Jen's Visit Home - May 18-May 30, 2022

The Banyan Tree

Family Like Branches on a Tree, We all Grow in Different Directions, Yet Our Roots Remain as One!  ~ Author Unknown

I liked this quote as it clearly expresses the individuality of each of us but yet we are part of the collective called our family. For me, this hits home as my lifestyle does differ significantly from my family which has had me living in many different places since leaving college. Stephen also has a similar narrative but yet we remain close to our family members. 

In my last entry, I mentioned returning home to Maryland to attend some family events. I was very fortunate to participate in a family wedding and high school and university graduations for my nephews.  The wedding was my 2nd cousin, Mckenna, and her husband-to-be, Chris, on 5/21 and then my nephew, Ben, graduated from John Carroll HS in Bel Air MD on 5/27. Also, my other nephew, Sean, graduated from Towson University. I saw many relatives on my dad’s side that had not been seen in a long time at the wedding and that was a big impetus for going. With busy lives and me not often being local to the MD area, I was keen to have the opportunity to see so many family faces in a celebratory fashion. The wedding was beautiful and intimate. It allowed for some quality visiting time with many relatives. 

I cherished this return home for the creation of these one and only memories to be made. So in addition to being a witness to a lovely wedding, I attended Ben, my nephew's high school graduation. This event is so memorable for the graduate but to be part of the acknowledgment and rewarding of his learning efforts as an aunt is a proud moment. His brother, Ryan, like many other kids over the past 2 years, did not have graduation or prom, etc… due to COVID. So, to be able to return to some normalcy and participate in these life achievements was gratifying.  

The speech made by his valedictorian was thoughtful and everlasting. He made a point to emphasize being a better you and not so much focusing on what kind of job you got, how much money you made... But that your true success in life is to evolve into the BEST version of yourself. I really liked this speech and hence why I think something to aspire to. It even translates to your job and relationships and should help you define what works for you and what doesn't. Does that job or relationship help you or encourage you to be the "best" you? 

To relay on this thought, my sister, Dawn, a Vice Principal of the George D. Lisby Elementary School at Hillsdale, asked me to give a talk to the 5th graders on my travel experiences. I had not put together a slide show in quite some time. It allowed me to pull up some pictures lost in time from many previous travel experiences including sailing SV Soulstice. I focused on language as a tool for communication and personal connection, education as a tool for opening many doors in your life, and travel as a tool for learning and appreciating other cultures. I wanted her children to know at this Title 1 school that you can write your own story and re-write it any time. You can get caught up in feeling like you do not have options but with an attitude that you CAN accomplish and be whoever you want to be, then you can become the narrator. I encouraged them to write down a dream and then make a plan at achieving the mini-goals to get the bigger goal. I hope they feel brave after this talk and can tackle some challenges ahead. 

Sean, my other nephew, was graduating from Townson University and chose not to walk but we still recognized his success by celebrating at the Hopkins Brewery in Havre De Grace, Maryland!   The brewery opened up in 2020 and by the looks of the large crowd that day, they seemed to be doing quite well. My HS field hockey coach, Alice Puckett is an owner. It is located on her grandparent's farm property and has lots of open space for seating. I did see Alice and what a treat for me! She truly was a fantastic coach and led many Field Hockey teams to be State Champions including mine! Really great memories and great friendships during those times. Her ability to bring teenage girls together into such a cohesive and caring team that was driven to be their best is undeniably an incredible talent. She has inspired so many youths!!! 

On the large farm where the brewery sits there was corn hole, food trucks, and a band were playing. They have inside and outside seating but many folks just bring chairs and tables and set up for the afternoon. They are full of events,  including that day, sponsoring a company that had multiple fun outdoor games, like getting in a big hamster wheel and racing. And did I do that? Hell yeah! My brother-in-law, Rick, joined me after some heckling on my part to go with me. We were in a line of primarily 7 and under but completely NOT discouraged- HA! It was somewhat too regulated and we now feel like we should have gone rogue but next time I guess. I checked out the company online and not cheap for rentals but your money may be well spent for a company outing to let off some steam :))) and encourage some lost camaraderie in many workplaces. 

My time here is closing to an end and I want to thank both my sisters, my mom and all my nephews for all the spent with me. The giving of your time is the best gift always!!! I also saw a great friend of mine in 5th grade, Karen Mussard. She used to live down the street from me and while growing up, her dad called me “ the kid.” I spent a lot of time at her house and vice versa. We have always stayed in touch and gone on some holidays together including our 40th joint Bday celebration in Australia. Thanks, Karen as always for the visit! 

