7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 115)

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A Montessori Mindset One of the kids at school fell on the way to carpool and got scraped knees.  After tending to the booboos, I was asked a question that I believe to be clearly indicative of this young person’s Montessori education: “What kind of wood do you think those steps were made out of that I fell down?  Are they made of oak?”  Wow!  That was the last thing I expected to hear post scraped knee experience.  The knowledge and questions of children, in general, tends to amaze and amuse me. 

 

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The Loss of Loved Ones Last Saturday Kevin and I went to Mass, prayed the Rosary before the statue of Mary in the garden at Little Sisters of the Poor where he and I have gone and sat together since I was in high school. I went to Reconciliation, then spent some time praying at St. Michael's grotto. Someone had stolen the matches and scattered all the envelopes, so I couldn't even light a candle for my dad. He knows I've been thinking of him a lot lately.
     Lord, I give you this day and all of the prayers and tears mixed together in it, to be used as You wish for the salvation of souls in time and eternity. Amen.

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You Got Mail! This weekend, I figured out how I’m going to display some cards Kevin and I sent each other over the years in a collage so they can be opened and read while hanging up.

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Empty Nest Errs It feels a bit strange going to St. Benedict’s for daily Mass now, knowing that the two people Kevin and I most often attended Mass with at that church have moved to new places as they continue on their faith and vocation journeys.  I won’t hear from Michele until Christmas and that’s if she feels like sending me a letter.  Fortunately, we keep in touch pretty much daily with John in one way or another, even though he’s been on summer assignment in Hampton, Virginia, and is heading back to St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore very soon for his second year of seminary.  

     
Kevin and I have felt in a sense like we’ve had two leave the nest over the past year.  What’s funny is that this summer, we’ve started actually decorating our place a bit.  We now have our dining area devoted to a Rochester, Lake Ontario, beginning of Kevin and me becoming friends and dating theme...Read the rest of this reflection here.   

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Gelati Celesti Kevin and I have been enjoying using our St. Michael's Scrip for Gelati Celesti (and the other bazillion places they have available.  

  

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Step Up Yes, I know I'm silly, but now we have all four of the Step Up movies.  Some of the acting is corny at best, and the stories are very predictable, but I'm really inspired by dance, and Kevin loves it, too, so we've had fun watching the movies and the making of the movies and the choreography.  You can make fun of us if you like, but then you better bring it!  
    

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But I'm on Vacation! For the first time this summer, Kevin and I are both officially on vacation.       

Check out Jen Fulwiler’s tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday at her tremendously popular blog Conversion Diary.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 65)

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Back to the Beach Kevin and I have had a great deal of fun playing badminton on the beach behind the cottage.  I’m fairly certain anyone who has watched us play our version of the game—no net, no boundaries, no rules, just keep the birdie in the air at all costs—has been entertained.  It’s gotten us laughing out loud.  That’s for certain! 

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Living on the Lake Again this year, I occasionally had moments of “whoa, I never would have thought it would be like this!” as Kevin and I have spent time at his family’s cottage where we first met and became friends when I was still in high school sixteen years ago. 

 

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Kickin’ it at the Cottage It’s definitely nostalgic being back here on the lake in Rochester, spending time where my husband and I first met and got to know each other.  Now that my mom’s selling her house, it feels even more like this is the one home base I have left to come and spend time with family, rest, relax, catch up, read a good book, share a meal, hear a story, and just be myself. 

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Remember when… we found out our grandmothers used to play cards together…all Kevin and I wanted was to spend time together…we stayed up all night talking then watched the sunrise…we played endless card games…I helped Kevin wash his car and let him try and pull me up on water skis…we sat for hours on “our block” at the pier talking and getting pictures of the sunset…we rode bikes to Charlotte Beach for the Wednesday night concert…Kevin threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes in order to carry me out to the boat… 

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Not in a million years would I have believed that Kevin would return to the Catholic faith in which he was raised and someday even enjoy going to daily Mass with me.  When we met, he wanted nothing to do with organized religion and was still bitter that his mother had made him go to Mass on Sundays.  His complete conversion is proof NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!      

