For the last couple of years we have tried to frequently get together for dinner with Dave and Mary Richardson—Dave is my second cousin and was in our wedding. These dinners are always a great time to catch up about family and share a few laughs.
Since we always seem to have a good time we thought it would only be better if we could get other family members to join-in. Friday night Bill and Sheila drove down to Worcester to join us at an Italian restaurant (Dave and Karen were unable to make this rendezvous, but possible a future time).
When it finally came time to look at the menu…and it took some time since the conversation kept going and going…it turned out that Dave had forgotten his reading glasses—this is getting to be a little bit of a habit for our get-togethers with them. Fortunately Cheri had a nicely stripped pair with her. Never wanting to miss a blog photo opportunity I quickly got my blackberry off my hip and fired away. |  |
Since the camera was out we also got our waiter to capture a group shot of us around the table…although the photo does show the shortcomings of a phone/camera/personal organizer…we’re not really that fuzzy…
Friday night got us to through a couple of the marathon water stops and then it was on to Saturday…
Although we had some recovery by not having to get up too early…we did take advantage of the morning time to either run (Cheri for four miles) or bike (me for 35 miles). I did a little three state jaunt and if you have any interest (and really, who would) you can see the route and climbs at this link: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/detail/22267700/
With that out of the way, we cleaned up, dressed up and headed out the door to continue the next leg. I dropped Cheri off at a Country Clun in Lynn, MA to attend a baby shower for Alexis—a separate guest blog is coming to fill in the details on that little soiree—and then headed on to NH to run some errands and spend a little bit of time with my Dad at Bill and Sheila’s house (Bill was off golfing and Sheila was obviously at the shower with Cheri).
Guest Blogger Section (Woo Hoo)!
| We are all excitedly anticipating the arrival of the next Swenson generation. Our Nephew Eric and his wife Alexis are due the beginning of October. Busy people that they are it was difficult to schedule time for a shower so it was decided to have one gigantic shower to include both sides of the family, friends and co-workers. About 80+ people gathered for a nice luncheon. Her sisters and Mother did an awesome job decorating the tables and the room. Here is a picture of the “diaper” cake decorated in her nursery theme of a bunny with earthy colors. They had empty box favors at each setting where we could wander over to the candy table to fill our boxes with our own choice of candy all of course color coordinated with her nursery colors. MMMMMMMM! We enjoyed a delicious buffet meal with open bar and then sat back to watch Alexis open her gifts. Good thing Eric works for FedEx because he needed their services to move everything home! Us more experienced Moms enjoyed seeing what was new and “needed” to raise a baby. Things sure have changed. There was also an Advice Book being passed around so we could all impart our pearls of wisdom learned after successfully raising our own children.   |    It was great to see Alexis’ family and to catch up with some of the Swenson related family that I hadn’t seen in a while. Shelia put the nurses together at one table and it was fun visiting with her co-worker and her sister Sandy. It was a fun afternoon. Alexis looks great with six weeks to go. I am anxious to get my hands on this little one! |
Back to Your Regular Muse…
Cheri got a ride back to Loudon with Karen (and Kevin came along for the ride…he had been keeping Eric company during the shower). She got to Bill and Sheila’s just in time to change clothes again and we headed back to Concord.
This weekend had been scheduled as the 35th year reunion for my high school class and we were some of the “out of towners” in for the event. We graduated about 150, from what I heard four are no longer with us, and the reunion brought 22 of us together along with Susan McCellan, a teacher to which we had dedicated the yearbook—getting children off to college on this weekend may have kept several of my classmates away.
We sat at a table with Cheri’s cousin Les—one of my best friends in high school and he helped in getting Cheri and I together—along with Lisa (formerly Stevens) who he dated in high school and college—they reconnected about 18 months ago.  It was also great to see another great friend, Jay LeClair, who I haven’t seen in at least twenty-five years. He lives in Loudon now (Boscawen when we were growing up) on the village road not far from Dad’s house. |  We also spent time with Alison Richardson (formerly Goodrich) and her husband Dave who was in the class ahead of us. We always enjoy their company—even though it seems we have five years in between our chances to get together.  |
I was prepared, in the words of George Will, to be a pessimist about the whole event, that way, “…you are either proven right, or pleasantly surprised.” Fortunately it was very pleasant and we had a great time.
For any of my classmates that didn’t make it, see if you can figure out who is who in the photo…
We stayed until almost eleven pm before heading up to the cottage for the evening.
Sunday morning was another break in the marathon…at least for some coffee, omelets and brief time sitting by the lake…and then we got on the road heading back to Connecticut. We got home with enough time to do some quick things around the house—actually Cheri did some quick things and I took a twelve minute power nap—and then out the door heading for Jack and Stephanie Gosselin’s house in North Stonington (near Mystic).
We caught up with the Gosselins, climbed into their car together, and headed for the Jonathan Edward Vineyard in Stonington. Throughout the summer the vineyard puts on Thursday night concerts under a tent, and four times during the year they have some special events on Sunday…this was one of the Sundays—Ben Taylor, James Taylor’s son, was performing.
The tent is set up on a grassy area next to active vines.
One of the great things about the concert series is that they allow you to bring a picnic dinner …and they sell you their wine (imagine that)…and they provide the glasses.
Some other friends of the Gosselins—John who owns the building where Jack’s office is located, Sarah (who in Facebook jargon is ‘in a relationship with’ John), Eden her daughter and her parents Don and Sally—joined us and we settled into a perfect spot just outside the warmth of the tent.
We had a great spread of food, which everyone contributed to and participated in….pastas, chicken and an outstanding antipasto sandwich. It was all great with the wine and seltzer water to help wash it down (we didn’t drink wine the whole time).  |  Then, as it got darker, the entertainment started at the far end of the tent. The warm up group—Brothers McCann—was great and Jack ended up getting one of their CD’s. Ben Taylor was only OK…of course with his lineage we probably over-expect his performance, but it was only mediocre. |
Overall the event was a fundraiser for Chikumbuso - a women and orphans project in Zambia. Half of the ticket saies as well as some silent auction items and other merchandise sales were all going to this program to support microenterprises and education in Zambia.
It was a wonderful evening and we have decided to try and make it to more of these concerts next year.
The concert was over around 9:30 so we were still able to get home at a reasonable time. The end of a marathon adventure…every part of it well worth it.
The Blogger Question of the Day (leave your answers in Post a Comment...because comments are always welcome)...The Guest Blogger should:
A. Be a more regular contributor to the blog.
B. Should be the regular writer and let the other guy be the guest writer.
C. Start her own Blog since she is so good!
D. Do just as she's doing...contributing at times.
E. Other...(again comments are welcome and we applaud creativity).
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