Wild Ponies!

**I wrote this soon after arriving on Saturday night -- it's still spectacular all these hours later!**

Jill's Journal: We made it! It was a long trek over multiple bridges, in three ocean-floor tunnels (but who’s counting?), and up the Eastern Shore of Virginia, but when we pulled into Assateague State Park on Assateague Island in Maryland, it was all worth it. Immediately greeting us was the stunningly beautiful sight of wild ponies grazing. And it just got better.

Time and time again, we spotted small herds of wild ponies, some so close we could have touched them. The tiny foals, surely no more than a month or two old, earned particular “oohs and aahs” from the girls (and if I must admit it, from me too!). We quickly noticed deer as well and unlike usual deer, these creatures have no fear of people. One small one with five points on his antlers walked so nonchalantly through our campsite that I swear he nodded hello as he passed.

And if that weren’t enough points in the amazing factor, we are literally camping on the beach. Only a small sand dune stands between us and the Atlantic Ocean. This place is spectacular. We’d heard it was – this is why we had to make these reservations a year ago and why we pushed so hard to get here. I’m so thankful we did. This is an experience the girls are going to remember for the rest of their lives.

Like with anything in life, there are a few drawbacks – first, it’s hotter than blazes (where’s that ocean breeze?) and there are no hook-ups. We’re “dry camping,” which means no power, no water, no air conditioning, no nothing. Rob planned for this, so we do have our own limited power (lights and fans and refrigerator) from battery and generator and we do have a full 95-gallon tank of fresh water to use. But this is roughing it. The old me thought staying in anything less than a five-star hotel was roughing it, so I’ve come a long way. But I’m definitely still not a camper in the traditional sense and have no desire to become one. At the moment I’m enamored by the whole thing…there’s wild ponies, after all…but seven nights of “roughing it” may wear on me!

But right now, there’s wild ponies!

Leo and Christy

Jill's Journal: In 1993, I was brand-new in Phoenix. A few cubicles over from my spot at American Express was a vivacious Brazilian named Leo. It was soon clear that life was a party anytime Leo was in the house! Fun, fun, fun. Leo and his posse generously welcomed me into their crowd and I can’t even guess how many times we all laughed the night away at happy hour or a movie or simply at his house. Rob’s strongest memory of Leo involves the 1994 World Cup – Leo’s native Brazil won and you haven’t seen celebrating until you’ve seen a Brazilian celebrate a World Cup win. His family in Brazil was on speaker phone and it was pure, mad, chaotic joy. Again – life is a party when Leo is around!

Leo has since married his sweet wife, Christy, whom we met just once as we were leaving Phoenix. They are now settled just outside of Richmond and had us over tonight for a delicious meal (Christy is a wonderful cook!) and some wonderful Virginia hospitality. Their two boys played fabulously with our girls and the adults got to laugh and carry on like in the old days.

And tomorrow we get to see them again! They’re intrigued by how we manage in a fifth wheel and want a tour before we leave town.

King George (and Lady Diana)

Jill's Journal: Last night was the latest night of my kids’ young life. And it’s sooooo fitting because I would guess many of the latest nights of my life (particularly as a teenager) were for the same reason: we were with Diana.

Dear, dear Diana. (And now husband Scott and little ones Ryan and Kate too). We first met 30 – yes, 30! – years ago when we were practically infants in California. We went through school together, all the way from early elementary to high school, and then were joined at the hip during the early college and dating years. She’s moved about 8,000 times since (Scott is a Navy man) and I’ve made a number of big moves myself, but we’ve always, always kept in touch. She writes the world’s best letters and I've always believed she missed her calling as a comedy writer. Somehow she has now settled right here in Virginia, about 50 miles north of where we’re staying, in what appears to be a tiny little hamlet called King George.

We couldn’t wait to make the trek to see her and her very fun family. Her directions led us past the spot where John Wilkes Booth was tracked and believed to be killed (how cool is that?) after he assassinated President Lincoln and into what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. But suddenly, her neighborhood loomed boldly out of the deep country and there was her beautiful house right in front of us.

What a fun day! Diana and I got all day to catch up (but of course it wasn’t enough) while the kids played and played and played. And after working hours, both husbands joined us and we caught up some more. We left with plans and hopes to meet up again while we’re on this coast (and Ryan’s plans to marry Victoria, hopefully at least 20 years down the road).

Oh, and if Diana wasn’t already special in my life, I have to admit she is singlehandedly responsible for introducing me and Rob. They were on a blind date (yes, together!) and clearly not hitting it off when she introduced us. The rest is history. I’ll be forever grateful they annoyed the heck out of each other as dating prospects! Happily, they make excellent friends. :)

Back in Fine Fettle

Jill's Journal: The last two days were spent with all five of us slightly under the weather (we fell victim one-by-one to a short-lived head cold), so we’ve taken it very easy. And that’s the beauty of this trip – we can just go with the flow. I love, love, LOVE “home days,” as my girls call them, but there’s so many amazing things here just waiting to be seen and we need to get going!

I have a feeling our few days here in the Richmond area will simply whet our appetites for more. Today we ventured out for a little drive and are amazed at how rural so many parts of Virginia seem to be. This is one of the oldest settled parts of the country – for some reason, I expected every single piece of land to be populated. Instead, it’s so…well, rural, at least in this area. And trees, trees, trees everywhere. It sure gave me an appreciation for what the early settlers from Europe must have had to go through to clear the land just to build a home, much less actually grow crops.

Now that we’re all back in fine fettle, our Richmond time feels like it officially begins. Tomorrow we head north a bit to visit a dear, longtime friend – I can’t wait!