Fall Excursion to Maine & NH

 

Maine and New Hampshire with Friends

October 2025

 

            As summer has turned to fall it seems a good time for a short trip Down East, combining sightseeing & leaf peeping with visiting good friends we haven’t seen in a while. We’ll head 1^st to Maine for a stay with Robert Lehman, a regular visitor 35 years or so ago when Matt was in the Empire State Youth Orchestra and Robert was Conductor of the Repertory Orchestra. In something of a reprise, Robert & wife Kim have come thru Albany to reach their son Alex at Eastman School; and Alex himself has stopped along the way to & fro. Hopefully we’ll see Alex & other son Eric on our visit. We’ll work around Robert’s schedule. He won’t be home Thursday until dinnertime, so we have plenty of time to explore along the coast. Friday a treat: he’s performing in a concert. Saturday he’s playing at a wedding, but he didn’t get us an invitation.

We last visited Robert & Kim in 2022. Unfortunately, we won’t see Kim this time. She’s on an adventure, walking the 500-mile Camino de Santiago in Spain! We’re able to follow her progress via a link from her Facebook page; Robert can give us more details. We visited the beautiful end of this pilgrimage at Santiago de Compostela in 2022, but we reached there by bus.

We’ll return home via New Hampshire and an overnight with Alice & Rick Galuppo, friends from my college days at the U of Rochester, Rick a fraternity brother. It’s way too long since we’ve seen them; last visited them in 2016.

            We’ll be combining socializing with some repeat sightseeing along the Maine coast and across southern NH & Vermont. Don’t know what to expect for fall colors. A very dry summer was followed a couple weeks ago by a summer’s worth of rain in 3 days, almost 4½”! Our grass finally starting to green up, so we skipped the Seasonal Affective Disorder Seminar at St. Pius. Been having lovely summer weather, highs in the 80s! But it looks like welcome cooler fall temps ahead. As usual, our calendar is too full. While we’re away we’ll miss some good events: Colonie Seniors’ Fallallapalooza, the joint ASO/ESYO concert, an outdoor Mass and a dinner to benefit a Dominican orphanage at St. Pius. We arrange for grandson William to have one of our cars while we’re away. He’s using our garage to store items he has bought on-line to sell for sizable profits; needs to drive over from Siena (now “University”) to rendezvous with deliveries & buyers.

 

Columbia & Snake Rivers plus Missoula MT

 

Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise

Plus Missoula MT

June 2025

We do enjoy river cruises, many with Viking on European rivers. We also love the Pacific NW, multiple trips including Oregon, Washington, and up to Victoria & Vancouver BC. American Cruise Lines combines these with a Columbia & Snake Rivers Cruise. And we’ll add a short trip after the cruise to visit niece Annie, hubbie Garrick, and daughters Lillian & Cora in Missoula MT; haven’t seen them in way too long. Agent Dora (the Explorer?) helps me reserve (with a good discount) for June 2025. Marjorie’s cousin Jim & wife Susan will join us.

            We’ll sail on American Pride, a paddle-wheeler (Marjorie insisted) built 2012 that holds 150 passengers on 4 decks plus sun deck. We have a 2^nd deck stateroom with twin beds & balcony. Susan & Jim find a stateroom across from us. We discuss excursion options during a March visit with them in Florida. Ship amenities seem quite comparable to Viking river ships. Several lounges offer quiet spaces and/or scenic views (plus 24-hour snacks!) & restaurant. Evening cocktail hour, complimentary beer & wine with lunch & dinner. Daily activities & evening entertainment.

           

Things are busy leading up to the trip. We have to coordinate our schedules when son Matt borrows a car to move percussion stuff to Skidmore for the Mostly Modern Festival, where he’s again in residence (and we enjoy a performance). Then we offer lodging to Matt’s Korean friend and former student Han Sol (who calls him “Doc”) and fiancé Euna for a composition workshop with the Albany Symphony. We continue our chiropractic “couples therapy,” Marjorie participates in volunteer events, I do my Red Cross blood delivery driving. I also have a return Mendelssohn Club gig singing to kick off Belmont Festival races at Saratoga track. We need a vacation from retirement. Some hot/humid weather & heavy rain here; looks like we may hit temps up to 100° the 1^st couple of days on the cruise but no sign of rain along our route.

