Southern hospitality...

It is now Monday morning and the weekend was filled with parties and social gatherings between the neighbors in the "hoods" surrounding my sister and her family... Most of the neighbors I have met at the school bus stop and most remembered me from the last time I visited... I met some more on my walks with Sheryl (one invited me to play golf while I was down here but I don't have time this visit--but I may take him up on it on subsequent visits to Virginia). All in all, everyone here has treated me like one of the family and I really appreciate it... The pool party on Friday night was an eye-opening experience and a really good time and that was followed up by a spirited cookout thrown at my sister's home on Sunday... (Chef Craig is one talented culinary wizard---his ribs were to die for).

Saturday was spent touring things historical, which is always up my alley... We took a drive down to Charlottesville, Virginia and visited the homes of James Monroe and Thomas Jefferson... The homes are very well kept and the tour guides are great... Learned some things I didn't know (which is always worth the trip) and really enjoyed the new exhibit center just opened at Monticello (Jefferson's home). Chock full of bits and pieces recovered from anthropological digs on the grounds and written records kept intact by previous owners of the homes... (Jefferson was so far in debt that the family had to sell the home, but the new owners kept everything original and intact and sold it to the foundation that runs the home now in the 1920's). Monroe's estate had about 3500 acres and Jefferson's over 5000 and the grounds and gardens were beautiful. I really enjoy taking a "step back in time" and visiting places like these... homes of the men and women who built this great country of ours...(really makes you grateful for the modern conveniences we have now...especially electricity and refrigeration).

Sunday was a great barbeque on the "estate lawns" of Craig and Sheryl's home...Plenty of food and drink (killer Sangria from the looks of the "victims" at the end of the night). Four couples, eight kids and the visiting Uncle had a great time... The kids had arts and crafts and games and pretty much destroyed the "F.R.O.G." room (Front Room Over Garage) with toys strewn everywhere (nuclear explosion in Toyland).

I have experienced much in the way of "family life" down here in Virginia and its not for the faint of heart...many props go out to the parents for keeping it together during the bouts of "drama" between children and siblings and for the masterplanning to keep the kids occupied while they try to enjoy a little "adult time". Kids haven't changed much in the years since I have "transitioned "from a kid into an adult, (some may argue that the transition STILL isn't complete--everyone is entitled to their opinion), they still still push the envelope and whine and tattle and "fake" cry to get their way, but they never seem to understand the concept that their parents were once kids and did the same exact things (that didn't work on their parents) and don't fall for that nonsense... it's nice to know that some things about being a kid have remained the same...

We were going to make the trip to King's Dominion with V and Nat today, but the weather is not cooperating (it's raining here) so we will try to do some inside activities (movie is the consensus). King's Dominion is the humungous amusement park here in Virginia and Uncle Jimmy was looking forward to some roller coaster time, but such is the way with weather...(just another reinforcement that my move to the Valley of the Sun was the right one). I am hoping to see the sun again laer in the trip as I make my way north to NJ and NY... I don't miss the rain near as much as people would have guessed...good for the plants, not for the plans...