Yet another full, full day in a week of them. Met Linda G. for lunch at Fred & Ethel's in Smithville and we had a fine time getting to know each other. She's a Quaker, which explains her pacifism, and suffered three serious accidents on her bike. These left her with brain damage, but this is evident only in a slight limp and occasional difficulty in finding words. She lived in Brigantine as a kid and went to Friends School in Atlantic City. Her father was president of Atlantic City Electric. She is an artist, but has been unable to paint for a time. Linda had married twice, but had no children.
She called me in the morning to ask if I'd like to go with her to a cookout at 4:00 at a friend's in Egg Harbor Township. Well, sure, why not?
After lunch, I followed Linda to her house in Port Republic. This is a fascinating one, way back in the woods and a little messy, but in a cozy, inviting way. Some of her art hangs on the walls and I like the portraits so much. We chatted for a bit, then I went to the cemetery (it was my fifty-fifth anniversary) while Linda assembled deviled eggs to take to the party.
Made my visit, then picked up a few things at Shop-Rite and got back to Linda's about 4:00. Followed her to the cookout, which was at a house also out in the woods, near Germania Cemetery.
I had met some of the guests--many were Quakers--at the Potluck for Peace gathering a few weeks ago; several are active or retired faculty at Stockton State.
I greatly enjoyed talking to Rick Goldberg who, oddly enough considering his name, was brought up Catholic (he's now a Quaker). His wife's name is the same as mine. Rick had been superintendent of schools in Mullica Township and I found him wonderfully engaging--maybe because he has many of the same ideas and beliefs I do. He knows Don M., with whom I graduated from HSHS and who is still hanging on to his superintendent of schools job in (somewhere; don't recall). Rick and I agreed it's about time for him to close the book and let somebody write in it. Anyway, it was an enjoyable, though low-key, party.
I have nothing scheduled for the weekend, which is fine by me; I'm ready for a break.
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