Connecticut Sep. 9-14, 2002 My friends from San Diego, Ab & Jim, invited me to join them in Connecticut for their annual gathering with Ab's family, the Sisks. Ab & Jim rented a nice beach cottage in Old Lyme where she grew up. Her brother Adam came out from Walla Walla, WA with his new wife, Sara. Ab's brothers Tobin and Bob both live near Old Lyme so they stopped in several times with their wives Heather and Celeste. And Jim's brother, Ken, came up from New Jersey with his new girlfriend, Dawn, for a couple of nights.

the beach cottage Ab & Jim having coffee on the beach in front of the beach house. Ab and her parents: Pop & Jean Mary & Pamela with Alexander Sara and Adam ready to go see a musical Adam and Tobin (l. to r.) Dawn, Ken, Ab, Sara, Jim, Adam relaxing at the beach We saw this topsail-schooner sail by Tabor and Ab Pamela and Tabor Ab in front of the house where she did grounds keeping as a kid. Jim, Jean, Dean, Ab, Ken & Dawn

The Connecticut coast

On Monday we drove out to see Marilyn's house. The original structure (the part with the steep roof) was built in 1690. A hudred years later (or so) there was an addition and then another in the 1990's. The stone sink from the old part of the house. Part of the newly remodelled living room. Beautiful cherry wood panelling. around the property Jim's new summer job: poolside server Jim Marilyn

I went for a mountain bike ride one afternoon.

Mary took us out on canoes to see the swallows come into the marsh for the night. They gather in a huge cloud; on some days there are 250,000 of them. And then they spiral in a funnel to the ground. Sara, Ab, & Adam Tobin & Heather Tobin & Heather (again) a beautiful sunset

Ab & Jim & I went for a walk in the forest

Sep. 15-18
I then stayed at Mary & James' place after the beach cottage closed and everyone else went home.