Reunion

Some of my favorite memories from the Rickster's law school days are of trips to the Jersey shore. Since we didn't have a car for over 3 years (!), we took a rather convoluted path to the shore. First, we walked to the 69th Street station; then took the el train to downtown Philadelphia [I do love that city]; then a high-speed train to somewhere in New Jersey; and finally, a bus to our destination - Ocean City, NJ! Admittedly, we stayed at dive hotels -- friends at work could not believe the places we stayed -- maybe because there were no bathrooms with the rooms. But hey, there were hallway bathrooms and shower facilities, after all! To me, there is nothing much more relaxing than the beach. Unfortunately, there really isn't a whole lot of beach in Nebraska!

(Can't you almost hear the waves???)

Guess what -- we are at the beach. Not Ocean City, NJ though that is high of my list of places to go! I really hate to go anywhere with my Mom being so ill, but this trip has been planned for over a year and she said to "go, have fun, frolic on the beach, take pictures, come back and tell me all about it!"

This is a special trip. We're with my sister and her family and some of the other wonderful families from CCAI Travel Group 182 at Hilton Head for a reunion. In March, 2000, I traveled with Amy to China to meet her sweet daughter, Grace, and watched as the others in her travel group became parents too. It was the sweetest time ever!

The little girls were only 9 months old at the time. Now, they are a pretty amazing group of 10-year olds! Bonus - there are also a couple of little sister 7 year-olds, so Maddy has some friends her own age too. My Mom would be upset at me and Amy if we changed our plans, but we are definitely wishing we could be in two places at once. We will be keeping our Mom in our hearts and prayers and checking in daily (if not more) on her during our trip.

(Sunset at Hilton Head)