Florida 2025

 

Florida

March 2025

 

            A 4^th “snowbird” adventure, with repeats of enjoyable 2022 & 2023 visits to Sarasota with friends Deb & Chris and Naples with Marjorie’s cousin Jim & wife Susan. Our winter hasn’t been too hard. Snow’s been cleared by very diligent Josh, working for Matt’s high school friend John. A busy end of February and beginning of March. “Warmth of Winter” fundraiser for Colonie Senior Service Centers. “Mardi Gras” celebration at St. Pius X. “The Garbologists” play at nearby Curtain Call Theater. Albany Pro Musica’s concert “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a very moving “choral drama” about the young gay man murdered in Wyoming in 1998. Russ singing with Mendelssohn Club at CSSC’s Beltrone Living Center, and the previous night friend Dennis singing there with the South Colonie Dance Band. Marjorie has started her annual fundraising for “Relay for Life” and selling tickets for Mendelssohn Club’s Spring Concert. And exciting news: she’s been accepted to be an “Artist in Residence” for a week in July at Wiawaka Center for Women, a retreat on the shore of Lake George. She also displays her work & classes at CSSC’s celebration of International Women’s Day.

As usual March is teasing, sometimes seems like Spring but then Winter comes back. So a break is welcome, especially when it includes warmer temps (we hope) with friends & family. There is a sure sign of Spring: Guptill’s Ice Cream opens Saturday!

Christmas Markets Along the Danube

 

Christmas on the Danube

December 2024

 

            We do love a Viking River Cruise: 6 in Europe, plus 1 on the Mississippi. Marjorie disrupted the pattern of togetherness when she and her sister Mary took a Christmas Markets cruise along the Rhine in 2012. She showed no feelings of guilt about leaving me behind [tho full disclosure: I traveled with my brother Doug to South America in 2013 and on a “Midnight Sun” Viking Ocean Cruise in 2018] but is quite happy to do a similar cruise with me, this time along the Danube. We’ve cruised on both the Rhine & Danube in summer, the latter covering much of the territory on this cruise, but expect different looks at Christmastime.

The 2nd-longest river (1700 miles) in Europe, after the Volga, the Danube originates in Germany, passes thru or borders Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. European Christmas markets have a long history, dating to a “December market” in Vienna in 1296. In the 14^th C craftsmen set up stalls under the name "Saint Nicholas market" to sell little Christmas gifts for children. This evolved into Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) or Christkindlmarkt (Christ child market). Many towns usher in Advent with market openings.

Brighton HS 60th Reunion

 

Brighton High School Reunion

October 2024

 

            In June I get an e-mail from Martha Presberg Supnik [Note: From now on I’ll use “high school names” for ease & better recognition.] about a 60^th (!!) reunion for our BHS class of 1965, to be combined with the surrounding classes of ’64 & ’66. I’ve made 2 reunions (1985 & 2002) but missed the 50^th due to other travels, so I’m very pleased to have another chance to catch up with classmates. I do wonder how many are still around and able. Martha and a reunion committee put a lot of effort into locating people; it appears that about 35 will attend. A couple of options for lodging are available, and a nice schedule of activities. We’re asked to send a “selfie” and short bio to be combined in a reunion yearbook. It will be interesting to see the lives that classmates have lived. Marjorie will join me. She’s something of a reunion junkie: every 5 years since 1970 except 2020 (due to COVID) for her Portage WI high school; I attended and enjoyed their gatherings in 2000 & 2010.

