Clutch Cargo Lips

We spent the weekend camping at Point Lookout State Park in St. Mary’s County Maryland. The area is quite pretty and has an interesting, if somewhat depressing, history. Just after the battle of Gettysburg, the area was made into a POW camp for confederate soldiers. For some reason the men were pretty much left on their own, with little resources including food, water and shelter. Over 3000 died within 15 months. Because of this morbid history, many ghost stories have been circulated about this park. We saw no ghosts, however. Thank goodness!

Because this park is on a peninsula, it is a good resting place for migrant birds, and August is supposed to be the beginning of fall migration. I saw no evidence of that, however, but I didn’t really do much birding. I heard a few goldfinch flying overhead, but I don’t think they migrate. I did, however, see many ospreys. At one point I counted 7 between two trees and the sky. There was a time in my life when this would have been highly unusual, but now the osprey population has recovered around here.

We’ve gone camping with our friends and their children a number of times. They have a son Andrew’s age and a daughter Clare’s age and the boys are good friends as are the girls. However when you get them all together there is lots of whining, arguing, shrieking and talk that makes me cringe.

This trip was no different — the boys made fun of the girls and the girls complained to their parents. Sometimes the complaining and arguing drowned out the Hip Hop and Salsa music from neighboring campsites.

We were not alone in the park. Several sites were being used by a group that was using a generator to power all of their sites.  Two other sites held nine tents between them — a differnent group.

I’m not complaining — it was nice to get away, the weather was great and I enjoy the company of our friends. Next time, however, I think we should go to Cape May. And stay in a Bed & Breakfast. And leave the kids at home.

Tonight

Windy tonight with further outbreaks of heavy, possibly thundery rain. Rain will ease off later in southern parts, with winds moderating here as well. Lowest temperatures of 10 C to 13 C.

Tomorrow

Showers or longer outbreaks of rain in most areas again on Saturday with some heavy, possibly thundery downpours. A few bright or sunny spells also. Windy, with highest temperatures of 15 C to 19 C.

3 Day Outlook

Scattered showers and longer spells of rain over Sunday and into early next week, but, there are signs that it may become warmer in the middle of next week. There will be scattered showers and longer spells of rain over the country on Saturday night, and into Sunday morning. Sunday will be a wet day, with widespread rain and heavy downpours, particularly in the southwest. It will feel quite cool on Sunday, with temperatures only in the mid teens, in the fresh to moderate northerly winds. The rain will die off overnight. Monday will be a better day, with some sunny spells and scattered showers throughout the country. Feeling fresh with highest temperatures again only in the mid-teens, in a fresh to moderate northerly wind. Heavy spells of rain in Connacht and Ulster on Tuesday, while the rest of the country will be showery with some sunny spells. Becoming warmer on Tuesday with highest temperatures reaching the high-teens.

See you July 23!

So, last night, amid the stupid dreams (my brother with an Afro, me wearing ugly dresses, cryptic messages containing images of rabbits drawn in moss on the side of a building) I dreamed my Grandpa Green, who died when I was 16, and I went grocery shopping and he pulled out a Blackberry. I said, “Grandpa, I didn’t know you had email.” and he replied that he’d had it for a while. Then I remarked that if I had known, I would have sent him emails — that we could have been exchanging emails all along. He agreed that that would have been good.

I’ve been thinking about the email I’d send my grandfather.

Dear Grandpa,

How have you been? It’s been a long time — not counting the grocery shopping last night; where did you go anyway? I looked for you after we checked out and you were gone. Good thing I had your email address.

I’ve missed you — I think of you often, especially when I’m grateful that my kids like to read. I owe it to you, in a way, because I often saw you reading and research now indicates that when children see adults they love and admire reading, they will become readers too. So your love of reading fostered my love of reading, and that, in turn, helped my kids love to read.

I know you know this, but I’m really sorry that I didn’t go golfing with you a second time that last summer I was in Chetek with you and Grandma. I thought I should spend time with Grandma — Mom said she’d get lonely when you were golfing– and at the time I thought I had all the time in the world to spend with you two, but then you got sick and never went golfing again. You’d think that, because of that incident I’d have taken up golf, but I haven’t.

You may know this already — I don’t know how much tabs you keep on the living — but I became a teacher, moved away from Elgin in the early 1980’s, then got married in 1985. Grandma was there, so she probably told you all of this. We moved to the Washington, DC area after we got married. In 1991 we had Clare — you’d love her. She’s artistic and loves to read. She’s very sweet and beautiful. She’s taller than me, but slender like I was. In 1993 we had Andrew. He was quite a handful for several years — but always smart and personable. He’s quite a charmer and funny and no longer quite a handful. You’d really get a kick out of him. I think your sense of humor and his are very similar.

You’d really like Dean - my husband. He’s a wonderful father and understanding husband. He’s smart, like you, and pretty even tempered (to off-set my volatile one). He works for the government — like you did, so you also have that in common.

Well, speaking of work, I need to begin my work day, but wanted to thank you for coming by and shopping with me last night. I’m so pleased that you have email, so now we can communicate.

Love to Grandma, Uncle Dick and Uncle Bud. If you see anyone from my dad’s family, tell them hi from me — Uncle Don and Aunt Pat, especially.

Hugs and kisses,

Your Loving granddaughter,

Dona

PS I’d be grateful if you’d check out my new blog and tell me who all those ancestors are.