 

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Sunday Traditions We spent another family fun Sunday with Kevin’s three sisters, their husbands, and family.  Dinner preparation starts earlier now that playing dominoes for hours has become a favorite pastime.  When we arrived at the cottage, they’d posted the score sheet from the weekend before we arrived, because it was the first time Kevin’s oldest sister Deb had ever won at the intense game of Mexican train dominoes held down at the lake.

 

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Summer’s Over or so it seems since we’ll be heading home tomorrow from our last vacation this year.  It’s hard to believe that these three months are already gone.  Kevin has to work on Labor Day, and I start my new nannying schedule on Tuesday.  We’ll be praying that everyone has safe travels and a blessed school year!

 

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 55)

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“Once Upon a Time” Camp this week was a super-smashing success!  I really enjoyed being lead teacher for a camp that combines some of my favorite things: reading, children, learning, and laughing.  We read a number of popular children’s books, made some cute pig and colorful big bad wolf puppets and got to take turns using them for improv shows.  Check out the other awesome camp offerings available through Richmond Montessori School here.  There’re still a few spaces left in a couple of my camps.     

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 Oh-so-sleepy It’s always difficult going back to work after vacation, but Kevin and I really like the people we work with which certainly makes it easier to return.  We were both really exhausted at the beginning of this week, though.  I can’t believe it’s gone by so quickly, that it was less than a week ago that we were still enjoying our time in Rochester, NY.  As always, on the drive up two weeks ago, I knew that it would seem like no time at all had passed and we’d find ourselves back in the car headed South.  And that’s precisely what happened.     

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Creative Writing Workshop for Adults is being offered in the Richmond area for one week.  Whether you have a lilt for the lyrical or a passion for prose, you’ll have your inner muse kicked into high gear as we explore the spectacular world of creative writing. We’ll see how music, art and stimulating our five senses inspire us to create literary masterpieces (or at least the beginnings of such). Discover your writing gifts and learn how to hone those literary skills.  Register online at Richmond Montessori School under "Summer Programs." 

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Dominating in Dominoes Kevin and I have a new gaming obsession thanks to his sisters: Mexican train dominoes.  We played it a couple different times with his sisters and their spouses, and we actually had a really good tutor in our corner the first time we played, which was nice because these games can get pretty hardcore.  John beat everyone when we all played together, so we had to have a rematch, and he won against just Kevin and me, too.  I bought a set so Kevin and I can play at home, too.  Justice will be served, dear brother :)      

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Friday Fish Fry Last Friday, Kevin, his three sisters, Deb, Wendy, and Chari, our beloved brother in Christ John, and I went to Schooner’s restaurant on the Genesee River to get a fish fry.  It was a beautiful evening to sit outside, be on the water, share a meal with loved ones, and even listen to a live band.    

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Blast from the Past Kevin had to laugh when he saw that a buddy of his from back in the day when he owned his own music studio was the singer/guitarist for the band playing at Schooner’s that evening.  As soon as Mickey Ames (guitarist/vocalist of The Fools) spotted Kevin, he announced that KP was in the house.  Since Kevin was no longer a drummer in a band, running sound for a band, and had gotten rid of his recording studio by the time we met, I feel that I’m getting a glimpse into his former life. 

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How Sweet It Is Ever since I was in utero, we’ve gone to Rochester, New York in the summer, but this was the first time that Kevin and I got to show someone who had never been there around, and it was fun.  John took the train up and arrived late a week ago last Tuesday to stay with us at the cottage for a few days.  The three of us really had a good time.  It was neat taking John to the many different places that have been significant for Kevin and me throughout the course of our relationship, and also introducing him to Kevin’s family, and to our favorite restaurants. Oh, yeah, and now he understands why we like being on the lake so much and has experienced some of what I've written about in the memoir I've been working on about the miraclous series of events God orchestrated to bring Kevin and I together and keep us best friends until we could date. 