            We kick off our weekend early with a “cocktail party” fundraiser at St. Pius X for orphanages in the Dominican Republic and other sites. Surprisingly, I still remember how to tie a tie. On the way over I learn the secret of Marjorie’s personality, as reported by fellow Virgo Malcolm Gladwell: “demanding, critical, and picky.” Forget I said that! The fundraiser is a nice affair: a program on the history and current programming of the orphanages, tasty food stations from various local restaurants, wine tasting.

            More than a week of summery 70s notwithstanding, Fall is moving along. We’ve enjoyed traveling around: most of a week in the Finger Lakes, other local scenic drives. Some frosty mornings. Halloween next week. Scariest of all, the election, rated a “toss-up,” in 10 days. Hopefully we can avoid political discussions during the reunion.

Fall in the Finger Lakes

 

Finger Lakes Redux

October 2024

 

            Another Fall outing to the Fingers Lakes wine country, retracing some of our travels in 2013. [An article in the Sunday Times-Union says travel is “anti-aging therapy.”] Joined this time by 2 favorite travel companions from our Wisconsin days, Kay & Diane, the latter now coming out from Santa Fe. They arrive just a day after I return from a golf outing in southern Utah. I’m loaded up with Wine Trail maps. We thought of getting an arrangement to be driven around, but those are quite expensive. So I will be the “designated driver.”

            We have a couple of days before the Finger Lakes excursion. I catch up with lawn mowing and work on the journal & photos from Utah. Marjorie & I enjoy what seems an especially comforting 8am Mass Sunday with Fr. Daniel & Deacon Marty. Later I take photos of a well-attended Blessing of Animals outside the Church. Marjorie takes Diane & Kay to the lovely Sand Lake Merchant shop where some of her creations are sold. Then to the Hagaman art show, where she sold 3 pieces and received a 3^rd-place ribbon. On Monday Diane & Kay get tours of Pruyn House, a historical/cultural site for which Marjorie is on the Board of Trustees, and Beverwyck, where we are on the waiting list to move to “senior housing.”

Golfing in Southern Utah

 

Still Crazy II

September-October 2024

 

In 2021 Jeff, apartment-mate & friend at UWisconsin grad school who married Marjorie’s sister (and led to my meeting Marjorie, but that’s a longer story), invited me to join a golfing group of alumni from his Racine WI high school. The group, which dubbed themselves “Still Crazy,” gathers periodically to play in various sites around the country. Pinehurst NC, something of a golfing mecca, was the choice for 2021. I had a wonderful time, sharing golf on special courses designed by the likes of Jack Nicklaus & Pete Dye with a very congenial group of guys. By way of thanks, I made a photo calendar from our Pinehurst adventures for organizer Bob; he tells me he still uses it with adjustments for the current year. I was set to join them again at some fabulous courses in southern Utah in 2022 but had to cancel when I contracted COVID. I planned to try again in 2023 when the group was scheduled in Georgia, but backed out from worries about how spinal stenosis issues in my back would handle concentrated golf over 3-4 days. Still Crazy e-mails rolled around again in Spring 2024, this time touting accommodations & golf in Southern California. After dithering for a while about my back, I decided to give it a shot, so to speak. Another fabulous job arranging the details: Bob Schroeder handles lodging and courses, Tim Paulson the money. As usual, Bob says, ”your Trip Charge covers everything once you land: car rental, everyone-under-one-roof accommodations, meals, munchies, medicinal liquids, green fees, event entry fees, a dozen golf balls, team hats, a variety of sure-to-be-treasured swag items... and four STILL CRAZY days of smiles, stories and sport.” I use my United Airline credit card miles for flights to & from LAX.

Everything looked great: beautiful lodging, interesting courses. Then . . . an email from Bob: “Shocking Developments” aka “Shit Happens.” About 3 weeks before the scheduled trip our lodgings are cancelled as part of a Chapter 11 Reorganization Bankruptcy! Does Bob give up? No, indeed! In only a few days he somehow manages to arrange another fabulous itinerary on the same dates for our consideration near St. George in southern Utah. This will make up for my missing Utah 2 years ago. Enough others in the group are “in” for the new arrangements. I cancel my original flights with a refund of the United miles to use for new flights to Utah. A choice of flying into St. George UT (30 minutes from lodging but 2 layovers on the way) or Las Vegas (2 hours away, but only 1 layover). I opt for fewer layovers. Coincidentally, a new COVID variant is spiking. I get a shot of an updated vaccine. Here’s hoping all’s well that ends well!

