Intrigue: Driving
from Washington, DC, on a hot August morning, stopped in the small town of
Delaware, Ohio, to chat with cousin Karen, with whom I am delving into the
mysteries of family history and genealogy. This visit: a daring
attempt to decipher the Parcels branch – my maternal
grandfather.
Friends: In an
amazing coincidence, old friend and Department of Energy colleague Penny also
retired to Delaware, Ohio! Both Karen and
Penny moved here to be near darling grandchildren.
Family: Onward to the Detroit area, where brother Brian lives
in the family home, with sister Kathy nearby. Our daring adventure: enchiladas
at Mexican Village after dark.
Memories: Renewed old
friendships at Hazel Park High School 40-year reunion. Reconnected with former
dates for Sadie Hawkins Dance (Doug) and Sweetheart Dance (Leon, photo lower left). Boogied with my darling
girlfriends (Gayle, lower right). Pored over yearbooks, class photos, and snapshots of long hair and
70s-style bell bottoms.
Adventure: Just beginning, as I write this on a plane to
Vancouver, British Columbia for an intermediate blue-water adventure. A test,
you might say, for six months on our own boat, on the opposite side of the
continent. If we don’t get scared and seasick on this Pacific adventure, the
Atlantic one will be an island breeze!