Well, I had my first detour folks! I was originally supposed to go to Boston next, but that didn’t work out unfortunately, so I headed straight to see some good friends of mine in the Poconos, Barb and Ron Wilkoc.
Barb and Ron
Barb is one of my Mom’s oldest friends, and she and her husband, Ron, have been great supporters of our family for many years. They spend their summers in the Pocono mountains. If you’ve ever been to Camelback mountain in Pennsylvania, you’ll know the area. The lodge is visible from their house.
Barb and Ron were extremely welcoming, and made me feel right at home. Although I visited the Poconos when I was very young, I don’t remember it at all. It’s a beautiful area. The weather was perfect for the summer, even a bit cool in the morning, and the views from the top of the mountain are fantastic. It’s not often you can stand on top of a mountain and look around in 360 degrees – even catching glimpses of other states! My camera simply doesn’t do justice to the area…
We had a wonderful evening discussing current events, the world, and how things are changing. I always enjoy these talks, because they give me new perspectives on problems, and a chance to think critically about what I would do to change them. But perhaps the most fascinating thing about our conversations was not how different we thought, but how similarly, despite very different life experiences. Barb and Ron lived for years in New York, and had many unique career experiences. It’s incredibly interesting when a discussion arrives at very similar conclusions, but through totally separate paths!
That night, we had a great dinner at a local seafood restaurant called Smuggler’s (perhaps ironically, since we were in PA), and even took a few minutes to discuss my book – something I’m always happy to do!
The next morning, we took a walk around the mountain, enjoying the incredible July weather. It really is wonderful when you can go outside and not immediately start dripping with sweat! After swapping a few more stories while we walked, we grabbed a quick lunch and it was time for me to go.
My stay in the Poconos may have been short, but it was memorable! See you next in Ohio!
