Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho: It's Off to Maine We Go

Yes- it's a month away, but you have to plan early for traveling...especially with an 8 month old baby. Pam, Siena, and I will be leaving Denver on Saturday, September 5th on a non-stop flight to Boston; renting a car; and driving to Bailey Island,Maine for a 0ne-week vacation. Brian will be flying in on the same day from Houston to Portland and driving up. We have rented a beautiful cottage right on the ocean in Bailey Island for the 4 of us for the week. Pam has her sister's wedding in Ogunquit on Sunday and I have my 57th high school reunion on Friday night in Woolwich. Brian wants to spend some time sight seeing. He and I will also be visiting the cemetery where his Dad is buried and viewing the new headstone the kids put in this spring for their dad. He and Pam both want to indulge on some seafood while we are in Maine. We have several friends and family members we plan to visit during the week. Siena has never met her mother's side of the family, so she will be joining Pam at the wedding. We will all be spending some time with Barbara and her family. We plan to visit some of our old eating haunts such as Dunkin Donuts, Fat Boy's Drive-In, Cook's Lobster House, and of course, Danny's on the Mall...best hotdogs in the East. It will be a wonderful reunion as Brian and Barbara have never seen Siena and I haven't seen my son in over 5 years. My class reunion will also be a time of seeing old friends as I haven't seen some of those people in over 50 years and haven't been to a reunion since our 50th.

Between the airfares, the cottage, food, rented cars, and gasoline plus souvenirs,etc., this trip will be expensive, but we are splitting all the costs three ways which isn't that bad. The cottage for the week with all the amenities included is cheaper than each of us renting a motel room for a week. We each have our own bedroom, we have a washer/dryer, we have firewood for the fireplace, cooking facilities, etc. which will help keep expenses down.

I pray for good weather while we are in Maine, as their track record for sunny days has been nil. I also hope everything goes well with Siena as she will be in a different time zone, different water, different surroundings and away from Dad for a week. She is very mobile now, so keeping her entertained on the plane should be a trial. Hopefully, we will be able to borrow a bed and a highchair for her from friends in Maine as we can't take these items on the plane. Pam has to take a stroller and car seat as it is plus luggage. I'm looking forward to going "home again" after almost 2 years. I can't wait to sit on the veranda of the cottage with a good book and a glass of iced tea...looking out over the ocean. I can't wait to eat one of Danny's hotdogs on the mall.

I'm sure the week will go by way too fast, but we will all have a great time together and enjoy a well deserved vacation.