Pack Lightly

My birthday continues to be celebrated, I have finally convinced people, that the month of August is mine!!! Last week I received a plaque entitled, The ABC's of Life, from a friend of mine at school. I love it, very unique words about life. One especially touched me, P for Pack Lightly!!!
I took it as a sign!!!
The Atlanta Barons are meeting up with The Boston Barons, hoping the New Hampshire Barons also will be coming, in Topsail, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks.
My kitchen is the "staging area" or in medical terms, "triage!"
Bill, Hart, Lucy the lab, and I will be driving, a quick nine hour drive!?
Pack Lightly, doesn't that mean laying your burdens down at the foot of the cross?
I think the cross is already packed.
Three bathing suits, four cover ups, beach towels times seven! Lucy's food bowls, snacks, bed, toys,camera, computer, i-pods, cell phones and all the cords to keep them humming!!! Books, maps, GPS system, DVD's, Cd's, medicine, sunscreen, Beach toys, noodles for the pool, Finn's high chair seat, PACK LIGHTLY Bon-Bon!
Vacation means a respite, sabbatical, the last summer fling. Namaste!!!!
Pack Lightly, who are we kidding.

Books, and Books and more Books!!!

My grandchildren are coming soon, and I'm getting ready.
They live in Marblehead, Mass and we usually go up there to see them. It is a rare treat for them to head south. So I have been busy, I have a plan.
I'm going to make "Uma's" (that's me!!) home so much fun, they will want to spend all their summers with me!!!
I have turned Hart's bedroom, into Adrians. It has Star-Wars, everywhere. Including life size cutouts of the characters!!!! R2D2, and C3PO are enormous. I have super-soakers, and tons of toys for a four year old. He has his own desk, TV and movie collection, all of his favorite snacks. He is not leaving here without a fight!!!!
Finn is only one, but his crib is loaded with stuffed animals from every continent. He has all of Adrian's baby toys, and of course some new things. Even little one knows, if the stuff is hand-me-downs!!!! They know!!!
The most fun I have had, is gathering up all the books, that I read to my children for them. Each boy has his own little library of books. This week I purchased a dozen or so, Berenstain Bears books, all of my children read these. In fact, we met Stan and Jan once, I think in Philadelphia. Who knows where the signed copies of those books are, that we bought that day. The memories of me crying over the table that they were sitting at, and thanking them from the bottom of my "Mommy" heart , for writing such sweet little books, for my babies. I have always been overly grateful!!!! and now I will read them again with Adrian and Finn. Reading to and with my children and now their children, my heart is full. (and my plan is in full swing!!!)