Subject: Weekend Update: The Graduation party
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 20:21:14 -0400
From: Mark Metcalfe <metcalfe>
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
To: metcalfe

I suppose the mercury in Australia is steadily getting cooler but in
New England, summer is coming in fits and starts.  Saturday was the
date planned to host a second graduation party in 8 days and, as we
did a week ago, we arose early to finish up some of the last-minutes
details.  The weather cooperated - a concern since many commencement
ceremonies have been driven indoors by the rains.  However, the temp
quickly rose into the 80s and probably hit 90 during the day, making
the 68-degree pool water all that more inviting.

Joy and I endeavored to finish painting the pool fence, but we ran out
of paint before running out of fence.  Joy's Dad, up for the whole
week, pitched in by helping me fix the gates to the pool gardens.

Jessica, our graduate, was late for her own party.  You see, Friday
night, she and Andrew Magnuson boarded the inbound commuter rail train
to attend a VIP weekend at Eastern Nazarene College.  She promised to
be back in time, but due to one circumstance or another, they got to
North Station five minutes after the train headed north for home.
Thankfully, Linda Magnuson jumped in her car and picked up the
graduates in Boston.  Perhaps Jessica intended all along to make a
dramatic and grand entrance to her party.

Between 75 and 80 people celebrated the passing of public school for
daughter number two; some of us merely tolerate this particular
passage of time, blocking out what life will be like with just the
younguns at home in the fall.  That is not to say I am not happy or
intensely proud of her and her siblings.  Of course, I am, but that
makes the mile marker the more keenly felt.

Robert Linton returned to the horse shoe pit to defend his title.  He
won every game he played, except one; the one where I was his partner.
Meredith Debow returned from her "Around the Country in 80 Days" trip,
with the help of Allan Douglas, to pull off a stunning
come-from-behind victory.

As I indicated earlier, the pool was much more inviting this week than
last.  Even I got into the water up to my waist before being pulled
away for grill duty.  Believe me, the waist was far enough for me!
Brrrr!  Still, it was not too chilly for more than a dozen or score of
partygoers.

Mom and Dad Metcalfe came to wish Jessica well, recently back from
their three weeks in Scotland which, they said, remained cool
throughout their stay.  The Crawford contingent was well-represented
by Pop C, Faith, Hope, and their husbands.  Between the chores and the
heat, I wasn't much company after the last guest headed for home but
it is ALWAYS good to have Joy's family around.

On Sunday morning, we cooked breakfast for Joy's clan, said our
goodbyes and sped off to church.  The weather had turned cool and
threatening overnight which I believe had everything to do with not
having any guests for "Summer Sundays at the Manor" between church
services.  Stealing opportunities when they present themselves, Joy
and I got a much needed and thoroughly enjoyed afternoon nap.  I put
off packing for my trip to San Jose until later that evening.

I'm writing this update from 39000 feet somewhere over the middle of
the USA; flat, squared land is slowly rolling by.  I'll send this
later from my hotel room, perhaps before heading off to some
restaurant on "business."  It is still kind of surreal for me to get
into a giant tube and step out somewhere else after some hours of
cramped sitting; and then spend someone else's money to do all this.
I like it well enough, but definitely I like it best when Joy can come
with me.  She did not come with me this time, though.  She wisely
doesn't want to squander frequent flier miles on a summer trip to a
warmer place. We'll look to grandma again sometime in the cooler
months.  :-)

Have a great week!

Mark

P.S. In a San Jose hotel, now, after over an hour to get a car at
Hertz (hurts).  I wonder if I can catch the redeye home instead of my
early Friday plans.  We'll see.  (Supposed to be over 100 in the next
three days here in California.)
--
+---_-----------+ Mark Metcalfe, metcalfe@cadence.com
| c a d e n c e | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.    Phone: (978) 446-6451
+---------------+ PCB Systems Division, Technical Communications Manager