10/01/18 - On 9/19, Mary Ann made a huge dinner for the small group from her church since one of them had a birthday.  I think there was about 14 of us. 

9/20, Mary Ann made another huge dinner and invited Weston (nephew) and his family, Christina (niece) and her family over for dinner.  I think there was 12 of us.  I soon learned that it was another birthday dinner for me.  After dinner, Deborah (niece) handed me a stack of birthday cards.  I was so shocked and surprised.  I later learned that Deborah had written all of my nieces and nephews and requested a card shower and if possible to put in $10.  I had been sending birthday cards for many years to sisters, sister-in laws, brother,  nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews.  I would include a $5 gift if under 10 years of age and a $10 gift 10 years of age and older.  The family has gotten so big that this year I finally decided to not include any unmarried nieces or nephews, great nieces or nephews over 21.  Almost everyone responded to Deborah's request.  I was quite amazed.  What an evening of surprises.

9/23, I left for Norton, Massachusetts to visit my friends Marilynn and Joe.  It was 387 miles and a long drive since it included New York City.  The first 3 hours of the drive included constant rain.  Upon my arrival, we had a great chili and cornbread dinner.  It had been two years since I had been there so we had a lot of catching up to do. 

9/24, The guest bedroom is in the basement so it is quite dark so I slept very, very late this morning.  Finally got up and showered and dressed.  It was a rainy day and Marilynn had physical therapy that morning but we just took the afternoon to catch up with all kinds of news and happenings the past two years.  Oh, yes she had knee placement earlier in the summer.

9/25, Slept late, very rainy, Marilynn back from dentist appointment and relaxed the rest of the day.

9/26, Marilynn had doctor's appointment so I decided to go with her.  We also went shopping at a consignment shop and she found a really nice blouse.  I learned that certain Dunkin Donuts also serve ice cream cones so we stopped and had one!!  Marilynn made wonderful stuffed red peppers for dinner.

9/27, We went out for mexican food and it was delicious.

9/28, It rained absolutely all day.

9/29, It was a beautiful day and they took me to visit a soda factory that still makes sodas and bottles them in glass.  We took a tour of the factory and it was really interesting.  The tour included seeing the actual spring water hole.  It is called Simpson Springs.  They also bottle pure spring water.  I gor a root beer soda and made a float then for an evening snack.

9/30, I left Norton, Massachusetts at 9:33am and had a nice day for traveling back to Delaware.  I did get into a lot of traffic just east on the Connecticut border and all the way thru New York.  It finally cleared up when I got on the New Jersey turnpike. I had a great week with my friends.  I got back to Delaware, chatted with Daniel and Mary Ann for a few minutes, sat out with Deborah by the fire pit and then got a few things unpacked.  I needed to get laundry together since Mary Ann was doing laundry.  Off to bed.