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 53)

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Extreme Makeover provides some good guidelines for learning more about the how and why behind Catholic teachings, a clear delineation of what they actually are (when it comes to sexuality and the expression of it) and why these tenets of the faith aren’t going to change because of public opinion or popular trends…Learn more here.

 

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Heading home, in a sense. Returning to Rochester, New York, where my grandparents, parents, and my husband and his family were all born and raised is a sort of homecoming for me as well.  This is the one place my family and I have come back to year after year regardless of how far away we lived at the time. There have only been one or two summers in my entire life that I haven’t come back to Rochester for a week or two.  Though it’s been years since my grandma sold her house to my uncle and aunt, and even quite some time since they moved out of it, the cottage Kevin’s family owns has been a home base of sorts for both Kevin and me. 

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Changes abound! Though much about Rochester is familiar and has a certain flavor that hasn’t changed much over the years, there have been some drastic developments and significant changes to the place Kevin grew up in and the one I returned to pretty much every year to visit family, friends, and vacation.  Ontario Beach Park, aka, Charlotte Beach (pronounced without the “r” sound) have actually been cleaned up and are even prettier than when Kevin and I first met and would go walk the pier and spend time talking down there.  Kodak country, as this city has been known for years, has dwindled to a mere remnant of what it used to be.    

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For the Love of Food (and tradition)!  Kevin and I both have a number of restaurants, ice cream shops, and now even a cool café that we frequent when we come back to visit.  When we were talk about coming up here, it’s understood that we’ll need to make at least one stop at Parkway Family Diner for a greasy spoon breakfast, Don’s Original for delicious cheeseburgers, Ricci’s for amazing Italian cuisine, Schaller’s for Zweigle’s white hots, The Dinosuar for BBQ ribs, Abbott’s for chocolate custard with almonds, Wegman’s for groceries and chocolate chip cookies, Charbroil for a Friday fish fry, and (our most recent addition) Sips for smoothies and paninis.   

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Holy Cross in Catholic Country Though the daily Mass crowd, age range, and dedication might look quite similar to what can be found in Richmond, Rochester has a whole lot more Catholic presence and quite a few more priests.  Kevin and I were warmly greeted by Rosemary, who serves as the church mother at Holy Cross, when we came for Mass last Tuesday (and each day since).  She is so excited we are back in town.  Last year, she befriended us and was crestfallen to discover that we were just going to be at daily Mass here while on vacation, that we hadn’t moved here for good.   

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Marriage Encounter, Renewal Sought Coming back to Rochester brings with it a flood of memories from over the years.  Recently many of the flashbacks that pop into my mind have to do with the early years of my relationship with Kevin, his dad, the real Harry Potter, and family.  Sometimes when things get stressful and it seems far-fetched that certain situations will improve or be completely transformed, it’s easy to ask questions about the many trials and tribulations we’ve been through over the years and wonder what’s yet to come.  I find myself taking long walks during which I ask questions such as: Why? What if? How? For what greater purpose?  For whose ultimate benefit? go through my mind.  It’s still hard for me to take the transformation God has brought about in and through Kevin and me and hold onto that as solid, sure promise that the metamorphosis will continue in amazing, healing, miraculous, and life-giving ways. 

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Now What, Lord?! As we take stock of where we’ve been and where we are, Kevin and I have been wondering what God wants of us next.  Along the same lines of questioning is what have we done that’s made an impact, made some sort of difference in the lives of others, and how would God like us, as individuals and a married couple, to use our gifts and talents to grow closer to Him and one another. 

     Please pray for us as we discern what God wants of us in the different areas of our lives. 

Lord, we would like to know what specific things and bigger picture elements You want us to be involved with in order that we might glorify You and bring others closer to You through the gift, the covenant, the sacrament of our marriage. Amen.              

