Although I said I wouldn't drive back to NJ, we found ourselves doing just that on September 24th. Uncle Mike's 103rd birthday would be on September 27th, and I felt I needed to see him. I had also made plans to meet with some School 13 friends, and then go from NJ to visit Bob's family in Ohio.
Fortuitously, one of our Passport America club campgrounds at Buena Vista, VA, is almost half way to NJ, and has been a stopping place for us at least twice before. The only downside is that it is off I-81, and even the park attendant said traveling on I-81 was taking your life in your hands.
And the woman must have been clairvoyant. The next morning, we were in a 3-lane shut down due to a horrific accident that had occurred just two miles from us. We were stopped for over 2 hours only to finally be able to reach the next off ramp, which was about a quarter of a mile away, take a detour of a few miles, and get back on 81 past the wreckage. But, we knew we were lucky...at least we got to drive away and tell the tale.
It is a white-knuckle ride on the interstates, especially towing a trailer, but thankfully we made it to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and to our favorite campsite without further incident. In fact, when we crossed over the Delaware River on I-80, I asked Bob if we were in the Twilight Zone....there was almost no traffic!!
Uncle Mike's health had been failing, and he needed more care than the family could provide. He went into a nursing facility and a few months later he moved into the New Jersey Veterans Home in Paramus. This is where Adele arranged to have the party for him on Saturday the 27th. Above are some of his first-generation family: Barbara and Joe, Carol and Nelson, Adele and Michael, and me.
And here are some of the second and third: (top row) Alexis, Matt, Al, Dean, and Sean. (bottom row) Tallulah, the guest of honor, Annie, Jill, Jonah, and Abram.
Adele performs the traditional Polish birthday song, "Sto Lat", and in flawless Polish!
Later most of us went to Annie and Dean's house for some food, drinks, and good cheer.
On Monday, Bob and I paid our respects at the cemetery before meeting up with friends at Allwood Diner. Nance displays her School 13 centennial -shirt.
Plish, Nance, Francie, Mike and I have known each other since kindergarten in School 13. For some reason, there is a very strong bond among those of us who went to school there...one that has lasted over 70 years. The two guys at opposite ends of the table, John and Tom, are honorary 13ers being married to Plish and Nance. Bob didn't want to break the camera, so he took the photo.
We left the next day to head to Ohio. But, I'm glad we did make the drive one more time. Sadly, Uncle Mike passed away January 9th of this year.
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