to New Jersey.

Murfreesboro Sep 26

Our trip to Tennessee was pleasantly uneventful. We spent two eight-hour days on the highway, arriving in Murfreesboro on Thursday afternoon. My sister Louise invited all of us presently in town to their home for dinner.

This morning we shared breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express with my brother, Leonard, sister-in-law, Jolene, nephew, Len III and his wife Lisa. Then it was off to do some sight-seeing at the Stones River National Battlefield near Murfreesboro.



It reminded me of Gettysburg in so many ways, with the seemingly senseless loss of life on both sides of the controversy. The park is beautiful as was the day, but the impact is still somber.


Tonight is the rehearsal for the wedding, and tomorrow we celebrate!

More to come...

Trip for Pamela's Wedding

On Wednesday, September 24, we begin our trek to Tennessee for the wedding of my niece, Pamela Smith. (You can see her wedding blog at http://mrandmrswatson.com/blogger)

Pamela is the oldest daughter of my younger sister Louise, who with husband Doug, live in Murfreesboro, TN.

All forecasts seem to indicate good weather for the trip, although there are some rumors of gasoline shortages in the South. I'm hoping we won't encounter that.

More to come...