Summer Rhythms

After being without them for three weeks, we were grateful to pick up Patrick and Nathan from National. They were full of enthusiasm and stories; clearly gaining a lot from the camp experience. They've since fallen into the summer rhythm of sleeping late and hanging with their buddies. We've had visits to orthodontists and dentists and a few fun outings. Martha and I went to Alexandria to meet my friend Paul and his wife, Lori, at a nice Greek place. Paul offered up tickets to a Nationals game the following week that I took Nathan and his buddy, Daniel, to see. (Patrick declined). A few days later Martha and I took Patrick to see Westfield High School's production of "Anything Goes" (Nathan declined). A really stunning production, far exceeding anything normally associated with a high school play. Then last night we walked over to 21st Street in Purcellville for the first wine and food festival and visited with neighbors and friends. Quite a success and hopefully will be repeated. Now we're preparing for the trip to Castle Park where we'll spend the next three weeks.

To Date.....

A few months later.... So far 2012 has had some decidedly high and low points. Nathan finished off a first year of being in the travel basketball league; a significant honor. Then he went on to lacrosse where he had a number of his friends as teammates. Patrick won the role of Daddy Warbucks in the production of Annie and even agreed to have me shave his head for the role. A brave move that made me proud. Both of them performed in the Loudoun Music Instruction spring recital at Franklin Park -- both as soloists and in bands. Martha had begun working in a Home Exchange network and we went to Blowing Rock, NC in early April to a beautiful mountain home. In May we suffered an unexpected blow when LLS fired the entire public policy staff and me. I've since been grappling with the implications, but that's for another blog. In June Christopher graduated from Loudoun Valley High School. Jamie came up from Richmond for it and we enjoyed some low-key celebration. Right afterwards, Chris took off for Camp Highlands to work as a counselor for the summer. With school out, Patrick took part in a production of "Guys & Dolls" where he was a drunk, a gambler and a Cuban dancer. Nathan had a week of basketball camp. As a special treat, we took them to the Kennedy Center to see "Memphis", their first real Broadway show experience. They both then left for their three weeks at Camp Highlands; leaving Martha and me alone (!) For the first week we did another house exchange with a couple in Easton, MD A beautiful spot on the water where we rode bikes, explored St. Michaels and Oxford and relaxed. When we got back we went to see a Dolly Stevens production of "13" - which Patrick would have been in if not at Camp.