2022 Life Logs, Day 218: Still Holding
Date: Saturday, August 6, 2022
Weather: Sunny Day, Rainy Evening; High 88, Low 70 degrees
Location: At Home in The Fairfield Inn, Mooresville, NC

This ‘flight’ I am on is still in a holding pattern. I am still in the process of figuring out what I am going to do, but in the meantime, I am cancelling tomorrow’s flight and rescheduling for ??? I was able to reschedule once with no extra charge but rescheduling a second time is going to cost about $200. I just could not leave my sister tomorrow morning. My thinking at this point is that I fly home on Tuesday, get Shadow and drive down here with him, and get an AirBnB for the next couple of weeks. But this all depends on how my niece Jennifer is doing. After a sharp downturn, she has made a miraculous comeback. It is temporary, but her pulse rate is strong, she is fairly alert and oriented. She now wants to see people, so this afternoon I took my sister over. Jennifer was talking, even laughing, especially when Jennifer’s daughter’s big dog Marley got up and tried to sit on Patsy’s lap. Patsy only weighs 84 pounds and I’m sure Marley must weigh at least 60. We had a nice family time together. But now it is time for me to get online and make flight changes that are still to be determined. This is all just so hard.

2022 Life Logs, Day 217: Holding Pattern
Date: Friday, August 5, 2022
Weather: Sunny; High 92, Low 70 degrees
Location: At Home in The Fairfield Inn, Mooresville, NC

I feel like I have been on an extremely turbulent flight that has been put in a holding pattern waiting to land. We dealt with my sister’s legal issues yesterday which felt like sailing through a squall, but in the end emerging into calmer waters. But today was the turbulent flight with my niece. Some people experience a burst of energy in their final days that is referred to as terminal lucidity. I don’t know if that is what Jennifer was experiencing today or not, but she suddenly was able to talk and let her feelings be known that she would prefer to be alone. Many people want family around them, but today Jennifer stated very forcefully that she wants to be alone. So, of course, we are bowing to her wishes, but it is difficult for everyone, especially my sister, Jennifer’s mother. I was with my sister all day and decided to extend my stay at least one more day. If it looks like Jennifer is going to fight on for a few more days, I might fly home on Sunday and return after her death to be with my sister. Or maybe I will just stay. I just can’t decide. In any case, I am trying to encourage my sister to come home with me when this storm is over for a little Cape Cod vacation. She is resisting, but I shall persist.

Heather, Jed, and Ollie got home from Boothbay today. They will pick up Sam and Jonah from Scout camp tomorrow and go to Coast Fest tomorrow night. I will miss seeing them before they all head back to the boat in Boothbay on Sunday. I am so anxious to go on a sail with them, but that might just have to wait for a bit.

2022 Life Logs, Day 216: Harder, Not Easier, But Successful in NC and ME
Date: Thursday, August 4, 2022
Weather: Mostly Cloudy; High 88, Low 70 degrees
Location: At Home in The Fairfield Inn, Mooresville, NC

Things here in North Carolina got harder today, not easier. My niece Jennifer took a sharp downturn and hospice is now thinking she has only days to live, not weeks. My sister, her other daughter Janet, a loyal and trusted family friend, and myself had a very stressful two and a half hour meeting with an elder lawyer this afternoon. There were more issues than we anticipated, but in the end, I think we got most everything taken care of. That’s the important thing.

Heather, Jed, and Ollie sailed from Tenant Harbor to Boothbay today. Here’s what Heather wrote today: “Jed and Ollie found the most amazing maple cream donuts in Tenants Harbor this morning. We got back to Boothbay this evening. Lots of motoring into the wind, but a couple of lovely hours sailing across Muscongus Bay this afternoon – 6+ kts for a while. We have also uncovered issues and needed repairs at every step, but I estimated two steps forward, one step back but Jed said he thought it was more like three forward, one back. Ollie has been unfailingly awesome–helpful, self-sufficient, never complained. We are all exhausted. But things are good.” Heather has been assuming the role of captain, but she sent a photo of Jed at the helm today and all I could think when I saw the photo is that we have another Captain Graybeard. I had never noticed that Jed’s beard was gray before. For Mark’s 71st birthday, Heather and family and Justin and family planned a pirate’s birthday sail to Tarpaulin Bay with the original Captain Graybeard. Now we have a successor. We just have to get Jed a pirate’s hat!

