As one of my first graders says, “Everyone loves the Grand Old Flag!” She has lots of like-minded friends in our area for sure. Flags were flying everywhere this weekend in honor of Memorial Day and those brave folks who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

We weren’t sacrificing this weekend on the Isle of Springs (unless you count warmth!) The sun was out bright most of the time I was there, but there was a stiff breeze and we needed our long pants and fleece! The Island looks good, though we were surprised to see what’s at the bottom of the pond! Missed the pair of turtles Max said live there, however.

The Pierce Cottage was more than overflowing with 56 revelers in attendance. Eleven Pierces, including Auntie Em and Elizabeth, (unencumbered in a good way), made awesome food and provided the perfect spot. Deborah and Arthur, Carl and Lori with Gabby and Nate, Alice, Tony and Andrew showed us great hospitality, as always. Mike and Lynn Thompson and Rob and Susan Reece were other Point Pleasant neighbors who came. Speaking of neighbors, Betsy and Brad Hastings and Tom Strickler from Sawyer Island came across, and Maria, Arthur’s MITA “boss” and son Roy were also there; I guess we missed Roy’s dad Travis this time.

I’ll take you by the pond and along the West Shore now: We had Ellie and Dick Morrell, Keith and Scott MacGilvra, Greg and Nancy Reagan, Betsy Niven, Jim Morrell, Jackie and Lars Rydell, Monty Woolson, George and Katy, and Ed and Sara Germain representing that locale.

Continuing to our neck of the woods, we only had four in our cottage! Scott launched Ruby for the trip and Deb and I had our first ride of the summer. Max came along in the Whaler. The Aeschlimans, including Lea and Nick and Chris and Sue, and Alan and Ruska helped us represent the Top of the Island.

From the Stoddard cottage were Edna with grandson, Mark Harper, and son David with wife Deb. Amanda Phillips and her husband Dmitri (along with some friends who arrived when we did, but who didn’t come to the party) were in the McLennan cottage. Coming around the bend, we had Peter Burvill and Joan Faccenda from Nash-Burvill. In the Bogart cottage, we saw Matt, Claudia, Chase and Alexa. Hope I didn’t miss anyone!

Do you remember the band Golden Earring from the 70s whose one hit was “Radar Love”? Well, the lost has been found. Thank you, Hugh Reece, for finding my gold earring on Sawyer’s! I didn’t miss it until I got home from the party, but when I called to alert my cousin Deborah, Carl called back and said he thought Rob Reece put it in his pocket. We got this news when we went to retrieve it at the Reece Cottage and found Hugh and Erica with one month old Charley, along with Cam and Ellen and Owen!

Enjoy spring, whatever form it takes, because summer will be upon us in no time!