New England Weekends

Last weekend I made it up to Maine to visit my friends Maggie and David who live near Kennebunkport.  It was a slow start as my energy level was near zero saturday morning.  But made it in time for a fabulous feast and was able to meet and hang out with some of their friends - a bunch of them were from upper New York.  Stayed up late chatting with Maggie.  Next morning I had a leisurely PJ morning with Maggie and Dave. I was even able to get some blueberry picking in. It was overcast and threatening to rain but I was able to snag a few pints of fresh blueberries while eavesdropping on the conversations of this Russian extended family.

Blueberry picking was followed by a marvelous brunch that lasted into the evening. It was a wonderful little reunion. Maggie and I went to high school together. In attendance was Reegan and her family - every time the kids are getting taller and taller. I’m a little worried next year I might be eclipsed. Nima and his new family made it (his daughter just turned one). Sara made it up from DC, and new this year was Dawn and her family. I think they just moved up to Maine from Chicago recently, so nice to have them in our neck of the woods. And Charlie just moved to Boston from NYC and was able to make it too. So it was a full house with a ton of reminiscing, some of us not having seen each other since the reunion awhile back or even graduation. Strangely enough, although we all hung out and overlapped in school, there always are times when we’re talking and someone refers to a classmate and I’ve never heard of them. Over and over again - it’s become a running joke. I find myself often commenting I was a late bloomer and I think this applies here too. I’ve learned, especially for work, to be good with names (or at least better). But back in high school, unless I really needed to know you, I didn’t bother to learn your name. Why would I? I wasn’t into the gossip of who said what to whom. I knew a lot of people, but apparently not enough.

It was great seeing Dawn - we went to college together but while there we barely overlapped. And Dave, married to Maggie, went to the same college - a year ahead - crazy small world! Maggie and Dave met later in med school. Oh, and he’s from California, so it makes it all the more unusual. Anyways, last weekend was so much fun. Good food and good company both days. Nice and leisurely without a care in the world. Unfortunately the trip was bookmarked with horrendous traffic in NH both ways. The trip has about 5% of the miles in NH, but you end up spending over 50% of your time in the little bit of NH you need to pass through to get from MA to ME. Crazy!