One month on the road. Cheers. 🍻
I think I broke Larry. We had our big day in Newport and Jamestown on Wednesday. The next day I had planned a trip to Martha’s Vineyard – but I could tell Larry was tired (so was I), plus my friends had given us a great list of stuff to do in Providence. So, we got up Thursday and drove to Providence. We went to Nick’s on Broadway for brunch. It was one of the most spectacularly composed meals I’ve had the pleasure to eat. That being said, the service was excruciatingly slow. Our meal took two hours.
From there we went to Federal Hill since it was right there. A few blocks away from our car I realized we needed to pay a meter. So, we went back and I put in money to park for a couple of hours. Larry seemed confused and so I asked (although I instinctively knew the answer) if he was ready to go. Yep. Not just on to another site – back to the hotel. Even the very first Baptist church in America couldn’t sway him. For crying out loud – the man just wore a kippah and sat through a 45 minute lecture in a synagogue… and he’s Christian. I couldn’t believe it – and yet knew it to be truth. He wanted to go (home, really).
I did demand on a hot wiener before we left Providence at Onleyville N.Y. System. Larry did not want one at all. I ordered their two wiener special. Guess what? Larry ate my second wiener. I was not pleased (they’re not that big and I LOVE a good wiener) and yet he happily chewed away in my face – intentionally antagonizing me! OMG are those good hotdogs!!! Every single part from the steamed bun to the specially made wiener to the meat sauce, onions and celery salt. I could have eaten ten.
When we got back to the hotel, I wandered around old town Newport while Larry napped and watched Fox News. I had a beer on the pier and did some reading. We went to a late dinner and Larry finally got his New England style clam chowder. He was not a fan of the clear, Rhode Island style. I have to agree with him. The RI kind was delicious but there’s something about that creamy, buttery New England chowder I just love. I ordered a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate our last night of vacation. Party!
I thought we’d go into Boston on Friday because it was on the way back to pick up Bird at the shop. Nope. Not even a trip to Cheers could sway him. Larry wanted to get me dropped off and get back to his hotel next to the airport ASAP. I swear I wear deodorant! I didn’t even whine. I was back in Bird and on the road by 2pm. Larry wanted to go to bed early because he had a 7:30am flight.
I realized something on this “Larry” segment of my journey: I’m responsible for any and all disappointment I just woite about. Larry and I have been married 22 years. We have taken many, many vacations together. I have always whined and complained whenever we did activities… even golfing.
My entire youth was spent doing everything as fast as possible. Go go go. After I married Larry I poured all my energy into work and home and school and work. On the rare vacation I just wanted to lie down. R & R. Lounging by the pool. Naps. Kudos to myself – I finally trained Larry to be the perfect holiday partner!
The only problem? Now that I don’t work like a slave all day, every day, I actually want activities! I don’t want to lay around watching tv. I do that at home for a living. I am a living and breathing juxtaposition. Larry is a saint for putting up with MY shit.
Let this be a lesson to any youngsters reading my drivel. Be careful what you ask for. Especially aloud. I have achieved a great many things in my life that I didn’t realize until later I had literally requested. I loudly proclaimed I didn’t want kids. Check. I dreamed of a career that was all consuming. In my head that would be achieved as an attorney – not restaurateur. But Jesus did Jam take every ounce of my being to run. Check. One morning, while shaving my legs in the shower, I mused aloud to myself that I should take over Imbibe (the huge restaurant next door to Jam). A few years later I did just that. Check. And oh how I lobbied for lazy vacations. Check!
I did reaffirm my love for Bird. You know that feeling when your vacation is over and you’re almost home? Me? I love getting home. Back in my own bed with my own pillows. I felt that way when Larry was dropping me off to pick up Bird. I told him I was excited to get “home” and he understood what I meant.
I’m outside Bangor Maine in the Pumpkin Patch RV Park. It’s beautiful. I needed to charge everything up and make sure I’m ready to camp without services next week. I’m also trying to get on tomorrow morning’s Stephen King narrated tour. It’s three hours and visits more than 30 sites. If I can’t get on it I will return after my stay in Acadia National Park. I’ve read more Stephen King than any other author – by a long shot! The Stand is the book I reread every five or so years. It… Come on!! I’m fucking taking that tour (said it out loud).
The other thing on my traveling checklist was the fall colors. I had planned on being in NYC by now but with Larry’s visit and Bird’s mechanical issues I’m a few weeks behind schedule. Coincidentally, due to a severe drought the trees are very late in turning. Up here,!in mid-Maine, the colors are just starting to burst. They can’t outwait me. I’ve said out loud that I’m seeing them. And… as you now know, there is incredible power in doing exactly that.
Onward ♋+♊
The Lolo Down 