The Weekend’s Hashtag: #aginandstillragin

Sam turned up first on Friday evening and Olivia arrived shortly after —the opening to a FUN weekend. When Sam asked about one of her Masters projects, it was interesting to be “the fly on the wall” and listen-in to a brief, but intense conversation between them. They literally spoke to each other in the language of coding and software. I pinched myself: these ”kids” are going to be okay. Nerds really do rule world.

Andrew and Leah turned up Saturday morning, full of smiles and bearing gifts. (It’s fun to be the birthday girl.) Naturally, no one was sitting around. Keith and Sam were changing out the snow tires on Sam’s Mazda 3, Olivia was off on a 10-mile run, and I was heading out the door for a dash around the river. By the time I arrived home, the snow tires were stored away upstairs in the garage; Olivia was showering; Sam had coffee from Dunkin Donuts; Leah and Andrew were hanging out; and it was time to make spring rolls for lunch.

Olivia had presented me with a freak flag, to commemorate and celebrate the freakishness of loving to run in all weather, year-round as an almost 57-year old woman! So naturally I had to run around the driveway and Dunkleberger Road “flying my freak flag!” We spent the afternoon chatting and laughing. There was even a brief attempt to sit around a fire on the patio, but wind and snow showers chased us inside. Late in the afternoon, we all pulled supper together: a feast of veggie lasagna, baked ziti, ceasar salad, knot rolls, cupcakes, cookies, and birthday cake from Milkbar. Richard, a fan-favorite, showed up, also bearing gifts! And fun farm stories. He always leaves us laughing and asking for more.

Sunday morning meant everyone departing and returning to their own busy lives. Keith and I took off for a walk in the wind and snow showers along Pine Creek. He even indulged me with a swing on the zipline at Waterville park. And then I convinced him to take a turn!

It was a wonderful weekend full of family, laughter, and love.