PHONE CALL FROM ABBY

A surprise phone call from our daughter a few minutes ago. Though she said I sounded loud and clear, her voice sounded faint and far away. She was in a nearby village and using something they have down there called a "pay phone." Hmmm....I think I recall those---haven't seen them around here for a few years. We had about 5 good minutes before she got cut off. So I asked a lot of questions and here is the gist of what I can remember.

She is living with a family that has 2 daughters (age 11 and 15). She shares a room with the girls and is the 4th Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) they have hosted. The family likes fried food and thinks a fried hot dog is a special treat. I'm wondering if this will put a few pounds on my ultra trim daughter. There is an elementary school in the village, but the older girl must go to another town for upper school.

Abby's days are busy. Four hours in the morning for language study. Four hours in the afternoon for technological (?) training. She likes the other PCVs. They will go to Panama City on Sunday where she hopes to e-mail or post on her blog. I asked for pictures...especially one of her and her machete. She said, that alas, her digital camera was the victim of a shampoo mishap in her suitcase, so she has no pictures.

Jim & I had been reading blogs belonging to other PCVs and learned some tips on how to send packages that might not get stolen, opened or taxed. Abby said she had heard some of the same tips. Here they go. Mail stuff in padded envelopes and cover them with religious stickers. Especially a sticker of the Virgin Mary over the seal will prevent them from cutting the envelope open. Also, labeling a package Feminine Hygiene Products might keep out the Post Office. One PCV has his family address him as "Hermano" so that the P.O. might think he is a priest and not bother his packages. I guess it works for him.

The phone disconnected about then. What a special treat to hear her voice---even though faintly.

One week down, only about 116 to go

We put her on the plane for her Peace Corps

adventure a week ago this morning.

The previous weekend had been a series of "LASTS"

The last pancake breakfast from Dad for 27 months.

The last chat with her brother/best friend for 27 months.

The last hike in the Maryland woods for 27 months.

There was also a flurry of cleaning.

Cleaning out old clothing and un-needed text books.

Clare came over to help keep her on task.

Instead, the two of them started walking down memory lane.

Then Erin came over to help, and it didn't get much better.

There were some local good-byes.

Patrick looks so handsome in his USNA uniform

Erin spent the night so she could accompany us to the airport.

Christie arrived for a 5:30 a.m. hug good-bye.

Then we were on our way....including Sadie.


Good-bye, Abby...

We love you dearly and are so proud of you.

Georgetown Saturday

What a delight to be with two of my favorite ladies today.

Chung Hae & I got a special treat when Hilda invited us to

her Georgetown "Spite House".

Built in 1850, it's one of only 6 spite houses in the city.

What's a "Spite House"?

When one man has a lovely garden next to his house and

has a falling out with the neighbor next door, he tears up the

garden and builds a house in its place.

Then the neighbor can't enjoy the garden.

And, evidently, neither can the owner.

Such is the nature of "spite."

To "Spite" that tradition, Hilda has put in her own

beautiful garden out back.

She has maintained the home with architectural integrity.

The furnishings are all in keeping with early Americana.

Weathervanes! One of 3.

Look at this floor in the wine cellar!

Hundreds of small smooth flat stones standing on their edges.

Why didn't someone tell me my hair looked so ridiculous??

We walked downtown Georgetown for a lovely lunch at Paolis!

An end to a wonderful afternoon!!

Family Photos

Not since we used to get those Olan Mills "deals"

in Oregon when the kids were little,

have we had a professional family photograph.

Friday afternoon Kristen Snyder arrived at our house

and changed that.

Kristen was a classmate of Sam's and now has her own business.

kristenleigh.net

It is a great time of year for outdoor shots.Our yard is in bloom!!
The weather was great!!


And a few streets away from us the cherry blossoms are abundant!!


Sadie found lots of things to sniff.



Kristen did a great job with the subjects she had to work with.

And we had a lot of fun!!!

April Fools Re-visited

In the midst of preparing for Abby's departure,

I turned 58 on April 1st.

Though I've been the victim of April Fool's jokes in the past,

my sisters seemed to be part of an Unintentional Prank last week.

They had a plan to bless me. Thanks to the postal service & a

busy deliveryman, their original plan took a different turn.

Their Original Plan:

Send 3 birthday cards to arrive one at a time prior to my birthday.

Each card has a gift certificate enclosed,

that increases in amount each day.

On my birth-day send an "Edible Arrangement."

The Plan as It Happened:

The day before my birthday a card arrived with a $10 gift certificate.

I thought that was it and said to Jim:
"It's not that I want anything for my birthday.

I'm just surprised that the 2 of them only bought ONE card

between them."

Near as I could figure it, they had spent about $6.26 each

including tax.

Was I bitter? No, just perplexed!!!

We left for northern Pennsylvania at 5:30 a.m. on my birthday.

(Jim had a consulting job there that day.)

Well, we arrived home around 10 p.m. to find a bouquet of fruit

just between our glass storm door and burgandy front door.

The temperatures had been around 70 degrees.

Think---natural oven.

Why had the delivery man left fruit in the direct sun on the steps??

For 12 hours??? Am I bitter??

No, just a bit irritated.

Well, a gift certificate and a fruit bouquet (even though cooked)

really was a nice gift and seemed more like my sisters.

The next morning I called the fruit place.

They promised a second arrangement.

When I got home from teaching there it was.

And surprise.... 2 more birthday cards & 2 more gift certificates.

April Fools on April 2nd!!

Thanks Vivian and Gail.

You are sweet sisters!!

Panama Countdown

A week from tomorrow morning Abby leaves for the Peace Corps.

Last night many of her friends gathered at our house to bid her farewell.

Christie and Erin planned it all.

Christie made the flan, with Mary Kevin's help. I bet it doesn't taste any better in Panama!!

She has collected a wonderful group of friends over the years.

Who like to eat!!

Some from high school!

Who won all those debates in Mr. Bronson's class???

Friends from church...


Friends from Montgomery Scholars...

Friends from American University....

Friends next door and her best friend, Sam...

Rather than give out party favors...

Abby gave out her clothes she won't need in Panama...
John and Chung Hae observed the frenzy...

Hmmm.....
Some looked a lot like ones I used to own!!

I wondered where they had disappeared to.


Abby has many...

quality friends...

to whom she means a lot...

and they mean a lot to her.

They will miss her. But not as much as her mother!!