Remembering 9/11/2001

 

Two days before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we visited the memorial at the Pentagon, where Dave was stationed from 1989 to 1992.



Jane knew of only one person who died that day: a retired Army master sergeant named Max Beilke, with whom she had once served on a joint DoD committee on military benefits.  Max was the Army representative to that committee, and Jane represented the Office of the Actuary.
 

Coincidentally, we met a woman sitting in a wheelchair at Max's memorial bench.  We introduced ourselves and learned that this woman is Max's widow.  Her daughter explained that her mother had had a stroke and now had difficulty with verbal communications.  However, Jane certainly made an emotional connection as she told how much she enjoyed working with Max.

 P.S.  Max was the last soldier to leave the U.S. embassy in Saigon the day that Vietnam fell.  It is ironic that he survived the last day of that distant war, only to be a victim on the first day of another war.

A Blitz of Reunions

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!)

Curt, Cindy, Marilyn, Raleigh, Lena, Tom

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.

Marilyn, Raleigh and Lena

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.

Hurricane Irene

On Saturday morning (Aug. 27), we awoke to clear skies over Marblehead, Massachusetts.  The main news story was the expected arrival of Hurricane Irene in New England the following day.  Mandatory evacuations were in effect for parts of New York City, and citizens were urged to prepare for high winds, torrential rain, and extended power outages.  Since Marblehead is right on the ocean, with limited and congested highway access, we decided to head west while we still could.  We said farewell to our hosts and drove across the state of Massachusetts into western New York, arriving in Albany about 4pm.  We checked into a Hampton Inn near the airport and hunkered down for the storm.

It started raining at 6pm, just a light drizzle at first, but steadily increasing in intensity during the night.  By Sunday morning, the rain was coming down in sheets, with local wind gusts up to 50 mph.  The center of the storm, now downgraded from "hurricane" to "tropical storm", passed about 100 miles east of our location.  By 7pm the rain ceased but the winds continued to blow hard.  We could see our car and trailer from our window, and were relieved that it appeared secure, not even rocking in the buffeting wind.  Other than a few downed tree limbs, there was no damage or serious flooding near our hotel, nor did we lose power.

On Monday morning we continued our journey, but were thwarted by flooding on major highways to the west.  Instead, we turned south on Highway 87 as far as Newburg, Pennsylvania, where flooding again blocked all traffic.  It took us over 2 hours to travel the last 10 miles or so to Newburg, where all vehicles were diverted to Highway 24 west toward Scranton.

Just past Scranton, as the sun was setting, we followed our GPS to Bear Creek Camp and turned onto a narrow dirt road extending 2.5 miles into the deep woods.  We finally arrived at the office of what turned out to be a nearly deserted Lutheran camp and retreat center.  The camp host was just leaving and graciously allowed us to spend the night there in the parking lot, though we were the only campers in the park.  Slept amazingly well.

4 States in 5 Days

Lonni and "cousin" Sue

After breaking camp at Grand Island near Niagara Falls, we headed due east to Rutland, Vermont, on the edge of Green Mountain National Forest, and the home of Dave's cousin, Sue, and husband, Lonni.  Sue works part-time as a night manager at a retirement facility and is a published author of her first romance novel.  Lonni is a real estate agent and high school football coach.  Their secluded home is actually within the national forest and boasts a delightful garden.  Good food, interesting conversation, and a chance to do some routine maintenance on the Jeep.

D & J with Kay and Don

Further to the east, we entered the White Mountains of New Hampshire and set up camp at Twin Rivers near Bath.  We then wound our way up to the mountain top lodge of Don and Kay, dear friends from our years in Virginia. 

 From rocking chairs  on their deck, we watched a brilliant sunset over the Green Mountains of Vermont.

Rene and Jerry in Camden

The next day, we finished our eastward trek to the Atlantic Ocean, staying with friends, Jerry and Rene, near Lincolnville, Maine.  (This was our furthest distance from home:  2772 great circle miles, 6230 actual miles by car.)
Toured the coastal towns of Camden and Rockland and picked up live lobsters to steam for dinner.  Enjoyed breakfast and a boat ride on Norton Pond before bidding farewell to this clergy couple who intersected strongly with our former lives in Virginia.

We took a leisurely drive down the rugged coast of Maine, stopping for a fried clam and calamari lunch at Pemaquid Point before making our way to Massachusetts.

Parked in Marblehead

Spent the evening at the home of newer friends, Craig and Jan, overlooking the harbor at Marblehead, just north of Boston.  Craig and Jan typically spend winter months in Pacific Grove and visiting daughters in California, and this was our first visit to their "real" home.  We had planned to spend the next day (Saturday, 8/27) touring Boston, but the approach of Hurricane Irene led to alternative plans.  Read on to find out how we weathered the storm...

Niagara Falls

Pete, Mare, and Mary

Niagara Falls (August 20-22).  We stayed in a KOA campground in Grand Island, NY, conveniently located between Buffalo and Niagara Falls. After settling into our campsite, we spent an enchanting evening at the lovely old home of Pete and Mare.  Mary's arrival was an added bonus.  Just sitting outside with delightful conversation, in perfect temperature, eating a delicious pork loin meal, looking at the big urn fountain and the garden lights beyond, was so enjoyable. 

