We came back to Northampton to find the house in good order thanks to neighbors (Doug and Judith – windows) and friends (Tom, Alice and Danny – mulching; Marty - mail). I/we saw friends at the book group, poker, golf, dinners, etc. James was quite lucky and made a fast friend with our neighbors’ grandson, Douglas, who was staying with them for the week. After spending a day with Douglas, James proclaimed them “old friends.” The two of them went to a fair, for bike rides, and took me on in a water fight. (Don’t listen to anything they say. I crushed them.) Speaking of water, over the course of the two weeks in the steamy Northeast, we figured that James found 9 different sources of water to cool off in, including the ocean on Long Island, the Rock River in VT, water slides at the Littleville Fair, the NCC pool, water sprinklers at Look Park, a “paddling pool” in our back yard and a tremendous dousing, in the aforementioned water fight, from a Supersoaker.
As a result of his trips to the US, James, on a few occasions has commented on wanting to stay. Of course, the US is closely linked with ski vacations, swimming in a river in VT, going to East Hampton (LI), many people doting on him and plenty of ice cream all along the way. (Don’t worry, his life here is not too bad either.)
Sarah enjoys her American life as well. As she has spent time in NY and Boston, gotten to know my family, friends and the Northampton area, she’s developing plans. She was ready to buy a house near the swimming hole in VT.
HEY, wait, how did that pic get in there? That’s me in my Wellies, “rodding the drains”. We had a backup in the septic tank. Not available to James for swimming, though he was almost responsible for a lake in the driveway. I won’t take all the credit for the success in clearing the drain. It was a team effort between Sarah and her mom, June. Luckily, we caught Woody and Jo just before they had left for vacation so we could borrow the rods. (Woody, I think the torch has been officially passed. Or do I have to buy my own set of rods?)
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