St. George was founded part of a “cotton mission” in 1861 under direction of a Latter Day Saint apostle, named after another LDS apostle. In the early 1950s, St. George was hit by fallout from above-ground nuclear testing NW of Las Vegas, with marked increases in cancer. Population 95,000, elevation about 3000’. It’s in part of the Mojave Desert; we can expect temps of 90-100. But hey, it’s dry heat, right? I remember the beauty of St. George and its surroundings from our trip thru Utah & Nevada in 1997. Bob sent a link to videos of the courses in this area. Fabulous scenery, courses winding thru red-rock canyons ready to capture wayward shots (I’ll pack lots of balls!). Golf Week Magazine has called the Red Rock Golf Trail here "The most exciting collection of spectacular golf courses anywhere on earth." Will my game be worthy?

Michigan 2024

 

Michigan

August 2024

 

Grandson Miles is doing a repeat 6-week camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts, but with a twist: he will return to Interlochen for his senior year of high school, as Anthea had done. We’ll repeat our trip out to see him and also visit with Russ’ brother Doug and sister-in-law Ann in Midland. Daughter-in-law Anthea will drive from Queens to join us; son Matt is otherwise occupied performing at the Tahoe Classical Festival. We’re sorry that Anthea’s parents, Pamela & Brian, also can’t join us this year.

 Thursday-Friday, 8/1-2: “Frogs and Balloons”

An uber reserved at 4am for our 6:15 flight to Chicago, but silly Marjorie made it for the wrong date! Change of plans, we drive and park at the airport. Airport’s all discombobulated by construction, both parking & terminal. Interesting art along a corridor. 

DC Open Embassies and More

 

DC Embassy Open Houses, Flowers, and Museums

May 2024

 

A year ago friend Diane, Executive Director of Colonie Senior Service Centers, where I’m on the Board of Directors and Marjorie has given & taken art classes and other activities, told us about spring open houses in embassies in Washington. It sounded lovely, so I started looking into options for this year, then learned Diane is organizing a group tour (initially for 10, grew to 23). She’s arranging flights & hotel. We signed right up. Diane has a planning meeting 3 weeks beforehand with various tips and a list of 51 embassies then set to be open.

These open houses are part of Passport DC, a month-long “journey around the world.”  Celebrated annually in May, International Cultural Awareness Month in Washington, Passport DC is 31 days of programming by embassies and other cultural institutions. DC is home to more than 175 embassies, the 2^nd-highest in one city in the world. [No, we won’t try to see them all!] During Around the World Embassy Tour, embassies from multiple non-European Union countries will host open houses on May 4 for visitors to learn about cultures & and traditions thru food, fashion, arts & music, etc. Passport DC also features a Flower Mart & International Floral Exhibit at the National Cathedral. On following weekends EU & then Asian embassies will host visitors. These are all free events open to the public.

Spring is pretty much in full swing around Albany, tulips up in Washington Park, trees & azaleas blooming on the UAlbany campus. It’ll be interesting to see what Washington looks like. The National Cherry Blossom Festival in DC ended April 14^th, but maybe some will still be blooming. Temps in DC have been 80s, even 90s, so we’ll pack light. We neaten up the house some for son Matt’s visit over the weekend, here to pack up grandson William at the end of his sophomore semester at Siena. Marjorie leaves Matt a “to-do list,” mostly in the garden; Matt’s become quite the gardener around their building in Queens.

Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica

March 2024

 

           Our travels have not included Central America. Well, a brief dip into Nogales, Mexico, during a trip to Arizona in 1987, but not enough to check off the region. Costa Rica has much to recommend it. One of the most “biodiverse” countries in the world, with some 5% of the world’s species. Been called the birthplace of ecotourism; 12 different life zones, 20 national parks, 26 protected areas, 9 forest reserves, 8 biological reserves, & 7 wildlife sanctuaries. All this packed into an area about the size of West Virginia. Climate seems quite agreeable: average highs about 80 don’t vary much by month and March looks the best for rainfall. Costa Rica is also described as a “safe paradise” with a very stable political climate. Last but not least: rave reviews from a surprising number of friends who’ve been there; we seem to be latecomers, guess we didn’t get the memo.

Costa Rica was inhabited by indigenous peoples before coming under Spanish rule in the 16^th C following Columbus’ arrival on his final New World voyage in 1502. In 1821 Costa Rica joined other Central American provinces in a joint declaration of independence from Spain. Following a brief  Civil War in 1948 its army was abolished, becoming one of only a few countries without a standing army, and there has been uninterrupted democratic rule since then. According to stats in Wikipedia, Costa Rica ranks well on various world indicators: higher “human development” than countries at the same income levels, 98% literacy, the 8^th freest press, 35^th most democratic, and 23^rd happiest country. We’ve done a number of trips with Gate1, which has several options for Costa Rica. The “10 Day Classic Costa Rica with Manuel Antonio” offers a quite comprehensive itinerary from mountains & volcanos to rain forests to coastal beaches.

Boston 2024

 

Boston

January 2024

 

We start our travels in the new year with several days in Boston, courtesy of the generosity of Marjorie’s sister Mary and hubbie Jeff. They treat us to a Marriott stay on their Vacation Club points. We’ve enjoyed similar outings with them here & Branson MO. A nice break. Been a pretty easy winter so far, not much snow. But Old Man Winter has been sending some reminders. Mary & Jeff are flying from KC where the NFL playoff game the previous night started at -4° with -27° windchill, the 3^rd coldest NFL game ever! [What's the coldest?: The "Ice Bowl" in Green Bay (vs. Dallas) 1967, -13 with -48 windchill!] Plus the game in Buffalo is postponed a day due to Winter Storm Heather bringing 2+ feet of snow. [And a shout-out to my brother Doug, whose Lions win their 1st playoff game in 32 years!] We have a brief but ferocious “squall” & whiteout conditions at home.

 

Monday, 1/15: “From Blood to Boston”

           A few things to take care of before driving to Boston. I'm off on what turns out to be an unusually long Red Cross delivery route, 7 hours, 270 miles: 4 hospitals from Kingston to Poughkeepsie to Putnam County, and then the small airfield at Walkill for "Air Methods" helicopter service. Some difficulty – the code I have doesn't open the door, no answers on phone #s I have -- but then a copter lands to "rescue" me. A pretty drive, sunny & brisk (teens to start), criss-crossing the Hudson, Catskill views, past imposing Fishkill prison and a favorite storefront outside Poughkeepsie that reads "ubreakifix." Marjorie finishes up some other things, we hit the road at 5pm. An easy drive until a GPS kerfuffle sends us headed back west! We correct things, get to the hotel about 9pm. 

On the Orient Express

 

On the Orient Express: A Belated Anniversary

Fall 2023

 

            Train-lover Marjorie has long expressed her desire for a trip on the Orient Express (there’s also Buddy Bombard’s Balloon Adventures, but that’s another story). She’s nonetheless surprised when I give her a “voucher” on her BD in 2021, aiming to celebrate our 50^th Anniversary (11/20/21) in Fall 2022 when (hopefully) COVID would be under control. The pandemic eases by March. On-line searching leads to multiple sources & routes, London, Paris, Venice, Vienna, Budapest, Istanbul, etc. 

