My father’s brother Robert turned 80 in March, and he and his wife Susan decided the occasion called for a gathering of the clan. So Lance and I headed out late Thursday night to Charlottesville, VA for 3 nights at the Boar’s Head Inn. We arrived a day earlier than the rest of the gang (including Matt and Michael – too far for Miss T for just a couple days) so we could head out to Shenandoah National Park and do a little hiking. And that we did! After entering the park:
we drove in about 10 miles along the winding drive – vistas were lovely, but not yet quite beautiful (only just buds on trees – mother nature still mostly sleeping here) – until we came to Rip Rap trail. I was thrilled that we were able to walk along the Appalachian Trail to get to it:
As you can see, it was very quiet and peaceful, and not another soul to be seen until the very end of our hike. We spent time playing with our cameras:
and perching on rocks to take in the view:
Even walked off trail a bit and laid down in soft leaves to catch some zzzzz’s.
Headed back to town and arrived about 4. Everyone started pulling in about that time, except the boys, whose plane had been delayed a bit over two hours. We headed across the way to the Farmington Country Club to meet up with the whole family: Leo and Ida’s spawn as well as that of Ida’s siblings. Quite a gathering. There was a process of professional picture-taking, an here’s a group photo:
Here we are with the birthday boy:
Dinnertime and the boys arrive – yay! They sit with their second cousins, all aged 22 – 30, perfect for chatting it up. Lance and I join Stacey and Jeff, Lisa and Lee, Barbara and Graham, Ann and….Rick! John has decided to sit with the “youngsters”. A photo of the cousins with Lance:
It was a lovely supper. Announcements at dinner outlined available activities for Saturday. Exit photos:
and we’re headed back for a good night’s sleep.
Lance proposed that he and I hang with the siblings on Saturday (giving up more hiking and Monticello), so it’s off to downtown Charlottesville – they have a pedestrian mall like Boulder – and the Saturday farmer’s market. It’s chock full of people, and even more so with all kinds of local food (and an incredibly long line for tacos, but we’re all full from breakfast). We stroll up and down the rows, then walk over to the mall. We take turns in and out of stores, and those not interested in checking out local inventory engage in some serious discussion out in the sun:
And of course, our intrepid photo(fox)hounds spot an old Coca-Cola ad that was painted on the side of an old building and discuss how to best capture it:
We run into Ann and Barbara, and discuss what’s on for the rest of the day. Ann is going out to the winery, so we plan on seeing her there. We stop for a bite to eat at a great little sandwich shop, and then pile into the van and head out on the highway to the Veritas winery. We’re warned, via text, by Ann that they’re incredibly busy, but we are determined. There is indeed a wait:
but then the 5 of them (I’m sitting out in an adirondack chair, playing games) make it to the bar and sample the goods. Jeff and Lance agree it’s not up to their standards, but Lee and Lisa enjoy (and purchase) some port, and when I wander in to see how they’re doing, we snap a beautiful group photo:
We race back to be at Uncle Bob’s at 4, where I show a DVD of an interview I shot of Ida describing family history, as well as Grandpa’s 85th birthday party. Uncle Bob was quite vexed that he couldn’t remember a bit of that event. Afterwards, Bob refers me to a photograph which I hadn’t seen before, and to the inscription on the back, which Ida wrote in October of 1941. The note outlines her love and support for President Franklin Roosevelt and her fervent wish that he guide the country through these “dark days” and to the endgoal of preserving our most precious gift of freedom. She also speaks to those of us in the future, and hopes that we know she loves us and wishes us nothing but happiness and love. It was a very moving and tearful (for me) moment, and worth the whole journey.
Back to the hotel, quick change, and back to the country club for a big cocktail party. There are 100+ guests, so we enjoy the outdoor ambiance and chat for a bit, then head back to the hotel dining room for a two-table dinner. The future:
Very enjoyable, and by the time we finish (White, Carew, Baydush-Masoner, Barger and Simon families, one table with the 30 and under (above) and the parental units at the other), Stacey, Jeff, Lisa and Lee are in the bar and we all say goodbye. A morning breakfast with my siblings and then Lance, Matt, Michael and I (in two cars) drive up to DC and hit the National Air and Space Museum Annex, which is right by Dulles airport. We spend two hours ogling all manner of planes, engines, real decommissioned examples of the concorde, a space shuttle,
a spy plane, bombers, gliders, and history lessons on all of the above. Then out to the airport and soon we’re winging our way back home.