The Sentimental Journey: Just A Little Break in the Action

 The Rigors of the Road

We were doing pretty well at keeping up with the blogs through D.C. but we began to burn out blog-wise as we drove (and drove) and met people on a non-stop basis.   But, not to deny you any of the vicarious thrills and vicissitudes of our journey we shall recommence where we left off -- heading north from D.C. with Michael on the mend from his brush with covid.

Covid is Such a Pain

We encountered three disappointments based on Michael's covid.  We were all set to meet up with our friend Bruce and his daughter Eleanor but, as Bruce was in the "senior" category we decided that would be a bad idea.  But, we must include them both because they are so dear.

Featured Guests: Bruce and his daughter Eleanor

Length of Relationship: 52 years

Background:  Bruce and Pat lived across the street from us when we were a house full of college kids  going to Georgetown.  One night, sitting on the porch, we saw a dog hit.  He didn't seem too hurt but we thought he needed a vet and had no car to take him.  We saw Bruce, owner of a collie, coming home from work and nabbed him.  Off to the vet we all went.  Dog ended up fine and we ended up friends.  Bruce and Pat had a baby daughter and we became babysitters as well as bridge partners and stalwart buddies.  So sorry to have missed them on this trip.

Anecdote:  Entrusted with caring for Eleanor one night, Bruce handed me a bathrobe.  "You'll need this when you feed her", he said. "Ha!" I thought, "what an alarmist."  Covered from neck to waist in Blueberry Buckle, I realized his wisdom.  Otherwise, a very sweet little girl.

Bruce & Eleanor

Another stop we had planned was  to Michael's brother's beach house in Delaware.  Nope.  Maybe next time. We'd see him at the Reunion so not too sad.

And the third bummer... Envious of Michael's family reunions, I planned a reunion of my cousins at a house we rented on the Delaware River.  Beautiful place as the photos will show.  Due to Michael's recent covid the plans were squashed.  Only my intrepid 82 year old cousin Linda braved the risk of infection and we spent a delightful day sipping wine and contemplating the river. So sorry to miss the others but perhaps another time.

Featured Guest:  Linda

Length of Relationship:  73 years (since my birth)

Background:  Linda is my oldest cousin and the only other girl.  She was always my compatriot/protector in the midst of all those boys.  She is one of the most fearless people I have ever met and time with her is always a blast. Only wish we'd had more time together.

Deirdre & her cousin Linda






This chimney decorated with tiles is part of the Moravian Pottery & Tile Works founded by Henry Chapman Mercer, an archaeologist, historian and curator.



The tile works is still in operation, but is also a museum. Mercer studied the tile making process brought to America by Germans in 1898 and then created his own method for which he received three patents in 1914.

Isabella Stewart Gardener ordered tiles in the medieval style for Fenway Court from the tile works. These can be seen at the Isabella Gardener Museum in Boston.


Since we were staying on the Delaware River, we had to visit the point where George Washington crossed the Delaware on the night of December 25-26, 1776.  I always imagined a much larger body of water traversed by George during the Revolutionary War.

One highlight of our stay in Milford, NJ on the Delaware River was all of the fauna. This groundhog 
(obviously a relative of Puxatawney Phil since we could see Pennsylvania from our porch) was in our side yard one day.

 

This great blue heron was flying overhead...

and this kingfisher was perched on a branch at the edge of the Delaware River.

However the most fascinating and entertaining were the deer and geese. Our next door neighbor put out corn for the deer and, of course, the geese took advantage by reaching their long necks into the trough to get some corn as well.

By the last evening there were three deer that showed up to partake of the feast...

and these two adorable fawns.

Boston Bound

After leaving the Delaware River we headed up to Boston. On the way we stopped for lunch with my oldest (in duration) friend Susan who lives in Middletown, Ct.  We had the good fortune to grow up in a neighborhood in the Connecticut suburbs in the days when you could run wild  with little parental oversight/intrusion. The neighborhood was 1/3 Catholic, 1/3 Jewish and 1/3 Protestant which allowed us to  roam from house to house indulging in seasonal treats:  latkes at the Sugarmans; hot cross buns at the Donahues; Christmas cookies at the Smiths. Long bike hikes, forts in the woods... lucky us.

Featured Guest:  Susan

Length of Relationship:  67 years

Anecdote:  In college, we rented a cottage at Cape Cod.  This was so long ago that college students could afford to rent a cottage on Cape Cod.  It was a wild week filled with revelations, lots of sand, waves and drinking. Probably the last time we were able to spend that much time together and definitely memorable.

Susan & Deirdre

Bean Town in our Blood

We lived in Boston for 30 years and raised our sons there so, needless to say, there are many attachments. This blog is long on featured guests and shorter on featured cities because this swath from D.C. to Maine is where we have spent most of our lives and the ties to the region are strong.  But, most of our pals and family are pretty fun so on we go.

Featured Guest:  Mary

Length of Relationship:  Approx. 30 yrs.

