He's back!

Even though one of our extended family is off to new horizons, another one of ours came home. After a two month grueling experience with cancer therapy in Florida with one of the marvels of modern medicine, Baz returned home on 12/17 to his loving family, along with a surprise welcome from the Chill gang. We hate to say it, but it was great seeing him back, and, looking even better than when he left, but then again, that bar wasn't set too high!

In sympathy with the side effects of his radiation treatments, the BC Gang was adorned with all sorts of glowing material: glow bracelets, necklaces...even glasses. And the welcome signs were great, with the most original coming from Stevo: GLO ME!

Thomas Wolfe had it wrong: You CAN go home again!

He's off!

Carrie and I want to thank the Big Chill Gang from the bottom of our hearts with the gift of the handheld GPS you all gave to Alex. It meant so much to us that you think of him as yours...and he is. And that's why you don't want him to get lost!

Today was a tough day at the Zerio homestead. After getting all Alex' gear into his Jeep, (he bought one of those trailer racks to carry down his military trunks...the rest somehow got jammed inside), we had our hugs and our tears. All of us. With heavy hearts, we watched the red jeep turn the corner down Preston Drive, and followed Alex as long as we could as he drove off into the next chapter of his life. There is a hole in our home.

But we all know, and he does too, that he has the prayers, love and pride of his family, our close friends, his close friends, and the entire City of Meriden with him. We are so thankful.

Stevo's Mystery Tour

The inspiration for the 2006 tour was actually 2 years old: during Chill VIII, Stevo decided to inadvertently burn a hole in his new Chill denim shirt, one of a set distributed to the gang as the memorobilia item for that year. Hanging it up while not looking (so he claims) on a hook in the closet, he closed the door. Later on he flicked on a light switch that didn't work. But it did...in the closet, to a light bulb that was acting as a hook. The rest is Chill history. In the past couple years, there were reports of other episodes of bipolar pyromania to which Stevo has fallen prey. How to help a good friend?

Claire Bazzano to the rescue: she suggested that Z use his political network ( more like notwork) and see if we could tour a firehouse on the Cape. A breakfast with the Meriden firefighter's union president, a referral, a call, and the next thing you know, Chatham Fire Department's bravest were in cahoots. (Not that Cahoots!). So, a surprise visit by the gang to the Chatham FD, an intervention for Stevo during Fire Prevention Month, and now we know he's safe with flames. Special thanks to Captain Matt Flynn and his crew for a fun (and educational!) hour, and Stevo even got a T-shirt! Next year we tour the waste management center for Baz...

Chill 2006

Every year, we wonder if the next Chill could possibly be as good as the last one. This year, the Big Chill's 10th meeting, was no exception, and again, it exceeds expectations.

From gorgeous weather (truly top ten days in 2006), to unsuspected surprises ("FUSU," from the Mariner's desk man Josh to the late-arriving Zs; learning the Big Chill became plaque-worthy in the Gentle Heritage Billiard Room; an exercise in fire suppresion from the fashionably fire-attired Stevo), to great food and drink, superior gifts and memorabilia, and extreme crocquet...truly, a getaway weekend for 10 people that needed it, got it, and miss it already.

To Big Chill X! To Big Chill XI!!