The Rest of Reunion

The rest of reunion weekend was blissful.

Music with old friends.

Breakfast with newer ones.

A close encounter with Alden’s doppelganger.

In addition to their hair and relatively similar size, these two girls move the same way. They are filled with the same spirit.

But mostly, it’s the hair.

On Sunday, after the festivities had died down, we drove to the summit of Mount Greylock, the highest point in Massachusetts. There is a monument on the top.

Of course, I had to jump it. My first attempt was not quite successful.

My second left little doubt as to my dominance.

Alden tried. And failed, lending credence to that old chestnut, “Three-quarter white girls can’t even get off the ground.”

Offered a chance to jump over the monument, Kato demurred, suggesting that he didn’t need to jump over the monument to prove his might. He could subdue it merely by standing on the ground looking tough.

After we finished waging war with the monument, we climbed to the top.

And feasted on Massachusetts in all its glory.

We watched a group of people prepare to jump off the edge of the world.

People with parachutes, of course.

The kids were amazed by the view from the top.

Kato informed me that it was, “Just a little scary.”

And then we climbed back down again.

And watched the parachute guys run and jump off the edge of the mountain.

Apparently, they can stay aloft for up to three hours if the wind is right.

We drove down Greylock into Lanesboro, and stopped by the Money Brook trailhead on the way home.

If you’ve never been to the swimming hole back there by the foot of the Hopper, then you’ve missed out on one of the jewels of Williamstown.

The water was just a few degrees above freezing, but Alden was quoted as saying, “I’ll be damned if I’m going to be in Williamstown and miss out on one of the jewels.”

For dinner, we stopped by everybody’s favorite pizza joint.

My only regret is that I have but one stomach.

We spent Sunday night with our dear friends Gina and Michael. And their sons Diego and Garcia. Diego was born a few weeks after we moved from Williamstown to Savannah.

And now he can drive.

Alden and Garcia, just a few weeks apart in age, share a love of princesses.

And my adoration.

That night, a sleepover was in the offing.

The next morning, everyone was awakened early by Kato launching his new career.

Monday morning, we feasted at the Misty Moonlight diner while the kids danced out the wiggles.

And then we drove east, around the hairpin turn, over the pass, and along the Mohawk Trail to Andover, where the adventure will resume tomorrow.