I decide to look into London to Verona (a city we’ve not visited) with Railbookers, which is cited very positively. A very pleasant discussion with Eileen to look for a Fall trip. After some searching, she indicates almost everything booked but found one: “Grand Suite” for $19,000 per person! Woof! I do love dear Marjorie, but that seems way over the top (it’s only one night on the train, after all!). So Eileen searches for Fall 2023 and finds a much more sensible booking. We just have to be patient, lots of anticipation time.

The Orient-Express was created in 1883, 1^st trip left Paris for Constantinople with 40 passengers for 13 days roundtrip, unveiling midnight blue metallic cars with golden trim that led to its “Train Bleu” nickname. Trains became known for luxurious decorations & services: wood marquetry, glass panels, fabrics, refined leather, plus an “incredible gastronomic experience.” 

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie was published in 1934; various movie & TV adaptations followed. The original route ran from Paris across Europe thru Strasbourg, Munich, Vienna, Budapest, & Bucharest before arriving in Istanbul. Other routes headed south thru Lausanne, Simplon, Milan, Venice, Belgrade, & Sofia before Istanbul, or as far as Athens. The last direct trip between Paris & Istanbul was 1977.

            A mission to bring the train back began with 2 original carriages bought at auction, others tracked down for skilled craftsmen to restore; all classified as Historical Monuments. Relaunched 1982, increasing destinations & routes since then. The current Venice Simplon-Orient-Express (VSOE) is part of Belmond, which operates other “luxury trains,” including British Pullman, Royal Scotsman, & Andean Explorer. One account says: “Of all the luxury journeys in all the world, none evokes a picture of pure elegance, timeless sophistication and unparalleled romance quite like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express. Truly harking back to the 'Golden Age of Rail Travel', everything from the vintage cabins, exquisite gastronomy and convivial entertainment to the deluxe sleeping cars and inimitable service ensure that you are in for the journey of a lifetime. This is one train ride that is truly unforgettable.” But will there be a murder on board?

Michigan & Interlochen

 

Miles Takes Interlochen

 

 

           We’ve enjoyed watching grandson Miles dancin’ & singin’ since he started tap dancing at, what, 5 years old? That has broadened into a variety of musicals (e.g., Annie, Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man) at the 92^nd Street Y in NYC, a major cultural center where his mother Anthea was on staff for a while. He had some summer fun for a few years near us at Siena College Dance Camp (while brother William was at their Soccer Camp), as I was recently reminded by a Facebook “memory” video of him tap dancing 7 years ago. Miles’ path to Broadway has continued at Talent Unlimited, a high school in Manhattan specializing in the performing arts, where he’s headed into his junior year. Now another rung on the ladder this summer: Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.

Since 1928 Interlochen has “offered an immersive arts experience . . . nestled between two pristine lakes and surrounded by quiet pines.” 3000+ students grades 3-12 participate in summer camp programming and education in 7 disciplines: creative writing, dance, film & new media, interdisciplinary arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. [Parenthetically, there’s also Interlochen Arts Academy, where “young artists find the high school they may only have imagined possible.” After Miles was accepted for the summer we reminded him that Anthea had gone there for the summer following her junior year in high school and wound up staying to finish high school. Miles response: “Yeah, but do you know how much it costs!” They have been trying to recruit him – tenors are in high demand. Should we start a GoFundMe for Miles?]

Bonnie Scotland

 

Bonnie Scotland

June 2023

 

            Scotland has been mostly missing in our European travels. I had some stops in Scotland at the beginning of a Viking Ocean Cruise with brother Doug, wife Ann, & daughter Katie before continuing to Norway & the Arctic Circle. But Marjorie is eager to go there, and I’d like to see more. Interest prodded by recent TV highlighting Scotland: Outlander, a time-travel romantic adventure I got hooked on during the COVID pandemic; The Crown, which includes views of Balmoral Castle, Scottish home of the Royal Family; a “Wildheart” episode of Nature focusing on 500-year-old pines in the Highlands; The Traitors, a reality show promising “backstabbing and treachery” hosted by Alan Cumming in a Scottish castle; we stream the 3 seasons of very enjoyable Ted Lasso. So it seems the planets are aligned for a trip to Scotland.

