Four weeks had quickly passed and so it was time to drive back
to Smith and pick up Jane. Since we were also heading for a reunion
with the Seems, Kaylen came along and had a final hug with her mother
before Adele
insisted that there be no further pictures of her and Kaylen
and Suzanne
got ready to get in the car a little early
and prepare to depart
once Suzanne
had gathered the last few things and we could head to Albemarle where the door
was closed but finally opened
so that this counselor
could retrieve Ben
and we could begin our journey by heading towards the GWB
and using the E-Z pass lane
so that we could ride across
and after fending off traffic jams on the Hutchinson River Parkway stop
in Danbury
for a 4 minute bathroom break that extended to 6 minutes.
All of the traffic and the stop made us have to rush past Sabin/Reed Hall
to McConnell
where we were able to see Jane from the back
as we all watched
and then her presentation was set up
and delivered
They would have won the game if only I hadn't
given the wrong answer. After a few pictures of Jane's friends
without
and with
Kaylen, it was time to find dinner. Angelina's pizza had a good menu
and this fellow
assured us that he wasn't int he witness protection program as he gave
us our drinks
and let us admire their fresh pizzas
along with this magnet
should we ever get back to Northampton.
After taking this picture for the collection
it was time to eat though Kaylen
seemed worn out and Benjamin
seemed to be in outer space even as Suzanne
was amused by my self portrait
After a few pictures of their neon
as Ben
and Kaylen
enjoyed their sandwiches and Suzanne and I split this calzone
and so we were ready to search for the hotel but first we needed gas
for the trip which also required that Suzanne get directions
before we found the hotel
and Suzanne explained the living space
as Benjamin explored the kitchen
while we celebrated our joy at being guest of the day.
The next morning, Benjamin
was up even as Kaylen
slept and I tried to get a good picture of the cookies with flash
or without
but unfortunately, they photographed about as good as they tasted.
Breakfast was a more impressive story with lots of breads and muffins
cereals and fruits
and warm oatmeal
but I started with this healthy plate
as Kaylen
Ben
and Suzanne
enjoyed watching the staff
who managed the hotel take care of breakfast. This inspired me to
try their waffles
which weighed me down for the day so that I could understand how someone
who stayed there for a year
might want to name their suite. After saying goodbye to the desk clerk
we headed back to Smith to get Jane. After a picture with 2 good friends
we did the packing ritual
and then after saying good bye to the girl from Phoenix and her friend
we packed the car
celebrated this fact
and then took a picture of Jane with her friend
and then captured the people from Hanover
whose daughter's sister's friend's friend's sister father is me.
These pictures
do a good job of recording the attempts to come up with a plan in the
cafeteria amid more good byes
before Suzanne and Mary
decided that we should all
head off but first the keys had to be returned
and then we stopped at the book store
to get a Sweatshirt as Tom
was amused at how slow progress was as followed the Sear's
to a parking place where we fed the meter
and got together
for the trip across the street to Fitzwilly's
where the girls
studied the menu as Ben and Suzanne
chatted with Mary
and Jane snapped these pictures of the fathers
before my portabella sandwich
and the other sandwiches
and Ben's mac and chack
and the girl's wraps
came along with our waters
to make for a charming meal even without the bathroom directive.
We recorded the history of the restaurant building
and headed back for some final good byes
as the mothers watched
even one more round of good byes
before we parked the car
at Herell's
and headed in
to check out the menu
record the signs
and get our desserts
before recording the history of the place
as the first home of ice cream of its genre.
By now, the afternoon was wearing on and it was time to head
to Brattleboro
where the sign pointed the way to Manchester
even as the mural welcomed us to town.
We knew we were in Manchester
when we saw good friend Ralph
and soon we were admiring Mary's picture
of the 6 emotions as we explored the house
and then the out buildings
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Sunday morning, we began by eating yet another good meal
after which Michael and Judy arrived
and greeted Boot
before making their way
into the dining room for more muffins
as the teen age girls emerged
and ever so slowly
made their way to the table
to eat further
before the dueling cameras
came back to record the eating process
before Nancy posed for a family photo
and then left because she didn't want to join the other girls
rolled up on the couch watching a stupid movie
as Benjamin, Lauren and Suzanne
did the hoops thing before the women returned
and the tour ended
and my Lego tower
would only stand with support.
All of this seemed to suggest that it was time for another meal, so the
salads were prepared
though not dressed and the pizzas were brought out
as Jack posed
before the table was set
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Next thing we knew, it was time to depart, so there were the gathering
before the group pictures
and the dueling camera photos
could be taken as Lauren and Suzanne
came together
for a final picture as Benjamin
was bored with the whole thing and another round of pictures
led to the novelty of a ``cooperating cameras''
picture which didn't exactly work.
As we passed through Bennington, the girls went in here
as I got gas
and Suzanne went here
where she could buy this pottery
from this woman
and we could continue into town where we found our road sign
and began the ride home. We need to stop and see the farm stand
and the rest rooms
in New Baltimore but we waited dinner until we got to the Appleby's, always
a mistake where the group photo
was good, the menu reading
was less good, the food
was even less good, though we finished it all
(well almost)
before taking this picture
which describes our philosophy of life at that point of the trip.
In all, it was a delightful weekend.