Can’t believe you’re entering your final year at Oyster River Middle School.

Your grandmother and I are trying to process the reality that Grandchild #4, born 13 years ago, is in her 8th year of school, not counting kindergarten.  How did this happen so fast? Crazy!

Grammy and I sure wish your last year at ORMS was a normal one, without the constraints of Covid-19, meaning remote learning and ZERO in-person attendance at school. That sucks!

We’re sad you and your classmates (and everyone else in America not able to attend school who normally would) won’t experience the normal routines, customs and procedures we’ve taken for granted all these years.

We’re hoping a vaccine is developed soon and you’ll be able to get some degree of in-person 8th Grade experience ( a few months perhaps?) before the year ends.

Hang in there, Ainsley.  We’re proud of how you’re reacting to all this change and know you’ll be okay.  Stay focused, get good grades and make the best of this funky situation. You’ve got the right attitude and it will continue to serve you well. Proud of you.

Last day of August!  Let’s have an adventure!

Off we went, the six of us piling into Ruby the Explorer, heading north.

We had a busy day planned:

• First stop, Duston’s in Dover to pick up subs, drinks, chips and goodies
• Driving to West Rattlesnake Mountain in Holderness, NH. Along the way, Ainsley kept us laughing and we had many singalongs, including Molly teeing up Christmas songs that included a rousing group rendition of Mariah Carey’s “All I want for Christmas is you” from the top of our lungs.
• hiking, climbing,  posing your way up the mountain
• Lots of OOHS and AHHS as we reached the peak and saw one of the prettiest views in all New Hampshire – sparkling Squam Lake far below from the wide granite slab peak.
• Chowing down lunch in a carefully selected location with an amazing view that was also protected from the sun.  Good job finding it!
• “Flying” high from the granite cliffs (see photo)
• Next stop: The Seacoast Science Center which was closed on the inside but open on the outside, thanks to Covid-19.  No problem! We saw bobcats, deer, lynx, coyotes, bears and other animals. We also acted out scenes at an outdoor theatre we had all to ourselves.  Plenty of of sliding, climbing and swinging, too.
• Off we went to Lake Ellacoya. Emma rolled in the sand, Jack and I built a lake hut, everyone swam and there was a dramatic Lifeguard station late afternoon photo shoot.
• A very fun day during a crappy pandemic year

I’ve been around a lot of cats in my lifetime, especially when I was a kid.There were always two, three or even four or more cats (new litters!)  on any given day at our house on Lord Court

I’ve fed, played and petted them. I always liked the little engines they have in their bodies that start slow and build sound as more contentment settles in.  I’ve marveled at their self-reliance and been impressed by their nonchalance and independence.

I often loved them, but at other times, I fell short. The wet cat food stunk. They bit, clawed and scratched me.  They didn’t come when called… it always had to be on their time, when they felt like coming home. They left fleas behind that jumped up and bit my skin.

So, yeah, I know cats and understand what makes them meow.

With this in mind, I want to say one notable thing:

Never have I met a cat as cool and epic as Oreo.

Unlike all my other experiences with chat and chattes, Oreo stood alone because:

• he was calm, always calm
• he never ran away when people approached, even out of nowhere
• he sat on the floor in your entryway, looking out the door, like a dog would, waiting for his family to come home
• he let people pick him up, no problem-o
• he patiently allowed Madigan to push him around in her baby stroller, taking it all in, barely fitting, uncomfortable and yet uncaring, never minding
• he could do amazing things, like fly through the air with the greatest of ease, as he opened the food pantry in mid-air, enjoying the treats he set loose
• he was a chill cat, a very cool cat

You left our world suddenly, perhaps cruely, but we’ll never forget the fun times you gave us and the memories you left behind.

I’ll miss you Oreo. You’ll always be my number one feline.

July 9 started off foggy at Ogunquit Beach, but it quickly turned into fun and yum.

Highlights ( and a few low-lights thanks to Covid-19):

• #1 – Grammy and I being together with Emma, Camden, Ainsley, Molly, Madigan and Jack for a fun day
• wearing the official fashion statement of 2020 – the face mask – as we carried beach gear, walked and pulled the stuffed wagon along the beach, looking at all the people NOT wearing masks!
• setting up our beach towels as far away as possible, up against the beach grass, creating boundaries against the maddening crowds from Massachusetts
• chowing down on yummy Congdon goodness  – that’s the way to start a new morning. Jelly, chocolate; sugar; honey dip; buttercrunch; confetti; maple cream!
• checking out the water temperature at the lifeguard stand; then venturing into the water with fog still hanging in the air
• boogie boarding time and time again
• the four of you battling each other in a sand structure building competition
• eating lunch under a blazing hot sun (thankfully with umbrellas) at Spinnaker’s
• ending the day at the Scoop Deck, our favorite ice cream place on earth# 1 –
• we sure miss you Moody Beach beach house, but this was a nice escape!