Green Gathering Planning

All 5 JDG kids have given thought to, made suggestions, and agreed on an appropriate site and way to honor Dad on April 2, 2011.

Thursday, March 31, Arrivals.

Dave & I, Steve & Rita, Libbie & Mom will drive to Keyser (3 cars).  Jon & David will fly into DC, rent a car and drive to Keyser.  We all have reservations at the Microtel and everyone should confirm their room with their own credit card if you haven't yet done so.

Depending upon arrival times, we can get together for dinner and/or an evening gab session.

Friday, April 1, Work Day.

Breakfast at the Microtel or Royal.  Go to Green Farm to prepare the site Geoff and Betsy picked out to be the final resting place of Dad's and perhaps future Green ashes.  We will be clearing, raking, planting, mulching and marking the site with rocks.  Geoff is thinking a little plot about 6'x6' or 10'x10' (square or elliptical or ...).  Everyone likes the idea of a stone bench which Jon is researching and will have placed at the site by workers, not us old folks.  Geoff says there are lilacs on the site, which is perfect because Dad loved lilacs and often lamented they don't grow in GA.  I think April 2nd is about a month early to see the blooms, but it's nice to know they are there.

We will have dinner at the farm.  We'll head back to Keyser afterwards, and hopefully meet up with Jack and his kids, if those of us not used to physical labor can stay awake!

In the meantime (according to a message from Deni), Jack & Chip will drive from NY to Keyser.  Deni, Alex, Dan, Annie and Sandy will fly into BWI and drive together to Keyser.  Deni has made 3 room reservations at The Keyser Inn.  As of today, I still have a room reserved in Uncle Jack's name, at the Microtel.  When I hear from Deni, I will either cancel it, or if he wants it, it should be confirmed with a credit card.

I understand through Jon that Shelly and Ralph are coming but I don't know their arrival date or motel arrangements.

I will leave restaurant suggestions for everyone if you arrive in time and decide you want to eat in Keyser.

We will hopefully all meet up on Friday evening after dinner for a long overdue reunion.

Saturday, April 2nd Ashes to Ashes.

We'll have a late breakfast at The Royal, Dad's favorite breakfast spot.  He called it The Blue Grotto.  Both motels have a continental breakfast if you prefer.  Before going to the Green Farm, we'll gather up picnic food for a late lunch at the Farm.  We'll make more detailed plans later, but it may be pot luck - grocery store fried chicken, Subway sandwiches, Wayne's Meat Market to-go food ... It will be fun to accumulate whatever anyone can find.  Bring your food and drink treasures.  Mom is bringing paper plates, napkins and cups.

Once we get to the farm, Geoff and Betsy will give a tour, so the Jack Greens will get a perspective and feel for this beautiful place.  Hopefully they will understand why we all have such deep feelings and affection for Geoff and Betsy's land.  Dad did not spend a LOT of time there, but if you could hear him talk about it once he came to Savannah, you'd think he picked it out and walked the land himself.  He was very proud of Geoff and his family for developing and maintaining the farm.

We will end up at The Site.  Anyone who wants to say anything may do so.  No one is obligated to say a word.  We will bury or scatter the ashes and do what feels right at the moment.

Afterwards, we'll have our big picnic.  Hopefully we will have beautiful weather and eat outside, but we'll have a Plan B or C to eat inside or go back to the Microtel and eat in their breakfast area.

Warning - This is early April in West Virginia!  Bring boots or shoes that can get muddy. Bring warm jackets, hats and gloves.  Jeans are appropriate.  Hope for the best, plan for the worst.  The spreading of the ashes will go on rain or shine, as we don't have extra days to spare.  Inclement weather will move our picnic indoors - at the farmhouse or the motel or we'll go to a restaurant.

For those of us driving, bring boots, work gloves, rakes and shovels.

Sunday, April 3rd Departures.

Check out time for everyone except Mom and Libbie, as far as I know.  So long, farewell, auf Wediersehen, adieu.

Now you know what I know.  Please email me any changes, corrections, additions, etc. and I will post them.  Let's stay in touch!

Friday - Motel Updates

I've made some changes to the motel reservations because Geoff told me about a new, just opened Microtel in Keyser.  Please refer to the Room Reservations section (Jan. 5) as I will post ALL motel information there.

Airports

If you are thinking about flying, Dulles International is 2.5 hrs from Keyser, both Reagan National and Baltimore Washington International are 3 hrs away.  Pittsburg International Airport is also 3 hrs away.  Driving times are according to Mapquest.com.

Room Reservations

Updated 1/21:  Geoff told me about a new Microtel in Keyser.  I have CANCELED the reservations I had at The Keyser Inn.  The room rates at the Microtel are $85-89/night, $20/night more expensive than The Keyser Inn.  My only complaint about The Keyser Inn was it smelled like old smoke in the non-smoking rooms and the bed linens were old.  As I had written previously, we stayed there before and it is a no frills but perfectly fine motel.

The Microtel has in-room mini-refrigerators and microwaves and serves an "expanded" continental breakfast.  The Keyser Inn serves a continental breakfast.

The Microtel encourages everyone to confirm their reservations with a credit card.  I have reserved:
Cindy Howell - single queen - arrival 3/31 - departure 4/3
Steve Green - single queen - arrival 3/31 - departure 4/3
Jon Green - single queen - arrival 3/31 - departure 4/3
Elizabeth Green - double queen - arrival 3/31 - departure 4/3

I had also reserved a room for Jack and whomever was coming with him:
Jack Green - double queen - arrival 4/1 - departure 4/3

I received an email from Deni today with more reservation info.  I want to let her know about our change before I post her information.  When I have an update, I will continue to post.

Memorial Arrangements

At l-o-n-g last, we have a date for getting together and honoring Dad.  Although there was some last minute thoughts of tinkering with the date, we have put those aside.

SAVE THE DATE - SATURDAY APRIL 2, 2011

If you plan to fly, feel free to make reservations, as this date will not change.

I have just started looking into hotel/motel rooms.  The place we've stayed previously seems to be out of business.  I will check with Betsy and Geoff for suggestions and post the results.

We need to decide what we want to do for the celebration/memorial, so please let us know your ideas.  As a starting point, I'd like to give everyone a chance to say something about Dad just before we bury or scatter his ashes.  Geoff has suggested we use a site on his farm he believes is an old burial (Indian? Civil war?) site.  I like that idea, and I'd like to have some sort of marker or tree or bench to identify whatever site we choose - something that would be compatible with the environment but still something special to mark the hallowed land.

I'd like to have a meal afterwards so we'll have time to eat drink and be merry together.

Since I'm the only one that can post to this blog, please send me your ideas and I will put them here for all to see.  If you want me to, I will also post your travel plans so if you want to you can coordinate plans such as flying in at the same time, renting a car, staying in the same hotel ...

Dave and I have not yet made plans about arrival and departing dates, as we may want to visits to friends along the way.

I will post when I have new information.  Keep checking!