413 Fair Oaks

The County sheriff was driving by while I took this picture. He slowed and watched, turned around, and drove by again. I was afraid I might have to prove ownership.

We were too late for the chicken barbecue today at the fire hall. It started at 11:00 a.m. and sold out by 1:00. We were, however, in time to watch the duck drop. I figured it was going to be some kind of "return the ducks to their native habitat" celebration. Instead they had dropped about 500 rubber duckies into the creek up on Mill Street.

The ducks all had numbers. For $5 you could "purchase" a duck. If your duck was one of the first 25 to float under the finish line, behind the firehall, you won a prize. The only problem was that the creek was low. All but 3 of the ducks were stuck up the creek. The firemen took a truck up and flushed 500 gallons of water into the creek. Still not enough. Finally a couple of firemen started to walk back up the creek to find the rest of the "first" 25.

Good news. The "flavor house" is open. Ed and Tom matched the motorcyclists in years but couldn't match them in black leather and tatoos.

Lots of daffodils came up this year. I found at least 6 varieties and a few yellow tulips.

Remember the corner in the parlor, where toys from Ed's childhood, photo albums, report cards (2 of mine, with a "D" on one in the "appreciates fine books" category), letters, maps of Minnesota, Dad's retirement photos...I could go on. It took Ed, Martha, and I about 3 hours to sort through it. It's all tidy now, and some of you have some memorabilia waiting for you. Can you tell what's missing?

Milestones

How many 64 year olds get to celebrate this? The last of the braces came off this morning. I am now learning how to talk with my new—almost invisible— retainer (upper only). Next of many steps, permanent crowns. I'm hoping to be done by the time I am fully eligible for social security.

Cullen's 10-mile Cherry Blossom time was incredibly good. He's in a tough group—those early-40 males—and placed very high (24/861 40-44m). If his parents were a little better organized we would have been there shooting photos.

Congratulations to Mark on the start of his new job at NPR! I don't think I've ever read such a generous farewell.

Lots of birthdays in the family in April, but of the 4-legged kind, here's to Henry and Eli.

Born April 1, 2000 (give or take a few hours), they would place high in a hot water bottle competition.