Back in the U S of A (Part 3, The Final Frontier)

Hi all,

This is the last chapter of our journey home and then back to Africa we go.

After grabbing delicious bagel sandwiches in Buffalo, we piled into a rental and drove to Morgantown, West Virginia, to see Adam's parents.  (Alas, we have not found good bagels in Pretoria, even though there's a sizable Jewish population here. Pretty good challah, though.  Rumor has it there's a great deli down in Johannesburg. Will research and report back.)

 People like to take walks in Morgantown, and soon after arriving we walked over to Sharon and Avi's house.  Yes, Lucy, we know you want a dog. 

Future Corporate Executive!

(Playing out in the front yard. Apparently a "swimming costume", as they say in S.A., is optional
in the hollows of WV.)

Noah loves Club Med Morgantown

 Noah takes his first bite of Grandma Judy's Chocolate Eclair Cake.
(If you've had it, you know how good it is.)

 What's that you say?  We can't have this for breakfast too?  But it'll go great with 48-grain hot cereal!

Eating, for Noah, is a contact sport.

 Judy decides to just let it go. "We'll hose him off in the backyard, like we did with Josh."

Who wants more?

 We happen to visit during Ad's 25th high school reunion.  He and his school friend, Beth, check to see if they've left anything in their lockers.

Teacher's pet

School's out and we head to Mike Craig's lake house.  (Tough life, I know.)  

 Lucy asseses the situation. Like with most things in life, you just have to jump.

 Tesa (who now happens to live in Buffalo) and her husband, Mike, head out for a cruise.

 Back on the front porch for some homemade Popsicles.

 "Daddy, you have got to try this! The combination of sweet and tart is positively mesmerizing!"

 Grandma Judy keeps an eye on everything, including Beth's daughter. 
(Grandude was in the kitchen prepping dinner, of course.)

Summer lovin'

Historic West Virginia Porch Scene (circa 1930).
Father on steps insists the dust bowl is coming.

 Noah helps straighten up after the big Popsicle Fiesta...
(Those eyes!)

...then heads out for a quick jog up the middle of the street. 
(Like a good African runner, shoes only hold you back.) 

It's hard to keep up with Judy's "Retirement" schedule.  Soon we zipped off to watch her rehearse
with her Steel Drum band.

 Lucy is a quick study.

 Rockin' Out

Another day we head out to Adam and Josh's favorite watering hole, Cheat Lake.

 River Dance

Babes in arms

We spotted a family of butterflies enjoying the lake, too.


Wouldn't be summer without cooking s'mores.
(Well, here we made them on the barbeque grill, but no one seemed to mind.

Uncle Josh and Lucy tangle over the last one

 Can we move here, Dad?  They survive on sweets and quinoa!

We took a trip out to Cooper's Rock, but I'll post those tomorrow using
some great shots taken by the ever talented Kate Chilko.

 Last night...  off to Dairy Queen on High Street.
 (Note to self: Take pictures of things other than the kids eating dessert.)

 Noah starts to get the hang of how to eat a cone.

What is this magical substance and do they have it in South Africa, the boy wonders.

Rested and full (and hopefully no cavities), the Safari packs up and decides what would really be fun is a 16 hour flight home.  (But it's really not that bad.  Free alcohol!  Come visit.)

xo,
Glenn