Head over to Conversion Diary, to read Jen Fulwiler's wonderful tradition of 7 Quick Takes Friday.



I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America after 20 Years Away

     I’m a Stranger Here Myself will have you laughing out loud, reading passages to your family, friends, and co-workers, and marveling at these amusing anecdotes reflecting American culture in all of its glorious splendor.

     A few years back, I read Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods, and found myself laughing so hard I was fighting back tears, so when I saw this book sitting on the shelf at my sister-in-law’s house, I was fairly certain that there’d be passages within that would be so hilarious my stomach would hurt from laughing so much.  I must say my assumption was 100% accurate—without any substitutions, exchanges, or refunds.     I read most of I’m a Stranger Here Myself out loud to my husband because laughing together is one of our favorite pastimes.  In retrospect, I probably should have saved certain chapters for when he wasn’t driving.  (We made it home safely and in relatively good spirits for such a long car trip.)

     Even the introduction revealing how Bill Bryson came to write this series of columns about life in the United States after living elsewhere for twenty years is quite entertaining.  I intend to keep a copy of this book on hand, so I can share my favorite chapters with more of my family and friends.  I don’t know that I could pick one favorite, but two of the ones that I have shared with others most often are “Your New Computer” and “Your Tax Form Explained.” 

     I find it ironic and quite fitting that I discovered this book at my sister-in-law and her husband’s house when we were there to help them set up their new e-mail accounts.  Both of them help people prepare their taxes, but neither of them is particularly high-tech, computer-savvy.  Fortunately, it took a lot longer than expected for my husband and I to get their new accounts set up, which is why I got to checking out the books on their shelf and came across this gem.    

     I can definitely see and appreciate Bill Bryson being compared to another fabulous humorist, Dave Barry.  Click here to order your copy of I’m a Stranger Here Myself.

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 9)

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You ain’t never had a friend like me! A number of years ago when we were still dating, Kevin mentioned something to me that sounded like “our genie.”  I thought he was being sarcastic about having his very own genie from a lamp, something along the lines of the masterful, musical genie from Disney’s Aladdin.  Turns out, Kevin was perfectly serious…about the name of the local power company: Rochester Gas & Electric (a.k.a. RG&E).  To this day I’m amused whenever people in the area talk about the power company, because they always say RG&E (often pronounced “our genie”) so quickly that it really sounds like they’re talking very seriously about their personal genie. 

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Boys and their toys.  This past Tuesday our two youngest nephews from Kevin’s side of the family came to the cottage with their girlfriends and their jet skis.  They were out in the water when we got back home.  It hit Kevin that his influence of being a gearhead, who looks to speed for thrills, had greatly influenced the interests and spending habits of his nephews.  He apologized for this, only half-kidding, that he had some responsibility for their passion/obsession.  I informed the ladies that the penchant for motor vehicles and being a gearhead does not subside as the guys get older.  One of them said something to the effect of, so “we should get out while we still can?”  Kevin suggested starting a women’s support group instead, for those who love gearheads.      

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How full is your water glass?  For my mom’s birthday last Sunday, she, her youngest brother, his wife, their two children, my husband Kevin, and I went to a delicious restaurant on the canal called Aladdin’s.  My mom had called ahead and made reservations, but when we arrived, we weren’t on their list.  They made room for our party of seven downstairs, but not outside, where my mom would have preferred to be.  The food was delectable and the desserts quite decadent which helped distract us a bit from the fact that the waitress helping our waiter was not all there, to put it nicely.  Refilling our water, bringing us napkins, and forks when it was time for dessert was apparently a greater challenge than one would think.  She provided the perfect foil for the waitress we had at lunchtime at The Cheesecake Factory the next day, who not only was on top of what we asked for, but who also had the foresight to anticipate what we’d like next and bring it before we even asked. 

