The Last Waining Days

Coming to Maine for a month is a special kind of privilege. I do not discount how lucky we are to get to do this, even though Russ worked almost everyday, which is never the plan. I, on the other hand, do the opposite of work.

Today I had my annual trek to Belfast and got to be treated to lunch by the wonderful Sheppy Vann. Sheppy’s late husband Dick’s family has a wonderful place in Liberty, Maine where thankfully Sheppy still comes for the summer. It’s not too far from Belfast so we made plans to meet there. Originally we were going to go to Young’s Lobster Pound, but the weather did not cooperate so we met at Bell the Cat.

Sheppy, having been the head of the preschool at Durham Academy for many years, knows everyone in Durham, even though she has lived in Nashville for the last few years to be closer to her grandchildren. We had a lot to talk about given the state of things in the world and the worlds that we have in common. For those of you who know Sheppy, she is doing great. She may be 80, as she reported to me, but you would never know it. Sadly, like me, she is going back to Nashville as her season is over, but we both agreed that she should stay until October next year. Why leave cool Maine to return to hot and humid. Wait until fall reaches the south.

I did a little shopping for Christmas presents while I was up in Belfast and I can’t say another thing about that. But I got home late and had to change for dinner.

Warren was joining us for dinner at the Samoset. It was not a clear night so the view of the water was fogged in, but the food and the company was wonderful. There are only two more real days of Maine left for us before we make the epic trip home with the car overstuffed with Christmas presents. Russ is not sure how this is going to work, but I am certain Shay won’t mind the back seat being a little more snuggly.