We arrived about three days ago. Two of the kids, an in-law kid, and four grandkids in tow. Not quite 'in tow' .... Rather, under their own steam. I guess we're not "Little House on the Prairie" which I've never seen but many have described to me ... but there's lots of love and caring and some squabbling, I suppose.
I'm sitting out on the porch with GuntherDog and 5 bikes; everybody else is asleep, including HaviDog, Gunther's spinster girlfriend ... They're both gettin' on in years and, as rescue dogs, they're both, as we say, "fixed." Maybe M and I and Gunther and Havi all need some 'Puppy Uppers' or some Geritol or Serutan. Night before last, M and I were just climbing into the only bed left and Gunther laid down to a three second groan. Arthritis? Likely.
Yesterday, was a typical day here in backwater Virginia for Howard and his family. About 730, it was agreed that A-the-Older would do the beech food, Howard headed out the three plus miles to a pedestrian and bike path to meet Youngest, her husband and their younger kids ... ten year old twins who just learned how to ride ... and A-the-Older. A-the-Younger and his family who just moved 200 miles closer to our usual haunts couldn't make it. I waited for the riders' car at a bridge ... Lots of bridging goes on in families ... and when they didn't get there went onto the path for one quick three mile loop. As I was coming back, the four of them were just entering the loop. Youngest and I had done it, yesterday ... Indeed, the only sin Santa Papa has ever committed (as in "ha-ha, don't give up your day job, H) was not really teaching Youngest how to ride well. While yesterday she was white-knuckling, she's coming along fine, today.
Any case, the Twins and their Dad went on, ahead, and Youngest and I went along at her speed. It was good .... Rabbits, a deer, no ponies, lots of birds with names like "big white bird with legs that
hang during flight" ... Afterwards, they packed up their bikes and went back. I headed the -- again -- three miles to the beach. Stood my bike up with one pedal locked in the sand .... Just as I have for decades ... I rode the better 1974, this morning ... dug a hole for my feet and sat there waiting for my family to come. True enough! This year not all were present ... but I WAS waiting for the gathered, nonetheless.
..........
It's tomorrow, now. Oldest has gone with youngest grandspawn back to leave USA and do some work in Istanbul. Now, it's just H, M, and Youngest and her Husband and crew of three ... a fifteen year old and no-longer matched ten year olds. M and I both have upper respiratory things ... colds ... we'll survive, I suspect ... and today will be much like yesterday, though someone else will prepare lunch for the beach and Oldest will be gone with the little one that I call Big Time Cute.
It's pretty quiet here, right now, except for the birds.