2022 Life Logs, Day 215: Hard Day, Fun Evening
Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Weather: Hot, Not So Humid; High 92, Low 70 degrees
Location: At Home in The Fairfield Inn, Mooresville, NC

The scurrying around trying to get my sister’s medical and financial affairs in order has been more challenging than I expected. I have moved at the speed of light all day every day to get things done, but even so, I now know I can’t get it all done this week. I will have to return. On the brighter side, I have been able to make a lot of progress. Tomorrow, we meet with the lawyers, but this afternoon Patsy and I met with the close family friend that is going to take over the financial responsibilities. It was almost 6 pm when we finished up and my sister was not sure she still wanted to travel the 30 minutes to our nephew’s house for dinner. I promised her we would only stay an hour, so she agreed to go. She slept all the way there, but once we got there and she started talking to people, she was having a great time and didn’t want to leave. It was a mix of family and neighbors (who neither my sister nor I had ever met), but my sister, who refuses to engage with people in her assisted living facility, had no problem engaging with people she had never met. I can’t figure it out, but I am just glad she had one fun night. It let her set aside the sadness of dealing with the fact that her daughter Jennifer who has cancer is now in hospice home care. I know her thoughts are constantly with Jennifer, but it was such a delight to see her be able to set that aside and just enjoy life for an hour or two.

Back in Falmouth, my wine group met on the beach tonight. I so missed being with them, but I had an interesting wine night that made me feel connected to them. One of my nephew’s neighbors brought three bottles of Napa Valley 2012 Far Niente Oakville cabernet sauvignon . . . not a cheap wine. Beer drinker that I am, I was offered a beer when I arrived. But then I was encouraged to try the wine. Wow! It was REALLY good. Then my nephew’s wife, Marilou, introduced me to her sister-in-law visiting from California. Marilou’s brother and his wife own a ten-acre vineyard in Lodi in the Central Valley, and I got a complete education on Central Valley wines. Wine group friends—I’ll share with you at our next gathering.

For those of you following the sailing adventures of Heather, Jed, and Ollie vicariously as I am, here is today’s update. “Made it to Tenant’s Harbor. A little bit of a late start (working on boat electrical and hot water). No wind to start, nice breeze early afternoon, but some excitement with the engine cutting out made it a bit more stressful an afternoon. However, another beautiful evening in a lovely harbor. Boothbay tomorrow evening.”

2022 Life Logs, Day 214: Maine, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and England
Date: Tuesday, August 2, 2022
Weather: Hot and Humid; High 90, Low 69 degrees
Location: At Home in The Fairfield Inn, Mooresville, NC

Maine–Heather, Jed, and Ollie had their first day of sailing, but not before welcoming their first visitor aboard. Jed’s mother, Marti, was Eider’s first visitor this morning. Weather and a desire to slow down and get to know the boat changed Eider’s sailing plan. Instead of taking two days to get from Brooklin to Boothbay, Heather and Jed decided on a three-day plan. Today they sailed through the Eggemoggin Reach to Buck’s Harbor. Heather sounded just a bit excited. “Holy $#!+!! We are sailing up Eggemoggin Reach, 4+ kts on a broad reach ON OUR OWN BOAT!!” Reading that gave me goose bumps.

Massachusetts–Meghan sent me a photo of Shadow enjoying a walk at Bourne’s Farm. He definitely looked like he was having a great time. I sure miss my little buddy.

North Carolina—I am plugging away at getting things done here while taking time to enjoy being with my sister and visiting with my niece Jennifer. What I’m doing to get my sister’s medical and financial situation in order is necessary, but just not fun. The offset to that is that it is always wonderful to visit with family.

England—Justin, Jo, Ziggy, and Coco headed home today. They left England and are spending tonight in New York City. Tomorrow they fly home to Puerto Rico. Safe and smooth travel thoughts headed your way.

