June 30-July 7, 2005 #347

My stepson, Jeffery and his wife, Joy, who live on Long Island, always enjoyed lunch at the Blue Mingo Restaurant off Route 28 in Cooperstown. They would also rent a speedboat at Sam Smith's Boat Yard and after lunch take it for a spin. They would tease us by circling the tour boat that we were on with Irwin's brother and niece from Salt Lake City, Utah. When my new friends, Martha and Elliot Helfand, asked where would be a nice place to have lunch, I suggested the Blue Mingo. It was convenient for them on the way home to Canadarago Lake. We had a delicious lunch out on the deck overlooking the lake. We could almost touch the water. Oh, how I would have liked to be out there on one of those boats.. We enjoyed the sites and activities around us and also toured the gift shop. I couldn't get a refill on Martha's wonderful chocolate chip cookies, because I neglected to bring back the container she said I had to return for a refill. . I left it in the car!

I just learned that The Lollypop Zoo in Hartwick is closed. The decision to close was brought about by the increasing costs of running the Zoo. The campground is still very much open and the existing farm animals are there for the enjoyment of the campers only. I understand that John Briggs is now retiring. Enjoy, enjoy and ENJOY!

I anxiously awaited Andy and Laura on Friday, June 24! We were going to Kenny Dudeck's graduation from Oriskany High School. Kenny is MY GRANDSON. I couldn't be more proud of him. When Kenny was nine years old he and his grandpa were very close and there was a deep love there. They were buddies. When Richard was diagnosed with ALS, he knew his grandpa was very sick, but little was told to him. He heard all the phone conversations about his very ill grandfather. His Mom would take off every weekend to be with him.

One day his teacher said to him, "Kenny, what is your problem? You are not doing well at all in school."

"My grandfather is dying!!!" He said with tears in his eyes. Now we knew that his grandfather's illness was affecting him in many ways and steps were taken to help. He pulled through the rough times and he did it for his grandpa. He did well in his studies, was an active athlete and had many friends, one of whom lost HIS DAD to ALS and Kenny was there for him. He did it for his grandpa. . .

The graduation was wonderful and Kenny got a scholarship too. There were lots of hugs and kisses and when I had a moment with him I asked him if he knew who else was at his graduation and he said, "I know, Grandma, it is Grandpa." Kenny's friend, who had lost his Dad to ALS, gave him a simple yellow bracelet with the slogan-Fight ALS.

After the graduation, we went back to Wendy and Ken's and sat in the backyard eating cheese and crackers, visiting about Kenny's BIG DAY. It was our BIG DAY TOO!

Natalie and I had been working in our gardens all day and it was HOT! I called her and asked her to a late lunch and she accepted. I made a pasta salad and tuna fish salad and served it with 12-grain toast and lettuce and tomatoes Natalie called it a gourmet lunch!

The Fenimore Art Museum has just started serving "Wine on the Terrace" from 4 to 6pm daily. This is right up Natalie's aisle. She picked me up at my office and off we went. It was lovely. We sat just outside of the café and waited on us. Natalie ordered fruit and cheese and we enjoyed it with crackers. It was a beautiful day with blue skies and a breeze. We were where many people would like to have been. You'll have to try it. I also took the time to hunt up Virginia Curlis's bench, which I found right up front overlooking the lake. Irwin and Virginia's sisters donated monies to purchase the bench and The Farmer's Museum had a plaque inscribed with her name. She was one of their most thought of employees and worked there for a number of years..

It is a week later now and I am again waiting for Laura and Andy-this time, to attend Kenny's Graduation party. They arrived at 11:00am on Saturday, July 2 and we were on our way to the Stanwix Veterans and Mens Club on Route 69 in Rome. We nearly messed up when we came to the new construction, but corrected the error and arrived on schedule at Wendy and Ken's just a few miles from our destination. They had been setting up tables and chairs. Wendy was a little frazzled and said," I am gonna take quick shower and then I will met you at the Men's Club".

Kenny and his girl friend, Sarah, were working hard too to get ready when everyone left the Club and came to the Dudeck Ponderosa. Wendy's new flowerbeds were beautiful and she was so proud of her accomplishments and so proud to be Kenny's Super Mom.

Congratulations to all the Graduates of 2005!

Thought for the Week: Everyday is a gift. Treat it kindly and share it with Joy.