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I’m a little intimidated. After having such a good experience with the on-the-ball waitress at The Cheesecake Factory, the seven of us went up to the hostess station and requested to speak with the manager.  He came out in a minute or two, and upon seeing my uncle Rob, who has a solid build and claims he’s 6’9” (but whose head brushes against standard height doorframes), he admitted, “I’m a little intimidated.”  My uncle assured him there was no need to be, that we just wanted to let him know that our waitress had done a magnificent job and was to be commended.  My uncle’s also a laidback kind of guy, so he isn’t someone you’d need to fear anyway, even though he is super tall.  You could see the manager’s relief.   

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No, I don’t.  Do you play miniature golf?  When we were growing up, people would always ask my uncle Rob if he played basketball because he’s so tall.  He’d shoot hoops from time to time, but that wasn’t his favorite sport to play, so really the answer was no.  I can’t remember if we saw his answer to this often-asked question on a T-shirt, but we thought it would be perfect to get him.  My sisters and I get our height from our mom’s side of the family.  My mom’s older brother is 6’5” and he prefers golf over basketball, too.   

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Give us this day, our daily bread...  As a juvenile diabetic, my husband wouldn’t get too far without sustenance.  For many years, he’s been in the habit of carrying some type of food or candy with him in case his sugar gets low.  The first summer, I lived with my grandmother in Rochester, so I could be closer to Kevin, I often went to daily Mass during the week.  I went during the day while Kevin was at work, but even then I thought and prayed that God would change Kevin’s heart and mind about the Catholic Church.  I longed for him to return to the faith, take part in the Sacraments, and seek to center his life on the Lord.

I can’t help but marvel each day when Kevin and I are holding hands together at daily Mass, both wanting to be there, fully participating in the Mass, and aware of the Lord’s Presence in the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist.  I never dreamed that someday, even while we were on vacation, that my husband would join me for daily Mass, make it a priority, and look forward to it as much as I do.  God is truly amazing!!    

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If you like piña coladas…then you’d be in vacation heaven with me this week.  My beverage of choice is a piña colada smoothie at Sips.  Earlier this week, I got to indulge in a most delicious slice of piña colada cake cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory.  I spread the indulgence over a few days.  Kevin has had a penchant for mango, especially on vacation.  First, he was ordering a mango fruit freeze, now he’s moved on to a Mango Tango smoothie at Sips.       

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     Check out Jennifer Fulwiler’s 7 Quick Takes Friday series and her high-traffic for good reason blog Conversion Diary.

Abbott's: A Blast from the Past That’s MmmMmm…Good!

Our family has certain traditions when we come to Rochester.  Some of the most significant ones involve food.  In all of the places we’ve lived, we’ve never found a grocery store quite like the local, family owned Wegman’s.  People actually come here from around the world to see how their stores are set-up and run.  Our favorite items to buy when we’re in town are their chocolate chip cookies, coconut donuts, bulk foods, and Dinosaur BBQ sauce. 
     
Don’s Original, formerly known as Don and Bob’s, is one burger joint we go to at least once during our trips here, at least any that have been with my mom.  Last night I was talking with her, and she asked me if we’d been to Don and Bob’s yet.  I told her we hadn’t gone there or gotten chocolate almond custard from Abbott’s. 
     
“I don’t understand,” she said, in all honesty.
    
I just laughed. 

My mom has been known on occasion to drive directly to Wegman’s, Don and Bob’s, or Abbott’s as soon as we get into town, so, of course, she’d find it hard to believe that we hadn’t gone to all of those hotspots in the past week.  Actually, we did go to Wegman’s in the first couple days we were here.  Today we had lunch at Don and Bob’s and this afternoon we’re planning on having custard from Abbott’s. 
     
