Bye Bye Big Sky, Spring Is In the Air!

With mixed feelings, we have swapped our Montana residency for Pennsylvania.

We enjoyed a great run in Big Sky, but it just seemed to be time for a change.

Our next door neighbor asked about buying our place for a relatively hassle-free transaction, and while closing was delayed a bit, the deal wrapped on May 31.

We were soon off to Santa Monica to celebrate another big event, grandson Owen's first birthday.

It turned out to be a large gathering, with Darlene, Brooks and BG3 driving up from San Diego and Amy flying in from Jersey City. Sasha's mother Libby, sister Whitney and brother-in-law Adam now live in L.A., so of course they were there too, plus lots of other friends of Jay and Sasha whom we know pretty well now.

The always-smiling Owen loved everything from smashing and eating the delicious cake his mommy made to opening presents to being appreciated by his loving audience.

A talented jazz combo set up next to our party at the Rose Garden Park by the beach.  They played a great free concert.

A highlight was when the drummer let Owen wield his drum sticks, and the little guy beat out a surprisingly good beat on a cymbal.

Our  short return to California was great, including lots of Owen and JoJo time.

We also watched our granddaughter Emma graduate from middle school by livestream early one morning in our hotel room.

So, we had three big events within a fortnight.

Previously in the spring, we had celebrated birthdays for Gina and Amy, plus Mother's Day.

The festivities included a murder mystery brunch at our Ardmore house, a big party at Gina's Merion Station home attended by many of her work colleagues, and other hikes, happy hours and meals.  Lukas visited the Philly family for the festivities.

A few weeks earlier, there was another huge springtime change.  Gina was named Dean of the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University.  She excelled as Interim Dean, and we're all very pleased that her stellar efforts and results were rewarded with a full time position.

She has been attending graduation ceremonies this week, which fortunately were not marred by protestors as some ceremonies have been at other universities.

Following the final ceremony, Gina joined us near the end of the Flag Day Concert (a day early on June 13) at the beautiful Merion War Tribute House near her home.

Julie and I had previously been joined by Laszlo, plus his parents Z and Ria who are visiting from New York, with a cameo appearance by granddaughter Emma.

It was another terrific concert.  The Yard is a band of 50-ish musicians playing jazzy pop.  Then, the Merion High School --- which will be Emma's school next year --- Jazz Band played upbeat big band music in the style of Glen Miller or Benny Goodman for over an hour.

Among other events of the spring, Julie and I watched the Solar Eclipse in Terre Haute, Indiana, one of the cities smack-dab in the path of totality.

It was awesome, as was the last eclipse totality we'd experienced in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

On another occasion, Gina, Julie and I took a train to meet Amy for a picnic in New Brunswick, NJ, the home of Rutgers University, which we walked through.

This Sunday was most memorable because of a cricket game being played nearby.  I rarely have ever thought about cricket, but the day before I had emailed a short video on the rules of cricket to high school friends because one of their grandchildren who love baseball will soon move to England.  It was just odd to sit down for our picnic and notice the game.  Funny how the universe provides examples of what we think about.

Life in Spring was very good to us, and we look forward to an exciting summer that may officially start next week but definitely has already kicked off with warm, sunny days in Ardmore.

Stay positive!

Haverford Southbrook Trail

Chestnut Hill College Walk Instead of Wissahickon

Deer at Haverford Southbrook Trail

Owen's face is intentionally blurred out for social media sharing