84 The QUEE NS Courier • buzz • september 1, 2016 FOr breaking news visit www.qns.com The Power of a Week’s Getaway Sadly, We Lost a Remarkable Man Victoria’s Secrets Dynamic $1500 off Lumineers $500 off Invisalign DENTAL WORK CALL FOR FREE CONSULTATION THE INVISIBLE WAY TO SOME EXCLUSIONS APPLY STRAIGHTEN TEETH Third Generation Dentist 175-15 Jamaica avenue, Jamaica 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 I knew the family vacation with my children and grandchildren was a success when my daughter Elizabeth, mother of Addy and Jonah, said, “I never laughed so hard in my whole life.” It was the moment she shared with her sister in a tube behind a motor boat bumping through the choppy waters of Shinnecock Bay. We in the boat I think laughed as hard as each of the kids and adults as they took their turn. My turn was floating on top of the “Big Bertha tube” as the boat slowly and calmly made its way back to the dock. No bumps for me. It was part of our getaway, and at Mariners Cove in Hampton Bays we rented a boat and its driver and it thrilled us all. I had rented a seven-bedroom house for a week from Marilyn Tolchin, whom I met the previous year through Airbnb. When we met to look at the house I wanted to rent from her, I found out she lived in Douglaston and had another business with her husband in Corona. Marilyn has made a business out of renting the multiple homes she owns and, this summer, our rented house was set off Montauk Highway in Southampton. I was impressed by the setting of the house on the bay and it offered enough bedrooms for our family of 12 and a big, beautiful pool where the kids ended up spending most of the week! With six children from 14 months to 10 years, it was powerful watching them. I think the intense time together will bond them for life. We had a delightful day with my brother Bob and his wife BJ. Sadly, we don’t get to see them often enough but they invited us for lunch at their fabulous home set in the woods of Easthampton just a few minutes from shopping on Main Street. My brother bought his land over 40 years ago and has lovingly developed the multiple acres with a house, pool and unique gardens. I love the spot with a pergola where we had lunch overlooking a stream he built that feeds into a lily pond that leads to a sitting area built out of logs and twigs. The beautiful, lush plants and colorful Japanese maple tree made the setting look like an impressionist painting! The property has been their passion. The landscaping is Bob’s creation while BJ has built multiple flower and vegetable gardens, and cooks and bakes unmatched meals presented as works of art. This year, she added an ingredient to the afternoon: a scavenger hunt for the kids. I was amazed when each team leader – Blake, 10, and Jonah, 7 – used our iPhones to prove they had found each of the 12 items from around the expansive grounds. They laughed as they ran from site to site, but 14-month-old Sloane slept through the whole hunt. She’ll be a big participant next year because she’s an adventuresome toddler. BJ had generously prepared gift bags for each of the scavenger participants, so everyone was a winner! The scavenger hunt inspired the kids to create an Olympic race for our last day in Southampton. But first, led by Blake, the five kids put on a show! So we got to see the girls do their somersaults, and the boys race through the water, and laugh and laugh. I think laughing was the theme of the week. To laugh is to love and love fills our hearts with strength to handle life’s ups and downs. It was a great high that they all said they want to repeat next year. Success! One of our publications exclusively serves the North Shore Towers and because of that I’ve met some extraordinary people and developed dear friendships with several of the people who live and work there. One of my favorite people was Mort Gitter, the board president who, sadly, suddenly died of a heart attack. Mort was an exceptional leader and lawyer. He quietly, always with dignity and intelligence, led the board that serves the community of 5,000 people. He was respected and always fairly dealt with the issues of the co-op. He will be missed. My deepest condolences to his wife, Suzanne, and his children. Victoria SCHNEPS-YUNIS vschneps@gmail.com tweet me @vschneps Aunt BJ had a “prize” bag of goodies for each child Elizabeth laughing with her sister Samantha in “Big Bertha” Josh and Hudson venturing into the ocean Addy helping her little cousin Sloane The “swan” was the favorite pool toy
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