Most days of driving are central in the spectrum of good days and bad days. Within the bad days – actually there are no bad days, only days that are not as good or are more challenging and exhausting – there are several reasons for this condition extremely diverse from one another. For example there was that day we crossed Arkansas north to south along narrow winding country roads with hairpins posted speed limits of 10 MPH.
Saturday was quite different as we crossed seven states and many major cities. We started in Virginia, passed by or through DC – I know it’s not a state but we will count it as one, besides their license plates state “Taxation without representation” – passed by Balitmore in Maryland, slipped across Delaware into New Jersey and the infamous New Jersey Turnpike, nosed through the jungle leading up to and through New York City and state, and finally resting in Connecticut. It was natural to think we’d be passing through Pennsylvania, but if you follow I95 or the NJ Turnpike, you’re just across the river. So we missed Pennsylvania.
We arrived in New Haven, home of Dan and Nicole Allen, just as the three boys (Lucas, Jonah, and Simon, aged from 5 years to 20 months) were getting into their PJs, and Halloween costumes which served as robes and their bedtime story and prayer. Nicole’s parents from Florence, Oregon were there also so we had a full house; we tried to minimize our impact as we try everywhere by slipping out into our covered wagon for the night.
Sunday morning, Easter morning, we tried our hand at French toast in the covered wagon before joining the family for tea and conversation. Dan and Nicole attended the ecumenical Easter sunrise on a bridge while I just peeked through the blinds to watch the sun rise. It was a nippy morning, around 47˚which is about how warm it got all day.
We drove to their church, First Presbyterian of New Haven, to watch the children hunt eggs, split a Dunkin’Donut and join in some fellowship. Worship started at 10:45 with an oboist and organist offering a duet. I suspect there were about 120-150 in attendance, all wearing masks including the choir even as they sang several songs. The minister, a young lady, was energetic and energizing, offering many “Christ is Risen” greetings echoed by "He is indeed." The highlight for many of us was singing Handel’s Messiah’s Hallelujah chorus in all its glory. I don’t think I have even seen or heard a lay congregation sing that song and with such enthusiasm.
We shared a simple but delightful meal and some conversation with all including their friends Zach and Amanda and two children before heading out to find sister Betty’s former Connecticut home where Gail babysat in the early ‘60’s.
Upon our return in the evening we took Charlie into the back yard where he could play catch and offer the boys a delightful time of throwing the ball and frisbee. Bedtime came soon and the boys hit the hay while we continued some additional enlightening conversation about what Dan and Nicole are doing. Dan as a private practice is serving as a recreational therapist for about two dozen clients primarily in the autism spectrum. Nicole works for Yale and is administering a grant to work with groups in Liberia to upgrade their training and teaching of medical personnel. She has worked in Africa several times including her time in the Peace Corps when Dan was with her.
Tomorrow we’re back to New York City to visit Dwight and family, a classmate and friend from our college days. Then it’s off to Boston to visit a great high school friend. More on them later.
Addendum
There have been some whispers from little birds that there a developing competition to decide who is getting the best reviews in this blog. Everyone, or at least almost everyone, thinks they are the best. So to settle this once and for all, here is a list of the rankings of those in the competition.
#1 – “They”
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