April – Seventy Years Young

April was full of bicycles and birthdays.

Andy surprised everyone—including Jen—by buying himself a Toyota Tundra while she was out of town. Watching him explain that purchase afterward was almost as entertaining as the truck itself.

The weekend before my birthday, Esther and I joined hundreds of cyclists for the 35-kilometer Gambler Ride during Athens Twilight weekend. The ride was fun, festive, and a fitting way to celebrate entering another decade of life.

Although I would have been perfectly happy letting my seventieth birthday pass quietly, Esther and the kids had other plans.

They insisted on throwing a party.

We invited close friends, including Greta, Nick, Robin, and Andrea, and filled the evening with homemade pizzas, laughter, stories, and plenty of memories. Turning seventy didn’t feel old—it simply felt like another reason to celebrate the people who have shared the journey with me.

May – Preparing for Europe

Much of May centered around planning Esther’s upcoming research sabbatical in the Netherlands.

We traveled there to meet several couples willing to rent us their homes during October and November. We rented a pair of less-than-impressive bicycles from the train station and spent several days traveling between appointments.

We met Hanny and Roy as well as Esther and Franc, both of whom graciously welcomed us into their homes.

By chance we were in the Netherlands on May 5—Liberation Day—and experienced the country’s celebrations commemorating the end of World War II. It was fascinating to witness such an important national holiday from a local perspective.

Only days after returning to Georgia, we hosted another gathering—this time for Esther’s laboratory group. Nearly twenty people filled our backyard while Mama Ning provided another outstanding meal.

Somewhere between international travel and entertaining, Esther and I also managed to complete the Marigold 10K in Winterville.

June – Italy and New Beginnings

June was another busy month.

On June 14 we joined thousands of people attending the No Kings rally in downtown Athens.

Just a few days later we boarded another plane, this time bound for Italy.

We spent three nights in Trieste, wandered the canals of Venice for two nights, and explored the historic city of Padua before returning home.

The month also marked a major change in our personal lives.

Esther officially moved into my house, bringing not only her belongings but also her cats. Meanwhile, Toni, Celia, Paola, and Aida moved into Esther’s house for the next five months while visiting from Spain. It felt strange watching someone else settle into what had recently been Esther’s home, but it worked out beautifully for everyone.