Though I have many fond memories over the years that involve Abbott’s, the most loving one the comes to mind was when my cousin Cathy, who lives in California, ordered some Abbott’s and had it shipped to my dad when he was homebound.  He was so excited to get a taste of Rochester from such a thoughtful niece

7 Quick Takes Friday (Vol. 5)

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Switching Sides Staying on the Potter side of the cottage with Kevin, sleeping in his old bedroom, and hanging out with his family feels pretty natural now, though I can still remember very clearly the first year we met he and his dad, Harry Potter, when my sister Mary and I shared the bedroom on his aunt and uncle’s side of the cottage.  Many nights Mary and I spent giggling since we had trouble figuring out the right combination of window shades down to keep the streetlights from streaming in and shades up/windows open to keep from getting too hot in the cottage which has no air conditioning. 

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There’s no place like home.  This visit we’ve had some special sound effects to keep us amused.  We’ve determined that some little critter, bigger than a mouse, most likely a squirrel, is running back and forth in the attic or on the roof, we’re not sure yet.  A chorus of chirping birds alerted us to the super-popular nest that was apparently built in the vent of the dryer (that no longer works). 

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Sumptuous Sips  Kevin and I have been spending some of our vacation time chilling at what is hands-down the best coffee, smoothies, panini place in town (Sips has actually been voted the number one coffeeshop in the city, but now they also have our esteemed seal of approval).  We’ve gone there at least once a day to use their free wi-fi while sipping on delicious frozen drinks.  Kevin’s favorite is the mango fruit freeze, and mine is the Piña Colada smoothie topped with plenty of whipped cream.  It’s locally owned and operated, as are many of our other favorite stops in Rochester. 

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I am the one.  A number of years ago, thirteen to be exact, Kevin squeezed my hand and said, “I wish you could be the one.”  I smiled and squeezed his hand back.  I’d been wishing the same thing, but I figured it would never work out.  He drove me back to my grandmother’s apartment in his black Monte Carlo in time for my super-early 10:00pm curfew.

Thursday, on our way to the beach, while I was driving, I took Kevin’s hand, squeezed it and said, “I am the one.”  He smiled, knowing immediately that I was making reference to the comment he’d made that night many summers ago after we’d watch the  lightening over the Lakeshore Golf Course.    

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Would you let me drive your car? Kevin took great pride in his vehicles over the years.  One of the first “hints” that I liked him was that I volunteered to help him wash his car.  Another sign of things to come happened when I asked Kevin if he’d let me drive his car.  I was curious to see what he’d say, as it would definitely be a huge measure of trust for him to hand over the keys.  He not only said yes, but he also pulled over right away and let me get in the driver’s seat. When we returned to the cottage, I kept his car keys, and while he was out to dinner with his sister and brother-in-law that evening, I moved his car to the Crescent Beach Hotel parking lot up the street.

He came right over after dinner to ask me where his car was.  I shrugged mischievously, handed him the keys, and started walking up the street.  He found it without too much trouble since he could use his key remote to disarm the alarm.  It was still fun, though.    

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Come, Follow Me…The first week Kevin and I got to spend a significant amount of time together, just the two of us, was in August before my senior year of high school.   I remember asking Kevin, while he ate his taco salad at another Rochester staple, Charbroil restaurant, if he would do three things he hadn’t done in a while that would be a bit of a stretch for him.  My requests were the following: 1.) Come with me to Sunday Mass. 2.) Visit his mom at the nursing home. and 3.) Try and get up on water skis.  I figure two out of three ain’t bad, especially when they were the first two and eventually happened on a regular basis.           

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Never in a million years did Kevin or I think that fourteen years after we met at the cottage, we’d still be keeping in touch, have stayed best friends, and against unimaginable odds become and remained a couple who’s now been married for six and a half years.   

We certainly wouldn’t have imagined that one day Kevin would feel inspired to come to daily Mass with me.  (The first time he came with me to Mass, before we’d even pulled out of the parking lot, he informed me, “I’m glad I went, but I don’t think I’ll ever go back.) 

Lord, You are truly amazing!  Your plans for us have definitely been beyond our wildest dreams and most fervent prayers.  Please help us remember Your Perfect Plan for us is the best reason for us to have high hopes for the future.  Amen.

