Summer Vacay In The USA
We left the US on June 4, 2022 and returned on July 1, 2024. Our first stop was Chick-fil-A on the drive to visit Aunt Andie (Jess’ dear friend from Annapolis rowing) in Dunedin, Florida. Two years before returning to the US was purposeful, because we wanted to be sure the kids felt that the boat was truly home before we went back. And also, we were kinda busy.
Three days in Florida with Andie was pure fun. We shopped at Target! We got bagels at Starbucks. We rode in Andie’s golf cart, went to the local library and watched a fourth of July parade. We did all the things that used to feel normal but now bring back euphoric feelings of nostalgia and home. The kids inhaled the familiarity like divers breathe in air after emerging from the deep ocean.
On July 4 we jetted up to Annapolis, where we snuggled Claret, lounged around at Chrissy and Senol’s like we owned the place, and cleaned out oodles of boxes of junk from two basements and a storage unit (surprise: there is still stuff in all three places, but a heck of a lot less than 2 years ago!). Chrissy and Senol hosted an incredible cocktail party for some Annapolis friends so that we could see more people during our short stay. It was perfect, with plentiful food and champagne, and we enjoyed every second catching up with friends, meeting new babies and reuniting with our Atlantic Crossing Crew. We could have stayed weeks and seen more people and enjoyed coffees and happy hours and walks in Quiet Waters. But, time is scarce and long summer days are never long enough.
We landed in Boston and drove straight to York Beach. We last visited York Beach when we left home in 2022 and didn’t really know where to go. So although we had only been once before, being welcomed by Jess’ college friend Sara and her family for our second summer still sorta felt like going home. This time, though, we were joined by another college bestie, Carrie - who’s pregnant (!), and her boyfriend, James. The first week the kids did surf camp and Carrie, Sara and I took long walks on the beach with her dog, Ginger, ate lobsters at Sally and Frank’s beach hut, watched an Elvis concert, listened to Carrie’s baby’s heartbeat, and spent evenings around the bonfire. Maine is exactly what summer should be: ice cream, beaches, puzzles, blueberry pie, warm days and cool nights. It is already sepia-tone in my memory.
The second week in Maine, Jean and Lenny joined us at the airbnb and we got some quality time with them before the family reunion. I turned 45 and we ate more lobster. It was all too quick and before we knew it, we were hugging good bye to the friends that are family and headed towards Connecticut for our final stop.
The family reunion got off to a rough start, with the technical glitch that grounded so many flights. My cousin Angel snatched up the last rental car in her Mom’s small Indiana town and drove 12 hours to CT so Ruth Ann could make it to the reunion. But ten others couldn’t find alternatives, so what would have been a record turnout of every single living family member in attendance, had a bit of a shadow over the weekend. Alas, reunions are always great fun and this one was awesome. Jordan and Rosie basked in the attention of their older cousins, swimming and playing cornhole. We’re still laughing about Chrissy, Amy and Ben’s canoe tipping over. Rosie won the farkle tournament. Jess stayed up late playing spades and rebooking cancelled flights back to Panama.
Our summer trip was too short and just right. We left feeling renewed and exhausted, our reserve tanks filled to the brim with love and laughter and the best of Americana.
