Around the World in Maine

My normal month in Maine means I disconnect from my regular life. That is what vacation is supposed to be, right? I have never watched TV while I have been in Maine. This year is no different. I do want to watch Ted Lasso, but I think I will be happier to wait until I get home and binge watch the whole thing at once. If I can wait that long.

I do try and take much longer walks when I am here. It is easier since the temperature is so pleasant. Unfortunately I got a big blister on the top of my middle toe from a long walk in my Keens without socks on. So I am awaiting the lambs wool arrival from Amazon.

Amazon is anything but overnight here, let alone the three hour delivery I often get in Durham. Nothing comes faster than 3 days here. I am curious about how far away the distribution center is. I think all deliveries come through the mail here and I know our mail lady’s 1997 maroon dodge van which she drives with a pole turning the steering wheel as she sits in the passenger seat. I assume she has peddles on her side, but I have no confirmation about that.

I cook more here, which makes Russ so happy. Mid August is the best produce month in the mid coast. All the things that have long since died out in North Carolina are just coming in here. The best tomatoes seem to be happening right now. I stopped by our neighbors honor vegetable stand this afternoon and picked up a few more tomatoes since they have gone to Boston and I don’t know when they might restock.

I have more time to read and listen to books while I am here. I also am making good headway on my puzzle, which Shay likes to supervise from the seat beside me on the sofa. I also love to sit in the rocker on the deck and watch the boats go by, the birds dive down for fish and the tide change.

So that is the life I love here in Maine, usually. But today things were a little different. I have a cadre of international mah Jongg students who I do zoom private lessons with. Suddenly and all at once, many of them are wanting lessons. Yesterday I had one lesson for two hours with a sweet new friend in Canada. That was great. Two hours of working in a day is still like a vacation. But today I had three different lessons, back to back, to back. I started at 8:30 this morning with Switzerland, then at 10:30 a mother and daughter lessons with the two of them zooming in from two different spots in Canada, followed by a last lesson in France. Thank goodness no one expects mah Jongg in their native tongues. Tomorrow I have London, but only one lesson.

I am not sure how this happened, but since Russ is working all day I guess I can work 3/4 of a day. A day working in Maine is still a good day. And my international students could not be nicer. It feels very cosmopolitan considering I can’t get an Amazon delivery faster than three days.