Riverview

Since my editor has let me know it is press time again, and the serious column that was jelling around in my mind is not quite jelled; I thought I would write some happy news. First and foremost, I want to congratulate our editor on our new Chesapeake Style Magazine. IT WAS GREAT.

The other happy news I want to share with you is that my seventy-eighth birthday, May 2nd, was the third happiest of my life. The other two were my sixteenth birthday and my twenty-first birthday. Since my daily newspaper seems to be filled with bad news every day, except for the Queen’s visit, and the newscast at night will make you sad if you are having a happy day; speaking and writing about happy birthdays seems a good idea.

How clearly I remember my sixteenth birthday. I gave myself a large party on our big front porch and even made party sandwiches. I’m sure my Garden Club members will be surprised to hear that I served tiny cucumber sandwiches. Also, in those days, girls were not allowed to date until they were sixteen. So, after the party, I had my first date.

For my twenty-first birthday, I was a student at RPI, now VCU, and one of my suite-mates gave me a big surprise birthday party. I felt so special. She was from Reedville. Move ahead to this May 2nd and the same suite-mate is treating me and my friend to lunch in Fleeton. How blessed I am to have been in touch with her these many years as well as five other dorm mates.

Since I am not able to travel far from home these days, my close girlfriend from Fredericksburg, and I have found that Northumberland and Lancaster counties are ideal places to have a few days away that are most lovely and relaxing. They also provide luxury lodging, beautiful gardens to tour, places to dine with delicious food, historical places, and the interesting Reedville Fishermen’s Museum. We feel blessed to have close friends in the area, also.

The B&B we used last year and this is located right on the Wicomico River where it moves out into the Chesapeake Bay. Loving waterways as I do, it is pure delight to sit on the front porch in early morn and watch the crabbers fishing their crab pots. Being a Jenkins, I love good food, and there is always plenty on our get-aways.

The week before we left, one of my students at Cople gave me the most memorable hour of teaching that I have experienced in my fifty-eight years of teaching. I was also the recipient of many lovely cards and gifts. In route home, one of my close girlfriends treated me to lunch in Callao at the lovely café there. So just think of the gas you will save, the exhaustion from driving, and the money you will save by taking a mini-vacation or longer in the good ole Northern Neck.