One thing that still makes for a tough trip is traffic. If you've been on route 95 in the past few years, you know that it is a road forever under construction, and filled with maniacs (sounds a bit like the Internet). Traffic isn't so much a problem for me as it is for Jean. After ten minutes of stop-and-go she becomes frustrated. So Jean and I plan our travel around the expected problems on the road.

This year we left Richmond at 6:20 AM on Saturday, hoping to thread the backups around Washington. We were also anxious about getting through a part of I-95 just South of Philadelphia where there had apparently been a fire so intense that the heat weakened the structure of a bridge. Despite frequent pit stops we made it to my folks' place in 5.5 hours - our standard time when the road is kind.

Blue Bell is always fun. The climate is significantly dryer than Richmond, and this week the temperature was cool. Pennsylvania is also rockier than Virginia, and the stone houses and rocky hills are part of what make me feel a sense of home even today. Blue Bell changes slowly, but it does change. The pizza place that once occupied the last store in the local shopping center has moved to the middle of the strip. Apparently their pizza is popular with the natives. The corner (independent) drug store is still there, but I learned this time that the gentleman who was the owner/pharmacist has now been replaced by a younger woman.

New also this time around was my niece Molly, born during the first week of May. She's still in the baloney in a blanket stage, but she's quiet (and that's what counts at her age). Somewhat more interactive is Molly's older sister Sabrina, who is soon to be 2. In my previous visits, Sabrina kept her distance. This time was different. Before I left we were sitting next to the pool discussing why the fish (the scrubber that runs around the bottom of our pool) was sleeping and wouldn't wake up.

Turns out the key to playing with Sabrina was a tennis ball. Actually several of them. Her father had demonstrated how a tennis ball thrown into the water resulted in three dogs jumping in. Once Sabrina had this part down, it was difficult to keep the dogs dry. Sabrina would command the closest adult to toss a ball into the water, then stare as Cory, Brinkley or Maggie jumped or waded in to retrieve. Even Neon and Pasta (my dogs) managed to go for a swim. Everyone and every dog had a great time, except my mother (who was more concerned with dog hair clogging the filter).

I suspect my two dogs had a vacation in Blue Bell as much as I did. Neon's a poor traveler, but managed to survive the drive. While visiting Blue Bell, he and his brother were surrounded by four other family dogs. When Jean and I left for Chestnut Hill, we left the dogs in the outdoor cage with Maggie and Bishop. They seemed to take it well, though they were spastic as soon as our car pulled up to the house.

The dogs also got to sleep with us. When we first came to visit four years ago with the two puppies, they refused to be silent when left downstairs for the night. So we brought them upstairs into our room, where they have peacefully slept ever since. This time was a bit different: Neon (who wants to stay as close to me as possible at all times) managed to charm his way onto my bed (a single) and stay there all night. It was quite pleasant waking up with him still there the next morning. Another night I tried the same with Pasta, but woke up the next morning with Neon where his brother had been last time I looked. Pasta seemed happier on the oriental rug at the bottom of the bed.

Doggies aside, vacation is a time for me to reflect on where I've been since the last vacation and where I want to go next. I'm a content person: I don't think I've met anyone who is as content with life as I am with the exception of my father (thanks for the genes, Pa). I don't know if it's that I have some glimmer of understanding of just how brutal and random this world can be, and how lucky I am, or if it's that I just go with what's flowing. I worry sometimes that I don't push myself as much as I should (that's the downside to contentment).

There's much that I'm working on these days. My various Milton projects all seem to be going well; my computing skills are growing at their fastest rate so far thanks to the web and the coming changes in the office; I'm working to complete my Romantic and Milton classes this Summer; and I've begun work on a writing project that will (if completed) be something special. The trick has been finding the time to get it all done well. This is the busy time in my life and the challenge is one of balance. To accomplish all this and still maintain a true presence at home (and keep Jean from feeling like a computer widow) is the real trick.