A Long Post of Long Island, with Credit to Sarah

I've already given a lazy girl's poet's defense of not taking pictures on vacation, right? Good, 'cause I took about four pictures.

At the tail end of July, we took our annual summer holiday to L.I., where loving family, glorious flowers, good friends, fabulous food, a beach, and other splendors await.

Chief among these "other splendors" is Television. To clarify something before you look at the zombies below, let it be known that our children watch no television. They used to watch a movie about every month or so, until recently, when John instituted Tuesday night Robin Hood viewing. We watch one episode a week, which means that, with faithful viewing, we should be finished in the year 2014, sixty years after its original debut. The girls anticipate Tuesday night all week long for half an hour of black and white wildroot jollity.

You may think this is healthy for them. You may think this is unhealthy for them. I give you permission to take your pick.

What I know is that on vacation, the girls look forward to breathing television like it's oxygen, and this is what it gets them.

T.V.-HEADS! MUSHY BRAINS!

To be fair, this was shortly after they'd all awakened, and they endure much teasing from me for being television zombies.

John stole his sister's car (he has a history of doing this), and took me on a date to buy his parents a modem. He put the top down, which made it an incredible date.

Then, he made an impromptu stop at a book sale, which made an incredible date even better.

THEN, while at Best Buy, he displayed his prowess on small, electronic devices, which made an incredible date so dazzling that you're jealous. (For the record, I don't know how to text and have only sent one in my whole life. I think it said, "Hio, Jogn! Im texxtung!"

Guess which line I typed below...

(Hint: John types, then I type, then John finishes up.)

So there are my four pictures.

BUT WAIT!!!

John's sister Sarah borrowed my camera and took these pictures! Way to go, Sarah!

Here are all the cousins together. I always admire Sarah's talent in taking group photos of these girls, which is a difficult task. This year was no exception...

Anna is talented in the art of cosmetology and painted the girls' toes and nails brilliant shades.

Piper gave beloved Aunt Sarah a goofy look.

Anna and Alex- sisters and wonderful cousins.

Neighbor-friend Judy and the McGamma at one of the many feasts we indulged in during our stay.

Neighbor-friend Nick and Dude.





And Sarah also took the following pictures with her camera, generously copying them onto disk for me.

Dude and McGamma have a little pool in the yard, the perfect size for the girls to lounge in without fear of them drowning but not so shallow that bigger folks (ahem- me) can't also enjoy it.


Annie finally learned to swim!

Piper shivered,

and Lucinda squinted.

Um. I guess Piper also squinted.

Dude and Mom Owen always are the epitome of hospitality. They make it seem as if we're at a luxury hotel, only better, because it's a luxury hotel with roasted marshmallows.

Here I shush sleepy Lu.

John cuddles with a sleepy Nixie.

Luci gobbles delicious fruit.

Hehe. The zombies watch television.

The zombies eat corn.

The zombies play with Alex.

And THERE'S MORE!


We went to a water park. Wait, let me edit that statement.

WE WENT TO A WATER PARK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John's family lives within convenient distance of an amazing water park, and even more conveniently, they had free tickets for most of the girls and I! I can't even begin to tell you how much fun this was. The girls' experience with rides has thus far been limited to the free carousels in our area and our yearly ferris-wheel ride at the state fair, and none of them has ever been on a water ride. Now, place those three girls, one mama who went to a water park on a senior class trip when she was seventeen, and four indulgent, gracious hosts in The Water Park to End All Water Parks, and you have yourself a pretty good time.

It was awesome.

And guess what? Sarah-- that same Sarah who took the above pictures-- has a waterproof camera, and she chronicled parts of the day! Behold....

Here we are on the first ride of the day. Look at our greenhorn delight!

The second ride was great fun. We whooshed through a pitch-black tube before shooting out the end. The girls didn't like this one so much...

so, later, we rode the first ride again. Happy, happy!

We went down slides and tubes and tunnels for at least five hours.

And then we fell asleep on the ride home.

Thank you, Sarah (and McGamma, Anna, Alex, and Trevor)! What a great gift.

When we arrived home, we discovered a naughty cat in the rafters.

Naughty!