Teri's Gonna say it's about time! :)

Hi all! it's been way too long since I've posted anything and it looks like I'm on a 4 month schedule. Carolyn is doing good, she's on a different chemo and her last MRI showed the spots around her brain are dead or dying. Her radiologist is happy and says for him she's on the watch list. Right now she's on a small break from her chemo regimen and will be getting a PET scan before any new treatments if any at all.
Last week we went on a little road trip to NY for my high school class's 40th reunion. It was the first I attended and was really fun seeing my classmates, some for the first time since graduation.
Our first stop was Charlottesville VA, home of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello.

Our first "selfie"

Our first traffic jam!

Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's residence.  I thought it interesting that for one who was such an advocate for religious freedom that years later a Jewish family bought Monticello and turned it over to the private organization that now maintains it.

The inovations he built into this home were amazing.

A hazy morning but the views still very nice.

Our next stop took us up James Madison / James Monroe highway (same road) very nice scenic drive eventually arriving at Gettysburg PA National Battlefield.  As a National Park II was expecting a large roped, fenced off area around the battlefield. I was surprised when our tour took us through the middle of town. The battle of Gettysburg remains as the largest military battle in the western hemisphere, over the first 3 days of July 1863, over 50,000 casualties, wounded, killed, missing from both sides.

The white farm buildings off in the distance is the home of Gen./President Dwight Eisenhower. He retired here after his presidency.

From the top of Little Round Top looking out to the far left (Southwest) of the battle field. Union forces holding this ground was likely the key to defeating the Confederates the next day.

Looking to the far right (Northwest) of the battlefield is Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Hill where the first battle started on day one.

Our Tour guide (wearing hat) was great, obviously has studied this battle extensively.

Had to edit here, an interesting note our guide provided, if you've been here you noticed there are monuments and statues everywhere. One fact, thought to be legend but they are all after the fact, and turns out to be one huge coincidence, Statues of officers on horseback from either side of the battle Union or Confederate, even though all done by different artists and sculptors is this... the horses feet! The more of the horses hooves that are on the ground foretell whether that officer survived the battle unscathed, was wounded, or killed. All four hooves on the ground, it was a good day!  One hoof on the ground well, RIP! Another little tid bit, a contributor to the success at the battle of little Round Top was a Union officer from NY, his name was Abner Doubleday!

Next leg of our trip took us to Montour Falls to see Carolyn's mother, physically she's doing good, her memory pretty much has gone though she did recognize us.

Montour Falls

Carolyn and her mom :)

Carolyn and brother Lester

From here, on to Oneonta NY where we paid way too much for a sleezy room at the Holiday Inn, (they'll be hearing from me), anyway the weather was typical for upstate NY sun, rain, clear, cloudy, all this about every 5 minutes :)
This was my class (1975) reunion the first I've made it to. Those that were able to come had a good time remembering. Was pleasantly surprised when Carol Lee Wright dropped in, our third grade teacher, we were her first class!

The old Empire Hotel, nice to see they're trying to keep it maintained, the changes inside are nice too.

Beth, Jeff Dunham, Bob Stark, Carl Kent, Ellen Ganci, Carolyn

Robin Cockrell, Michele Stensland/Birdsall, Cindy Dubben, Magdelena Gilbert, Dick Gilbert, B.Jay Stebbins and wife

Gilbertsville Post Office, the current PM advised this is the only remaining operational "modular" Post Office in the U.S. the other one is now a museum.

Inside right

Inside left

The Dunderberg Creek, Presbyterian Church

The Overlook

Looking down main street with the farmers market going. Got some maple syrup :)

The Major's Inn

Took Ashley up this creek when she was a kid to "Devil's Cave"

Uncle Art/Aunt Millie's old residence :)  Some wonderful Thanksgiving dinners there back in the day :)

Gramma and Grandpa Freer's residence, now home to Jodi Hughes

Debbie Hay, Beth Gross/Fite, Michele Stensland/Birdsall, me  :)  40 years ago there were 20+ of us on that wall for year book picture.

So, all in all we had a fun relaxing trip, got to see my brother Bob, who's looking great and finally met Arlene :)  Next to Marcia's for a week with the grand kids in about a months time.