With summer coming to a close in August, James Grandma had a farewell party for James Dad as he was getting ready to go into the army and do basic training at Fort Dix New Jersey in early September.

The party took place at Lake Erie in Monroe Michigan (the state park just east on exit 15 on I75) on a perfect summer day and many of James Dads “little friends” (a nickname to Dads friends who he met in first grade, hence the name little friends) were on hand to give James Dad a hearty send off (the keg of beer helped a little as well).

The party was a big success and James Dad made it on time to Ft Dix where basic training awaited him.