Sue and I took a drive to northwest Massachusetts a couple of days ago, where my machatonim, the Trumps of time shares, were spending a week.
Machatonim is Yiddish and Hebrfew for the in-laws of one's son or daughter. As far as I know, the Jews and Chinese are the only people who have words describing such relationships. The machutin is the father-in-law of your son or daughter, and the machatonister is the mother-in-law. I think that's right or is it the other way around. In any case, I love that there is a word for that.
Anyway, after driving for 2 1/2 hours in back of every truck, tractor and gas-saver, we ended up in Hancock, Mass., which is near Williamstown.
So, we packed up the grandkids, their parents and other grandparents and headed off for the Green River Farm, at U.S. Route 7 and local Route 43, about 15 miles north of Mondo Timeshare, which shares a mountain with Jiminy Peak ski area.
The farm has an indoor petting zoo with some bunnies, two pigs, some goats, sheep, chickens, ducks and a llama. This isn't the llama who likes to rub noses. In fact, she's a little stuck up.
Walking around carefully, one can see cows, horses, ponies and the usual farm animals.
Up the hill from the barn is play area with an inflatable crawl-through for kids, a wooden play structure that grandparent-types can crawl into, but can't easily get out of. The also have a corn maze that's kind of fun in a muddy sort of way.
Near the play area is an enclosure where the llamas live, including my friend who loves to rub noses. I was standing by the fence when he came up and introduced himself. Not verbally, of course, but as I was standing there, he stuck his nose near mine. I responded and next thing you know, we were rubbing noses. It was sort of cross-species communication.
All this was great fun. None of the grandkids wanted to rub noses with the creature, and as I was telling them that they missed an experience, the llama walked over to the other llama, a female, and stuck his nose, well, like dogs do when they meet.
Everybody thought this was a hoot.
I just couldn't wait to get back and wash my nose.
I guess the lesson is not to rub noses with anyone or anything until you really know about them.
You know, that's not a bad rule to follow.
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This looks like a wonderful weekend, weather wise at least. It looks like Fay, the tropical storm that is giving the folks in Florida such a hard time with all that rain, is heading west and won't run up the coast as the weather bureau first thought it would.
Tomorrow is the 10th wedding anniversary for Mike and Andrea. Mike is the guy who really knows about baseball, whom I sometimes quote in this space, as well as a GIS expert. Andrea is an expert, internationally recognized teacher who also is a wonderful family researcher.
Andrea and Mike also are our daughter and son-in-law. They weren't the ones along for the llama adventure. Andrea and Mike have three kids, including Shoshana, whose picture and birthday story you saw a few days ago, along with Naomi and Eliana.
Happy anniversary to this great couple. May the next decades be as happy and fulfilling as this last one has been.
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Have a great weekend, y'all, and for those in the Tribe, a good Shabbos.
Until next time...
1 comment:
I have a llama - llola (lola) and HE loves to nuzzle and give kisses.
Sounds like everyone had a great time!
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