the naked nantucket boogie

Tonight, I downloaded all of the photos from our trip to Nantucket and I had the difficult task of sorting through the nearly 1,000 pictures to select a few that most aptly tell the story of our week vacation in paradise. But then I decided that I couldn't possibly capture the whole story in one blog post, so this adventure will need to be broken in to installments.



Today's installment is about the day we took my 14-year-old nephew, Michael, fishing at Surf Side.  Now what I might not have mentioned is that my nephew, who has earned more than 90 Merit Badges in Boy Scouts and is a Service Project away from becoming an Eagle Scout, has a passion for fishing.  He took our kids fishing at a local lake before we left for Nantucket, just to whet everyone's appetite for what lay in store.









On the trip to Nantucket, Michael lugged along more fishing gear than I think he did clothes. He had expressed a dire interest in fishing at Surf Side Beach, but because that was an approximately 10-mile bike ride from our house, past the center of town, it was ruled out because the logistics of our family riding 10 miles in one direction and then, after a day of playing at the beach - riding 10 miles home again, seemed a bit ... how do you say? ... ambitious.  



But last Monday night, we took the five children in to town for pizza, which we ate on top of cardboard boxes, perched on our laps, as we looked over the harbor and talked about the kind of boat we'd like to own one day.  At the end of our pizza eating, it was dark and instead of riding our bikes the nearly seven miles back home, we decided to lock them up, take the shuttle back, and retrieve our bikes the next day.  The next day, I told Michael, because we'd be more than half the way to Surf Side, maybe we could just ride the additional three miles - he could fish - and then we'd all ride the 10 miles home again.

My nephew was absolutely thrilled and told me I was the best Aunt in the world.



So Tuesday rolls around and we wake up and take the shuttle in to town. Michael jumps on his bike and takes off for the live bait store; we jump on our bikes and take off on the three mile ride to Surf Side Beach. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, everyone is happy. Michael catches up to us before we reach the beach and the seven of us ride the last 1/2 mile, together.



We no sooner get to the beach and a thick fog settles in. We also notice that the surf is huge, because Hurricane Bertha (or something...) is traveling up the eastern seaboard and kicking up the wave action.  Within less than an hour, we cannot see more than 20 feet in front of us.



But despite that, the kids are having the absolute time of their lives.  Michael is fishing with his live bait (eels, squid, octopus) and his little cousins are jumping around in the tide and building castles.



After an hour, Michael throws in the towel on fishing because he hasn't hooked anything. He instead jumps in the water and plays with his little cousins.





A few hours later - maybe three or four - Charlie and I decide it's time to go home. Remember, we still have a 10-mile bike ride in front of us and we want to be sure that the kids have the energy to get there without a melt down at or around Mile Zero Point Five.



It was at that point Michael gives me a very concerned look and says, "Aunt Jenny, I don't think I can ride my bike home."

Um, what? I asked.

Then I laughed because surely he was kidding.



He continued, "Well, you see. I don't know if you remember but a few years ago, when I visited you in California, I was playing in the waves and afterwards, I had some really serious chaffing. I'm afraid I can't ride my bike home now because I'm totally covered in salt and sand from the beach and the chaffing would be really bad. Like really, really, really bad."



He gave me a look with raised eye brows and a downturned chin to express just how bad the chaffing would be.  Still thinking that he was kidding - just a little bit - I continued to chuckle, "Yes, but Michael. We have four children and our options for getting home NOT ON A BIKE are very limited. We don't have a car, and the shuttle bus - which runs every hour - only holds two bicycles. Seeing as there are seven of us, five of us would have to leave our bikes here, and we'd have to come back again tomorrow. I'd rather not lose half a day shuttling across the island to get bikes."

I continued, "Also, it'll be four dollars per person home - and four dollars a person back again tomorrow, and I'd rather not spend $40.00 shuttling when we're strong able people that can easily ride these bikes home. Am I Right or Am I RIGHT?!"

He shook his head and again said, "Seriously, Aunt Jenny, the chaffing would be AWFUL."

Realizing that my rationalization wasn't having the intended effect, I added, "Yes, but that's why there are SHOWERS at the top of the hill. We can all shower off the salt and sand and then ride home in salt and sand-free pleasure. By the way,  I'd like to point out that if YOU ride the shuttle, our four kids will also want to ride the shuttle and because they will be riding their bikes home, it will be a meltdown of epic proportions.  My ears will chafe."



