On Friday morning, August 24, 2012, Al and I met Matt Best’s 10:05 train in Lancaster from New York City, and he drove us to visit his family in the Rochester, NY area for the weekend. We arrived about 4 PM in Spencerport, in time for a nap for me, and then a happy hour in David’s gazebo in view of Janet’s lovely garden amid tall trees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Their usual delicious dinner followed, with lots of stories and laughter, and a good night’s sleep.

On Saturday morning Matt drove to Penfield to give his sister Jill Staggert help with some projects she had saved for him. David and Janet took us by the scenic route along Lake Ontario, where we watched beach volley ball and holiday crowds on merry go rounds. Al’s encounter with a stray beach ball proved inconsequential, and the relief on the young man’s face was priceless.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all had a great lunch with Jill and Dave and sons Ben and Jacob. Ben turned 13 this month and is going into eighth grade. Discovering algebra last year has greatly increased his interest in school, and he is doing very well. Jacob is almost 10, and will be in fourth grade.

Jacob is making a CD for the musician Dad of his friend next door, and shows interest is so many varied directions, including golf, skate boarding, and woodworking with David.

 

We had a great time by the pool, and I got a chance to swim my 20 minutes of laps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is hard to describe the satisfaction I feel spending time with four generations of our family, especially in their home settings, watching them  grow and develop new talents and interests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday we had massive breakfasts at Brockport with David and Janet before Matt returned us to his Aunt Kathy Raffensberger’s home and a 7:30 train back to NYC. Al and I returned to Willow Valley, exhausted and delighted to be back home, but grateful to all of David’s family, especially Matt, for a fabulous weekend.