Iris and Lenja

About a week ago, my college friends Iris and Lenja came to Mathews for a visit.

We met at UVA in August 1982, which astonishingly means we've been friends for over 35 years.

(Thirty five years?  How is that even possible?)

Lenja (pronounced Len'-ya, rhymes with Kenya) lives in Cambridge, England, 

and Iris lives in McLean, Virginia.

During their visit we went to Bethel Beach and later had lunch in the Court House at Southwind.

It was warm enough to sit outside.

It was a wonderful visit.  We're already planning our next reunion, which may include a hiking trip through Portugal--once I'm done with my chemotherapy treatments next year.

Speaking of chemo, it's going reasonably well.  I've had two treatments thus far (one every two weeks) representing one complete cycle.  I'll need five more cycles, meaning I should be done in April.  Aside from some exhaustion, I really can't complain at all.  My white blood cell counts are very low, though, which just means I am more prone to infections and have to take precautions.  I'm supposed to steer clear of crowds and sick people and wash my hands frequently. 

Staying away from crowds is thankfully not a problem here in Mathews. 

Not a problem at all.

I hope all is well in your world.

Memorial Day Weekend

This was the scene of my Memorial Day celebrations.
The back deck, the back yard and Queens Creek.

Memorial Day weekend was nothing short of fabulous.  Friday night, blog friends Lauren from Nashville and Meg from Maryland arrived to kick things off. By Saturday night, Middle Sister, Baby Sis and blog friend Angie were added to the mix. Sunday I had a cookout, and my local friends showed up with their families for a day of fun, sun, eating, swimming and drinking boat rides.

Meg, in her festive, leopard-print muumuu, enjoys a mimosa Saturday morning.

Angie contemplates another mimosa the meaning of life.

Lauren always livens up any conversation. 

We even accounted for other blog friends who could not join us.  

Me and Lauren

Me and Meg

Me and my mother

Me and Angie
(This might be the most pictures of me in the history of this blog.)

There was kayaking.
Here, Chesapeake Bay Son and his friend Kelly head up the creek--with paddles.

There was grilling.

There was eating.

There was corn hole.

There were Gator rides.

There were boat rides.

In short, it was one of the best weekends I've had in a while. I took a couple of days off of work to make the wonderfulness (it's a word) last even longer. Although all my out of town guests returned to their homes, Middle Sister is here for another week or so to keep me company. Tomorrow I return begrudgingly to work but with fond memories of good times with good people.

Really, really good.

Weekend

My favorite weekend of the year is finally here, and the forecast includes friends, family, food and hopefully lots of sunshine.

By Saturday evening both of my sisters and several blog friends will be here, and on Sunday a few of my friends from high school will come by for a cookout.

Son will be working most of the weekend, Daughter will be basking in the temporary freedom from school, homework and track meets, and I will be making sure everyone is doing what they're supposed to be doing:  laughing, relaxing and enjoying themselves.

Happy Memorial Day.

Aaron's Beach

After spending most of Saturday doing physical labor entailing shovels, rakes, weeds, rose bushes, hedge clippers and mulch spreading, I declared Sunday a Do Nothing Day and spent the afternoon lounging on Aaron's Beach.

Although you can't tell in these pictures, the beach was the most crowded I've seen in a long time.

"Crowded" defined in Mathews terms means more than two other people were on the beach.  Normally I come here and don't see a soul.  And that's just fine by me.

I chose a desolate spot right under those trees off in the distance.

Just one hour of solitude listening to nothing but the water gently lapping the shore was all it took to rejuvenate me.

After my beach therapy, I met Chesapeake Bay Daughter for lunch, returned home for a nap and then awoke to what felt like a gall bladder attack.  Frantically searching the internet for home remedies, I choked down some apple cider vinegar, took a hot bath, and then, just as I'd convinced myself a hospital trip would be imminent, it all went away.   Crisis averted.  Thankfully. But it will be a long time before I eat a hamburger and french fries again, I can tell you that.

Anyway.

Saturday night's gathering at Williams Wharf was the other bright spot in the weekend.  There was music, dancing, wine, good food and good company. A near-perfect evening.

Alas, it's all over now.  Next on the list is to get through another work week and prepare for Memorial Day weekend, when good friends will descend and help me laugh my way through the unofficial start of summer.

I can't wait.

Fun in the Sun

Sunday, I had a repeat gathering of the same group of friends, more or less, who came over on July 4.

The day was spent primarily on and in Queens Creek.

Glenda and Billy brought their boat again which meant plenty of tubing for the kids.

(My daughter missed the tubing; she was inside diligently putting the finishing touches on her summer English project.)

Glenda

Captain Billy

Very unusual for the month of August, there were no stinging nettles in the creek, which meant we could swim without the hassle of getting stung.  Ordinarily, they'd be wrapped around your neck, they're so abundant.

(Stinging nettles, also called sea nettles or just nettles, are what most people call jellyfish.  I avoid using that word at all costs.  To me, they're stinging nettles.  Hey, I am almost 50 and nobody reads this blog, so I think it's my prerogative to call them what I want to.  Thank you, one dear reader, for your indulgence.)

Catherine takes a dip

Willie B., Theresa, Lawrence and Danny solving world issues--and also monitoring all
the children (and adults) frolicking in the over six feet of water.  

I remember swimming with my sisters as a child off the end of this dock, but I'm pretty sure we broke a record Sunday for the most kids and adults ever swimming here.  It was a blast.

The Mills girls

Malia and Betsy being serious...

...and not so serious.

Matthew and Hayden

I'm not exactly sure what's going on here. 

It was a great way to spend the last day of August.