     Check out Jennifer Fulwiler’s 7 Quick Takes Friday series and her high-traffic for good reason blog Conversion Diary.

Picture This, Photography, Cameras, and Capturing Moments in Kodak Country

Looking out over the lake, especially at sunset, I can picture a number of different photos I’ve taken here over the years.  Lately, I’ve even thought that some of the scenery is indeed beautiful, but that there’s no need for me to pull out the camera since I’ve already gotten similar shots in years past.       

Actually, it was in Rochester that my mom got me my first camera, a Pentax ZX50, from a shop that a distant relative of ours owned.  I still have that camera, but I mainly only use the case these days, because it can fit more in it along with our Panasonic Lumix digital camera. (Yes, I know this is Kodak country, but at least when I print out my photos at home I use Kodak Premium Glossy Photo paper.)   
     
I still enjoy taking pictures, but so far Kevin’s taken the most while we’ve been here.  Two tall ships were in the harbor earlier this week, and he got to watch one of them sail off to Buffalo.  He was set on taking lots of pictures of it, which I was fine with since I could use them to make a poster or some other visuals to use when I lead the kids at school in dancing to one of our Veggie Tales favorites: “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.”

     
Of course, this wasn’t a pirate ship, it was the Pride of Baltimore II, designed circa 1812, a reproduction of a Baltimore Clipper Privateer.  This square top sail schooner has a very impressive haul, sails, rigging, and is 157 feet long. 
     
None of the crew members looked like pirates at all, but, then again, neither do the animated vegetables in the Veggie Tales DVD version of the song.      

A Story for Every Street in His Hometown (and That of Both Sets of Our Parents) Rochester, New York

“I’ve got a story for every street,” Kevin told me while we were driving through his hometown.

     
“So start talking,” I said.

     
Visiting Rochester has always been nostalgic for me, too.  It’s one of the few, really the only, place where my family and I have come just about every summer since I was in utero.  We moved a number of times while we were growing up, so Rochester, New York, served as more of a familiar home base. 

     
Just driving into town and seeing the smokestacks, which before I could read were the sure signs that after driving over many rivers and through the woods we were finally getting close to Grandpa and Grandma’s house, would make me excited.

Though my grandmother has long since sold the house where we’d stay with her for a week or two each summer, I still go back to hang-out on the school playground behind her old split-level house, which is no longer painted dark brown and orange, like it was in my youth. 

      
I’m not quite as agile as I was at the ages of four, eight, or eleven, but I still go on some of the equipment, just for old time’s sake.  The death-trap with its’ loose chain-link stairs/platform that was 9-10 feet off the ground, and long metal slide which we absolutely loved, was torn down years ago.  The swings are the same, but much of the other playground equipment has been replaced with safer, more modern models.         

     
Though Rochester winters are pretty nasty, summers here on Lake Ontario are awesome!  Kevin and I have said we’d be fine living here during the summer.  My mom definitely feels the same way.    

     
Don and Bob’s, my parents’ favorite hamburger joint from when they were growing up, is now called Don’s Original, but it’s still standing, and one of our must-go-to places each visit.  The family cottage where Kevin and I first met and the Charlotte Beach (pronounced without the “r” because that’s how they do things up here) is now Ontario Park. We spent the day there Tuesday.  Lots of memories come back anytime we go there since it’s the main spot where we spent hours talking, taking pictures, walking the pier, sitting on “our block,” and eating chocolate almond custard from Abbott’s, another local hotspot that’s been around for years.      

     
Spending the afternoon looking at the clouds, the water, the boats going by, the families and unique individuals who have come to spend some time at the beach has been wonderful!  My mom’s wildly jealous that we’re here.  I know she was only partially kidding when she said she wanted to hop in the trunk or backseat and stow-away. 

     
Lord, thank You for blessing us with time to relax in the place where you first brought Kevin and me together fourteen years ago.  Open us to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and the certainty that Your future plans for us are much greater and more amazing than we could ever imagine.  Amen.