The Pool and The Pines

Spent the morning on mundane missions in Manahawkin and the afternoon at the pool.  Went over after lunch and found just a few there.  Children are allowed between 11:00 and 3:00 and a lot of the old fogies won't come until after.  Actually, the only kids there yesterday were Joan O.'s two grandchildren of 2 and 6 and they were cute and quiet.
Oh, oh, oh, the water was lovely.  It was cool, but not too cool, and so clear.  It was fine to glide around in it with the big pines overhead and the incredible blue sky and clouds so white they hurt your eyes. 
I kept hearing whistles, fairly loud, outside the fence, and I thought some kids were blowing them.   But Art M. told me it was two hawks--he pointed them out far up in a towering pine--signaling back and forth to each other.  They sounded so mysterious, but perfectly right for that intensely sunny day and me in the pool.
Later, more residents filtered in, including Mary and Don S., who sat with me and with whom I chatted for a half hour or so.  Hank G. and his strange son (I think he had had some kind of drug problem) came in, and so did Barbara B., and Jay and Marilyn P, with whom I'm friendly.  Stayed until about 4:00, a long time for me, showered and dressed and felt so good.
How is it possible to love winter?

Day With Aline

Spent a low-key, but pleasant, day with Aline.  We first went to lunch--natch--on Jimmie Leeds Road, this time at the Irish Pub.  We both like Italian Gourmet, but I suggested this just for a change.  Had soup and sandwich, along with "Celtic Red" ale--very tasty.
After, Aline asked if we could go to Wal-Mart so she could pick up a few things.  Went to the one in Manahawkin, after simply forgetting the one across from Hamilton Mall.  We both bought sundry items, then at Aline's suggestion, stopped at Jeffreeze.  She got a cone, but I didn't want one; just had water while she ate her butter pecan.
Dropped my companion off about 5:00 and went home for a dinner of the chick pea stew Susan had brought over before our walk.  She had made a big batch for the H.'s party and had a lot left over.  Yum, it was good and I have more for tonight.  Talked to Betty later; she'll come over to go in the pool someday next week. 

Fourth of J.

So I was in a dilemma: Much as I hated to miss the H.'s party, I didn't want to see a certain person there.  I had also been invited by Aline to join her, her sister, and the lunatic lady next door to view the fireworks in Tuckerton after a hot dog at Stewart's.  That sure as hell didn't appeal to me, either.
Solution?  I called Betty and asked what she was doing.  "Nothing," she said, "so come on down."  I did, and found Muckie with her son, Matt, and two grandsons there, too.  Latter went to the beach and we three sat on the porch talking for hours.  Muckie and Pat R. have been good friends for years and she and Betty were interested in hearing about my visit to Pat the day before.
I had brought two Buds and a hard-boiled egg sandwich and the others got lunch from the corner, so we happily munched away.  Muckie, Matt, and the boys left, then Betty and I took a nice walk on the boardwalk.
The boardwalk, the beach, all of Ventnor, it seemed, were packed (and probably the whole island, too).  Betty and I marveled at the lunch/dinner setups under open-sided tents, most with barbecues and some very elaborate.  We even saw beer on the beach, illicit or not.  These things were never permitted in our youth and would have given the residents of that day the vapors.  We agreed it looked like great fun, though.
Later in the day, we strolled over to the ice cream store nearby and got cones.  By the time we performed the last lick, it was 7:30 or so, and I said goodbye.  Got home before full dark after yet another pleasant summer day.  

Pat's Place

A good day, in an enjoyable succession of good days.  Left for Moorestown at 9:00, giving myself plenty of time to get lost, which I did, but not for long.  The rain held off most of the time, and I got to Evergreens a bit early.
Wow, what a place.  Imagine an elegant--and, let it be known, expensive--country club, set in a beautifully maintained campus behind stately brick walls.  Flowers and well-tended greens surround it and the main building is reminiscent of an historic Georgian home.
That, I learned, is deceptive.  It's not evident until you go in, but extending back from the foyer, lobby, dining, and other "greeting rooms" is what amounts to a large apartment building.  Pat's digs are down several long corridors and up three floors--we took the elevator--and she told me there are a variety to choose from. 
Hers has a small entrance, an attractive kitchen--compact, but efficient--a bright and cheery living room with attached study, plus bedroom and bath and a nice balcony overlooking the back lawn.  She isn't fully moved in yet (yesterday was the end of her third month there), but her place is shaping up well.       
We chatted for a bit, then went down to the dining room--white tablecloths and well-appointed settings--and were joined by Nancy T., also from Absecon Island.  Nancy's mother, who lived to be 105, and mine had been friends, and Nancy graduated from HSHS in 1941 with my brother-in-law, Bill.  Later, another friend of Pat's, "Sunny"--love the name--joined us, and we perused the printed menu, which had three choices.  I picked the chicken stir-fry, and the others had quiche or liverwurst and onions on rye.
After, Pat showed me around.  Holy smokes, you could live there without ever stepping outside the door and, I suppose, some people do--or don't.  There are several large meeting rooms, a "key club," a fitness center and in-door pool, beauty salon, doctor's and nurses' office, a kind of luncheonette (The Atrium), with a small store attached, a library, and a multitude of other amenities.
Naturally enough, Pat had some second thoughts after she moved in--will I like it here? Was this the right choice?--but pretty clearly, it suits her fine.  Several of her nieces and nephews, with whom she's close, live nearby, and she's made friends with many of her neighbors.  Because she has a curious mind, she has participated in several activities, including a seminar on comparative religions. 
After lunch, we chatted a bit, then Pat offered to have me follow her while she guided me back to route 38.  Once she got me there, we waved goodbye, and I made it home with no problem.
I'm endlessly fascinated by how people live, and this is one way.  It contrasts with a thatched hut in the Congo and living in the White House, and calling a big house on Rosborough Avenue "home."  At the Evergreens, Pat has pretty clearly, found her place and I'm happy for her.
   

