A perfect Rockport day
Sep. 20th, 2009 09:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bex77I took my parents to Rockport yesterday, that beautiful post card New England coastal town on the North Shore. The weather was perfect - sunny, breezy, low 70's. It called out "go to the ocean!"
So I zoomed up Rte 128. There's a new mall just before you enter Gloucester - Market Basket, Marshall's - on the hill on the right after the last rotary.
We cruised slowly along the Bass Rocks Road. There were so few cars, I could stop for minutes at a time to roll down the window, listen to the waves and smell the ocean. It seemed like every business along the ocean had chairs set out for a wedding! We took the loop to drive by Good Harbor Beach, which was a dog lover's paradise with pups big and small frolicking in the sand and surf. You could tell that summer is mostly over, as there weren't many people anywhere and no traffic at all.
We drove on to Rockport. I took the loop on Marmion Way, and enjoyed the view of the Twin Lighthouses and lovely oceanfront homes.
In Rockport, we found the people who'd been missing elsewhere. Tour buses and cars from all over filled the parking spots, with gaggles of people strolling in and out of every shop. I dropped my folks off at Brackett's Restaurant, the old-fashioned seafood place with a great view on the inner harbor that my dad requested. He is using a walker these days, but getting around well. I had to make three loops around, but finally found a meter-free parking spot on a small side street next to the First Universalist Church. I walked the three blocks back to the restaurant and found the parents at "our usual table" facing the window.
I had the clam chowder and baked schrod with mashed potatoes and warm beets, then shared the peach and apple cobbler with Dad. I bet that meal has looked exactly the same for over 50 years.
I ducked in to Tuck's Candies, celebrating their 70th year, for some chocolates. Nothing like their handmade peanut butter cups, almond bark, cashew bark, buttercrunch...
Then it was back to the car and back down Rte 128 in the afternoon sunshine. Dad snoozed as I rolled along.
It is hard not to wonder each time we go if this will be the last time with Dad. But we've been wondering that since his heart troubles in 1996, so who knows? But it means whenever there's a perfect day, we don't waste it...we go to the ocean!
So I zoomed up Rte 128. There's a new mall just before you enter Gloucester - Market Basket, Marshall's - on the hill on the right after the last rotary.
We cruised slowly along the Bass Rocks Road. There were so few cars, I could stop for minutes at a time to roll down the window, listen to the waves and smell the ocean. It seemed like every business along the ocean had chairs set out for a wedding! We took the loop to drive by Good Harbor Beach, which was a dog lover's paradise with pups big and small frolicking in the sand and surf. You could tell that summer is mostly over, as there weren't many people anywhere and no traffic at all.
We drove on to Rockport. I took the loop on Marmion Way, and enjoyed the view of the Twin Lighthouses and lovely oceanfront homes.
In Rockport, we found the people who'd been missing elsewhere. Tour buses and cars from all over filled the parking spots, with gaggles of people strolling in and out of every shop. I dropped my folks off at Brackett's Restaurant, the old-fashioned seafood place with a great view on the inner harbor that my dad requested. He is using a walker these days, but getting around well. I had to make three loops around, but finally found a meter-free parking spot on a small side street next to the First Universalist Church. I walked the three blocks back to the restaurant and found the parents at "our usual table" facing the window.
I had the clam chowder and baked schrod with mashed potatoes and warm beets, then shared the peach and apple cobbler with Dad. I bet that meal has looked exactly the same for over 50 years.
I ducked in to Tuck's Candies, celebrating their 70th year, for some chocolates. Nothing like their handmade peanut butter cups, almond bark, cashew bark, buttercrunch...
Then it was back to the car and back down Rte 128 in the afternoon sunshine. Dad snoozed as I rolled along.
It is hard not to wonder each time we go if this will be the last time with Dad. But we've been wondering that since his heart troubles in 1996, so who knows? But it means whenever there's a perfect day, we don't waste it...we go to the ocean!
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no subject
Date: 2009-09-20 02:17 pm (UTC)Gotta love those UUs! :-)
It's good that you're having quality time like this with your parental units. And treating each moment as if it may be the last is always a good way to live your life. :-)
no subject
Date: 2009-09-20 03:09 pm (UTC)