Really getting out and about

Since last Friday, we have made three trips! Saturday we went to Manchester, NH with John and Cynthia; Tuesday we went to Northampton to see all three Feinland grandkids; and yesterday we came to Maine, which is where we are now. The trip to Manchester, NH was our first time to go somewhere with John and Cynthia in the same car since the pandemic started over a year ago (and it wasn't that common even before the pandemic). We are all vaccinated, and the CDC now says if everyone is vaccinated, you don't need masks. We had good air circulation in the car (windows and sun roof), and it was a beautiful day! The trip was one we had talked about for ages but had never done. John's grandparents on his mother's side, Shirley's parents, grew up in Manchester, and their forebears did too, so there are graves and houses to see, some of which John has never seen, or did not remember well because he was just a small boy the last time he saw them. E.g., he was at his Grandpa Harris' graveside service, but was only eight years old st the time. We ended up going to two cemeteries and checking out two houses. In Pine Grove Cemetery on Brown Avenue, his grnndfather and grandmother Harris (James Fred Harris and Florence Langley Harris) are buried, and at that same site, Florence's parents, Josiah Dow Langley and Kate Townsend Langley are also buried. We sat on the ground by the gravestone and talked quite a while - John sharing memories of his grandparents, Grandpa Harris especially. Then from there we went to Valley Cemetery, about a ten-minute drive, and saw the graves of Grandpa Harris' mother, Elizabeth Lee Ladd, and her father, Fred Lee Ladd. So we saw three generations on that side of the family. (John carries the "Ladd" heritage as his middle name). Then we had lunch at the Restoration Cafe, a wonderful vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free/etc. restaurant with outdoor patio dining. It was perfect! After that we visited 479 Maple where the Harris' lived for a while, and 191 Winter where Florence lived before she got married. I don't think the house there now was the one she lived in, but 479 Maple is the same building, although it has been changed. It was a fun trip and we loved it. I'm still having trouble uploading photos - but here is what I think is below: 1) The grave of Elizabeth Lee Ladd, John's great grandmother. Her husband, Hervey Harris, is buried in Marblehead, Mass., with other Harris family members. 2) 479 Maple Street as it appears today - Grandpa Harris's family home. 3) Fred and Forence standing outside 479 Maple St. in the 1920's. You can see that the porch has changed - it has a second story now, but the building behind next door is the same building. 4) The Restoration Cafe, with Buddha bowls and special smoothies. 5) The Harris/Langley grave in Pine Grove Cemetery 6) Fred Lee Ladd grave. 7) Portrait of Fred Lee Ladd 8) The three Feinland grandkids

Sunday we had "vurch" followed by Torah Study in the morning. Ellen went to poetry group at Kathy and Tom's yurt - the first "in-person" in a year and a half, and came back uplifted. I stayed home to finish out the Toral study session and then I worked very hard at "de-cluttering" my study in preparation for Monday, when our neighbor, Paul Derry was coming up to look at our house. We are going through another spasm of wondering if we should move. A condo is available at Morningside commons - we looked at it on Friday. Paul was interested, but not definite. So at this point, we are not ready to make an offer on the condo. It's a hard and complicated decision, involving finances, the strain of moving, wanting to do some things this summer as we come out of the pandemic, deep attachment to our house which we have enjoyed so much this past year. I think if we moved we would probably be glad once we were settled in, but getting to that point feels like a huge mountain. Tuesday we went to Northampton and had a good time with Max, Ben and Tamar. We talked at the house and sampled Max's sourdough bread. We heard a lot about his year in Boulder, which seems to have gone well, despite the pandemic. We also caught up with Ben who has completed his academic year as well. All three of them seem to be coping with the unusual nature of the times pretty well. Here is a portrait outside their house:

Wednesday,I had a morning appointment at Maple Valley Physical Therapy for my shoulders -first appointment, so lots of paperwork and assessment. I worked hard for almost an hour - it was sort of exhausting! But I think it will help. Right after that we headed for Maine. Later in July I'll be doing the "Big" program at Maple Valley for Parkinson's. That's an hour a day, four days a week for four weeks! That will be quite a challenge, I'm sure. Tonight we're going with Jim and Mary to a Shakespeare production, outside, in Belfast, ME. It's beautiful but cool today, so we'll have to dress warmly. I hope to get some pictures!