KNOW & DO: NEW JERSEY TRIP

It was a long hard journey and we needed a respite. After four months of moving into, and re-doing our new home . . .from Kalama, WA to Ashland, OR, we decided to jump into our little car and drive-fly-drive far away from hard moving decisions, a plethora of new neighbor names to learn and many rules to follow in our new life.

Ah-Ha! we said. We shall escape to the home of Family and Coziness at New Jersey, USA, on the other side of the world (well, kind of). So after “warning” son Alex with June and encouraging Bro Pete to come, Thursday, April 12, found Patti and Dick Blide driving up to the Alex-selected “Home away from Home” for The Blide stay.

Doctor’s Inn @ Cape May, NJ

Now, this was living! Four days of gorgeous B andB with credentials back to 1854 when this homestead was built, offering early morning breakfast to start the day.

But wait! There’s more!

A short seven or eight miles later, The Prices, led by Alex, welcomed us over to their home of great beauty (lovely high ceilings. . .all wood beams) along with beautiful June and Friend-Mike’s daughter, Lexi, meeting us at the door with a surprise!

A baby had been born, to June’s daughter, Christie, and Dad, Paul. The darling home was definitely filled with happy people, love, two birds and three doggies.

Shortly thereafter, we picked up Peter for dinner at The Lobster House and ate and conversed until they closed.

Friday, April 13, was a long 2 ½ hr. drive to Rutgers U., home of Zachary, Student and Musician. . . with musician’s long, curly hair, who met us at his apartment and led us to. . .yes, you guessed it, more eating!

That evening, with everyone there, June’s friend Mike (former husband) cooked a fabulous dinner for all, that was, in fact, chef-quality. And then to top it all off, Alex and June presented Patti with a huge, home-made (no box) by June, 76th Birthday Cake!!!!!

And then, came the Pete-Shirt performance. Unwrapping a huge bag, Pete handed each of us one of his past sweat-shirts and/or T-shirts. A picture was enjoyed by one and all.

Saturday, was Cape May Zoo day with Alex, June and Zachary. We were blown away with the depth, beauty, interests of that Zoo. Patti and Dick had never seen better.

Zach fills time-space with beautiful guitar music:

The evening closes with a seafood dinner with Alex, June and Zachary.

Sunday, 4/14, Alex takes Grandson, Zach back to Rutgers while Pete, Heather,Patti and Dick drive up to Galloway to see Granddaughter, Ariel who is rooming with a life-long girlfriend and her boyfriend. Great “Kids”, who all seem to know what and where they are going in life. Ariel seems happy but admits to being tired at times as she handles two jobs at once: Starbucks and Pet Smart.

Late afternoon, the beautiful beaches at Cape May “beckoned” us. We took advantage of the perfect weather, rode down to the ocean where cousin Heather couldn’t resist dashing into water’s edge with the loud rushing waves heading for her feet.