Relaxing Times with Peggy & Dennis Carleton

To our dearest friends - Pat and Gerry,

We have known you since the day you moved in across the street from us in Cranbury, NJ.  For some reason it took no time to have that warm comfortable feeling of having known you forever.  Back in the old days, Gerry, if you remember you  would come over with a bottle of scotch (I think) and say it was time to relax.  Sometimes we were doing the relaxing at your house while the kids played upstairs and Gerry and I loved getting each others' goat while our lovely spouses sat at the piano and sang.  You weren't in Cranbury that long before you took off for you're next destination, but time and distance never changed that special connection we had.  It didn't matter how long it had been between phone calls but once we heard each others voice it seemed like yesterday.  How we loved our trips to California to visit with you.  We loved Santa Barbara wineries, Hearst castle and remember going to Ojai  and buying jewelry, which if I'm not mistaken was what was stolen.  It's a strange world, now my brother discovered Ojai and lives there about 9 months a year! Our trip down the pacific coast and meeting you guys in Carmel was another favorite.  Having lunch at Pebble Beach was great, although Dennis would have preferred golf!

Another great memory (I'm only joking) was when we were staying at your house and I was in the bathroom in the middle of the night and your cat jumped down in front of me from the window in the shower.  If I didn't die of fright that night I guess I'll live forever!  I believe that was the trip we got to see the boys and their wives.  We had such a good time and it's great to see these kids become such wonderful adults.  I guess we did something right even with all our relaxing!  Of course our most memorable trip was our trip to Scotland and Ireland.  What a good time we had.  The beautiful countries, the B&B's, the food, our tiny little washer and dryer that took all day in Scotland., the laughter (always the laughter), we couldn't have picked better companions.  Florence still talks about that trip and always asks about you.

We cannot believe this is your 50th anniversary!  We are so happy for the two of you.  We wish we could be there for this great celebration.  It takes a lot of love, endurance, patience, forgiving and most important a sense of humor and that we know you have!  We wish the happiest 50th and we are so pleased to be able to call you our dear friends!

This doesn't mean we have ended our California trips or you're getting out of coming to see us.

We love you, have a great day.

Peggy and Dennis