Well… what about Stephen??? He stayed back on Soulstice and did some amazing projects! He installed the fish finder after lots of thought about where to put the in-hull transducer and run the electric. We also decided just to get another fuel pump for “tricky dick” and guess what?? She works. He has lit her several times now and the flame doesn’t die out. We did decide alcohol is a better fuel source than a small piece of TP, less carbon/cleaner fuel, and burns less residue. He also enjoyed some time visiting with some dock neighbors and offered to teach some basic celestial navigation to a few other cruisers. And he did the last provision of freshies! 

He enjoyed time with Brenden, a long-time skydiving/base jumping friend, who lives and works in Oahu, who came to the Marina for a visit. He is still in the skydiving industry as a tandem master. We saw him last year before we left and he made efforts to come back to the marina again to say hi. And…. A run-in with an old Calstar pilot from Lake Tahoe happened too! He got a phone call from a pilot he used to work with that spotted him in the Kapolei Costco. Stephen confirmed it was indeed him and what do ya know?? Chris Anderson, former air medical pilot for Calstar at the South Lake Tahoe base, happens to now be working in Oahu doing some work helicopter work to help install towers. They had an evening out, some Old Fashions and good conversation, and caught up on life! 

I return home 5/30 and we plan to move Soulstice the very next day to Kauai. The weather is shaping up and almost too good because the winds take a lull which we do not want either… We are thinking of the end of the 1st week of June… like no sooner than the 5th to take off for AK. Propane and fuel were topped off this past week to include jerry cans for the boat - thanks, Stephen! He will replace all the booze he drank  & snacks he ate this past week so I cannot tell anything is missing, hahaha, and if the shakedown to Hanalei Bay, Kauai goes well we should be on our way north. 

I will post the tracker and hope the next entry is a quick one to verify we are leaving for the passage. 

Coll ( my sis) and me at SLATE brewery - just 1.5 miles down from her house

So super cool, they sold beer and gave proceeds to Ukraine. They even brewed a posted Ukranian beer recipe as a brewer there gave out their recipe online wanting brewers to make their beer but did not even ask for $ in return. SLATE good on ya'- donated $15,000. I love the graphics and wished they sold hats or t-shirts. Putin Huyla means Putin is a d****head!

Got dress for the wedding! Had nothing on the boat so quick shop w/ Coll

Most well dressed and groomed I have been in weeks if not months - ha! 

Birthday dinner for my Bro-in-law Joe at a farm-to-table restaurant in Bel Air. My nephew Ben is on the left, Ryan in the center and his lovely girlfriend Maddy. 

Me, Colleen, and Joe - Happy Birthday! Another bonus for this week home was celebrating Joe's Bday. 

Outdoor pic at McKenna's wedding. New character left of me is Sean my other nephew, son of my sister, Dawn. 

McKenna and Chris - Congratulations!! 

Not all the guests but all the family on McKenna's side. In the front and center, Aunt Kas, who turned 90! on April 8th,  she looks fabulous and still living independently in Dundalk MD! My Dad's side of the family and family I do not get to see very often, so was super important for me to celebrate McKenna's special day and reunite with family! So happy I was able to attend!!!

AJ, Sean, me and my bro-in-law Rick ( Dawn's husband)

Dawn, my oldest sister

Joe and I and Coll ( hidden) doing Hello Fresh competition. He gets these delivered, 4 meals a week but was behind due to many parental grad events. We made 3 meals in one night and did an iron chef-type competition. Funny! * More importantly, I ended up buying a zester b/c he has an amazing one and I could zest all day! Usually hate zesting but not with this tool! 

Talk at Dawn's elementary school - Really fun and I have not had to do a presentation in a LONG time.

dinner with Karen Mussard, a best friend since 5th Grade!!! 

Night out at the Independence Brewery in Bel Air with my nephews and Dawn and Rick. 

Graduate from John Carroll - Ben! How proud! He is going to University of South Carolina in the fall

Ryan and Ben ( brothers) 

My mom on the right and proud Grandmother

Rosensteel family and Maddy ( Ryan's GF)

Hanging out at Hopkin's Brewery ( I am realizing I went to alot of breweries:))

Corn hole !!

Always one treat of returning home is eating local seafood:) from the Chesapeake Bay

There was load after load of jumpers that day - DZ from Churchville skydiving op close by

Alice Puckett, my HS Field Hockey coach. She is an extraordinary coach with multiple STATE championships under her belt! So great to see her after so many years! 

Cool mural in downtown Havre De Grace. Spent a day with Sean my nephew checking out a marina there and Bay Sailing School. He is interested in sailing and buying a small daysailer:) Very cool historic town and cutesy. Lots of shops and restaurants with water close by. Now a trendy place for 20+ yr olds to live. It is a revived town from when I grew up.  Also, close to Aberdeen Proving Grounds. 

Stephen and Brenden - long time skydiving/base jumping buddies. Brenden turning 70 and fit as a fiddle! 

Stephen and Chris Anderson ( helicopter pilot) catching up from the good ol' Calstar days - the South Lake Tahoe air medical base