Subject: Weekend update: May 24-28
Date: Tue, 29 May 2001 14:37:19 -0400
From: Mark Metcalfe <metcalfe>
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.

Every Friday before Memorial Day for the past number of years, Cadence
in Chelmsford has sponsored Movie Day where everyone in the facility is
invited to a nearby theater for the blockbuster movie of the summer.
This year, "Pearl Harbor" was on the docket, and most of us ducked out
of work at lunch time to eat before the 1 o'clock showing. It was a
fitting start to the Memorial Day weekend.  I ate lunch with a veteran
of the U.S.S. Boston (navy).   Dad reminded me on Monday that he had
a cousin, Robert McCain, who was machine gunned in the Phillipines
during World War II.  He was trying to save another fallen comrade.

We attended the Pepperell Parade on Monday and brought our folding
chairs but rose to our feet in applause when the veterans marched
by and said, "thank you" to strangers who serve today to preserve
our joyful existence and pursuits.  I have an uncle (my only uncle)
who is a retired flyboy. (I shouldn't be so glib, because it doesn't
display my pride in him: Colonel Edwards) Although it was a day to
remember the dead who died in service, I didn't want the day to pass
without thanking the living (and not wanting  to wait until November 11
to do so).  (Thank you, Uncle Ken!)

The Metcalfes around the house are readjusting to six at home.
I picked Mandy and Jessie up at College last Thursday with the
help of Rich, who borrowed his brother's pickup truck.  We left
the van and car packed for the girls to unpack the next day, unpacking
the pickup ourselves. It is taking a few days more to resettle into
their rooms. Since they've been at college, the rest of us four had
made some 'rules' around table setting and seating that the college
kids were unaware of.  Also, we are finding that ownership of things
left behind has come into question.  I am sure we haven't found all
the things we need to deal with again. I can say that I am mostly
amused by these little readjustments because I am so happy to have
us all together again. I know how short the summer is going to be
and don't want to spend it on troubling with little things.

I am already adjusting to the fact that we have two more drivers
in the house because the teenagers now have better access to their
activities and Joy and I will be able to make use of that time to
try and catch up around the house.  The pool is open, innaugurated by
some crazy boys on Monday.  Andrew, and my nephews Jake and Jimmy got
into the 65-degree water to stir up the remaining things that need
to be filtered and vacuumed despite the attention Andrew has already
given to pool maintenance.  From cold to hot, we let them step into
104-degree water afterward.

Mandy attended commencement exercises at ENC on Monday (for friends;
her own will come next year). My brother Steve's family came to visit
on Monday for a cookout.  I let him take the Eclipse out for a spin
with Sharon.  We filled in the rest of the time cracks with movies
on the TV with family or with friends and called it a weekend; a
pretty good weekend after all.

Mark

P.S. Brian and Karyn Mohn had their baby Monday morning early.
Must have been one rough Sunday night!  Just wait until the baby
comes home!  (Johnathon Collin, 6:40 AM - that's all I know for now.)
--
+---_-----------+ 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