In June of 1990, the whole Duncan clan, such as it was, gathered at the South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island, Florida, for Mom and Dad’s 50th Anniversary. Sue had done a lot of the planning, I chipped in on choice of South Seas Plantation, Len and Laurie were living in the area in Fort Myers and Miami at the time, so it was a reasonable spot for all of us. Barb and I decided to tie this occasion in with a trip to Antigua for Barb’s Caribbean vacation in the sun, a way to coax her into the family festivities.
We started by flying to Miami on Thursday afternoon, June 14, and staying overnight with Laurie and Maggie. I think at that point Laurie was getting her degree from University of Miami and Maggie was 14. I think it was another year or two before they moved to Philadelphia.
On Friday, we drove across the state to Sanibel and Captiva Island. Various members of the family had been to Sanibel before and we knew it was famous for lovely beaches and shells. We had never been to the South Seas Plantation (now more politically correctly called the South Seas Island Resort — plantations are a little too Old South), so that was something new.
We rented two beach cottages for the 11 of us: Mom, Dad, Bill, Barb, Len, Sue, Keri, Susanna, Jill, Laurie and Maggie. I’m not exactly sure how we split ourselves up…most likely Sue and Laurie were in one place with their girls while the rest of us were next door.
It was the first time in ages that we all were together in one place, and one of the few times ever. I think it’s fair to say there was some trepidation from many quarters, but we all agreed the occasion of Mom and Dad’s 50th was worth the effort to be together for three days and two nights.
On Friday, we gathered in the cottages and I believe had dinner there prepared mainly by Sue and Laurie.
We tried assembling the whole crew for a family photo, without thinking to dress in our Sunday best. Not sure we ever got quite the shot we were going for, but so be it.
For the Friday evening’s official celebration, Sue put together a map showing all the places Mom and Dad lived and also wrote a poem that she read to try and draw out more stories from the gathered assemblage. Sue was forever trying to get Mom and Dad tell more of their stories to the grandkids. I commend her for her efforts. Her poem is as much of a family narration as we’re likely to get.
Saturday during the day we enjoyed the resort’s beach and facilities. I can’t recall any specific anecdotes or photos, unfortunately.
We had a nice dinner out with the whole crowd at one of the Sanibel restaurants on Saturday night. I will say that throughout this weekend Mom and Dad looked pretty much at peak happiness, especially Dad. We’re glad for that. We did get one of their best photos together. It was a definite milestone and capstone for our family.
Having survived the family weekend, we drove back with Laurie and Maggie to Miami on Sunday and had a slightly early celebration of Laurie’s birthday.
Barb and I caught a Monday morning flight to Antigua, via San Juan, for a week at the Pineapple Beach Club. Pineapple Beach was an all-inclusive resort on an island that we hoped would be a bit more welcoming than Jamaica. It continued our quest for an island destination in the Caribbean that could hold a candle to our experiences in Hawaii. It got the job done as far as Barb getting a tan, but suffice to say, we haven’t been back and the search continued.
At about the same time, over in Germany, Scott was getting married to Carmen. Mom, Dad and Len attended the wedding but managed to avoid being in any of the photos that I have. Len followed the visit with some time in Paris, where she’d long wanted to visit.
We have these undated pictures of Fred in what looks like Ireland. He did some traveling on his own after Louise’s death and before he met Fran. There’s also this nice picture of him in a restaurant but I don’t remember the circumstances. He was a little bit lost without Louise. He volunteered at Hospice for a while, delivered phone books to make some spare change, did some bicycling, played poker with his friends, and drove his little Triumph Spitfire when it wasn’t in the shop.
After Antigua, Barb and I got back to our home at Davidge Drive in Columbia and had a little quality time with Hugo and Walt. I’m not sure of the occasion for Hugo wearing the UVA shirt, but he was a good sport.
In July, we took a one-day bus trip to Atlantic City with Barb’s work buddy, Kathy Scully-Hayes and her husband, J.D. I think this was our one and only trip to Atlantic City. We lost money and still somehow Trump managed to go bankrupt.
On August 4, 1990, Barb’s law school friend and our China travelmate Kate Garrett got married to Ken Bunker in beautiful Scottsdale, AZ. Who gets married in Scottsdale in August, Kate? Nevertheless, Barb was a bridesmaid and we made the journey.
First came the rehearsal and dinner on Friday. We didn’t know anyone other than Kate, her Mom, and Ken whom we’d met just once or twice.
