The past two weeks have been intensely enjoyably. As we approached our former home in Vienna, Virginia, dormant friendships have blossomed again. It’s amazing how years of absence between us and our East Coast friends seem to melt away within minutes of our meeting. No one seems very much changed. Sure, we’re all older and some are struggling with physical challenges. Some are still working full-time, but most of the folks our age have turned their energies toward volunteer service, part-time employment, travel, and personal enrichment. Our friends seem to us wiser, more confident, grateful, generous, and joyful than when they were all earning a living, raising children, and finding their place in the world. Or maybe it’s we that have become more perceptive of these qualities that they possessed all along.
We are grateful for the kindness and hospitality of many people in the past two weeks. We were so glad to connect with Janet in PA for lunch. We parked our trailer at the homes of Mike & Jane in New Jersey and Jim & Jeanne in Maryland, broke bread with these families, and talked again with their grown children. Curt and Cindy hosted us at their Annapolis farm and allowed us to park our travel trailer (for a month) between their horse trailer and chicken coop while we travel to the UK. 
We drove our Jeep unencumbered to Virginia Beach, staying one day with nephew Mike & Stephanie and their 3 young children. Thanks for the homemade waffles, card games with Liam, Home Depot building project, pizza night out, and walk on the beach boardwalk.
Jim & June hosted us next in Chesapeake, invited mutual friends Tom & Ina for dinner, and gave us all putting lessons on their back lawn. Hope your garden survived the recent tidal flood.
On our way back north, Dick and Lorraine took us to lunch and on a walking tour in Colonial Williamsburg.
Lin welcomed us at her log cabin in the woods near Spotsylvania and surprised Dave with a birthday cake.
Raleigh & Marilyn opened their Warrenton home to us, hosted a Scottish meal with mutual friends Tom & Lena, and took us wine tasting the following day.
Back in Vienna, Tom & June allowed us to occupy their basement “man cave” for 3 nights, took us to their boat, and arranged a meeting with mutual friends, George & Beth. Another planned reunion was foiled by 6 inches of rain in 2 hours.
Current and former DoD actuaries and personnel policy experts enjoyed a bountiful lunch at Clyde's in Alexandria. Thanks to Jane's former boss, Ben, for arranging this gathering.
Our former neighbor and realtor, Linde, invited us to dinner in Alexandria to meet her fiancé, Frank, just two days before the wedding. (We heartily approve!)
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| Curt, Cindy, Marilyn, Raleigh, Lena, Tom |
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| Gigi, Pam and Ike |
After an emotional reunion with many friends at Emmanuel Lutheran Church on Sunday, we scurried back to Curt and Cindy’s for a memorable crab and brisket feast with Edzell, Scotland shipmates (Ike & Gigi, Larry & Pam, Bruce, Tom & Lena, Raleigh & Marilyn) some of whom we had not seen in years.
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| Marilyn, Raleigh and Lena |
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| Bruce, Pam and Larry |
We leave today for England but we take with us the rich memories of the fellowship we have shared in the past 11 weeks with family and friends.
Note: Remember that to see any of the pictures "large" just click on it.
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