2022 Life Logs, Day 213: Messing About in Boats
Date: Monday, August 1, 2022
Weather: Sunny, Cooler than Expected; High 84, Low 69 degrees
Location: At Home in The Fairfield Inn, Mooresville, NC

No, I am not currently messing about in boats. It is after midnight and I am here in North Carolina totally exhausted after a busy, but productive day where things have gone as well as can be expected. I took my sister Patsy to see her daughter Jennifer. Her grandson Jacob, who flew in early this morning, was also there. Patsy’s other daughter, Janet, who is here from Tennessee, was also with us. So, amid the busyness of getting things done and the fact that my niece Jennifer is totally bedridden and in palliative care, the visit with family was cathartic. Jennifer is good spirits, and the visit was good for soul.

It is Heather, Jed, and Ollie who are in Maine messing about in their new-to-them 36-foot Cape Dory sailboat that was launched today. Getting texts and photos of their day certain brightened mine. I have not met Eider in person, but she looks wonderful for a 39-year-old sailboat. Heather on the bow and Jed and Ollie in the dinghy all looked exuberant. And, of course, their day had to end with a trip to shore for an ice cream topped with a chocolate sailboat. “There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” Kenneth Grahame from The Wind in the Willows

2022 Life Logs, Day 212: Boston to Charlotte
Date: Sunday, July 31, 2022
Weather: Falmouth Sunny, Charlotte Cloudy; High 82/88, Low 69/72 degrees
Location: At Home in The Fairfield Inn, Mooresville, NC

My day started in East Falmouth and ended in Mooresville, North Carolina where my sister Patsy and her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Bill, live. I also have a nephew Tommy and his wife Marilou who live in nearby Huntersville. Mooresville and Huntersville are north of Charlotte in the Lake Norman area, but you fly into Charlotte. It is a two-and-a-half hour flight to Charlotte from Boston, but basically it took me all day to get here. I got up and got Shadow packed and off to Meghan and Sheri’s for the week. Then I came home to do the last few things and get my suitcase and backpack in the car and headed to Heather and Jed’s. Heather and Jed were scurrying around getting ready to head to Maine, and Jonah and Sam were packing to head to Camp Yawgoog in Rhode Island. I delivered a few boat things I thought they might need and then Jed drove me to the Falmouth bus station so I could catch the 1:15 to Boston Logan. At the airport, after checking my bag and going through security, I treated myself to a crab cake, a Greek salad, and a cup of clam chowder at Legal Sea Foods (sounds like I thought I might never eat again) before boarding the plane. Then just before sunset, my nephew Tommy picked me up at the airport and took me to Jennifer and Bill’s. Getting here really was an all-day affair.

Jennifer is in at-home hospice care, and for now Bill is providing the care. My niece Janet, Jennifer’s sister, is here from Nashville helping this week, and starting Tuesday, Bill will be getting part-time home health care help. Bill loaned me Jennifer’s car for this week so that I can drive between the hotel, my sister’s assisted living facility, and Jennifer and Bill’s. My goal is to spend time with Jennifer and my sister and make sure my sister’s medical and financial affairs are in order before I leave. Wish me luck!

2022 Life Logs, Day 211: Happy 10th Birthday to Coco
Date: Saturday, July 30, 2022
Weather: Partly Sunny, Not as Humid; High 87, Low 63 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

My youngest grandchild (4 months younger than Ollie) and my only granddaughter turned 10 today. Happy Birthday, Coco Annabelle. Ziggy created a a beautiful birthday cake for his sister, and the family was going to the opening day of a town fair in Hazlemere, the town where Jo’s parents live. This morning I got to see and talk to Coco on Skype. Justin and family are wrapping up their month-long visit with Jo’s family in England. I ‘borrowed’ some of the photos Jo has posted on Facebook and am sharing a couple of my favorites here. That girl has style!

I leave for Mooresville, North Carolina, just north of Charlotte, tomorrow afternoon. I take Shadow to Meghan and Sheri’s at 10:30 am and then take a few boat-related items to Heather and Jed before hopping on the bus to Boston Logan. The next log will be from the Fairfield Inn in Mooresville. Until then . . .

