Off Island

We left Key West one week ago to make the 23 hour drive to my family in Pennsylvania. One night in Port Wentworth, GA (just outside Savannah), one night in Winchester, VA, with lots and lots of miles between each stop. After living in K Dub for four years being up north seems like visiting a completely different world. I have to remind myself that where I am right now is the way most places are.....Key West is certainly NOT the norm. The weather in Central PA has been delightful! One morning it was 54 degrees, and the warmest it has been is 70. The cool mornings and green, rolling hills are soothing. I have gotten to spend lots of time with my mom, dad, two sisters, two nephews and a niece. The girls are in heaven....Mom-Mom and Pap's house may just be their favorite place on earth. We have gone to Barnes & Noble, Panera, Michael's and Target - a big deal when you live far away from such things. The girls got their first horseback riding lesson, which was a huge success. They absolutely loved it, and I loved watching them learn and listen to the instructor and 'talk' to the horse to let it know where they wanted to go. And it was worth every minute of the long drive and all the 'are we there yets' to spend Father's Day with my dad instead of calling him on the phone. We will be back at my parent's house on Wednesday, after a short trip to Claryville, NY to see some of John's family. This morning we are leaving the rolling hills of Central PA for the rolling hills of the Catskill Mountains, about a four hour drive from Altoona. It is another scenic part of the country, with lakes and small towns and winding roads. It will be great to catch up with everyone there, and I look forward to taking some photos of the scenery. I hope to find some quaint shops to browse, and John found some pottery studios that offer tours. It will be a fun side trip. When we get back to PA we have a long list of things we need to do before we head to Maryland for the remainder of our trip. We have to go to the mall, get Josie's ears pierced, get frozen yogurt at Sweet Frog's, go to the local amusement park, and enjoy more cool mornings on the front porch with multiple cups of coffee. Key West seems very far away right now, in more ways than just in distance. And that is just fine for right now.