Quietude

"Free at last, Free at last, Thank God almighty we are free at last." Well, that's overstating it a bit, but today we awoke to a silent house and empty bunkhouse. There are no limits to love, but there is a finite amount of energy in a grandparent, and we have had a lot of young folk around here this summer... a sold month of them in fact. So the quiet is welcome. We're not answering the phone today.
On the other hand, it was kind of wonderful to have all that energy around us. Maybe in a day or so, we'll miss it and them. Maybe more like a week....

Coaches

As I donned my Seabridge Storm shorts this morning, I realized how proud I am that all three of our children have been, or are, coaches. I loved seeing Bart with the little laxers on the playday in Andover, and tremendously respect what Em does with Sail Maine and Special Olympics. And I'll never forget that lovely day in Chelsea, when the Storm crushed their hapless foe.
Coaches affect their charges' brains, bodies, and soul. I have always thought that there is no better education than coaching.

Vive le roi

The King of Koof's Island! Recently it has been circumnavigated many times by the youth, but only one has claimed the territory. Apparently, if you do not inhabit your territory for seven years, any punk can come along and claim it. Ah, well.
It has been a long and busy month with lots of children around the Crotch. So far everything is standing. We have only two left this week, and we are sharing Maggie and Jonas with the McGraths. Those kids are attending a day camp at the Maritime Museum, which seems pretty successful.

After all this time with grandchildren, Papa, did you want to extend it to another week?
Well, I call it taper.

Bad to verse

Friday already! How confusing things have become, the pace too swift for an old retired buzzard. Our house is still full, and joyfully so, but today brings rain, and the noise level is pretty high this morning.
My little book of poems is out. After eight months of writing, it required only about 90 minutes to publish it on Lulu. Amazing. It received positive reviews from Hannah and Dave and Bart and Molly, but I do not foresee it racing up the Amazonian charts.
Grandma is down in CT with Nancy, sorry, I'm sure, to be missing the grandchildren, but enjoying the family down there. More maturity, less noise on Money Island.

Locomotion

 Wow, it has been active around here lately, sometimes much less organized than this! We have had lots of grandchildren and they have been...stimulating. Sometimes, having lots of kids around makes one feel younger. Sometimes, not. They have been pleasant and there hasn't been any whining...at least, not to Papa and Grandma. One cannot ask for more.

Boothbay again

What to do with a couple of kids on a beautiful late July Tuesday? Pop 'em into Autumn and off to Boothbay Harbor. Both Coco and Sam surprised us by claiming they love calamari... which, it happens, is not everywhere in BBH, where fresh catch is the rule. However, we found it at Andrews' Harborside and indeed, they polished off the little critters. I thought the fish sandwich, my former Midcoast #1, was a bit down from the peak, but still good. A grand trip on a glorious day.

Lobster boat races

Sam and Courtney were hosted on Friday and Saturday night by their two wonderful aunties, but on Sunday it was time to return to the dreaded Camp Arrowsic. Papa thought it would be fun to meet for the exchange at the lobster boat races at 10 AM in Harpswell. Great idea, Papa! It rained and rained. Can you see the racing lobster boats in the picture to the left? No? Well, neither could we. At 11:40 there were finally a couple of races, not too exciting to soaked spectators. However, the tide was out and the kids played a bit on the exposed strand. Jonas, Coco, and Owen had fun throwing sand and rocks into tide pools. When it was time to go (at last!), I told the three throwers that the adults were leaving, and that they could stay for three hours and we would return to pick them up. Owen immediately climbed back to the adults, as did Courtney, who said, "Jonas, you can't stay here. There won't be anyone to watch us!" To which Jonas replied, climbing instantly to the top of the Wicked Children Chart, "That's awesome!"