2022 Life Logs, Day 210: Travels Hither and Yon
Date: Friday, July 29, 2022
Weather: Partly Sunny and Humid, Still a Nice Breeze; High 88, Low 69 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

Today was a take-it-easy day, in preparation for a few days of traveling hither and yon. I drove into town to say goodbye to Heather, Jed, Ollie, and Jonah. They left this afternoon for an overnight trip to Vermont. Heather’s good friends from her high school days at St. Paul’s School are gathering this weekend. It is the first time in years that all of them could make it, so she really wanted to go. They will return tomorrow afternoon and then leave again on Sunday for Maine after they get Sam and Jonah off for a week at Scout camp. Heather, Jed, and Ollie will launch Eider on Monday and sail her to Boothbay. Once they get the boat settled in Boothbay, they will return here for the weekend and pick up Sam and Ollie from camp. Then all of them return to Maine for a couple of days at Grammy Marti’s and then all of them will sail Eider to Buzzards Bay.

While they are doing all of this, I have made spur of the moment plans to fly to Charlotte, North Carolina. I leave on Sunday, day after tomorrow, and will return the next Saturday. My niece who lives in the Charlotte area has cancer and is no longer able to assist her mother, my sister, with her financial and medical affairs. My sister is 89 and lives alone in an assisted living facility. My niece is only 62 years-old and it is devastating watching her battle the dreaded ‘C’ disease. She had to have emergency brain surgery about three weeks ago, was sent home, had to return to the hospital, and is now back home again. But she is not able to walk and has to have round-the-clock assistance. So, this is not a happy trip. I just hope it will be a productive one.

I did have a happy evening with Sam. Since he works, he was not able to go to Vermont with the rest of the family. I bought sushi for us to have for dinner after he got home from work and then left him to spend the night alone. I could hardly do this, but he is growing up, and I have to accept that. But it really does seem just like yesterday that he came to Thailand with his parents to visit Oma and Granddad aboard Windbird for his second birthday. One of my most precious life memories is from that trip. During his time aboard Windbird, he decided that he was captain. We were out in the dinghy and Sam thought Granddad, the real captain, was going the wrong way. Granddad let him take over the helm and I got the photo of him pointing the way for his Granddad. That’s our Sam!

2022 Life Logs, Day 209: Biking on Martha’s Vineyard and Chappaquiddick
Date: Thursday, July 28, 2022
Weather: Sunny and Humid, Nice Breeze; High 84, Low 77 degrees
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA

Sam doesn’t work on Thursdays, so all three Goldpebbles and myself took off on our bicycles this morning and headed for the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. Our plan was to take the in-town Falmouth Island Queen to Oak Bluffs, but when we got there the 10:30 ferry was full. We would have to wait until noon. I called Jed to tell him our plans were changed, and he suggested that he could drive Ollie and I to Woods Hole for the 11:05 ferry. Jonah and Sam are way faster than me on a bike, so they would ride their bikes and meet us there. Our cars will only hold two bikes and the van was in the shop. So, we decided to give this plan a try. It worked (Thank you, Jed.) and we were in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard before noon. With slow-poke me and water stops, the six mile ride to Edgartown took an hour and a half. But we made it! We had lunch just off Main Street at the Rosewater Market and then headed to the waterfront to take the ferry across to Chappaquiddick. We wanted to bike the three miles to East Beach, but after two miles, I checked the time and suggested we go back to Chappaquiddick Beach near the ferry. We did and that was the best decision of the day. The boys loved the beach. Beautiful sailboats were anchored off the beach and there was only one person who had brought his dinghy to shore. We had the beach all to ourselves and all three boys decided this is now their favorite beach. But all good things must come to an end. We dried off, got back on our bikes, and took the ferry back to Edgartown. We rode to the bus to speed up our return to Oaks Bluff, but the busses only hold three bikes. So Sam rode back and was waiting at the ferry terminal to head back to Falmouth when we got there. He made the six miles in just over 15 minutes. Oh, to be young again! I was just elated that I was able to make the twelve mile biking day still in one piece. But slow or fast, we all had a great day. Unfortunately, I took almost no photos. I was too busy pedaling to worry about pictures.