It’s the Fourth of July in northeastern Pennsylvania. Naturally I’m partying with kin in Hilldale. A gang of cousins and I go to nearby Wilkes~Barre to see the historical exhibitions in the Square.
“Northeastern Pa.’s loaded with military history,” Joe and Ron, our Viet Nam veteran cousins, remind us. “Remember,” Ron said. “We have to leave soon to see Queen Esther’s Bloody Rock in Wyoming Borough.”
At the end of our day, we get to go to Jitty Joe’s, in Scranton, for ice cream. That’s all so mundane, even with all the toppings, compared to what we see here.
Well it can’t ALL be historical visits and instruction, there must be some time for fun…
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Yeah we need quite a break from all that serious, to give it the ability to sink in
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Um, my picture (with Bob) is your icon on the InLinkz page. Any clue? and…it’s bbq time
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so sorry. I pushed a button at random and that was it.
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great idea to have such a specific place for the fiction – I am going to read about the rock now (super curious)
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Thanks my parents were both from that part of PA so I often refer to it
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oh very cool – I am from Buffalo New York and early 2017 I wrote a few fiction pieces with that area and it was fun how I like those posts even more now – that little history connection felt good – and is that what you feel?
either way – sounds like a cool place
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yes It’s always such a good feeling to write about a familiar environment. I have cousins who grew up in Buffalo and North Tonawanda so I know it can be really interesting there.
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wow – north tonawanda is such a small town – we had some friends that lived there – and my family is originally from Lancaster – well actually mom’s side from Virginia and dad’s side from Poland….
do you live in PA now
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Great to have family traditions on such days.
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There is always room for ice cream
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Yes it always keeps people happy
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Great write.
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thanks. It’s based upon real life.
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Nice contrast between the seriousness of war and the triviality of ice cream
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thanks
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I can imagine the ice cream wouldn’t quite compare. Sort of like falling back into day-to-day life after a sombre day of remembrance.
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That’s always the way life happens though, alternating between ordinary and important
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Dear Larry,
I’m slow getting around to all the stories this week for just that reason. Lots of family. Reminiscing and partying. Nicely done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle Visiting relatives can always supply lots of inspiration
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We are most definitely enjoying ours. 😀
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Love the name of the ice cream place!
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It’s a real place, very popular, with great Ice cream
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