Ooooops!
I guess I forgot to mention, given the number of party invitations, pleas, friendly greetings, and phone messages to which I have returned, that I was going to go on vacation from June 30th through... um... today. I've been in Westport MA for the last five days, with almost zero cell phone reception and only dialup internet (which I didn't even try to access).
I'm so sorry. I feel terrible. :-/ To those of you wanted rides to the Garboczi party, please accept my humblest apologies for not getting back to you in time. I didn't know that there WAS a Garboczi party (though apparently I did get the invitation) until I checked my mail a few minutes ago. To those who called or wrote on my wall (meaning Andrew and Nate), please excuse the lagging response time. I will get back to you, honest. To all the other messages that I know nothing of as yet (nor do I want to know what my work email will look like tomorrow), profuse and sincere regrets.
Golly. Shall I tell you what I was doing? I'm not sure it will help... inciting people to wild jealousy seldom does. But I figure I owe you an explanation, so--here goes.
We arrived at Westport around 7 PM on Friday evening, after a little jaunt of about 12 hours which was rendered infinitely more pleasant by the fact that Daddy read aloud throughout. In direct contradiction to Maryland, which seems to be experiencing a rainforest trend in weather patterns, Westport was perfect. The temperature hovered squarely in the 70's, and while there was a good deal of moisture (my grandfather's house is literally 200 yards from the sea), it was all cool briney moisture that left one gasping with pleasure.
For five glorious days I have eaten splendid food (my grandmother is the last word in gourmet, and Grandpa grills a perfect chicken breast), acquired a beautiful pale toast tan, discovered that there really are natural blond highlights in my hair, and been to walk on the beach at least twice a day. You have no idea what a long lovely stretch of empty beach can do for the soul, until you have been to Westport. This is especially true if the beach is one you have been visiting since age 7.
My grandparents' house, besides being right by the sea (there is such a difference between going to the beach and living on the beach), is the sort of house that always has its windows and doors wide open. I never noticed it before this trip, but one of the things that I always associate with Westport is a cool breeze, inside or out. Since I am passionately devoted to breezes, sunshine, and moving water, you can understand why this particular stretch of green New England countryside is like paradise to me.
Then, of course, there is the Seaglass. I went sailing with Grandpa on her twice, and she is a lovely craft, a one-masted sloop about twenty feet long, capable of making the run to Maine. I finished the Iliad sitting in her cockpit, smiling at the world and the sunlight, which ran glimmering down her sails. We tacked and luffed and snugged down into the wind all over the bay area, tipping almost on our side when it was really up. I love the roll and pitch of a ship, and I am ridiculously proud of never being seasick (a fault, I know). Since I come of seafarers on both sides of the family, I should be terribly ashamed to have a weak stomach or a poor sense of balance. However, I'd better get humble if I don't want to be humbled!
It was, in sum, a perfect vacation. Also badly needed. I slept more in the last few days than I really believed I could, and still managed to get in a good bit of writing. This is important, since deadlines are looming. I also had several really wonderful quiet times, which were still more badly needed. Details aside, let's just say that Only Hope, by Switchfoot, is coming to have a whole new meaning for me.
And now. We are just home, just unpacked, and just about to go see a movie together. I love my family. :-)
Thank God, thank God, thank God! For, really, what else is there to say?
I'm so sorry. I feel terrible. :-/ To those of you wanted rides to the Garboczi party, please accept my humblest apologies for not getting back to you in time. I didn't know that there WAS a Garboczi party (though apparently I did get the invitation) until I checked my mail a few minutes ago. To those who called or wrote on my wall (meaning Andrew and Nate), please excuse the lagging response time. I will get back to you, honest. To all the other messages that I know nothing of as yet (nor do I want to know what my work email will look like tomorrow), profuse and sincere regrets.
Golly. Shall I tell you what I was doing? I'm not sure it will help... inciting people to wild jealousy seldom does. But I figure I owe you an explanation, so--here goes.
We arrived at Westport around 7 PM on Friday evening, after a little jaunt of about 12 hours which was rendered infinitely more pleasant by the fact that Daddy read aloud throughout. In direct contradiction to Maryland, which seems to be experiencing a rainforest trend in weather patterns, Westport was perfect. The temperature hovered squarely in the 70's, and while there was a good deal of moisture (my grandfather's house is literally 200 yards from the sea), it was all cool briney moisture that left one gasping with pleasure.
For five glorious days I have eaten splendid food (my grandmother is the last word in gourmet, and Grandpa grills a perfect chicken breast), acquired a beautiful pale toast tan, discovered that there really are natural blond highlights in my hair, and been to walk on the beach at least twice a day. You have no idea what a long lovely stretch of empty beach can do for the soul, until you have been to Westport. This is especially true if the beach is one you have been visiting since age 7.
My grandparents' house, besides being right by the sea (there is such a difference between going to the beach and living on the beach), is the sort of house that always has its windows and doors wide open. I never noticed it before this trip, but one of the things that I always associate with Westport is a cool breeze, inside or out. Since I am passionately devoted to breezes, sunshine, and moving water, you can understand why this particular stretch of green New England countryside is like paradise to me.
Then, of course, there is the Seaglass. I went sailing with Grandpa on her twice, and she is a lovely craft, a one-masted sloop about twenty feet long, capable of making the run to Maine. I finished the Iliad sitting in her cockpit, smiling at the world and the sunlight, which ran glimmering down her sails. We tacked and luffed and snugged down into the wind all over the bay area, tipping almost on our side when it was really up. I love the roll and pitch of a ship, and I am ridiculously proud of never being seasick (a fault, I know). Since I come of seafarers on both sides of the family, I should be terribly ashamed to have a weak stomach or a poor sense of balance. However, I'd better get humble if I don't want to be humbled!
It was, in sum, a perfect vacation. Also badly needed. I slept more in the last few days than I really believed I could, and still managed to get in a good bit of writing. This is important, since deadlines are looming. I also had several really wonderful quiet times, which were still more badly needed. Details aside, let's just say that Only Hope, by Switchfoot, is coming to have a whole new meaning for me.
And now. We are just home, just unpacked, and just about to go see a movie together. I love my family. :-)
Thank God, thank God, thank God! For, really, what else is there to say?
posted by Praelucor at 6:38 PM
2 Comments:
I am delighted that you have been having such a lovely time. :) The only thing that keeps me from being jealous is that I have also been enjoying myself thoroughly. It sounds like a truly marvelous get-away.
Oh, I'm so glad! I've been missing you and thinking of you, and finally found my way back to your blog (how can I lose so many thinkgs?!) May you never suffer sea-sickness and always be able to return to long, empty beaches :-)
Love,
~B
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