Farewell Kathy: You are our Best

We returned Kathy to her home at Catskill community yesterday. After 14 months, the time finally came for Kathy to be back with her family. As our minivan pulled out of the lower circle, even Rosie realized that a moment of gravity was taking place. John understood exactly the implication of the event.

"I am very disappointed," says John. "Why does Kathy want to stay at Catskill?"

I think John would like to stay at Catskill. It is a lot of fun to be there. Let's see -- in three days -- we went fishing, took a pony ride, swam in waterfalls, and sang guitar songs. I ran to a mountain lake every morning.

On Monday morning two days ago, I looked at my watch to check the time. It was 8:15 am. I had just finished weeding a blueberry patch for an hour. I had already gone running and swam in a lake. I had eaten breakfast with about fifteen other people. And soon, I would be fastening Rifton equipment in the factory shop. Quite a morning!

Kathy shepherded us through the birth of Rosie and the death of Zeddie. She has shared late night chocolates and tea with us for many evenings. We introduced her to email, computers, the mall, and religion with liturgy. She went to prison ministry. She got to know Rose and Phyllis and even put up with Samson. She is the godparent to Rosie.

We drove down aptly named Danger Road (Route 16) and off into the horizon. Joan will join us in Brooklyn shortly.

Growing Season

Rosie has made use of daddy and mommy. She has not learned a verbal "no," although she does have a "yeah." She shakes her head. Her new word is "Samson." I think that we are about to witness a lot of growth out of her. She eats more than John these days. Yesterday they both picked strawberries. Rosie ate a lot of them.

Right now I cannot spend enough time in my garden. We made a raised bed for tomatoes on Saturday. It is eight by four. We put in two better boys and a lemon boy. Susie will put in the rest soon. The soil is a special blend -- almost forty percent manures -- to appeal to those plants. I put in some monster hostas as well.

Poll: What do you say to someone who grew up in the 80s, and yet cannot recognize a bitchin' camaro?