Rewind Five Years

Five years ago today on April 13th, a Friday, I had my first date--which was long overdue--with this girl's father. And on that day, we became a little more than just friends. Or penpals. Or "oh, she's just a girl."





Proof that Friday the 13th isn't always unlucky.

Bar Harbor

Three things used to come to mind when I thought of Maine...

This:

[source]

these:

[source]

and its romantic coastlines of these:

[source]

But now, Maine is more. After being whisked away on the last weekend of March--for a late birthday weekend getaway to Bar Harbor, Maine--there's a little more that comes to mind when I think of The Pine Tree State.

Thanks to off-season rates, our hotel room overlooked the Atlantic. For two mornings, we awoke to the most beautiful sunrises and glittering ocean ripples. I could live here, I thought. It reminded me of a favorite Ingrid Michaelson song that goes:

"I will live my life as a lobsterman's life on an island on the blue bay. 

He will take care of me, he will smell like the sea, and close to my heart he'll always stay.

I will bear three girls all with strawberry curls

little Ella, and Nelly, and Faye.

While combing their hair, I will catch his warm stare on our island in the blue bay.

Far away, far away, I want to go far away.

To a new life on a new shoreline.

Where the water is blue and the people are new,

To another island in another life."

I wanted so badly to enjoy my first lobster experience. I gave it my best shot by grazing from Boy's dinner plate--one bite was enough for me. But fried haddock, a side of fries, and bites of Maine blueberry pie did not disappoint. Once our little boy shockingly discovered that the lobster he was staring at in the face was dad's dinner, it didn't take him long to chant, "Eat it, Dad! Go eat it! Eat it!" It is probably a good thing I am not a lobsterman's wife. 

And Acadia? Sigh. We practically owned the place as we drove through it. The drawback to experiencing Acadia during the off-season is road closings to more beautiful natural landscapes of art. That, and a carriage ride up to Cadillac Mountain--the first place in the United States to see the morning sun.

The 5-hour car ride, and back, was worth it. My kids' practical nonchalance in the car amazes me. They take after their Dad as far as road trips are concerned.

And yes, Boy and I will be back. Next time it wouldn't be a bad idea to then skip on over to nearby Nova Scotia (once I get a passport). For a girl like me who is not a world traveler, this is big. BIG.

Boston in a Day

If I were to spend a day in Boston, I would:

Pack my car with a stroller, two little ones, and a bag full of snacks...
Pick up a sister and brother-in-law who I haven't seen in a year...
Take a stroll through Boston Common...
Follow the Freedom Trail and feel all patriotic...
Visit colonial graveyards: stare at the winged skull headstones, recite from memory those Mother Goose rhymes, and chuckle to myself upon seeing the empty cup of beer paying homage to the late Samuel Adams...

Appreciate beautiful architecture...
Watch my footing while walking on the uneven cobblestone streets...
Stand at the site of the Boston Massacre and ponder about American freedom...
Breathe in the Atlantic sea air--imagine the infamous night when crates of tea were thrown out into Boston Harbor...

Watch my three-year-old have the time of his life chasing a flock of pigeons strutting across the street from the Old South Meeting House...
Share a bag of a half dozen bagels at Bruegger's. Save the green St. Patty's flavored one for the little people...
Notice people passing by you with little white boxes in hand as you walk on Hanover Street...
Get yourself one of those white boxes from Mike's Pastry and fill it with cannoli and a lobster tail...

Watch that same three-year-old boy drive some of his favorite Hot Wheels on the brick-paved Freedom Trail...
Tell my aching feet to keep walking...
Spot a golden grasshopper on the tippy top of Faneuil Hall (unique, quirky, and very cool)...
Eat a burger at Cheers--because everybody there knows your name...
Call my husband after his long day of work to let him know how glorious my day was--and let him know that I saved him the much-envied cream-filled lobster tail in my little white box...
Drive another two hours with two more passengers in the car, excitedly looking forward to having guests in my home.

And that's just scratching the surface. Big cities, oh how I love them.