I then added for final measure, "I'd also like to remind you that we came out here today, because you wanted to come to this beach, 10-miles from our cottage, so that you could fish. If you hadn't wanted to fish in this exact location, we would have gone to the beach a stone's throw from our house and would not now be discussing the challenges of chaffing."

My nephew looked at me solemnly and asked, "Are you trying to guilt trip me? Is this a guilt trip? If so - wow - you can do it even better than my Mom and I thought she was the best!"  He paused for a moment and then said, "Fine. I'll ride my bike. Even though I'll be totally chaffed and unable to walk for the rest of the week. I can do it."

And my husband, who is a lot nicer than me, that had remained quiet all this time spoke up and said, "Michael, if you want to take the shuttle back - take the shuttle back. Screw chaffing!  It's no problem, we'll be just fine. You take care of yourself!"

The words no sooner left my husband's mouth, that my nephew bolted like a flash of lightening to the shuttle buses where he threw his bike on the front and was gone in a blur.  I'd turned my back for a moment to help the kids get their shoes on, and didn't even know that he'd left until I turned back around and asked, "Where's Michael? Where did he go?" 

And so it is, we took our four very sad children who wanted to also ride the shuttle bus, up to the public showers to rinse off the salt and sand before we rode 10-miles home.  The showers were hooked up to a garden hose - which means the only temperature was COLD.  Our kids had so much sand in their bathing suits, the crotches came down to nearly their knees, so I brought them in to the bathroom one at a time and had them take off their suits.



Carolyn was the most covered in sand, and I wrapped her in a towel and after I washed all the sand from her suit, walked her to the outside public shower.



While Charlie and I held the towel around her for privacy, she turned on the water to full blast and did her best to scrub the sand off every inch of her body. We called the crazy moves that she was making under the frigidly cold water,  The Naked Nantucket Boogie and we all laughed like a bunch of crazy mad sandy people that were stuck on a beach.



We then hopped on our bikes and our kids - the little troopers that they are (doesn't Elizabeth look thrilled?) - rode the 10 miles back to our cottage.  Everything was fine and the whole ordeal was and always will be ... fantastically funny.



Michael is a really awesome kid and we were so lucky to have him with us on the trip. He's helpful, he's smart, and he's so kind with others.

But as I told my nephew, I'm going to remember this day forever and if he decides to one day get married, and invite me to his wedding, I promise that I will stand up and recount the story of the time our (almost) Eagle Scout left his four little cousins on a beach 10-miles from home, because he was afraid of chaffing. 

nantucket or bust

Charlie and I are celebrating our 20-year wedding anniversary this coming Wednesday, August 6th.  It's impossible to believe that it's already been 20 years since I married my best friend and we began our Happily Ever After; and 10 years since he gave me a ring to replace my engagement ring that had been lost, which I squashed on to my finger that was four times its normal size due to water retention from my triplet pregnancy.



In honor of this momentous occasion, last year - we decided that we'd take a trip to the spot where we'd celebrated our honeymoon in 1994 ... the beautiful Nantucket Island.  



Back in 1994, I had just graduated from college, and we were both preparing to begin graduate school in San Diego.   We flew back to Boston - were married in Concord - and my brother Francis, who was a newly licensed pilot, flew us to Nantucket in his twin engine Cessna. After we spent a romantic three days in a cozy bed and breakfast, and rode our bicycles all around the quaint cobblestone streets (ouch! ouch! ouch!) ... my brother-in-law, John, who at the time was the Harbor Master for Falmouth and 15-some odd surrounding harbors, picked us up and brought us back to the mainland on a beautiful 70-foot Hatteras sport fishing boat.

It was a very glamorous start to our marriage ... given that we'd spend the next two years totally broke as graduate students living off $0.25 packs of Ramen Noodles.



So last year we decided that we'd like to return to Nantucket. Through friends of our family, we found a wonderful house to rent, and although the house was booked solid every week from May through August, miraculously the house was available THIS WEEK, the very week of our anniversary.  Charlie noticed that the rental price, however, was a significant figure higher than it had been every other week of the season.  For example, instead of $2,500 for the week long rental; it was listed as $25,000.  Charlie called the property owner to inquire and he was told, "Oops, that was an error, I added an extra zero by accident!" but because he had mistakenly added that extra zero, he had effectively discouraged any one else from renting it.

