Family visit

Because I see so little of my family, every visit is a Big Deal. Years pass without me seeing those who live at a distance, and I see even the ones who live within 50 miles only once or twice a year. I hadn’t seen Geoff since he came East from Vashon Island (off the coast of Seattle) for my mother’s 90th birthday party three years ago. I hadn’t seen Carol and Zoe since Pete and Karin’s wedding four years ago. So it was a real thrill to have them here for a few days.

Geoff and Carol are musicians. They perform, teach, and lead workshops in the music of African, Afro-Caribbean, North Indian, and Indonesian traditions. You can see them and hear their music here.

Geoff and I have been close because we have the same mission in life–to help people grow, develop, and realize more of their potential. He does this through music. I did it through management consulting, coaching and counseling in organizations. It was Geoff who introduced me to Buddhism in the early 1980s, after he did a silent meditation retreat in Bodh Gaya, India, the place where Gautama Buddha achieved enlightenment.

Carol and Geoff are also building a house themselves. That’s why they look so tanned– outdoor work.

On Saturday, Pete and Karin hosted a crab feast at their home. Even though they’ve lived there for three years, it was the first time I had been to their home, over an hour’s drive away. I was amazed to see that they have a ten-room house, large rooms, including an in-law suite with separate entrance over the garage, on a large property. Bill and Chris brought a bushel of crabs and the gas-fired steamer. There’s Bill and Chris in the background with Pete, Karin, Geoff, and Carol standing, Zoe in the foreground.

Here are some shots of us enjoying the crab feast.

That’s Skip, my first husband, putting steamed crabs on the table.

Big beautiful Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. Incomparable!

Youngest grandson Noah, ready to clean up after the feast.

Noah with 15-year-old grandson Josh.

The chairs and table were once mine. Nice to see them still in use.

Everybody except Chris, who was the photographer.

Skip and me with four of our sons. Standing–Pete and Bill. Seated, Geoff and Michael. Steve was at home in Colorado.