Memorial Day

We hope you are having a nice Memorial Day.  It is quiet here today with hardly any traffic.  The day started off with sunshine, but now it has clouded over and a few minutes ago I saw some rain drops on the window.  It's pretty warm, though - about 69 degrees, and the wind isn't quite as strong and cold as it has been for the last few days.

There is more information about Margaret Lucenti's death - our deepest sympathy to Margaret and Sal's family.  Losing both of them so close together must be very difficult for them.  At our Joe's Pond Association meeting Saturday, someone mentioned that Margaret and Sal were "always together," so it wasn't surprising they would depart this earth close together as well.  They were long-time Joe's Ponders and always took an interest in the summer community here.  There always seemed to be a lot going on when they were at camp, with friends and family enjoying their company. We will miss both of them.  

I had news this morning of the birth of John and Liz Randall's first granddaughter, Hallett "Hallie" Leslie Randall, on May 5th.  She joins their first grandson, John "Jack" Perry Randall, now almost two.  The proud parents are Jason and Kerrin Randall.  Grandma Liz said Hallie came a bit earlier than expected and weighed 5 pounds 14 ounces, but she's a happy, healthy baby and she and her mom are doing just fine.  We are very happy for the whole family.  The Randall kids, Jason, Matt and Lauren, grew up at Joe's Pond, and the family was here most of every summer and often in the winter when they were all young, so we got to enjoy them as our neighbors.  They all still have a soft spot for their cabin on West Shore Road at Joe's Pond, and come as often as possible, now Jason with a family of his own, Lauren with her fiance, Kevin, and Matt with his lovely girlfriend from the Netherlands, but they are all busy, so visits now are usually brief.  

I just learned that our neighbor, Don Encarnacion, is celebrating his 93rd birthday today.  Don is living in St. Johnsbury now, in the care of Deborah Baldwin, 271 Hillside Ave., St. Johnsbury VT 05819, if you'd like to send him a card.  I'm sure he'd like to hear from any of his friends here - and if you are in the vicinity, he'd enjoy a visit.  Hillside Avenue is a dead-end street off of Breezy Hill Road.  Breezy Hill Road connects Pleasant Street to Hospital Drive - we call it the "back road" to get to the hospital area from downtown St. Johnsbury.  From Pleasant Street heading north, Hillside Avenue is a left.  Pretty area, and Debbie says visitors are always welcome to stop and see her guests.  I'm thinking of Don especially today because for as long as he was able, he marched in the Memorial Day parades in St. J., spiffy in his Navy uniform.  A dedicated veteran, justifiably proud of having served his country.