We Have Arrived!

Sunset
House on the Cove
28 May 2010

Thursday we arose early and departed the hotel to visit a Cousin. After an uneventful journey (Papa Bear makes it really simple to follow him - changing lanes when there is room for both cars to make the move - no small feat in Boston rush hour traffic!), the Cousin welcomed us with open arms. She even invited The Cat into her home. The Cat readily exited the carrier, looked around, and spotted one of the Three Cats who reside with the Cousin. Backs arched, hissing ensued. (The Cat appears to like being an only cat, much as Baby Bear liked, at times, being an only child. I guess we now have in our family OCS (Only Cat Syndrome) in addition to OCS (Only Child Syndrome). I am not certain how we differentiate between the two OCS's, except to observe the Being experiencing the Syndrome.) The Cat readily re-entered her carrier for the remainder of the visit, and the Three Cats ignored the carrier. Peace was present.

It was the first time Mama Bear had met the Cousin and it had been a long, long time since Papa Bear had visited with her. She had pictures to share with us, and Grampie Bear's Bible (Grampie Bear died last December, so this was a fabulous gift). We had pictures for her, too, along with contact information. She then gave us excellent directions which allowed us to navigate easily to continue our journey (did I mention we had Grampie Bear's GPS device, too?).

The day was bright and sunny with little traffic. The Cat quickly settled into her sleep-in-the-carrier routine. Mama Bear listened to talk radio. There is a Psychic in Salem, MA, who had a business license (which, according to the Talk Show Host, made her licensed as a Psychic by the city of Salem, MA) who has been arrested for theft. It seems she told her clients that there were evil spirits around their money and advised her clients that they needed to give the money to her to avoid having terrible things happen to them and their loved ones. Some people gave her all their money - their IRAs, their savings, their stocks and other investments. It amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars for some. The Talk Show Host was ranting that he did not understand how the Psychic could be charged with theft if these people willingly gave their money to her. To him, a gift is a gift. Hmmmm ... Scanning yielded the Maine NPR station which had less ranting and was generally more pleasing. When The Cat seemed to stir, Mama Bear played another PPM disc and we continued our journey. We saw many officers awaiting by the side of the road to offer assistance if that were needed, and encountered some longish (15 minutes and more) construction delays between Bangor and Ellsworth.

Mama Bear caught sight of the mountains on the Island in Trenton and we soon crossed the causeway to the Island and journeyed to the House on the Cove. Lilacs are blooming so there are huge profusions of lilacs hanging like heavy pendants on bushes along the road. It was late in the day and the tide was out. We located The Cat in a small bathroom so that she could explore it, but left the door ajar so that she could exit when she chose. She was out of the room in a few minutes and spent a great amount of time investigating and watching. We carried our boxes and suitcases from the car, cleared the furniture of its protective covers, and watched the tide come in. We took The Cat (in our arms) to the steps to the shore so that she could view the Cove. We decided on dinner out (DiMuro's Top of the Hill, a tradition with us for our first-night-in-residence) and after dinner stopped at a grocery store to pickup necessities (coffee, etc.) Mama Bear saw gardens being prepared for the upcoming short growing season. The sun was setting on the far side of the cove as we arrived home.

Baby Bear and Boo Boo arrived near midnight for a few days respite and relaxation (and to deliver the supplies they purchased for us at the discount store where they are members). They are both looking so very fit. It makes me want to begin my exercise program again soon.

There is an Audubon clock here that gives a bird call on the hour. The Cat hears it, but the sound does not last long enough for her to locate its source. The sound begins, she freezes, and her head and ears swivel towards the sound. I must confess that we, too, also had difficulties locating the source of the sound the first time we stayed here but eventually we were able to determine the location. This morning, I showed The Cat where the sound was originating: as it neared 8 a.m. (when the Maine state bird - the Black Capped Chickadee - sings), I stood near the clock with her in my arms. She was looking around, not quite certain what we were doing nor why we were doing it, but was content. The chirp began. She quickly zeroed-in on it. She does not understand how the bird is hiding in that small space between the clock and the wall, but now understands what is happening.

Blue skies adorn the heavens this morning, which makes the cove reflecting the firmament oh-so-lovely. I can see yellow and red canoes/kayaks on the cove's far shore basking in the sun. The deciduous trees have their new-spring green in place, and the evergreens are sprouting their tender new growth, too. The shoreline is a mud brown with the varigated greys of the rocks that abound.

Today we must visit the post office to identify ourselves and also take time to purchase real groceries. Baby Bear and Boo Boo have given us an ice cream/sorbet maker to celebrate our retirement and I think we may need to try-it-out soon. Need to unpack, unwind, maybe take a hike, too.

So much to do, and yet we are happy and at peace. Last evening Papa Bear said that being here really made him feel retired. I love simply being here without a departure looming in the near future. I know that fall will arrive all too quickly, but I am so content to be here at the House on the Cove for an extended stay.