DATE: Tue May 31 03:52:34 UTC 2005 |USER: snh
This is a copy of letter sent to Melissa and Derek in London.

Hi Melissa and Derek,

Well, 'just enjoyed another great weekend out at Plandome for Memorial 
Day!  There are two parades the King's attend: The Plandome parade which 
ends at the bay and has a nice ceremony ending in a cannon salute.  The 
other parade is on Plandome Rd in Manhasset where other Plandome-ites 
gather in front of an old time pharmacy and watch hordes of boy scouts, 
cub scouts, girl scouts, bag-pipe bands, and literally a dozen or so fire 
engines of all manner, and the volunteer firefighters.  There were some 
very classic old cars including some choice Buicks, an Eldorado, and a 
panel-wagon that would look great with a surf board on top of it. At the 
end of the parades, people gather at "the green" in the middle of Plandome 
at the firehouse for hot dogs, popcorn, root-beer floats, and the all 
important fire-engine-hang-on-for-your-life- 
and-hope-you-don't-loose-you-children rides around the neighborhood. 
(Pictures tba)

Seriously, this scene is only to be outdone by the upcoming Independence 
Day July 4th celebration, which tops off the same with the addition of 
pony rides, cotton candy, corn-on-the-cob, pet costume contest, and other 
nostalgic goings on.

Megan's dad is schedules for bladder extraction in June.  He found a guy 
trained at Sloan Kettering (sp?) who'll also build him a new bladder of 
sorts from some of his intestine.  Not great, but a treatment with good 
odds where many would have fewer options, if any.

My mom's doing much better.  She's a at home from the convalescent (sp?) 
home but still receiving weekly chemo treatments.  Possible she may be in 
remission sometime later this year.  She looks forward to the day she can 
see the boys.  We each bought a video cam for the computer, so we'll see 
if we can get a link-up going so mom can see the boys real time in some 
manner.

Where's Jane is still going, but I suspect our new lead singer is growing 
tired of our lack-of-gigging attitude.  I myself have not been practicing, 
b/c, well, I've been busy.  Hopefully I can turn my practicing habits 
around before our first of two summer parties.

Tobin has earned the Evil Knevil moniker for taking a header off the couch 
onto a toy and thus thrusting us into the first of what will be many more 
stitching sessions.  He's got four on his upper forehead.  Two neck-plugs 
and some green makeup and we got a Frankenstein !

Both love to race their big wheels down the driveway and past either side 
of the house down the back yard.  It's reminiscent of Calvin and Hobbes 
"Stony Gulch" cartoons.  They ask every day now when the beach will be 
open.  They're in swim lessons already, and doing very well, especially 
since they're only three, which I forget so often.  They have full blown 
conversations now, including lines such as "God lives in Heaven, which is 
by the Mall", and "Someday I'll dream about someday".  That last one I'll 
have to put into a song, it's just too good.

Brookfield is SO beautiful these days, if only more so due to my heroic 
lawn efforts.  I've successfully gotten some grass to grow where there was 
none.  I'm becoming a bit of a lawn geek, and can tell you about different 
types of rye and blue grass, as well as soil acidity level, and when to 
use what types of fertilizer.  Great....  Anyway, the place looks pretty 
swell and we've been good about gardening this year, so if you ever get a 
chance to come by the place again, maybe you'll be impressed.

I'll end it here, cause it's late and I don't know if even I would want to 
read an email this long. ;) Take care both of you.
.