Divine Intervention?  Perhaps!



Back in November, when my sister, Eileen had flown in to celebrate Charlie's birthday - and my co-worker, Felicia swung by to have cake with us, we were discussing this Nantucket trip and the next thing you know, it's a PARTY.  Instead of this being a romantic little get away for me and Charlie (and our four children who we take every where with us, because although they drive us insane at times, we can't imagine going on a vacation with out them) ... Eileen and her family, and my co-worker Felicia were invited to join us.   Since then, the head count has continued to go up and more homes have been rented.



Yesterday morning, our family - plus my 14-year old nephew, Michael - took the ferry over from Hyannis.

We rented bicycles and with all of our gear in backpacks, rode for six miles - across cobblestone streets and through pouring rain - to our rental house on the far end of the island.





Yesterday afternoon, Eileen and her three children, Emily, Tommy and Diana flew in from Michigan. They rented a 4x4 Jeep and rode in comfort to their rental house.



As a side note, Tommy will be shipping off to Army Boot Camp next week.  He told his recruiting officer that while he was anxious to enlist - he couldn't start until AFTER his trip to Nantucket.  I so love that kid and I love that he has his priorities in the right place:

#1. Participating in huge family reunion party on Nantucket;

#2. Bravely serving his country as a US soldier.



This morning, Eileen's husband, Clark, flew in from Michigan.  This afternoon, an old friend of the family, Robb, ferried in from the mainland.  Robb is one of the men's tennis coaches at Boston University and as you might imagine, he whipped everyone in beach paddle ball.



Tomorrow night, Felicia flies in from Houston.

On Wednesday my sister, Beth, my sister Janet and her husband, Bob arrive.

On Thursday, my sister-in-law Donna and my nephews Wally, William and Wyatt arrive.

On Thursday, my niece Angela arrives; on Friday - my nieces Katherine and Maggie are slated to arrive. In addition, our friends Rich and Kate are traveling in from Connecticut and tentatively arriving on Friday is my nephew, Philip and his new bride, Kim.

(They might have to sleep on the hammock because by then, all the beds may be taken.)



Several more people were invited, but they couldn't all make it.  If you're in the area, heck, you're welcome to come join us, too.  We're at the far western end of the island.  Just look for the big blue umbrella with the white rim.  Snort! Ha! Get it?!



And if folks can't make it this year, there's always next year ... because this is the kind of event that really needs to become a tradition!

brace yourself

A few years ago, at least three or four, we were told by our pediatric dentist that it looked "highly likely" that our triplet children would "benefit from orthodontic treatment."

Our expert dentist was able to decipher by looking at x-rays for teeth that wouldn't even erupt for another few years, that when those teeth did erupt, they'd do so in a highly unorganized fashion.

Two years ago, we were told by our pediatric dentist that the time was RIPE to put our children in orthodontic treatment. But they were only seven and this seemed ridiculously early to me, since our children lose their teeth later than the average child, and at that point, had only lost one or two baby teeth.  But the seed had been planted that braces would be coming soon, so we've been preparing ourselves, at least mentally.

As for financially ... well. If I thought it was expensive to have three babies in diapers at once, that's nothing like having three children in braces at once.  And because I always like to focus on the positive, this experience is undoubtedly preparing us for the shock of seeing our bank account drain when we have three children in college at once. 

Last year, we were referred to what would be the first of five orthodontists that we would consult with regarding the various treatment options.  If I remember correctly, two of the orthodontists suggested that we extract teeth to make room for the teeth that were rapidly descending; and three of the orthodontists suggested that we install palette expanders to make room for the teeth that were rapidly descending.  Neither option sounded particularly good to me, so I ignored all of the advice and prayed that I'd wake up and our children would still be toddlers dancing in circles to This is the Day. 

Ignoring it didn't help, especially once I saw that the pediatric dentist's were correct and our children's adult teeth really were growing in, Dragonfish Style. My sweet Carolyn's teeth were so crowded in her mouth, her gums were red and inflamed and extremely sensitive to touch.



