Packing for the beach

Our pond For the past four summers I’ve rented the same vacation house in Wellfleet. It is a place that must be experienced to be understood. I know, that sounds dramatic, doesn’t it? But, this comfortable and compact house, which sits on a gloriously private piece of property only accessible by the most rutted dirt … Continue reading Packing for the beach

(Not) Letting go

As of mid morning on Monday my hair still smelled like woodsmoke from Saturday night’s bonfire on Herring Cove beach. I washed it later in the day, but delaying the shampooing allowed the odor to linger in a lame attempt to cling to the week I had just spent at the Cape. It ended too … Continue reading (Not) Letting go

Coming clean

Welcome to one of the saddest days of my life year. Even though it happens every year, if I’m lucky, the final morning on Cape Cod always leaves me feeling melancholy. There’s something about knowing that it’s the last time I’ll be seeing the ocean and smelling the salty air that punctuates my summer in a … Continue reading Coming clean

In pursuit of perfection

When I instruct 6th graders on bibliographic formatting I always tell them that perfect is never my goal, except for in MLA citations. Beyond that, perfect is not my expected, or even necessarily desired, outcome. I don’t need perfect.  Authentic and true is more than enough for me. This year’s Cape vacation has come with … Continue reading In pursuit of perfection

Stop this train

Sitting in a screened porch, dog at my feet, listening to John Mayer and staring out at the moody, foggy pond across the dirt road and I completely concur with his plea - stop this train. At this moment in time, despite a lack of sunshine or resolution to a heartache, my world is so … Continue reading Stop this train