ROAD TO REHOBETH

Mom and I headed on down to Georgetown, De Tuesday morning to visit our dear friend "Libby"...Elizabeth Hughes (88). As I had mentioned earlier, we had gotten to know Libby well from years of bringing her Meals on Wheels to her home here in Wilmington.

And after a few years, mom saw her need for assited bathing and a little housekeeping. So, your dear mom jumped in the breach. About two years ago her three sons lovingly entered her in the Harrison House (nursing home down in Georgetown) where eldest son Bill and his family live.

Yeah, really nice place....for a nursing home.....uhhh, Rehab Center.

I had the pleasure of presenting Libby with a loving bouquet of daisies.


She blushed...."Oh, Warren, thank you!"

A symbol of our affection for Libby

Isn't that neat....a little beauty parlor for the girls at the Harrison House!

Your beloved mother and her/our dear friend Libby. Down in Georgetown!

After about a two hour visit with Lib, mom and I headed on down to Rehobeth Beach....about a half hour away. It was hot. It was steamy. A mob scene on the boardwalk. An offshore breeze. Ergo, one foot waves. Next time....Fall or Spring.

Your mother ushered me into a familiar bookstore off the boardwalk. An hour later we walked out with....a load of books! Your mother is a true literary woman. She devours books. I like TIME and TV.

We got home about three today (Wed) after an overniter at Comfort Inn, Georgetown....so lovingly greeted by jumpy-jumpy Rollo and Renee. I really think they love us, but alas, they know our homecoming is always followed by generous helpings of canned salmon. Life is full of tradeoffs. Anyway, still in a vacation mentality, we brought in Chinese and a liter of Pinot Noir tonite. Yes, our mini-vacation doesn't end till midnite. So be it. Amen.

Last Sunday was Father's Day. Being a father, I'm always amazed and humbled that God has so blessed me. Being Father Adrian for 10 years, yes, that was great too....very spiritual. Too bad the Church presently won't let some of us wear both 'hats', clerical and marital, at the same time. So be it!

I'll take fatherhood anyway it comes to me. Being the father of my beloved Kelly, Kimberly and Michael has a divine significance for me. My fatherhood emanates....flows.... from the very Fatherhood of God. The Father of all reality!

That's why I'm somewhat overwhelmed on Father's Day every year. It hits me....that God has deigned to share this 'ultimate blessing' with me. Okay, let's come back to earth and share a few pics from Father's Day.

Pat's father, Ed. And look at those creations...l-r: Tommy, l'il Elizabeth and Pepsie Pat!

My dad, Fred. And his 16 year old seminarian dude son.

Three gifts....three creations!

Kids have a way of growin' up....so fast! So fast!

And now, to the nitty gritty of fatherhood. Joe and I are kinda leaning to the side...but Damien is holding us up straight for this pic. And also singing Happy Father's Day at the same time. Thanks, D.!

Mike, Kay and Good! Great skyping with you on Father's Day. Hey, Michael man! You're one of us now! A dad!

Hi, Kay!

Hi, l'il Good!

Ahhh, Kay! Pat and I love this pic. Do you and Mike... like....spar a lot?

Father Damien, obviously elated, showin' off Rome's new suit!

It's the little things in life...

A free ride for Rome. New muscle building technique for Damien.

We dads knew that the ladies of the house were laughing at our macho, macho shennanigans. Hell! It was Father's Day! Live it up, guys!

Joe...communing with nature? or a quick 'deck nap? Maybe ...both.

Hi, Renee! Always good to come home to you and Rollo! The kids are long gone. But you're always here to greet us....and be fed!

Rome likes to sleep with his head tilted to the left. Probably has some kinda mystical significance....

Ladies in the grandma mode....fuss, fuss, fuss.

Hey, little guy and Chinook!

Peace!

-- Your ever lovin' grandpa and grandma!

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE....

.... with the sound of music. What music? What hills? Well, we mean....like....the beautiful melody you hear in your head when you're motoring up, down and around the hills of south/central Pennsylvania! Like Pat and I have been doing for the past 4 days. Why Hanover? Gettysburg? Chambersburg?

To celebrate, of course, Pat's 71st birthday on May 19th! Or as a dear friend recently recast "71st"....it's really "the 50th anniversary of Pat's 21st birthday!" Kinda poetic, huh?

Rollo and Renee always like to wave 'goodbye' to us when we venture forth on one of our getaways!

Why can't we travel like most people...with one or two bags and be happy!








Fairfield Inn really is over 250 years old. You can sense you're walking into another far off time frame when you enter the front door.

Historical tidbit: After Robert E. Lee and his Confederate Army were defeated at Gettysburg (8 miles northeast of Fairfield) he and his staff stopped at this very Inn for dinner on the long trek back to the South. Fact. Did they pay for dinner? No one seems to know!

http://www.thefairfieldinn.com/

Great historical ambience. Pretty good crab cakes, too!

The Fairfield Inn was originally in Maryland. Yet, without moving one foot, it suddenly moved to Pennsylvania! How come? When Mason and Dixon did their 'thing', the Fairfield Inn ended up north of the new line....which is Pennsylvania.

Oh, Chris! This is all so historical! So....romantic!

Yes, dear.






Black Angus and Holstein dots in the distance.

Mile-wide swaths of newly sown cornfields. Corn and corn-related subjects really turn me on!

[- The Cornmeister]

Another visit to the brand new Gettysburg Museum. Didn't have time to tour the battlefields.

If the South had won, would the USA have ended up as three separate nations? The North? The South? The Far West?

Mr. President allowed one of his very devoted fans to sit next to him for this photo op!

Thanks, Abe!

The weather was so beautiful, we actually got a few hikes in!

Took a side trip down to Frederick, MD to visit Middle Alley. That's where my mother, Mary Irene, grew up. And why my first name is Frederick!

This pic: c. 1915. Age four. Years later, when she gave me 'that look'....I used to run for cover! A most loving mother....but being German, she loved discipline. Achtung!

Susquehannock PA State Park. Overlooking the Susquehanna River. One of our favorite parks.



A four day birthday bash for Mary Patricia. Great fun! Deo gratias!

MEMORIES FOR MOTHER'S DAY!

ON MOTHER'S DAY...A LITTLE FAMILY GENEOLOGY IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL! YES, WE ALL HAVE 'ROOTS'!

Kate Donlon (b.???; d. 1911) Wife of Patrick Donlon, mother of Mae, John and Thomas. And "grandma" of Tom, Patricia, Elizabeth, Edward and Joseph Stephens. How 'bout that!

Mae Donlon (b. 1907; d. 1970) Wife of Edward Stephens, mother of (you guessed it!) Tom, Patricia, Elizabeth, Edward and Joseph.

There's somethin' very Irish about this pic! Look at those cutie Stephens sisters, Pat and Eliz, in the fiercely protective embrace of dear Mae.

Mae and girls!

This great pic needs no comment! A keeper!

And here's Daisy Mariah Gaugh-Rothenhoefer (1872-1960). Mother of Mary Irene Rothenhoefer-Christopher. Yeah, kids, my grandmother, your great-grandmother!

And here's my dear mom, Mary Irene Rothenhoefer-Christopher 1911; 1996). Your grandma on your father's side.

Guess who!! Yes, Super Mom, Mary Pat!Be proud! You have many great women in your family history. Imagine all the ones we don't even know about. But thanks to them....

...you live today!