So I finally concluded that regardless of which approach we took - something must be done soon because there would physically be no room in our children's mouths for all their adult teeth, and their new teeth would be jutting out of at all kinds of funky angles.  We settled on one of the orthodontists that proposed the palette expander because he was highly recommended, and was able to offer us the most significant discount for having three children in treatment at once. 

Two weeks ago, the children had spacers installed on their back molars, and yesterday, they were each fitted with a palette expander. Once we paid the bill, for this first phase of braces which should effectively cover our orthodontist's mortgage through the end of the year - they gave each of our children (and Louie) a stuffed animal. 

Charlie was trained on how he needs to crank open the palette expander every day, for the next 25 days.  He sat perched on a stool in the orthodontist's office, facing our three children who were reclined in dental chairs, and absorbed every word.  "Now make sure that you only crank the palette expander ONCE per day," the technician stressed.  "We've had people misunderstand the instructions or think they can collapse a one-month treatment in to a single night, so they crank the expander 25 times at once."  

The whole palette expander contraption is torturous enough to look at, I can't even imagine the pain of having a whole month of expansions in a single day.  

Baby A:


Baby B (I think that pink stuff is watermelon...):


Baby C:

The palette expander will remain on for at least the next six months.  In four weeks, the children will have braces installed on their top teeth; it is anticipated these braces will remain on from 6 to 18 months.  Once they're removed, the children will be fitted with retainers which they'll wear until the rest of their adult teeth come in, and they are able to have their second phase of braces placed when they're around 13 or so years old.

When I came home from work yesterday, the girls were dancing around the house and giddy about their new lisp.  Charlie had them saying things like, "Seven dwarfs doing handstands on the carpet..." and "Sixty six snakes slithered down the sidewalk..."

Even though he has the green light to eat all the yogurt he wants, William was in despair.

While it absolutely pains me that my son is upset about his orthodontia, and I would trade places with him in a minute if I could and because I cannot, have made sure to keep him current on his Tylenol dosage ... it was an interesting case in comparison, that our girls were dancing and laughing while our son was formulating ways to pull his expander out.  To try and take his mind off the discomfort, I talked to the kids about the theory that the pain threshold / tolerance for girls is higher than it is for boys. And then, to try and give them all a good laugh, I showed them the Man Cold video clip.

The girls thought it was hilarious. 



William, not so much.

My poor little bunny.  :(

five years

I'm remembering today, that it was five years ago that the beautiful Deana passed from this life.



Every night, we pray that her entire family ... but especially her sweet boys and husband ... forever feel her loving spirit surround them.

these are my people

Once we left from New York, we continued our drive north to Massachusetts.  My nephew, Philip, who was once upon a time - nearly 20 years ago - the ring bearer in our wedding, was himself getting married this past weekend.  I've been thinking about this for several days and I'm not sure how it is really possible - but .... there you have it.  I'm obviously caught in some kind of Life Is Flying By At Lightening Fast Speed Time Warp.



Our first stop in Massachusetts was at my sister and her husband's house.  Earlier this year, Janet and Bob lost their beloved Golden Retriever, Bobby Joe Rockstar. Their sadness was so deep and so wide, that the only cure was for them to adopt a brand new puppy ... a beautiful Golden Retriever that they named Pearl.



Pearl is only four months old and she is quite possibly THE MOST ADORABLE PUPPY THAT HAS EVER LIVED.   For the two days that we were visiting, my children never left her alone and that is why, two days after we  left - she is still sleeping.

Four month old puppies simply do not have the endurance to handle the constant love and affection that is doled out by children who kept squealing with delight, "SHE IS SO FLUFFY!!!!" 

On our first night, we went out as a family to dinner and watched the beautiful sunset over the beautiful mountains...



The following day, Janet and Bob hosted several of our long-time friends and family at their home.  As it often happens, I was distracted and did not take pictures of everyone ... but in attendance at this fun-filled gathering was my mother, Mary, my sister, Beth, and my father's little sister, Peggy.  My sister-in-law Donna was there, along with her nine-year-old twin boys - Wally and William - and seven-year-old son, Wyatt.  There was my niece, Janine and her husband, Graham and their sweet three year old daughter, my GREAT niece, Rachel.



