Paul Sannicandro Here

It's been a relaxing week for me in West Chester. Today is my last day here for awhile and Kara and Randy (Mom and Dad, as I've been calling them) are both off work, so we decided to Wawa up and drive to the shore at lovely Sea Isle City, New Jersey.

As we got into town, I answered a phone call from an unknown number.

"Paul Sannicandro here with Baxter State Park." (!!!!!)

This is the guy in charge of the trail crew internship program I applied for. After I submitted my application, he had emailed me saying all the spots for the fall crew had already been filled...but as it turns out, someone backed out and so Mr. Sannicandro called to see if I was still interested. We set up a phone interview for 3:00, at which time I answered lying on the beautiful beach in the wind and sun. Needless to say, the interview went great, and he offered me the position!

Back in West Chester, Dad is grilling up some hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner. Yumm!

Penny and her new friend Lexie

An Old Mountain Goat

Yesterday I enjoyed 360 degree views of the great state of Maine from its highest point, Baxter Peak on Mount Katahdin.

I also encountered some interesting people while hiking. I think my independent look gave many of them the idea that I am very experienced. My three favorite comments were:

"Nice move."

"You're like an old mountain goat."

and, on the way down,

"You're like a sneaky ghost."

The Newlywed Burkes

The Newlywed Burkes had the good luck of rain on the morning of their wedding day, but it was over by 10am so we were able to enjoy beautiful sunny weather all afternoon...

…and a perfect summery evening for an outdoor clam bake reception at Brie’s parents’ house on the island.

The day after the wedding we were all pretty tired. After cleaning up the rental house and splurging on chicken-fried steak for breakfast, we had an unhurried afternoon beginning with World Cup soccer finals from the best seats in the house at the Sand Bar.

Have you seen Jaws? I haven’t, but we went to the bridge where some kid jumps off and gets attacked in the movie. It was probably the highest jump I’ve ever done…scary!

Finally, the Cuppis hosted a sunset barbeque in their de-tented backyard for all the wedding guests still on the island. Highlights included Frisbee…corn on the cob…and the outdoor shower.

Window Shopping West Chester

high street & gay

i could spend all day

kara & randy

with me and penny mae

These Crazy Whirlwinds

Have you ever noticed that all the excitement in life seems to come in waves? I am right in the middle of one of these crazy whirlwinds right now, and loving every minute of it. Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the most beautiful wedding, followed by the most fun reception I’ve ever been to.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Tom Miller!

I really wish I had more pictures of all of us Browns/Carlins/Rawlinses/ Mosenfelders/Millers/etc dancing the night away, but I was too busy participating to take many pictures!

The next day (today) was the Fourth of July, and what better way to celebrate America’s birthday than with America’s pastime?

Our beloved Pirates even won the game today against the Phillies! Go Bucs!

An Ode To Life

Well, I made it to Pittsburgh! The first leg of my trip is done. Somerset and I were the first guests to arrive in town yesterday for my cousin Abby's wedding this Saturday. My aunt and uncle have the most perfect home in the world for hosting a wedding. Bees and Carlins have been hard at work keeping hundreds of annuals and perennials of every color and shape happily in bloom in the garden and around the tented tennis court, which hourly welcome a new group of wedding guests into the mix.

I would like to share with you one of my favorite memories of this beautiful place, a simple but enchanting experience I had the last time I was here. It was the summer of 2005, and the whole family was here for my grandmother’s funeral. My Grandma Brown was a great lover of nature, particularly songbirds. I spent the night after the funeral on Abby’s bedroom floor near an open window, a fitful insomniac struggling with thoughts of how best to honor her memory. Just before dawn, the sweetest coo of a whistle gently danced into my subconscious. Long, placid echos patiently resonated in lovely answer, softly building their genial good-morning until with peaceful awareness I wakened. I lay there completely content, but waiting for Abby to turn off her alarm – surely this could not be real! As you can guess, it was an ode to life wholly new to me, but one which I was sure had blessed my grandmother with the singular peaceful joy I felt for the first time on that morning.

So tonight I sleep with an open window, hoping in a few hours to be transported from sleep unto still consciousness by the same miracle as on that unforgettable dawn five years ago.