No place like home and family

Where do Hawaii residents go on vacation? ahhhhh that's easy....Ohio and Pennsylvania of course! dahhh!!! Amish Country and the hills of PA for some R&R!!

Amish Country...quiet and unspoiled....

Well, most residents head to Vegas but I decided to visit family and friends during the warm months! That's pretty much the only time you will find me in this part of the country. Summer!

My parents were the only family that knew I was coming to visit. We have always had small family gatherings at our cottages located in the mountains of Pennsylvania (PA) since the early 1940's. My mom spent her summer vacation childhood their and then we did too and now our offspring is spending their summers at our favorite get-a-way place. This place brings back some serious fun memories of growing up with my cousins whom we only saw at this time. We come from all over to visit this magical place and to see each other. This is a place where sitting on the covered porch talking story after dinner during a heavy rain downpour is all part of the experience. Many of my fondest memories are from sitting on the porch's of various cottages and listening to stories from elders of past family gatherings and happenings. History lessons from the wise older folk would dominate the story followed by us small kids getting bored quickly and busting into an impromptu on stage off Broadway version of the latest hit. We all loved performing for our aunts, uncles and relatives we rarely see. There are few talented performers in our family and they've all grown up at this hidden place. We were the hit of the neighborhood as young kids!

Hangin' out on the porch talking story!

Mt. Gretna PA is truly a family get-a-way that stirs the notion of tucked away cozy cottages squeezed between tall trees and sweet smelling needle pines. Our cottages are scattered around the three heavily wooded neighborhoods. Walk inside one of the cottages and you hear the floors creek and the trees scratching along the outside walls. We walk every where and take in the smell of years past. Funny how your sense of smell reminds you of your younger years and activates the memory senses! Went for the best run of my life down the rail to trails renovation project of a narrow gauge railway system (1800's). Mother nature provided the tunnel and shade thanks to her towering pines and maples. Wildlife everywhere. Was I running down the path of an Ansel Adams picture? I just gathered a long last memory with this run. Twenty years from now if I return to this path my brain would trigger the smell memory sense and the memories would flood back in to my first run down this rail to trail path!! Thanks big guy upstairs!!

Dinner time in Cottage always cramped but cozy!

Spending time with some of my cousins was great. I surprised everyone by showing up. Some of them I haven't seen in over 10 years. Others won't remember me since they are new borns. But we took tons of photos and videos. One of the high lights was seeing my youngest sister Megan. I miss my brother and sisters dearly and wished we all lived closer. The other highlight was surprising my Godfather Larry. He had no idea was I coming as did no one else! Larry McKenna is a proud father grandfather and school teacher. He is also one of the families performers! He plays his Buffett style music on the Jersey Shore throughout the summer at various watering holes. So, he was schedule to also play at the Mt Gretna Tabernacle and called me up on stage to sing one of my favorite songs Margaritaville by Jimmy Buffett. Normally, I would run away and hide. But this is my Godfather, I'm his Godson and what better place for Godson to share the stage with Godfather than at the Tabernacle singing Jimmy Buffett songs!! (LOL) It was great and the crowd of about 150 loved it. I also got booked for next year's gig!! What to do after the show? Celebrate of course, by visiting the best ice-cream parlor known to man. Order my boyhood favorite ice-cream special called the Chocolate Jigger! This is about the only time I eat ice-cream. (unless Brooke Myers is buying, LOL!!)

Margaritaville in the Tabernacle at Gretna....Jimmy Buffett would be proud!

Outside Tabernacle signing autographs!!

Back in Ohio, spending time with my parents and seeing my grandfather was the best. Just hanging out and helping with projects around the "high maintenance" house. Tennis with mom and dad. Visiting my favorite restaurants and the local Greek Festival for Greek food such as the ever belly killer Giro!!

Also visiting with and listening to my grandfather speak of his days in the Navy (WW2) and working at Republic Steel in Cleveland and Youngstown OH. They don't make guys like this anymore! One tough cookie! He's 92 and suffers from severe dementia but chases the ladies around in his wheel chair at the assisted living residence! Too cute!!

Family is important. I really needed this 2 week trip and would not want to vacation anywhere else during the summer. Home is where the heart is. Warren Ohio is home and I will never forget where I came from. However, I don't see myself living here again. Just isn't me anymore. I shall return again for family visits and hitting my favorite restaurants, Leo's, Sunrise, Hot Dog Shoppe, Station Square, Quaker Steak & Lube (PA) & Alberini's. Most of which are owned by my buddies and their families, nothing like coming in the back door to kitchen and creating my own dishes and having fun with the chefs!!

Okay, enough of my rambling, enjoy the images!

Have a great week!

Oh and I'm back home....in Kona Hawaii that is!!

talking story on porch with family...priceless!


The hide-a-way (watering hole)...appropriately named!!


Baby talk on porch!


Mt Gretna General store.


Mt Gretna Playhouse....or theatre!

Mom, cousin Julie from Maine and Godmother/Aunt Joan from Annapolis

One of our older cottages in Mt Gretna Heights known for its tire swing in the woods!

"Life is like a tire swing"

This is the "Dip Cottage" named after the dip in the road located in front of cottage. Also used as a guide when we were small kids in locating the house at night!! Evening in the PA forest is really dark and scary for us kids!!

Cottage on top of hill....heavily wooded with many creatures!!

Another different kind of watering hole. The lake at Gretna features a trapeze swing which rules!! Along with a 30ft tower!! Cannonball!!!