The Monday after Thanksgiving I picked up my daughter, Lena at Hollins Manor Home for Adults and we headed up Interstate 81 on our way to State College, Pa. We arrived at Thomas and Ann's house after a dreary, rainy, foggy but safe and uneventful 6 hours.
As soon as we walked into the house, my 15 month old grandson Ben
gave me a great big hug. I grinned from ear to ear and told Ann, “That made the 6 hours worth it – anything else is just icing on the cake." And there was lots of icing over the next few days !
On Tuesday, Ann fixed a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for all of us, and her Mom and step-dad joined us. Then she left early to take Casey to get ready for her role in The Central Pennsylvania Arts Council version of The Nutcracker. While Ann stayed backstage and herded little girls, Lena, Thomas and I sat out in the audience and enjoyed a wonderful performance by the Ballet, the LIVE orchestra and the Children's Choir. It's been years since I've been to a Nutcracker with live music. It makes such a wonderful difference. Casey was beautiful, of course and it was so much fun to watch her dance in that beautiful theater.
On Wednesday night, Ann went with her Mom and step-dad, and Sarah and her friend Nina
to enjoy the show as part of the audience instead of the back stage crew. Thomas and I stayed home and babysat Ben while we watched Penn State's men's basketball team beat VA Tech – on TV, but we did get to see it!!
Sarah is now going to Kindergarten at Corl Street Elementary School where Casey is in the 4th grade. I had lunch with each of them on separate days. When Ms. Davis, Casey's teacher from last year saw me in the hall, she yelled, “Grandpa's back” and gave me a hug. I got to spend some time in each of their classes after lunch. They seemed pleased to have Grandpa visit and I know I had a ball.
Ann and the girls were busy making cookies before I arrived.
Lena and I picked up the girls from school on Thursday afternoon and we went to the Creamery for some of the world famous Penn State Ice Cream. The new Creamery is big, bright and airy, but somehow lacks the charm of the old building, which was torn down this summer. The ice cream, however, was as good as I remember when I was there 40+ years ago.
Here's another picture of Sarah
We got up bright and early Friday morning to return to Salem on a beautiful sunny day. The Shenandoah Valley is such a pretty drive. I started missing the Grandkids almost before we got out of town. But I'll see them again in a few weeks for Christmas.
Life is Good !
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