Background:  Mary was our "back door" neighbor in Wellesley.  She has become a fan of Mexico and has spent time visiting us, Merida and Oaxaca learning the language and the culture. She is an independent woman with a very big heart.  While staying in Mexico this winter she offered her house to a woman and her son (who are from Latin America) so that the boy could attend the fine schools in her town.  That is just who she is.

Anecdote:  Mary and then-husband Tim's backyard faced our kitchen window.  Mary worked in finance and Tim was working on his P.H.D. and tending to Charlie, their son, who was a toddler.  One snowy day I looked out the window and saw Charlie in the backyard.  The snow was about 2 feet deep and there was Charlie. Outfitted in a Michelin Man snow suit he was just stuck in the snow unable to move-- totally content and catching snowflakes on his tongue.  I watched for several minutes until Tim came out and scooped him up.  I didn't tell Mary for years.....

Deirdre, Mary & Michael captured by Mary

The PreSchool Gang is in Session

For years after I stopped working in hi-tech I volunteered and then worked in a preschool for children with special needs. Little known fact:  I have a Masters in Early Childhood Development.   The work was very rewarding, the kids were a blast and my coworkers were both funny and filled with empathy-- a nice combination.  So I took the opportunity (with Elin's help) to reconvene for coffee and swap tales about the old days and new.

Featured Guests: Elin, Sue and Sharon

Length of Relationship: Approx. 20 years

Anecdote:  There are so many... We were always losing Larry.  Larry was this very outgoing, funny kid with just a few problems who endeared himself to all.  However, you'd take them all to the bathroom and come back one short...Larry.  All the buses had arrived but... no Larry.  Only when the bus returned to the lot did they find Larry content in the rear seat.  His little absences became frequent enough that we dubbed him Long Lost Larry.  Just one of the many child characters we encountered in our work.

From left:  Elin, Deirdre, Sharon and standing is Sue

Dinner in the Hood

We've been lucky to have friends with whom time and absence does not thwart our affection or ease in their company.  Among those friends are Betsy and Fred and their family.

Featured Guests:  Betsy and Fred

Length of Relationship: 27+ years

Background:  Betsy and Fred live in our old neighborhood and their son, Ted, was best friends with our younger son Alex.  They were virtually inseparable and through their friendship our friendship with Betsy and Fred grew. Through all the agony and delight of raising kids, enduring health upsets and consoling each other about various challenges or disappointments our bond has grown over the years.   Betsya nd Fred made a delicious dinner and we chatted over the meal and a few glasses of wine. It was great to see them.

Deirdre, Fred, Betsy & Michael

A Special Place

We took time out from all the visiting with friends to catch a meal in our favorite restaurant in one of our favorite towns.  The restaurant is The Barnacle and the town is Marblehead.  Many of our memories revolve around The Barnacle.  It was there that we learned the offer to buy our Wellesley house was accepted.  It was the scene of many birthday and anniversary and no-special-reason visits.  A simple place with a marvelous view and the best fried oysters ever served up anywhere.  The town is filled with old homes and scenic views - a few of which Michael will include.

A view of Marblehead Harbor and the islands beyond.

Each house has a plaque. This house was built by John Chapman, a house wright, in 1841 for himself. The house site was previously occupied by William Woodley, a fisherman, in 1677.

This house was built for Joshua Orne, a shoreman in 1750 and the house site was previously occupied by Samuel Morgan, a cooper, in 1660.

This house was built for Benjamin Gale, a shoreman, in 1721; was enlarged for Joseph Carder, a shoreman, in 1755; and, was the home of Capt. Glover Broughton from 1832-1869, who was the Town Clerk.

This house was built for Ephraim Sanders, a fisherman, in 1715 and was enlarged for Thomas Gerry, a merchant, in 1750.

This house was built for Sara Hendly Batchelder, a widow, in 1728.

Deirdre sits on the wall by the harbor with The Barnacle in the background.

One More Drink Before We Go

It was almost time to hit the road again but we stopped over at Gillian and Bill's for a drink and a chat. 

Featured Guests:  Gillian and Bill 

Length of Relationship: 28 years

Background:  Alex and their eldest son James were in the same Kindergarten class and remained friends throughout childhood along with Andrew (whose parents unfortunately we missed) and Ted.  When the boys were in first grade, we parents formed the First Grade Book Club that existed until they were all in college.  It may still exist today.  Over the years, through bridge and wine tastings and ski lessons and beach trips we all remained close.  It was great to see them again.

Anecdote:  One year, Gillian, Linda (Andrew's mother) and I took the whole passel of kids to Wellfleet on the Cape for the week and the husbands followed (very New England) on the weekend.  We had a great time and if memory serves we all took a boat ride out to Monomoy Island and were delighted to witness many, many seals which we had never seen in the local waters before.  Little did we know that where seals go, Great Whites soon follow. They arrived several years later.  Live and learn.

Bill, Deirdre & Gillian

So, our time in Boston was done.  And now it was time to head further North to Portland Maine and beyond.