A very special Father's Day gift

Happy Father's Day!
Walter surprised me by going out and getting a tattoo for Father's Day! Hope that he still likes it 20 years down the road.

14 (1/2) months!

Finally! A (very late...) 14 (and a half...) month picture!

The trip back home

Alot to cover. I've not been updating the blog in awhile. Last month, I took a road trip back to New York to spend cleaning out my grandmother's home. The boy and M saw me off, of course and we took a group photo before I left.











On my way out, I decided to get off the interstate after I got on I495. I hadn't crossed Massachusetts this way before, but like my dad before me, I had to take the road less traveled, and it was certainly less traveled especially after I got into the western part of the state. This impressive bridge was the French King Bridge. I couldn't find anything about the origin of the name, but it is impressive straddling the Connecticut River on Route 2. You could feel the up and down vibration through the ground beneath your feet as trucks passed over it. It disappeared back into the woods on either side.









In western Massachusetts, the drive was really rewarding when I pulled over to discover all sorts of unknown treasures when the road stretched alongside the river. I found this small 18th and 19th century graveyard alongside a boat launch. Being on a Monday, it was very quiet, just a few fishermen.



Eventually, heading into the North Adams area, the road started to climb up into the mountains alongside the same rocky river. I think that this was the Deerfield River.





Before North Adams, the road heads upward sharply for a bit and then drops you out at this vista before coming down the other side of the mountain. From the other side, (where I should have stopped for photos...), you can see North Adams far down in the valley below.




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Melissa and the boy came on a surprise visit, too. Walter had a good time visiting his Gramp's old place.









Of course, Walter, had a great time just playing in the dirt with a plastic bucket and an old spoon.



And by the time he got back home, Walter was so tired that he just collapsed into his easy chair. Thanks, Grammie!