Yes, the house sale in Margate I went to yesterday was at 615 N. Delavan, where my twin and her family had lived 35 years ago. To my surprise, the owner, Carol, immediately recognized Betty's name, saying she had occasionally seen her over the years. I was also surprised to learn that Carol is SIL to Trudy, who was Betty's next door neighbor on Atlantic Avenue, and whom I remember well.
The house is a split-level and Carol and her husband added another whole level for a master bedroom. Carol invited me to come up and see it. It's a huge suite, covering the entire floor. However, they seem to have done very little to the rest of the house since they bought it in 1972. The rec room is still panelled (and it's seen better days), the kitchen looks the same and, aside from paint, it's more or less as it was when Betty and Wes lived there. Carol said it was under contract, so maybe the new owners will renovate.
I have such good memories of that house and the many family gatherings there. The priceless movie Wes recently shared of Easter at 615 North--it has to be more than 40 years ago--took place in that living room. Big Wes was there, and Mom and Aunt Maggie, and our little children, the oldest of whom, Patrick, now approaching 50, was 7 or 8. Where did it all go? Where did they all go?
After chatting with Carol and glancing at the things she had for sale--mostly dismal modern furniture I wouldn't take as a gift--I left a little hurridly. I love and revere the past, but I can't stay there too long or I get melancholy.
I went over to Hamilton Mall to run a few errands, picked up a nice chicken to roast for dinner, and eased myself back to the 21st century. All those little chores and errands, all the minutia, all the things that seem so important at the time (Will the dress fit? Does the plant need water? Did the cake rise?) are what makes us human, it seems to me.
I do like to visit the long-ago, but the present is where I live and I'm glad to be home.

Saw Notes on a Scandal yesterday and boy, was it intense. Barb H., Leslie, and I enjoyed it, although it was somewhat depressing overall. Judi Dench played an incredibly absorbing part and so did Cate Blancett (I think that's misspelled); the underlying theme was age versus youth and it was repeated throughout the movie.
Pat went down the bay while I was gone, but still isn't his usual self. He's taking Tylenol every few hours, but can't seem to articulate why he needs it and in what way he doesn't feel well. As for me, the cold hangs on and on; it has now "settled in my chest" as people used to say, and I have a deep cough. Alison thinks my constant colds are from stress. She had had a number of bad colds last year when she was just finishing up graduate school and had a lot on her plate--even more than now.
It was so good to talk to her. As she's done before, she called me on her way to the Friday night hike. Unfortunately, her Mike also has a bad cold, so didn't go. She said it would probably be the coldest of their regular hikes, as the temperature has really dropped. She's taking Joely and Mike's grandchildren to the aquarium tomorrow, then will come down to visit us on Sunday--yay!
Alison is square in the middle of the "sandwich generation," with aging parents (who, us?) and grandchildren with whom she's also deeply involved. It's just remarkable that she handles everything--including a husband, a home, a very demanding career, and marathon training--with such cheerfulness and grace.
Pat has a doctor's appointment at Fort Dix on Monday and I e-mailed Jen asking if we could stop after and take her and Joely to lunch.
Today, am going to Margate for a house sale--at an address I've visited many times in the past. Stay tuned for exactly where that is.

Well, this blog is driving me crazy! I just looked at yesterday's entry and found it had printed twice. I deleted what I thought was a simple duplicate and found it was the one I had added to later in the day, so I accidentally deleted that deathless prose.
What I added was just that Pat had to cancel his lunch date with his cronies from the bay, as he still wasn't feeling up to par. Hope they can re-schedule soon. Can't remember what else I wrote except that I had a nice lunch with Mary Ann. The rest of the day I just puttered around.
Found out from long-ago classmate Dolores that she saw my entry on "Atlantic City Memory Lane," which is how she found my blog. After my response, she filled me in on her current life and it will be nice to keep in touch with her.
Think I'll skip Curves today; it's already ten of 9 and Susan and I had our "Walk Away the Pounds" session, anyway. Pat seems to be feeling better, so I hope to be able to go to the movies with Leslie and Barb H. today. Not sure what we'll see.

