The Mergenthaler Family

 Letters From the Nest, April 18, 2025 https://lettersfromthenest.substack.com/p/potholes It’s pothole season. Did you know that? In early spring, potholes are at their worst because, throughout the winter, roadways have been exposed to water seeping into cracks in the pavement, expanding and melting, causing widespread destruction. Some websites name Michigan the state with the worst reputation for potholes, but we have our fair share of potholes here in Pennsylvania, too. Have you ever been on a back road littered with potholes? I remember girls' camp whenever I’m on a poorly maintained road. I have attended many girls’ camps over the years, both as a participant and as a leader, and it seems like a rule of life that the last half-mile or more of the drive to camp is pitted with potholes. Imagine this: you’re nearing the end of a couple of hours in a cramped car. You have drunk too much soda, and each bump reminds you that you really should have used the facilities when the chanc...

Penn State usually schedules spring break around the 2nd week of March. It's still pretty cold, so staying in town for the week isn't always delightful. This year, I was determined to find a beach with temperatures at least in the 70s.  I used a website with short descriptions of family-friendly beaches along the East Coast to choose a place to go. I searched along the coast from north to south, checking each location's weather forecast during the week of spring break. I determined that we could reasonably drive down to South Carolina to catch some warmth and sunshine. So, that's what we did! First, we prepped the van. Gavin and Brooklyn were so excited for their week off; they were good helpers.  They're cute in their matching-ish outfits. I did not spend much time on my appearance, and it was COLD in the garage where we were working, so I had my hoodie up. When I finally came in the house, Sean told me I looked crazy. It was just messy hair from my hoodie, but, ya...