Sahara Sam's Water Park

Another wonderful day with the boys.  I got up north at 10 and we left shortly thereafter for Sahara Sam's Water Park in Berlin, N.J.  Took about an hour and we were resigned to staying in the indoor part, but that wasn't necessary later in the day because it cleared and the sun even came out for a time. 
The kids had a ball and so did I.  There were all kinds of water activities, including their favorite, the wave area.  This is a good-sized construction with very realistic waves--actually, they are waves, but machine-made--starting with big rollers and, as they do on a real beach, dwindling to a slow wash at the other end.  It was great fun and I loved it, too.
Most of all, I loved just being with the boys and their Nana.  They went on lots of other water rides, along with sixteen million other kids, half of them, it seemed, boys just-turned-eleven, and almost six.  It's amazing how much alike kids look with soaking wet hair and in trunks. 
But the more I see of my great grandsons, the more I appreciate their individual uniqueness (excuse the construct).  Their intelligence, generally cooperative ways, and interest in the world make them a pleasure to be with.  J. can discuss serious subjects with ease and T. is so bright and funny; I always have a ball with them. 
Besides being great fun, the place is rip-off heaven--for the owners, that is.  Admission is thirty dollars, (although over 65s, such as your truly, get in free) and you're not allowed to bring your own food.  My modest chef's salad came to a hefty $10.99, in addition to two something for coffee.  Combined with the boys' and their grandmother's lunch, the bill came to just a few cents under fifty bucks.  I didn't, however, pay for any of it.
Besides...what would I pay for a such a bright (figuratively speaking) and beautiful day with these bright and beautiful children?
Nothing, because it was priceless.
   

No Lake, But Beach

I was so pleased to receive a (phone) call from my dear nephew, Dave W., now settled into his Foreign Service job in--lucky guy!--Rome.  He and Polly, a bright and adventurous couple, are greatly enjoyed the city, where I hope to visit before they leave.
The weather did not cooperate for a lake day, but we managed to have fun, anyway.  Arrived up north about 2:00 and the boys blew in shortly thereafter.  We played Janghi (or whatever it's call), in which you pile squared-off wooden stakes, alternating in each direction, then each player has to removed one until they all fall down.  I like the game because it couldn't be simpler; I never considered complicated "strategy" games no fun. 
After a tasty dinner, we went to the beach at Belmar.  It was foggy, cold, and damp, but so what?  The boys raced around gathering shells and getting sandy and wet, and we had a ball.
Back to their place about 8:00 and to mine a bit after 9:00.  Ellen and I happily Skyped for a bit (I'll see her in a few weeks--yay!), then I had my usual and fell into bed.
Today, it's the indoor water park in Berlin.  The heck with the weather!

Dine Around

After our walk,  Aline called.  She declined my invitation to Dine Around, but may go next month. 
Made up a batch of crystal pickles.  While they sat for the obligatory two hours in the refrigerator, I zipped over to the bank to get money for Dine Around.  Added the sugar and vinegar, packed them in containers, and put them in the freezer for later.
Dine Around was at The Captain's Inn in Forked River.  It's a nice place and we had a semi-private area in a big room on the side.  Joint was jumpin' and so was all of Forked River, now the summer season is in full swing.
I had the broiled seafood combo--mediocre--and sat with people I've known since I moved here almost a decade ago now, as well as newcomers, Bob and Eleanor.  They're nice enough, but seem a typical older generation couple.  He's the leader and talks about weighty topics, such as politics and the state of the world today (comes across as to the right of Krauthammer, of course), and she discusses Paula Deen and how these teenagers are getting worse all the time.  (Hey, maybe they are; I don't know any teenagers.)   
It was a nice evening, though.  Judy and Roman led the usual silly games.  They invited me to accompany them, with Susan and Walter, to Albert Hall in Waretown, to hear bluegrass music.  Hey, I'd rather do that than hang by my thumbs for three days, but I politely declined.  It was nice of her to ask, though, and I told her that.
Today, the lake with the boys, IF (and it's a big if, considering the rain lately) weather permits.  Otherwise, we'll just hang at their grannie's house.  It's always such fun to be with them--can't wait.