Curt and I plan to be here at the KOA near the Delaware Water Gap until Sunday, when we'll head for his brother's house. So today was really an enjoyable day. After a delicious outdoor breakfast, we headed back into the town of Stroudsburg.
This is a very picturesque town, on the edge of the famous resort areas of the Delaware Water Gap and the Pocono Mountains. Curt spent quite a bit of time in Stroudsburg when he was young. HIs grandmother lived here, as well as Jerry and Marian (whose nickname was Kiss) Stofflet, two of his parents' dearest friends. We were able to find the house the Stofflets used to live in, below. Marian Stofflet was great friends with the famous composer Hoagy Carmichael (songs like Stardust, Georgia on my Mind, and Heart and Soul) and for a while Hoagy lived upstairs in this house. Curt remembers spending time with him on several occasions...when he was about 5, Curt used to sit on Hoagy's lap on that big front porch, and he remembers Hoagy ruffling up his hair and kidding around with him. What a wonderful memory to treasure!
This is what Hoagy Carmichael looked like as Curt remembers him:
I found a wonderful shop called Mountain Knits and Pearls that has everything needed for two of the things I love to do: knitting and beading. I was in hog heaven and could have spent the whole day there...and I'm sure that to dear, patient Curt it felt like I did! In reality, it was only a little over an hour, but that was plenty of time for me to do some serious damage to my "mad money" stash!
Joanne, the owner, was extremely helpful and patient with me as I asked so many questions and changed my mind on so many decisions. If I ever make it back to Stroudsbutg, PA, I'll plan at LEAST a half a day for this shop alone!
For lunch we found another favorite: Ichiban's fresh sushi restaurant. You know, camping like this isn't half bad!
We thought the fortunes in our fortune cookies were pretty appropriate for our current adventure:
And believe me, we are being flexible!
Back to camp to hit the pool. Then, as Curt was getting a little fluffy around the ears, I gave him a haircut in our outdoor barber shop.
Tomorrow we'll visit Bobby Stofflet and his wife Shirley. Bobby is a little older than Curt, and the two boys knew each other growing up, since their parents were such good friends. I've heard so much about this wonderful family that I can't wait to meet them.
We're definitely out of the south now. The sticky, muggy feeling is gone from the air, and last night we needed the blanket for the first time. In fact, my feet are cold for the first time on this trip, so that blanket is looking pretty good right now. Good night and God's blessings to all of you!
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