Then the real deal on Saturday. Who wore the bridesmaid dress best?
Barb did!
The whole wedding party.
Reception shots. A fine time was had.
Later in August, 1990, it was time for Barb’s office picnic, this time at Lake Elkhorn in Columbia, MD.
September brought Patti and Lee’s second pig roast at their place in Mount Jackson, VA. This time, we were clever enough to stay the night before at a nearby bed and breakfast, the Widow Kip’s. They even provided a built-in kitty for Barb to sleep with.
I don’t think we did much of the night-before prep, pit digging or overnight pit tending this year — Patti and Lee recruited other, more eager volunteers. We showed up at their place in the morning, well rested, and helped out from there.
The whole Landise family was there this time; Barb had been friends with Sarah at law school.
This was a nice day, smaller crowd and better weather than their first pig roast. And we sort of knew what we were doing. Plus, there were two outhouses!
The fall came and we got back to work, Barb at her Baltimore CMMS office and Bill at home with a little help from Hugo, when he wasn’t at Hekimian in Rockville.
Soon it was Christmas, 1990. We loved out tree in our new house, and celebrated with the boys.
On Christmas Eve, we headed down to Virginia to open presents with Betsy, Joe and Fred. Betsy and Fred tried on their gifts before promptly returning them. Joe enjoyed his gag golf club, and I loved (a wore for years) my warm up jacket. Barb (I think?) gave us all matching pajamas. Thanks!
Betsy’s cats, Nick and Nora, watched the proceedings with some blurry disdain.
Fen and Haya Babcock joined us for Christmas Dinner at Fred’s. Roast beef, Haya’s potatoes, Barb’s Yorkshire pudding, green bean casserole, and Barb’s pies were on the menu, no doubt.
Photos of nieces, the Blythe girls and Kate Aitchison, courtesy of Christmas cards.
Early 1991, portrait time: Barb with Hugo and new arrival Charles Landon Dickey modeling the sweater that Barb knitted.
April 1991, we gathered a group of Barb’s work friends to tailgate before a Spring Training baseball game between the Red Sox and Orioles, one of the first baseball games played at RFK since the Senators left in 1971. It was actually the first time they reconfigured RFK back from a football stadium into a baseball stadium and was meant to be a lure for getting a real team to return to DC. We had a good time at this game, but it would be another 15 years before the Nationals had their first game at RFK and baseball returned to DC, hopefully for good.
Springtime at Davidge. Love them tulips (not so many deer there). Back porch was nice, too, and a great hangout for kitties. Hugo eventually learned how to open the door himself by jumping on the handle.
Spring of 1991, Frances Marshall married Dave in Dallas. Barb went for the ceremony, but this time was not a bridesmaid.
Also Spring 1991, Carmen and Scott paid a visit to Mom and Dad in Florida. Soon after, Mom and Dad headed west to see Len in Arizona.
One other little event in May, 1991: Betsy and Joe welcomed baby Sara! Somehow, we don’t have any photos from the event or Sara’s first few months, but we were very excited to welcome the first of a new generation from the Fisher side of the family.
We do have some random family photos from around this time, courtesy of Mom, no doubt. Separately, Barb’s boss Henry won a recognition award at work, pleasing Barb and his daughter, Sarah.
In summer of 1991, Barb and I took a vacation to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. I had been there once with Mom and Dad while we lived in HK, and I made some trips there for work conferences in the 1990s, but this was a proper vacation. We had a great time seeing the sights and wildlife.
The rest of summer, 1991, brought a series of parties with friends. First, a 4th birthday party for Conrad Christ. I’m not sure where the lake and cookout was…their neighbor’s house, maybe? I’m sure Marcus knew a guy…he always knew a guy.
September was the Bowman’s pig roast number three. Patti and Lee were starting to get the mechanics down.
One more summer party, this one thrown by Chris and Charles Bailey at their house, for Barb’s work buddies.
At the end of September, Barb and I made a special pilgrimage to Disney World, staying onsite at the resort for the first time. We stayed in the Contemporary Resort, with the monorail running through it. We learned about the joys of early admission to the parks: an extra hour or so to run around and get on rides multiple times before the rest of the daily crowds. We also took a 3-day cruise to the Bahamas out of Port Canaveral on the Big Red Boat, a precursor to Disney having its own cruise ships. It may have been Barb’s happiest vacation ever. More photos and details of the trip in separate Travel post.
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