Wilkes Barre, in the middle of everything

You'd think Wilkes Barre is in the middle of everything based on our first night's gathering at Paula and Joe's house here in Kingston near Wilkes Barre. We arrived in time for dinner only one half-hour before Joe's friends from home (Granville, OH) also arrived en route to Baltimore from the Cape. Such a mid point. Such a rest stop. But alas, the draw is not Wilkes Barre. It's Paula and Joe, dear friends of ours from Chicago and their 3 boys who welcome us with open arms into their historic home on a tree lined street with yet another great porch. I'm starting to feel like I'm on a tour of great porches. Check out this picture of Paula and Joe's. Sorry I didn't get one of Anne, Lucy or Wendy's.

So Joe tells me Wilkes Barre/Scranton is the third largest metro area in PA. Certainly doesn't feel metro, much more small town. Tree-lined streets, welcoming porches, neighbors dropping by. You get the idea. Once again, Bram wins instant welcome when he enters carrying his official binder of Pokemon cards and his DS with the new Indiana Jones game. Richie ever so politely shakes his hand and informs me that usually when he does this, he ends up being good friends with that person. Baby Teddy proves more of a challenge and is none too happy to see a new face, suspecting that I am here to take his mom somewhere. Over the next 24 hours I manage to win him over and we are now friends which means that not only will he hold my hand and give me hugs but I am treated to the best great big smile I've seen in a long time. It's a winning smile. Hope he never loses it. Six year old Max befriends Bram and on Monday they are off to camp at the JCC. Bram jumps on the bus with Max and Richie with hardly any idea what state he is in, let alone where he is going. All he knows is camp and that means good things.

So Paula and I spend the morning touring Wilkes Barre, running errands and getting lunch. In the afternoon, we treat ourselves to pedicures at a nearby spa. We return just in time to get the boys off the bus, a bit of down time (DS for the boys, email for the moms) and have some dinner. A short rain almost derails our evening activity -- a trip to watch the minor league Yankee team face the Braves farm team from Richmond. Bram claims he's been to a Braves game in Atlanta. I can't remember but he's probably right. But neither of us have been to a minor league game. It's a bit more sophisticated than what I was thinking (Bull Durham of course) but still a refreshing change from the big league stadiums. The boys like the game, the french fries, the mid-inning crowd participation games and we last until the seventh inning stretch when it's time to come home and get everyone to bed.

Paula and Joe are quite the troopers having us here on the heels of three summer trips and many loads of laundry. Paula even has a song about the laundry. They make life with three young boys look as easy as it could be with their freshly painted house and perfectly hung artwork. In my world, rehanging art is something that takes at least a year after we paint. I'm inspired and determined not to drag out my own redecorating back home. I've learned a new recipe -- home made chicken nuggets with potato chip crust that Bram seems to love. And Joe has shared the first fruits of his tomato harvest with me. A real honor. (Where are we on the crop back home, Ross?) We are refreshed with new CDs and new books we've borrowed for the remainder of our trip. But mostly, we cannot believe it's been almost twelve years since we've seen each other and we're determined not to let another twelve go by. I'd owe some serious overdue fines on the books and CDs if so! Thanks guys!

Lists to date
Boys visited - 11
Baseball games - 1 (thanks, Joe)
Pedicures - 1 (thanks, Paula)
Pokemon cards acquired - 35 (30 thanks mom plus 5 from some good trades)
Toilets clogged - 2 (no new ones)