Retirement Tour 2013: Central and Western Massachusetts

Our next stop was in Central Massachusetts to visit relatives and to pay our respects to some who have passed.  First was Easthampton, MA to visit my handsome second cousin, Mike Vivier, his fabulous wife, Sue, and their mostly generous kitty, Puddles, who was willing to put up with Boo for a short time.  On Sunday we had a wonderful picnic/reunion with my other cousins and their families.  My cousin, Judy, their mother, just happened to be in Colorado at the time (what's wrong with that picture?!).

Mike and Sue on an earlier visit to Mt. Tom

Mike giving Puddles a big stretch

My cousin, Andy, and his wife, Teddy

Cousin, Jimmy, and his wife, Karyn

Karyn and Jimmy's youngest, Luke, and Boo

Judy's half-brother, Luigi,
known as Lou

Luigi's wife, Elaine

Helen and two of her three kids, Sarah and Billy
Melissa is in Hawaii

Four of the six Vivier kids:  Andy, Mike, Helen and Jimmy
This was taken a few years ago but I love it. Why didn't I
take a picture of the four of them while I was there? The other
two are Anne, in Texas, and Steve, who lives in the desert
outside of Phoenix.  Hoping to see them all in our travels..

And that's my missing cousin, Judy, on
the right at her property on Brittingham
Hill, taken a few years ago-looking good
for a mother of six and almost 80 years old.

While Mike and Sue worked, we drove to Spencer and Grafton to reminisce a bit and visit those we love who are no longer with us.

The house on Greenville St. in Spencer, MA
where I lived from 1944-1950

At Pine Grove Cemetery in Spencer.  This is where my
Mom and Dad, my Dad's parents, and his sister, Helen, are buried.
The heart stones I collected from Lake Erie and Cape Cod-
They'd like that.

Nanna and Diddy, my mother's parents,
are buried here.

My great grandparents and great
aunt and uncle are here.

We were so happy to see that
Marge and Al's little house in
the woods in Grafton was being
well taken care of.

Al and Marge's resting place in Grafton

And we are off to Stockbridge, MA, just as
the trees are exhibiting the first hint of fall
and the colorful show to come.

Lunch at the former Alice's Restaurant
Dog Friendly!!

Jim enjoying a cocktail at the historic
Red Lion Hotel, where he saw Gwyneth
Paltrow and fantasizes about her trying
to pick him up.

Centuries old tavern at the Red Lion

The Norman Rockwell Museum where I
gained an appreciation for his portrayal
of small-town American life.