Amazingly full day here n Baltimore..  It began with a birth. April the giraffe has been about to give birth for about 2 weeks.  April, who lives near diane’s hometown .. has become a media star as people wait to see her calf.  DIane had been following Aprils projects as had several other folks we know. . Early this morning   Diane got an automated TXT msg that it was almost showtime. Diane, my mom and I watched for about 30 minutes as first two tiny holves, then a nose.. then fonllay the very tiny (for a giraffe) baby

 

It was wonderful to watch.. we knw that at least 1.2 million other folks were watching too !.

 

around noon we went to visiting  our very good friend Vince  in Saverna Park. VInce’s wife.. and our good friend Catherine die d last Wednesday after a tough battle wth cancer.  We’d planned this trip to Baltimore in part to see Catherine just one more time.. but fate did not allow that.

 

It was very good seeing VInce.. we had a good cry and a whole bunch of laughes with Vince, his daughter Jo and his son Kelston and his fiancess Caroline. We also got to sit and spend time with VInce’s so Nick

 

it was sad and fun all at the same time .

our mutal freind Phil called to check on vince from the UK  we had a great facetime chat with him

 

 

we waled down to the river to see Vince’s beautiful boat..  the ‘Ms Prim’ named named after Cahterine

before we knew it , it was 3:30 and we had to zoom  back to the hotel.. to get ready for Pesach…

we got to Ellen’s at around 4:45 .. people were slowly trickeling  in..

I hadn’t been there in decades.. bit the place hadn’t changed !

 

lots of relatives everywhere @

we had the passover service at ellens..

 

here’s mom and billy’s family

 

kate and  her partner kate presided over the service. they started with the lighting of the candles . They duid a great job on the service. they brought in stories ot balance the geneder innequality  and noraly slanted world view of formal religion.

 

we all shared small passover plates.

 

there wqere lots of rweadings and signing..

here are zevi and foster

 

and a bunch o fthe random cousins

 

after the observence, we all walked through the golf green to the country club for the evening meal    Here’s diane and my cousin Nina

here are kate and ben

 

this kid found the aufekomen.. the hidden third peice of matzoh which means she wins somen prize.. not sure what. 

 

again.. lots of people !

a wall of cousins

 

shawn gave me here poleman brecelate.

 

then time for a picture of the whoe cla.. no small feet herding the Katz

 

ok.. I’m having trouble keeping my eyes open.. so I’ll end here

very nice seeing som many family and freinds.. such a mix of emotions today./

hag sameach all.. happy passover

nite all, nite sam

-me