July 11, 2019. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Ely's.

Wendy and Claussen arrived this afternoon. Now we are all in our places. They drove from Potomac, Maryland with their two dogs. They make the journey a pleasure by stopping along the way at nice places. The past two nights they stayed at St. Andrew's by the Sea, in New Brunswick. They arrived well rested in mid afternoon. They are pleased to be here once again and we are happy too. Our group is complete. Last year when Gill's son Tim was here he asked me how we were able to manage to have our good friends build within walking distance from us. Tim and Kate had just purchased a home in the country in New Jersey, and he wanted his friends to buy a property close to them. Tim and Kate live in Manhattan and they wanted their two daughters to be able to have some space to run. I just laughed and said that I had nothing to do with it. The whole thing happened bit by bit. Gill actually started the ball rolling. In September, the Mitchells and Elys came to visit us, not because they wanted to come to Nova Scotia but to humor Ken and me. We walked to the lighthouse along the shore , an old path that had been there for hundreds of years. Two months later, Gill came to visit. Her friend Charlie had died a few weeks before her visit to us. Casually at dinner with Mary and Walt, our Realtor friends, Gill asked if there were any lots for sale. On Friday that same week, Ken, Gill and I looked ate every lot for sale between Shelburne and Bridgewater. Overnight, Gill decided to buy a lot close to us and was deciding between the lot across the bay or the lot adjacent to us. After talking to her two boys, she decided to buy the lot across the bay. She had purchased the lot before she left for home on Sunday. Gill called Wendy and told her that they should buy the lot adjacent to us. And they did, sight unseen. A few months later, Mary and Cliff decided to buy the lot on the other side of the Ely's lot. Mary commented that what will happen to us is that we will watch each other die. This was 20 years ago when we were healthy,. But we all laughed and said that what would be better than spending our dealing years with our good friends. Our situation here is perfect. We now spend all summer here, helping each other and having a good time. We are delighted to be all be in our places. And we have sun shining faces too.