Gate1, with whom we’ve had a number of happy trips, has a few options. Though it

does not include the Orkney Islands I enjoyed, Marjorie opts for the somewhat shorter “10 Day Classic Scotland,” which looks quite comprehensive enough. This continues a very busy travel year: Cruisin’ down the Mississippi in January, Florida in March,  Orient Express London to Verona coming in September.

A couple weeks before departure there’s an “Uh-Oh” moment threatening the trip: Marjorie tweaks her knee during early garden work. Ortho doc confirms a torn meniscus, but should heal in 6-8 weeks. A brace stabilizes the knee and things improve. Also helped by a cane that belonged to late friend Jerry, a reminder of enjoyable travels with Jerry & Diane. 

Marjorie asserts the garden is in good shape, planting complete. A stretch of summer weather, up to the 90s. We’ll plan for more spring-like weather in Scotland. Thankfully, packing this time doesn’t entail jumping thru COVID hoops. But one complication: a CBD tincture helpful for Marjorie’s joint pain and my restless leg (she says I “sleep like a baby,” not kicking her) has THC, not legal in the UK. We’ll take a similar product without THCWed., June 7: “Canadian Smoke”

Florida 2023

 

Florida

March 2023

       Never thought of us as “snowbirds.” No interest in living in Florida, seasonally or otherwise. But we seem to be developing something of a regular winter visit. It began with a drive down to join friend Kay in Sarasota in January 2014. We took the Queens family to Disney World for Thanksgiving that same year. A break in the action until last winter: a 2-part stay, 1^st with friends Deb & Chris in Sarasota and then joining with Mary & Jeff to stay with Susan & Jim in Naples. Very enjoyable, why not do a repeat? We do like the Sarasota area, plenty to see & do without being too hectic. And the Naples condo is nicely situated on a big pond, easy access to local sights & activities. This time we’ll head down in March when travel should be less affected by weather and more may be blooming in Florida.

      After a pretty quiet winter here we’ve had some recent snowfalls, still a couple of inches on the ground. Nothing like California: 10’ of snow, some people trapped at home for 2 weeks. Weather forecasts look good for Florida. Last September Hurricane Ian, the 3^rd-costliest weather disaster on record and deadliest hurricane to hit Florida since 1935, caused damage around Naples & especially nearby Fort Myers, even washing away a bridge to Sanibel Island, but Jim & Susan’s condo wasn’t damaged.

      In the midst of prepping for the trip a UPS package arrives from Mary & Jeff. Something new in giftgiving, many merged into one: Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Valentine's Day, Happy St. Patrick's Day, Happy Spring! For me an adorable mini–Red Cross van that reflects my blood delivery driving.

Catskills Valentine

 

Catskills Valentine

 February 2023

 

          What to do for Valentine’s Day? A perennial quandary. One unusual option: India's Hindu nationalist government has proclaimed February 14 "Cow Hug Day," countering a holiday they say “encourages female promiscuity and vulgar behavior." I prefer the tried-and-true option of a romantic getaway. But where? My Red Cross blood delivery driving offers an answer. The “Southwest” route takes me to Cobleskill, where I recently came across a group of locals (deer, that is) strolling thru a neighborhood below the hospital, then to Catskill villages Walton & Margaretville. Very scenic: farms, lakes & streams, covered bridges, mountain vistas, villages with pretty houses, churches, & shops. Going thru Downsville I spot the Old Schoolhouse Inn. Looks promising, but an internet check back home finds some negative reviews. Further on, Margaretville Mountain Inn seems a better choice, plus more eateries & interesting shops in the village. First efforts find only 3-night stays but changing dates and help from booking.com scores an overnight into Valentine’s Day itself. What could be better?

         I keep details a secret, only telling Marjorie to keep the 2 days clear and pack for overnight. Well, mostly a secret. We have lunch several days before with Becky, Exec Director of the Empire State Youth Orchestra (where young Matt began performing), at Jade Bistro in Scotia. 

