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… And,It’s 1,2,3, What Are We Fighting For? Don’t ask me, I don’t give a D**n. The next stop is…
Woodstock, New York
"We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools."
Martin Luther King, Jr. (As seen in the Woodstock Museum)
Wait, hold on; just wanted to add one quick comment to follow-up our last discussion of the Freightliner Custom Chassis Factory. Worth knowing: this very high volume assembly line factory is ZERO WASTE - 100% RECYCLING, ALL WASTE > amazing!! Also, the addition of DEF (diesel exhaust fluid), aka "Blu-Tec," to diesel engines nowadays, is the reason diesel burns so clean today. In fact, ONE new diesel engine emits as many contaminants as 64 older diesel engines did!!
Well, when we last signed off, we were heading off to Bethany Beach, Delaware for the soon-to-be-famous/infamous Penn Family Reunion Week—Laura's family that is with about 23 people and FOUR generations of family folks.
On our Cruz (no, not the prez candidate!) driving through on the New Jersey turnpike, on our way up to Delaware, there was simply NO RV campground easily reached off the turnpike, so, for the 2nd time of our 11-month adventure and counting, we spent the night with all the "Trucker Boyz" at a Rest Stop. We actually made the best of it so it and it turned out to be pretty nice and definitely very safe. In the evening we were outside walking "Hop" when a youngish New Jersey State Trooper drive by us and stopped and we had a most enjoyable 15 minute conversation with him. This is a very typical "life on the road" experience.
The Family Reunion Week was really fun and very enriching. All the adults stayed in David & Lisa's beautiful beach home and all the kids (18 months to 30-ish) slept in the adjacent rented beach house. There was always lots going on and everyone having plenty of time to just talk and engage with everyone. Many meals, feasts actually, were eaten at "home" and prepared by a wonderful Master Chef. Activities included: fishing (blue fish, bonita mostly), bike riding, beach sitting/reading and walking, There was a few nearby Beachfront Boardwalks with the classic wood slab walkways, food galore and even amusement rides. What more could you ask for…
BTW; In Gary's first and only game of "Cards Against Humanity" he won!
Three generations played, included Laura's 80 year old mom> Lots of laughs and I can't say it was "good clean fun" either. If you've played, you know what I mean!
After leaving Delaware, we headed up to New York State. Our Campsite was in Florida, NY (heard that right) about 50 miles northwest of the City. Our daughter Laura, came out to visit. We saw a lot of our very good longtime friend Stephanie Schneider (Certified Acupuncturist, Herbalist and Ayurvedic Physician) who lives in nearby Tuxedo Park. Laura and Steph worked together 25 years ago at the Rancho La Puerta Health Spa. We commuted into NYC via train and/or bus. It was really fun and we so appreciate Laura flying out and spending time with us > very very special!!
FYI; AYURVEDIC MEDICINE is a system of traditional hindu medicine, originating in PREHISTORIC times, predating Chinese Medicine, and native to India. The practice includes: herbs, mineral and metal supplementation, surgery and oils. There's lot's more I could say, but…
TUXEDO PARK is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is in Orange County, NY. It's very very beautiful and has a very long and ndistinctive history of people living and working there. A worthwhile read if interested!
Laura P., wife, spent a wonderful and very educational weekend at a transformative SOUND HEALING INTENSIVE RETREAT in the Catskill Mtns. Her good friend Grace, who lives in Maine and we'll be visiting her and husband Russ in about a week, learned the fundamentals and practical uses of Sound Healing.
FYI: SOUND HEALING is a wonderful way to reduce stress and deepen ones' ability to relax into a place of silence. As one deepens into the enchanting sounds and vibrations from the bowls…healing can begin. "Sound can redress imbalances on every level of physiological functioning and can play a positive role in the treatment of virtually any medical disorder." Mitchell Gaynor MD; founder and president of Gaynor Wellness in NYC and professor of medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College.
While Laura P. was getting "transformed," our daughter Laura B. and Gary went to The Museum at Bethel Woods, THE historic and now legendary 1969 WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL site. Over 400,000 mostly young folks listened to 3 days of Rock 'n Roll music 24 hours a day!! Can you imagine!??! The museum and grounds were a fantastic experience and a highly recommended destination. It was great to relive the experiences and see numerous clips of Neil, Jimi, Arlo, Grace, Ravi, Jerry and my all time favorite, Janis, (that's Young, Hendrix, Guthrie, Slick, Shankar, Garcia and of course, Joplin) and so many more! Can you remember Country Joe and the Fish singing their "Vietnam Song" (Live from Woodstock)
THE CHORUS: And, it's 1,2,3 who are we fighting for.
Don't ask me, I don't give a D**n. The next stop is Vietnam.
And it's 5,6,7 open up the pearly gates. Well, there ain't no time to wonder why…WHOPEE we're all gunna die…
FYI: My very good longtime friend, "Yaz," Stuart Yasgoor, it was his Uncle Max Yasgur's, (just different spelling and a Republican no less), farm where Woodstock was held!! Uncle Max, in fact, gave the opening introductions at the Festival. Also think Joni Mitchell and CSN&Y (Crosby, Stills…) song that refers to "Yasgur's Farm." And yes, there's a pretty strong family resemblance too!
We were in Salem, Massachusetts, famous for the Witch Trials of 1692. We were staying at a beautiful Harbor-side RV park, visiting with our son Mitch in Boston.
This week, it's Maine and visiting good friends in Boothbay Harbor, about 1 and a half hours north of Portland. More to come later…
LAST, FAST & LOOSE:
Family Reunion Week
CRABS: how about the Saks Family Boyz (Laura's sister) catching over 75 crabs in jut 3 hours! 50 were too small and were thrown back but we had another feast with the rest.
San Diego Sausage Fest 2015 Winner: Mastiff Sausage Company
Owned and operated by Master Chef Eric Gallerstein (son) and his childhood friend Jacob Barlett (for more info visit mastiffsausagecompany.com)
University of Cape Town, South Africa: Mitch Gallerstein (son), Northeastern U. in Boston, Jr. Chemistry major, left July 6th for a Study Abroad Semester at the University of Cape Town, So. Africa (Adventure…it's what the Gallerstein's do!!). Today, July July 7th, got the Viber text that he arrived safe & sound!!
New York City: Laura B., daughter, came out to visit and got KINKY. We saw "Kinky Boots" on Broadway > a fantastic show!
And finally, it's fascinating to us after making so many quirps (word?) about the Confederate Flag in previous blogs, to now see it really coming DOWN in public places in the South… Amazing and all we can say is; IT'S ABOUT TIME!!
HAPPY Belated 4TH to all our friends
STAY HEALTHY AND HAPPY
Best Regards,
Gary & Laura
- comments
Karen Y Wonderful blog!! We enjoyed reading about ALL of your adventures!! Wow, how cool that Grace and Russ are married, a great love story!! Vicariously with love, Karen and Yaz' from the CA desert farm
Pattie Keller I could handle this type of retired life. Travel safe!
Giovanna Good morning. I'm an old friend of the acupuncturist Dr. Stephanie Schneider, and I wish I could get back in touch direct with her via email. Do you able to help me? Thank you very much. Kind regards. Giovanna