Sunday, September 29, 2013

Falling Waters


In February, with his birthday money still saved from December, my husband began searching the internet for a weekend getaway spot for our anniversary in May.  (I am SO fortunate that that is what he chooses to do with his own gifts or football winnings.) 

Bar Harbor, one of our favorite places, seemed a good choice.  We talk about possibly retiring to Bar Harbor – him a park ranger at Acadia, me, the owner of an adorable café/bookshop where “the author is on the premises.”  Sherman’s could use a little facelift like adding window boxes bursting with colorful flowers and deep green ivy, best sellers and Maine-authored books in their extensive sidewalk window space, earth tone colors, upscale furniture, and a whimsical sign maybe. 

The winters Downeast are long…..Bar Harbor or Seal Harbor are rather far away…..not sure if those dreams will ever be realized, but going for weekends and “dreaming” is half the fun.  Ahead of our weekend, I bought Frank “Mr. Rockefeller’s Roads” from Downeast Books to teach us and make us appreciate the Acadia carriage roads even more. 

The upcoming ten-odd days heading into Memorial Day weekend rained.  My planters on the deck risked being washed out and I hated to think I threw $150 to purchase those flowers down the drain, so to speak.  Frank is a routine kind of guy and checking each day the 14-day forecast heading into our weekend really weighed him down.  

“No worries,” I smiled.  “We’ll be fine.  We cannot control the weather.  Let’s let it go.”

And you know what, Plan B is sometimes a welcome and enlightening avenue.  If it was sunny, we’d have sat beside the pool at Harborside Resort all Saturday afternoon.  

Instead, with map in hand, we drove around the entire island (in the pouring rain).  We’ve never done that on our travels there and we saw so much!  “The Bubbles” makes me laugh every time I say it.  How can anyone not want to go to Bubble Pond?  Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor are definitely our favorites.  The views – breathtaking, quintessential Maine. 

Instead of biking the carriage trails on Saturday, we got a couples massage in the spa, something Frank has never done….and he was actually nervous!  What fun.  We laughed, sipped ice water with cucumber (which made Frank make a face), and ran through puddles in our flip flops across the courtyard back to our hotel, with wood fireplace blazing…..at the kick off weekend of summer, not dead of winter, end of May.  That's Maine!

We snuggled close walking under a shared umbrella along the shore path in front of the Bar Harbor Hotel.  At 51, we wore sensible shoes and 3 layers of jackets – which happens to make all the difference.  The weather isn’t bad when you dress for it. 

We sat in our hot tub on the deck, looking at Bar Island…and sometimes the fog.  We had an afternoon cocktail from the picnic basket I packed ahead, ate delicious food at local restaurants, and relaxed.  It was a welcome break in our routine.  

Frank and I, for being together so very long, are completely in sync with our travel – we like the same type of restaurants and food; the same sorts of hotels; and trips that comprise nature and exercise first and foremost.  There’s quiet and conversation, rest and exercise, and lots of photos. 

An anniversary in the rain and forty-eight degrees….nearly in June….in beautiful Maine on the coast – you know what…..it doesn’t get better.  

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

A New Day Has Come


We fly my younger son from Maine to Georgia this morning to begin his freshman year of college.  With mixed emotions, one of my longtime favorite songs, one that deeply resonates with my life with sons, plays in my mind……



I was waiting for so long
For a miracle to come
Everyone told me to be strong
Home, home and don’t shed a tear


Through the darkness and good times
I knew I’d make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I… was… waiting… for you

Hush now, I see a light in the sky
Oh, it’s almost blinding me
I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel with love

Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new sun
A new day has …..come

Where it was dark, now there’s light
Where there was pain, now there’s joy
Where there was weakness, I’ve found my strength
All… in… the eyes of a boy

Hush now, I see a light in the sky
Oh, it’s almost blinding me
I can’t believe I’ve been touched by an angel with love

Let the rain come down 
and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new sun
A new day has …..come















Photos:  2007 "life is good" age 13
2012, the most common view I've had for a few years - sideview, focused, at his Mac drawing


Céline Dion singing New Day Has Come. (C) 2002 Sony Music Entertainment (Canada) Inc. 
The song was written by Aldo Nova and Stephan Moccio and produced by Walter Afanasieff and Nova.