We go to Shelburne Farms again.

Iris drives a John Deere tricycle.

Teressa is there with her children. Opal drives a really big tractor.

I passed them in the cemetery. The stone had Doris & Larry Arnell’s names on it. Ernie was digging.

But I didn’t take out my camera. I wanted to, but I didn’t take out my camera.

“Sad about Doris,”  said Ernie.

“I just kept waiting to see her sitting on her porch, to say hi,” I said.

“It was real quick in the end. She went real quick.”

But I hadn’t known she was sick again. Her body was all full of cancer.

I hardly see Ernie anymore, since his wife had a stroke. I asked about her.

“She’s in rehab, still paralyzed,” he said.

He says he’s up there at the hospital all the time when he isn’t in the cemetery working

or at home working on the house, making it so she can come home in a wheelchair.

But I didn’t take out my camera. I didn’t ask how many friends he’s buried, either.

I was polite.

*   *   *

Iris learns the joys of picking tomatoes. She hides them in the grass so Martin doesn’t have to eat them.

We went up to Shelburne Farms for a little bit.

Happy couples go up there to watch their happy children happily playing in the Children’s Farm Yard.

There are lots of toys.

I enjoy learning to take pictures again.

I have some excellent subject material.

I enjoy the moodiness of black and white.

Moody.

But like the tale of the poor fisherman who caught the magic fish who gave him wishes,

each wish granted leaves me wanting more. This camera is delightful, but now I want—

The sun! The moon! The stars!

But only for a moment. I will be happy with what I have. 

What I have is beautiful. 

Today Iris and I went for a bike ride. There was some scenery with clouds and cows.

We stopped at New Village Farm.

Iris wanted to take a close look at some animals.

She gathered popped ballons in a basket.

We had a lot of fun.

Iris and Joshua play on the swings.

Martin tries to cheer Iris up by taking her for a swim.

Cooling of, watching the sunset.

We spent three hours at the beach playground today.

Iris tried on some hats.

Teressa was there with her kids. This is Opal.

Opal gets some sunscreen.

Iris & Elliot fill a bucket with pebbles.