In Transit

A trip to Maine isn't complete without a stop at LL Bean

So what do you do when your life is in boxes and you have no place to live for a couple of weeks?  You cram all eight of your large checked bags, your six questionably sized carry-ons, and the "freebie" car seat into your tired SUV and hit the road to eat your way up and down the eastern seaboard.  

We've spent the past week meandering through my old  haunts and introducing Sidney to everything early summer in New England has to offer.  After leaving a scorching 100+ degree DC we arrived in Maine to definitely chilly temps. There is a reason fleece is part of the official state wardrobe.  Sidney had his first dip in the Atlantic Ocean (a definite shock to his little toes), sampled all things blueberry- ice cream, pie, soda, yogurt, fresh berries, and  muffins, dined on popovers at the iconic Jordon Pond House, shopped his way through LL Bean, and did battle with the largest black flies I have ever seen.  Yes we played tourists and I loved it.  The weather turned out so perfect that it has us wondering whether we could live there on a full time basis.  Like all New Englanders, these fleeting warm days of summer make me forget what the other nine and a half months of the year are like.

The most important part of our journey, however, was spending time with family.  Mimi, Grandpa, Uncle Stan, Aunt Jess, and the dog cousins entertained us, fed us, and were awake with us during the middle of the night - refusing to sleep episodes.  They didn't make any bones about the fact that while they were glad to see Glenn and myself, Sidney was the main attraction.  Saying good bye was bitter sweet but plane tickets to Albania are being purchased by all parties for fall and winter visits.

Visiting an old hangout

As we made our way south to Massachusetts we again encountered oppressive heat that felt more like DC.  We spent more time with family- Gigi, Great Uncle Bill and Aunt Sue, caught up with old college friends, and ate our way through the Pioneer Valley.  Rediscovering my college and early adulthood haunts with an 18 month in tow is certainly enlightening.  Who knew that so many of these places have high chairs, changing tables, and children's menus?  

Today we head further south to Maryland to spend time with Glenn's family.  We're naively hoping for cooler temperatures and a little boy who wants to sleep before 11 pm.  While we are excited about our next adventure, we're savoring our last days of our time here.  At this time next week we should be clearing customs in Albania and starting with the next phase of this adventure.