Took Pat to the dermotologist yesterday; his neck is healing well, but there's a kind of pre-cancerous rash on his forehead. The doctor gave him a prescription for a cream that brings it out.
Got my hair trimmed, then went to Acme for 3 items--came out with $51.22 worth of stuff. Also drove down to Manahawkin to several stores and managed to spend several hundred dollars on minor items. (Hey, it's easy!)
Today, Pat is meeting his bay cronies for lunch at Calloway's in Stafford. I'm a little worried about this excursion for two reasons. First, there are steps to climb--only about 10, but they'll be very difficult for him--plus a walk from the door to the dining room which will leave him breathless. Second, he had a restless night last night (rather, this morning). He woke and sat up at 2 am and asked me to get him some Tylenol, saying he had chills and trouble breathing. I did, and he lay down again, but sat up several times later and his breathing was labored. The last time his breathing was even worse than usual was on Thanksgiving and we had to take him to the hospital. I have a mammogram scheduled for 8 and will check him before I leave to see if I should go. I have a lunch date with Mary Ann Van O., whose husband also has emphysema--hope I don't have to cancel.
Got up about 4:45 and had a nice surprise on my e-mail: a message from Dolores S., with whom I graduated from high school so many centuries ago. I wrote her back immediately and hope to hear more from her.

Good exercise day yesterday: walked with Susan at 7:00, then went to Curves with Barb and Leslie at 9:30. However, Susan has an early appointment today (she's in real estate), so can't go, and I have a mammogram scheduled for 8 am tomorrow, so can't go then. I may be able to go to Curves if we can get back in time for Pat's doctor today appointment at 11:15. It's just a follow-up at the dermotologist's.
Yesterday, Jack B. came over and surprised us by staying for lunch. He usually just pops in for an hour after a golf date at Atlantis, then leaves, but this time, he actually drove over specifically to see us. A milestone birthday for him is coming up and his kids are taking him to Cancun.
For the first time in years, I made "slymphie stew" for dinner last night and Pat and I both enjoyed it. This is just pasta (I usually use elbow macaroni), spaghetti sauce, and browned ground meat mixed together, so it isn't really a stew. The name? When I was a very little girl, I made up the word "slymphie" as a perjorative term for people I was mad at. It was a noun: "Oh, you're a slymphie!" Later, as a young housewife, I THOUGHT I had originated the dish (of course, the same thing, with variations, abound) and labelled it "slymphie stew" for the kiddies. It's actually a quick, easy, and satisfying dish as a meal in itself or as part of a buffet after transferring to a crockpot. At my afternoon birthday party, I made both meat and vegetarian versions and everybody seemed to enjoy them.

When I got up yesterday, I was amazed to find it had snowed. There wasn't much, but the sidewalks and streets were icy and I was afraid to try to get over to Susan's. I figured she'd come here and she did. She was nice enough to get her car and drive us to the clubhouse where we did our 3-miler. Today, we walk (1 1/2 mile). Barb H. e-mailed asking if I want to go to Curves and I will at 9:30. I still want to take advantage of the freebies for the month.
Dennis, our friend, neighbor, and contractor, came over yesterday to discuss the built-ins in the study. It looks good, but I still have some problem visualizing it all. What we want is the far wall filled in as an office work area, places for the printer, fax machine, paper, files, and all kinds of other office stuff. It's incredible how much paperwork I generate--I take care of all our "business," including, but not limited to, Medicare, the two supplemental insurances, Pat's doctors, plus all the other items: taxes, mortgage, purchases, etc. In addition, I keep track of appointments, meetings, invitations, people's birthdays and anniversaries, and so on. Right now, I use a junky old Ikea desk, plus separate bookcases and have files, paper, and other supplies in the closet, things in the antique desk in the hall, and other stuff I need stashed in various rooms. It will be heavenly to be able to find things and have them all in a central place.

Lazy Sunday yesterday. Brother Larry (Florida) called and talked to Pat and me. Said brother Frank and SIL Marybeth (California) had stopped at their place for a few days on their way back from Panama.
The big event of the day was my trip to Kohl's in Manahawkin to get the new ear warmers. I just did that and left, didn't browse at all. Did a wash and put beef stew ingredients in the crockpot, then fell asleep on the coach after lunch. Slept for about 2 hours until Pat came back from the bay and woke me at 4:00. Ate, took a shower, poured my lovely glass of wine (Taylor County Red, 10 bucks a gallon), and talked to darling Ellen. Happily, she got her orthotics and her feet feel much better.
Dennis is coming today to give us an estimate for built-ins in the study. Otherwise, nothing scheduled until Wednesday when Pat sees the dermotologist in the morning and I get my hair cut in the afternoon.
Today, Susan's daughter is no longer visiting and she and I will resume exercising. Good--I want to get back in the groove.