Papu Comes to Visit 3

Since the last post we've had two more weeks of Papu visiting with us and then one very long week since we dropped him off at the airport.

In mid-July we went to Burlington Airport en route to my final exam, and recreated what should have been his triumphant arrivals lounge experience in June. PJ took him to Lake Champlain and surrounds while they waited for me to complete the test and then treated me to "the test is done" lunch.

We spent a rare hot afternoon at Silver Lake Park swimming with friends, we shopped 'til we dropped at The Vermont Spot, we were able to see the clean-up operations happening in flood-stricken Montpelier and even managed a quick stop at the Vermont State House. 

We visited the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe and enjoyed Ben and Jerry's ice cream at their factory. We took a drive around my old VTC campus in Randolph and Gifford Medical Center where I practiced this past year. We drove through the Dartmouth campus and the Boat House on the Connecticut River and had a mini golf tournament on a sunny Sunday afternoon where Papu and Adrienne took top honours! We also attended the last couple of Nighthawks Baseball games of the season.

All of these lovely outings could not trump the braais on the deck while playing games, the bike rides and walking hand-in-hand to collect the post, watching him prepare specialty dishes for us to enjoy during (and after) his stay and calls home with him on our side of the phone for a change. We were entertained by Jorja's shrieks for summer bugs, Ethan's hungry antics and Adi's tight grip on Papu's arm (and attention). No doubt that the drive in the Slingshot was fun, but transforming the dining room table into a table tennis championship space was even better! 

Watching Papu pack his bags and having to take him to the airport was tough. I get sad just writing about it now. The 35 days we had with him was like a balm. How quickly we relaxed into having him a part of our daily lives and how much we miss him all over again now! Still, I remain grateful for the amazing Summer that he brough us, and hopeful that he'll be able to return one day again.