One of those rare moments...

So yesterday sort of turned into a race between us and Natalie and Kyle to get out to the vicinity of the house. We were coming up from Maryland, via the New Jersey Turnpike, and they were checking out of their Airbnb digs and heading for Penn Station and the Long Island Rail Road.

For a while, it looked as if we would arrive within minutes of each other, but I guess the kids missed a train and had to wait for the next one. No worries, however, as it gave Galina and me an opportunity to "walk down" the house, which appears to be in pretty good shape.

I went down to the station to meet Natalie and Kyle, after which we returned to the house and jawed a bit, after which we set off for one of their favorite destinations—Trader Joe's. There were no complaints from either me or Galina. We made a few short stops along the way, and I could not help but notice how much more "grown" places had become, in terms of vegetation. I look forward to taking a walk to the beach tomorrow.

The trip to TJ's was uneventful, as was the return. Dinner was pretty simple: salad and lamb tips. After dinner, everyone went out to sit on the patio to sip some brews, munch gorgonzola-flavored crackers, and wait for the fireflies to appear.

I, personally, don't really associate this place with fireflies, but there was a time, I guess when I had my head down about work in a sustained manner (because I do not remember this happening), when Galina brought the kids to visit the grandparents for, I guess, a couple of weeks. And last night, the look on Natalie's face as she gazed out over the back yard&which she called "the glade"—was well and truly priceless.

So powerful was that moment, it put me in the mood to actually consider moving back to New York and live here, in the house.

BTW, I'm getting to like spare digs. The place we stayed in Rockville the night before last was like that, and the house is very sparsely (though adequately) furnished. It gives me a very "open" feeling.

Getting connected was, um, a trick. We had Optimum installed for our summer renters, and they apparently made no use at all of the wireless, and frankly, I had no earthly idea of what my username and password might be to the router, but eventually (like, this morning) I got it all (?) sorted out.

I've been up for an hour. What needs to happen right now is for me to get some work done and out the wire so I can goof off for most of the rest of the day.

Apropos of which... ciao for now.

A highlight...

Up early again (but I mentioned that, didn't I?), and by the time the slugabeds around here got their act together, it was almost afternoon before we made it to the beach.

I enjoyed the beach for the short time I was there. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't feeling rushed, but unless there is something to do that involves some extended period of time, I personally have never understood lying around on the sand, either in or out of the sun. And there is only so long one can remain in the water without turning into a prune.

So I walked back to the house, keeping my eyes peeled for mushrooms. I only saw one specimen worth looking at (which probably means I missed a whole lot of others, but that's not big deal).

While at the beach—and indeed, so far during this trip—I found myself pitting my memories of this place, hardly any of them pleasant, with Natalie's advice to let all that stuff go and start making new memories. It sounds workable, in theory; in practice... well... I'll see some place and I can't help but recall an incident I could have happily not experienced.

But Natalie's right (as is Epictetus): all that stuff is in the past. Dwelling on it—even recalling it—is a no-win all the way down the line.

But it was a beautiful day, and the water was pleasantly cool, and the walk home was leisurely.

It was a good day.

Cheers...