Glad to hear things are off to a good start. May the rest of the visit continue similarly!

... around him, many of them *very* young.

I have been doing genealogy projects during the winter quiet & even knowing this I wasn't prepared for how *much* childhood death I would find. No wonder my Norwegian gg-grandfather was ready to go elsewhere, hoping for better. So many of his younger siblings, children, niblings dying all too fast.

Dec. 2 is a bit late to be part of a Thanksgiving visit home, and early for a Christmas visit, but not impossible as part of one or the other - will see what seems feasible. I hope you enjoy my hometown!