Spray from Horseshoe Falls

The next day we boarded a small bus for a 6-hour tour to the Canadian side of the Falls.  Highlights included: Journey Behind the Falls, where we could view cascading water from rock tunnel apertures, and then to a ledge beside Horseshoe falls; a bus ride down the river to the Moses Dam; a horticultural college with lovely gardens and a floral clock that changes design regularly; and last and best, the ride on the Maid of the Mist boat that goes beside the American Falls and into the misty curve of the Horseshoe Falls.  When I first saw Niagara Falls from a distance, I commented to Dave that they were smaller than I had imagined.  But on the Maid of the Mist, I was struck by how powerful and massive they really are.  There’s no better way to experience the Falls than from the bottom of them.

Maid of the Mist

Later that evening we drove back to Goat Island, which splits the American and Canadian Falls.  The island afforded yet another interesting perspective as we could see the top of the falls on both sides and stand right where the water tumbled over the precipice to the rocks below.  Fireworks provided a perfect ending to a perfect day!

Ohio Byways

Ed and Barb

We entered Ohio on Sunday, August 4th and stayed for six fun nights, visiting relatives.

Winton Woods Campground

(Cincinnati) We visited the first of Jane’s cousins, Ed, and his wife, Barb.  Although we camped in the Winton Woods County Park (a beautiful wooded spot), we shared many wonderful hours of conversation at our picnic table and other tables.

(Near Columbus)  Next stop was the horse farm of Dave’s cousin, Larry, and wife, Linda.  Special moments included visiting with daughter, Lindsey, at dinner and taking a greatly enjoyed horse trek through the countryside with Linda and family friend, Ron.

 

Linda, Lindsey, and Larry

Pecos warily eying Ebony

This is a building - see the windows?

Big Basket with Dave in front

Our mid-Ohio trip was particularly eventful as we played tourist for a few hours.  We drove into Longaberger country, first passing their corporate headquarters (check out the basket building) and then stopping at the Homestead where we watched the weavers actually making the baskets - the little ones, not the apple basket on display outside!

Our route then took us on windy back roads through Amish country.  The pace was slow as we came up behind horse-drawn buggies several times.  Just taking the time to enjoy this part of the country was a much-needed treat. 

Amish of Ohio

Hannah, Jack, Lisa, and Emma

(Near Cleveland)  We spent a couple of days visiting Lisa and nieces, Hannah and Emma, and nephew, Jack.  How good it was to catch up on their lives.  We even got to help celebrate Emmie’s 14^th birthday and see friends, David and Jean.

We realize what a special gift we have in this trip where we just slip into our loved ones’ lives for a few days and then move on. But we don’t forget our loved ones at home in California and Tucson either.  The grandkids travel with us along the way, as you can see. 

Grand-kid magnets in our Casita

Hoosier Holiday

We spent exactly one week in Indiana, crossing the border from Illinois at noon on Sunday, August 7th, and crossing into Ohio at noon the following Sunday.  We stayed 4 days in Valparaiso (near Chicago) with Dave's brother Mark and 3 days in Hillsdale (150 miles south) with Dave's cousin Carol and family.

Mark and Carol have several things in common:  besides being born in the same year and living in Indiana, they both married really nice people, have four children, and own very old, lovable dogs.  At both destinations, we enjoyed restaurant dining and outdoor grilling, drank beer, took long nature hikes, washed laundry, watched episodes of Top Gear (which Tanner co-hosts Sunday nights on the History Channel), and learned a new game called Corn Hole.  The latter is similar to Horseshoes:  three points are scored for tossing a bag of corn through a hole in a slanted board, and one point for landing the bag on that platform.

Eric, Rachel & Tucker

In Valpo, we had a brief visit with Mark's wife Pat (before her weekly commute to Delaware for work) and saw nephew Eric and niece Rachel.  Dave helped Mark mix, bottle, and sample different batches of home-brewed beer.  Jane found a dentist to repair a chipped front tooth.  We all visited the barber shop.  Just before we left, Mark led us on a vigorous hike at Cowell's Bog on Lake Michigan.

In Hillsdale, Carol and husband Larry took us to see the covered bridges and historic flour mills of Parke County.  On Saturday, we were joined by cousin Tim (from Indianapolis) and his children, Ronni and Sam, for hiking and picnicing at beautiful Turkey Run State Park.




Tim, Sam, Ronni & Jota



Larry, Carol, Jane, Dave



That evening after dinner, we witnessed the same severe wind and rain storm that collapsed a concert stage 60 minutes later at the Indiana State Fair. 

Larry asked if we ever forgot items at places we have stayed, to which we replied in the negative.  But as we departed Hillsdale, Dave dropped his cell phone on the side of Highway 63 when he got out of the car to clear a leaf from our windshield wiper.  The phone was soon found by a neighbor of Carol's and is being mailed to us in Ohio.