I couldn't have said it better myself! Thank you, Dear Sis, for finding the perfect words for this day. I'm not sure there will ever be a way to convey to you and my girlies just how much I missed each of you today. Countless times I found myself wishing I could share the sights, sounds and tastes of New England in the fall with my besties. I did my best to soak it all in so that I could attempt to describe it to you now. I hope it won't disappoint too much.
First thing this morning, I dubbed this trip "Tears and Laughter" because Mom, Aunt Dottie and I were laughing and crying as we visited in Dottie's welcoming home on a crisp autumn morning. I knew it would be a day to remember, even before we left Dottie's perfectly kept apartment. After a few minutes of conversation, text messages home, and phone calls with loved ones, we headed off to Concord in search of Dedham Pottery. Little did we know that the pottery would ultimately be forgotten along the way, but the memories will last a lifetime.
This is Mom's 5th trip to Massachusetts so she and Dottie are full of ideas for places they want to show me. Having been here only once before, almost everything is a new experience for me and I still haven't figured out how to process it all.
Our first stop today (After leaving Aunt Dottie's) was the Old North Bridge, the site of "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" ... breathtaking both in scenery and significance! I could not shake the feeling that my girls and my sister should have been there with me. I can only image how perfect it would have been to take photos of them on the bridge and share the sense of wonderment with them. (I'm just not sure Aunt Dottie could take the chaos that comes with my tribe!) Mom and I could not help picking up leaves and acorns along the way, while Dottie laughed about how silly we were. We ended up in the gift shop that was full of Revolutionary War souvenirs and we eagerly picked out items that we could not live without. The chilly breeze leeched the warmth from our bodies and Dottie laughed as she grasped my hand in the shelter of the Jeep and proclaimed that I had managed to hang on to more heat than she did. Oh how I love to hear her laugh!
I snapped picture after picture as we headed toward the center of Concord for lunch. I felt as if I had stepped into a movie set! We parked next to a cemetery with black slate headstones dated 1697 and earlier. Black crows squawked at us from the orange, red and yellow trees. Seriously! Poe himself couldn't have constructed a better scene! We walked down the picturesque sidewalk to "Nesting on Main", a quaint bakery / cafe with a line out the door. The place was packed! Mom and Dottie checked out the menu while I joined the competitive jockeying for an empty table. I jumped in and claimed a table near the front windows even before the dishes and tip were cleared away. Once again I found myself in need of a reality pinch.. it was an adorable place to enjoy amazing clam chowder and wonderful company. I felt as if I had won the lottery.
Mom had her eye on several shops even before we stopped for lunch. We shopped with serious tourist skills in those main street stores. (My lovely daughters are reading, so I cannot divulge the treasures we scored.. you'll have to come back for the Christmas blog if you want to know what filled our boxes and bags!)
It's impossible to choose a favorite part of this day, but I can tell you that visiting Louisa May Alcott's home is quite possibly one of the biggest highlights of my life. The pictures I took will never do it justice because I cannot capture the crisp autumn air that smelled of leaves and apples. I wandered around the grounds and headed back to the Jeep where Mom and Dottie were waiting for me, but I was happy when I saw they were getting out because I really wanted to go to the gift shop inside that old, wooden home. We did even more damage to our bank accounts in there but it was so worth it. I felt so humbled just being there!
Mom and Aunt Dottie, thank you for one of the most memorable days of my life. I so enjoyed the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of this day. Looking at Grandma's pictures was the perfect end to a perfect day. I cannot imagine what lies in store for me in the days ahead... I feel like I have experienced so much already!
Oh my goodness, you better hide my wallet in the days ahead because I cannot keep up with Mom. She's the Queen of Shopping and I bow down to her! (She's also the Queen of making friends! She has chatted people up on the airplane, The Old North Bridge, the candy shop, the bookstore, and I can't wait to see where she will make friends today! I could never just start a conversation with strangers, but it doesn't phase Mom a bit!
My sweet girlies, I promise I will bring you back here some day. I want to share these experiences with my besties! I love each of you so much! I can't wait to hear all about your Haunted Village adventure with Aunt Missy! MUAH!
In case you're wondering, this is how my tribe checks in.. I'm happy to report that they are having the time of their lives.
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