Mary Panttaja

We’re off traveling again after a lovely beginning-of-summer party at our house. Magically, Saturday was the only cool day (in the eighties) we’ve had in a week. So lucky planning. And/or diligent prayers.

All seven us are snuggled into our SUV, an efficient way for us to travel. The aging Lexus only gets used when there are more than four of us to ride, or when we tow the camper. We manage most everything else with the Prius which has become our everyday car. I sold my darling Nissan 300Z (1991) to a local mechanic who can rebuild the engine himself. It was hard to see it go, but a good financial decision, and it was fun to see how excited he was to have it.

Meanwhile, after lunch, everyone is napping, except Jim, who is driving, and Gloria, who is four. Fortunately we are almost there so Corey (six months old) won’t have to tolerate the carseat much longer—which is not one of her stronger skills. We are off to spend a week in Ashland, Oregon at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. I think we have six or seven plays planned over five days—a very busy schedule. The week is all about theatre (the plays, the actors, the direction, the music, the dancing), family (there will be eighteen of us here), and food. Okay, it’s all about the food. Choosing restaurants and menus is a critical part of the experience for us. The favorite restaurant by far is Thai Pepper. We’ve been eating there for decades and it ususally takes 4 tables assembled on the deck to serve us. It’s a beautiful place and no one ever seems to get tired of the excellent food.

Tomorrow night, maybe neuvo latino food at the restaurant Tabu with a performance of the Tempest.