In which we find ourselves in Shippensburg, PA with Camille’s parents, five brothers and their families – May 13 through 16
MOM DEAR
Mom is doing great and Camille discovered they wear the same model watch.
DINNER WITH THE BOYS
Bob wears a stout mustache at the Shippen Place hotel Friday evening. There were five of us at the table, Camille, brother/father Joe, Bob, John, and Jim.
EIGHT OF US
Brothers Bob and Michael joined us Saturday with lots of extended family for a potluck lunch. Find out here: Family Reunion
CHURCH RECEPTION
Joe celebrates 25 years in the priesthood this year, so Jim organized a reception to honor him after 5:00 mass at Our Lady of the Visitation Church in Shippensburg, just up the street from Mom’s place where we had the reunion. Camille helped Jim set up and parishioners flocked in after Joe was finished saying mass. We enjoyed a good conversation with cousin Brian and his wife Maggie and some quality time with Jim’s granddaughter Penny.
BREAKFAST
Sunday morning breakfast in the hotel with Jim, Penny, Mom, Christina, Mikey, Lou and Joe.
CHARITY AND JASON’S PLACE
Sunday afternoon visiting took us deep into Amish country for dinner with Charity and her six children. Father Jason was away on a work assignment. Oldest son, Levi showed Jim and I the trail he made for his bike. We were joined by Lydia, Alana, and Josiah.
TRAMPOLINE
Darla points an accusatory finger at the method her grandkids use to climb up onto their trampoline. From Picnic table, to high chair, to post and then jump. We all did stuff like this as kids, but still. We wonder how it is we survived and if the kids will make it through their childhood.
OH HECK, SEE FOR YOURSELF
Jim took this footage of Alana mounting the trampoline launch pad.
WALKER RIDES
The smaller kids, Josiah and Alex clamored for a ride on Mom’s walker as soon as she walked in the door.
CHINESE FOOD
We’d picked up a spread at a Chinese take-out place on the way. Joe engages the girls in conversation. John took on clean up detail.
NEWVILLE
Camille, brother Bob, Joe, and Jim spent the morning researching assisted living facilities, then met Bob, Michael and a couple of his friends for lunch in Newville. After Lunch, Michael showed us a flip cartoon he’d drawn as a young boy.
HAND-DRAWN CARDS
A mother’s day card from Camille.
And a Christmas card from Michael. A nice stroll down memory lane.
BALLOONING
After Bob and Camille headed south towards the shore, Jim went back to Charity’s with the helium balloons he’d used to decorate the church reception hall. No point wasting them. Each was tethered to a jumbo-sized washer, making it easy to play catch in the backyard.
JIM’S FIT BIT
Family visits come with a price, as evidenced by the jump in Uncle Jim’s resting pulse.