Afterward, Becky gives me a tour of the new space for ESYO – a former school being remodeled & expanded to house the various ESYO ensembles with rehearsal & office space. Quite a project, aiming for Fall ’24 completion. I share my Valentine plans with Becky; she approves.

 

First let’s look at the lead-up to what Marjorie might call our “Valentine Festival” (like her “Birthday Festivals”). Tho I’m on the Board & Past President of Colonie Senior Service Centers, Inc., Marjorie seems more connected to CSSC. She joins neighbors Mary Ann & Paul to see PBS documentary “Searching for Timbuctoo” about a pre-Civil War Black settlement organized by abolitionists in the Adirondacks, hosted at CSSC by the filmmaker; ironically, a CSSC Board meeting prevents my joining them. 

Down the Mississippi

 

Down the Mississippi

December 2022-January 2023

            Sometimes trips evolve in quite unexpected ways. After a lovely trip to Maine in August I sent my usual writeup to family & friends. That led Santa Fe friend Diane to call Marjorie for a long chat that included news she and hubbie Jerry (with friends Bob & Donna) are going on a Viking Mississippi River cruise starting New Year’s Eve. We’ve done a bunch of Viking river cruises in Europe, but the Mississippi is a new itinerary for them. Enticing, but a look at the website showed the cruise sold out except one stateroom category, some price reductions would end the next day, and final payment due in 3 days! Spurred into action: a call to Viking to book with agent Donnie, then reviewing & reserving included & optional excursions, purchasing trip insurance. By moving so quickly we save about $2,000: trip discounts, getting our own insurance, using “E-check” to pay. So Marjorie’s not the only smart shopper! It seems odd to do a Viking trip domestically, but it’s nice to avoid passports, customs. money exchange, and language differences; well, some differences y’all.

          A potential hitch: drought in the Midwest, High Plains and South leads to very low water levels

in the Mississippi in October, including lowest ever in Memphis, where we start. A Baton Rouge resident hunting for artifacts finds submerged wreck of a 19^th C ship. New islands emerge and walkways to others. Our more selfish concern: we don’t want a river cruise to become a bus tour! There are signs that late-November storms in the Midwest & South causing flight delays & cancellations have also eased the Mississippi R drought. Agent Donnie assures us early in December that there is water to cruise. COVID has also been spiking. Viking requires vaccination, but so far not the daily testing on our Portugal cruise in April.

Of course, winter travel has other risks. A major “bomb cyclone” storm comes across the country into Christmas weekend. Buffalo hit with over 4’ of snow. Even the Deep South has subfreezing temps with burst pipes & power outages. Thankfully, we have quiet clear weather to drive to & from Queens for Christmas with the family. And forecasts look favorable for our travel schedule.

Midland MI

 

Midland

October 2022

            Haven’t seen Russ’ brother Doug & sister-in-law Ann in, well, way too long. Thought to drive with some other visits along the way, but too daunting. And we have lots of United miles accumulated during the pandemic. Reasonable connections, so flying won out.

 Tuesday, October 4: “Club Hopping”

            Our usual very early start, to Albany International Airport (sounds impressive!) at 4:30am for our 6:15 flight. Easy check-in and thru security, 1^st time with our TSA “Known Traveler Numbers.” Pretty sunrise at takeoff, early to O’Hare. 

Layover of 6+ hours! We have Lounge Passes thru our United credit cards to ease the stay. To the nearest Club, sign says “Not Accepting One-Time Passes.” Oh no! But Marjorie charms our way in. It is quite crowded, but clears out pretty quickly. We find comfortable chairs and partake of the breakfast buffet. A gate listed for our next flight looks to be a long walk to a different concourse (C to F) in a different terminal. We’re told there’s another Club Lounge near the F gate (nicer than this one, the agent says) and that it’s OK to “hop” to another. A 15-minute walk takes us underground (pretty lights) to F concourse, where it’s now time for the lunch buffet and watching planes take off.