Yes, today was Hannah's last day of school. For our friends outside the American school system: yes, you read correctly. School ended today, and doesn't take up again until the first week in September. That's a lotta weeks of summer break. Van Cortlandtville school has a time-honored tradition called The Wave. Every school bus lines up, circles back around, and drives a victory lap past the school's front door, where the school's teachers and staff wave and cheer, while the kids hang out the bus windows like eager golden retrievers and wave back.


Speaking of school, we had great fortune last week. Hannah's class had read the book Flat Stanley, which is all about a little boy who is flattened by a bookcase. Remarkably unfazed by the accident, he goes about doing good deeds and saves on airfare by mailing himself to relatives for a vacation. Classes reading Flat Stanley often make little paper flat Stanleys and mail them to faraway places for their own vacations. Hannah sent hers to visit her friend and former classmate Esma in Swansea. Esma took Stanley to school at Brynmill Primary and he got to meet some of Hannah's Welsh chums, and he took at turn on the playground at Brynmill Park. To our amazement, Stanley's return trip via the Royal Mail took about three days, so he arrived in time for Hannah to share Stanley's adventures with her class. Thanks Esma!

Just last week we attended the Clearwater Hudson River Revival, now in its 29th year. It's the feel-good event of the season. People wear whatever makes them happy, dance without fear of people finding them silly-looking, and have a general good time. In addition to a ridiculous number of performance stages and entertainers, Clearwater offers visitors a chance to try out kayaking, peruse the craft booths, see demonstrations on everything from spinning fibers to converting automobiles to run on biofuels, or cruise the Green Living tent and learn how to live more gently on the planet. And of course if it all gets to be overwhelming, you can just sit on the banks of the Hudson and enjoy the view. Hannah spent many, many hours climbing trees, and came home both days wearing a significant portion of dirt. She had a very good time. The summer is shaping up for her already; just three weeks ago, she and Cliff went down to the beach to stay with her Uncle Keith, Aunt Harumi, and cousins Kai and Mana. And this weekend we're heading back to the beach to meet up with more family and friends. Watch this space for more pictures.