Memorial Day Weekend

We headed up to Maine this year. I usually avoid my mother's enormous family around holiday time, but I was feeling like B needed the break from home, and my mom dotes over him to his great satisfaction. Plus it's a really cool place to be to feel the summer's potential.

We had a fantastic Saturday playing with my three-year-old nephew, M. He's been slow to blossom and it was really nice to see him interacting so much. He really bonded with my kids when they were up there during the week of B's surgery, and was super excited to see them when we arrived.

My brother talked my mom into lending him money for a small electric motor for the row boat. I'm glad he did, because B would not have been able to take the boys on their usual row (another couple of months of restricted activities while he continues to recover from his surgery), and it's something he really enjoys doing when we go up there.

We went up to my Grandmother's cottage at Granny Kent Pond on Sunday. Where the bazillions of people always are. Except this time there was almost no one. It was incredibly disappointing that none of the other four 1997 boys' families showed up, because my kids had no one to play with all day. And they were already dealing with the disappointment of Aunt D canceling her trip home from Colombia at the super last minute. Poor R had even brought his tadpole with sprouting legs all the way to Maine to show her.

It was also a bummer that one of my uncles was sick and the dock couldn't be put out into the water without his manpower. Plus the picnic tables were behind the dock. Which all adds up to my Memorial Day inside instead of on the beach.

Nevertheless, R did say at the end of the day that it was still better than just hanging out at Grandma's all day. They had an acceptable time fishing and playing in the water and with the sand and drinking soda and eating Doritos and red peppers and hot dogs. And I got to hang out with my grandmother since some of her entourage didn't show up and I didn't feel like I was on stage. She's 91 and getting tired. I don't blame her; eight kids is a lot. And they kept coming home...

Sunday was the most enjoyable day. E enjoyed some quiet time fishing with the boat tied to the dock. He was determined to catch something, but never managed it.

I took time to enjoy the view from the deck...and the deck from the view...

We had an excellent time playing some miniature golf with Grandma (my mom). My boys are so blessed to have a Grandma who adores them and interacts with them so much.

After that we enjoyed some scallops, lobster roll, clam chowder (don't even ask "what kind?"), haddock fish and chips, and chicken tenders at The Weathervane. Yum!

And finally it was time to go.

But R didn't want to.

In a big way.

He wanted to stay in Maine with Grandma until this weekend, when she is coming down to Connecticut for E's birthday party anyway.

So he talked about it with E, and E decided to stay too.

It was a really agonizing decision for E. The week of B being in the hospital is still with him. He is so worried about his dad. But he loves R most, and didn't want to leave without him. Plus the next day was his birthday and we were planning to go to a Rockcats game, which we had done last year and he loved.

But after reassuring him that B would be fine, and that we would go see the Rockcats another night, yes with Nagy Papa too, he decided to stay. The security of getting to hold on to my new cell phone seemed to help.

I have to admit that driving away from them was a surreal experience. I could still see the apprehension on E's face, but knew he'd be glad he made the decision he did. And B and I got to spend the rest of our 18th Wedding Anniversary alone.

And now several days...