Well, here we are back from New Jersey once again visiting the grandkids.

It seems like every time we’ve come here the last few years, they are having record high temperatures. Everybody we visit is blaming us for bringing along the hot weather. Last December they were thanking us for bringing the warm weather with us. Do you remember when it was in the 70s in Central Park in New York City last Christmas Day?

I began writing this column on Sunday morning, July 24, and it’s already close to 90 degrees outside. We arrived on Wednesday, July 20.

This is the fourth consecutive day of the heat wave which is affecting all the major eastern cities. The following day was the hottest day of the year, so far. Temperatures reached 98 to 100 in northern New Jersey and 102 in Central Park. Factor in the 90 plus humidity reading and you can see why we mostly did inside activities with the grandkids. Diane did go outside and play with the little ones with a sprinkler and a hose two afternoons.

Our first day here, the little ones had their first swimming lesson. They are coming to stay at our house in November. With the pool in our back yard, we insisted they learn to swim this summer. Not so much that they would be swimming in November, but to know what to do if they should fall. Brandon, the eight year old, took to the water like a fish. Brody, who is six, did well also. Brylee, 5-1/2, got past the bubble-blowing stage, and 2-1/2-year-old Brielle, well I’ll just say she got into the water.

Our oldest grandchild is Hunter at 17. He just bought his first car. It is a red 1997 GMC Jimmy SUV. The air conditioning in it does not work so we borrowed his mom’s car when we went to see the “Star Trek” movie. This is the first time for me in the passenger seat and Hunter behind the wheel watching his every move.

A guy in a white Audi came up a little quickly on a side street about two blocks from home. We didn’t know if he was going to stop or even see the stop sign but Hunter promptly went into defensive mode and cut down on his speed. The guy did stop, but it was a good test for Hunter and he passed with flying colors. I relaxed a little bit from that point on.

The next day his car overheated and it turned out his radiator is bad and as of when we left, he was still deciding whether he should get it fixed or look for another vehicle.

We certainly ate well. I put on four pounds during the 11 days we were there. We made our usual stops at Jose Tejas, the Riverview Drive-in in Elmwood Park, the Ritz Diner in Livingston and the Millburn Diner in Millburn. We also got take-out pastrami and corned beef sandwiches from Irving’s Deli in Livingston. The Friday night before we left, we all went out to the new Benihana in Short Hills.

I picked up a copy of the West Orange News, which is in its second year of operation. The main feature on the sports page was a story on Alex Gouin, one-time star pitcher at West Orange High School, in the town where daughter Tammy and her family live. He just signed a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was assigned to their rookie League team Hillsboro, Oregon. In his first start, he struck out 11 and got the win in a 10-2 victory. I hope he makes it to the big club.

Just before I left for New Jersey, we had an incident here at the office which left me apprehensive about leaving.

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Just before I left for New Jersey, we had an incident here at the office which left me apprehensive about leaving.

I was sitting in my office, when Advertising Representative John Gibson came in and said, “I think you’d better come out here. Linda just took a fall on the front steps and she’s bleeding quite a bit.”

The Linda he was referring to is Linda McThrall, who is our Special Publications Editor. She also reports the club news and compiles items for the Fountain Spouts page for The Times.

I rushed out as fast as my body would allow me. I took one look at her and the blood was flowing profusely from her nose and she had a large bump on her forehead. In addition, her wrist looked broken or dislocated.

The Fountain Hills Fire Department crew that responded did a terrific job of treating her.

They transported her by ambulance to Scottsdale- Shea Honor Health Hospital. There, doctors determined she had a slight concussion, broke both bones of her right wrist, which required reconstructive surgery, a cracked pelvis and she had broken bones around her sinus and eye socket areas.

When they wheeled her out of the office, she waved to everybody and flashed that ever-present smile.

Everyone here at the office is hoping for a speedy recovery.

Her doctor said she will be out a minimum of three to four weeks.

We all miss your smile, Linda. Listen to the doctor and take it easy.