Janine, once upon a time - nearly 20 years ago - was the flower girl in our wedding, and seeing as Janine now has a toddler with another baby on the way ... it just further proves my Time Warp theory.  Honestly ... how do we slow down time?

There must be a way. 



At one time or another, or simultaneously, eight children splashed in my sister and brother in law's inflatable pool ...



And ran around in the full-sized basketball court on the top floor of their barn.



They played with sheep and of course, Pearl, and made awesome cousin memories.



My sister, Eileen, and her husband, Clark arrived from Michigan. And Janet invited her realtor friend, Merillyn, who was kind enough to show Charlie and I homes for sale in the area, because that's what we do every time we travel north. (It's just a matter of time!)  Janet also invited our dear friends, Donnie and Kathy.

The story goes that Donnie met my father more than 50 years ago, when he came in to a pharmacy where my father was employed (as a pharmacist of all things) in Groton, Massachusetts.  I'm not sure how it all happened, but my mother had three young children - under the age of three - at home, and Donnie - who was only a teenager - was hired as an extra hand to help my mother, who was expecting her fourth child, my sister, Beth.

Donnie soon met and married, Kathy, and the two of them would often come babysit. They obviously adored children, despite the time my mother left a colicky infant Eileen who cried for a weekend straight, because they went on to have two children of their own.  But the stories that my mother told about Donnie - and the soul grabbing laughter that shook the room was something I never want to forget.  Donnie has the most contagious laugh I've ever heard - you absolutely cannot listen to this man laugh, without busting your gut in laughter, too.   I LOVE PEOPLE LIKE THAT!



Mary, Oh Mary! Do you remember when we tried to make donuts?"  Laughter erupted as my mother and Donnie would reminisce, through their tears of hilarity, the time that they tried to make donuts and how they would eat all the donuts - and give the tiny holes to the children.  I can just see my mom as a young mother, overwhelmed with her enormous mothering responsibilities, and a young Donnie who loved the energy of our home, trying to convince my siblings, "It's time to go to bed!" so that they could eat ALL of the donuts, uninterrupted.



At one point, we Face Timed with my sister, Mary, who lives in South Carolina and is the mother of Janine, grandmother of Rachel, and was thrilled (and shocked) to see Donnie and Kathy.



She listened in and shared a few memories to supplement those that were being told.



We remembered the assortment of times that Donnie would accompany my father on his boat, "The Green Owl" which people referred to as "The Green Howl" because we were lost at sea and rescued by the Coast Guard more times than we could count.

Donnie recollected the time he was out with my father off the coast of Cape Cod and the fog suddenly rolled in so thick, he couldn't see his hand in front of his face.  My father gave him a fog light and sent him to the bow of the boat and said, "Keep an eye out for rocks and pots!" Pots meaning, lobster pots because you don't want to run over one of those and have the suspension rope hung up in your propellers. By the time they finally docked, hours later, my father - who had just bought the boat and didn't know how to dock it by reversing the engines - cut the engine completely and floated in to the dock at an accelerated speed.  Donnie said he tried to grab the dock pylons to slow the boat, but he couldn't do it and they nearly took the whole pier down.



"Oh boy did that Harbor Master light in to your father!" he roared.  "I remember he said something like, 'You need to know how to CONTROL this boat before you drive it!' But that never stopped our Walter, did it?!" 



My mother chimed in, "No, it sure didn't!  Do you remember the time we went out with the seven children and the dog {our German Shepherd, Acro} and Frank threw the anchor at low tide but Walter didn't check to make sure it was set properly?  The tide came in during the night, once we were all in bed asleep, and the boat floated 13 miles out to sea!  I woke up with the baby {me, who at the time was less than a year old} and couldn't see any of the lights from the causeway.  Janet woke up and said, "Mom, is that a whale?" and I thought JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH, we're lost at sea and we're all going to die out here!" 



As we sat enjoying each other's company, we all agreed that we really are lucky to still be alive. We are lucky to be alive in this moment: sharing wonderful memories and making even more.

the brooklyn bridge

My mother recently told me that one of the top five things on her Bucket List, is to take a trip across the Brooklyn Bridge.



During our visit to New York, I made sure that we took a trip across the 131 year old suspension bridge, and as we did ... we thought of my mother the whole way.



It is now on my Bucket List to walk across this bridge ... with my mom.