Fingering Tepid Water

Posted on September 20, 2008 in Vacations

It may not be a common concern, but there are those who are wondering why I have not been obamaing people — I’m at Lynn’s mother’s house on the shores of Frenchman’s Bay in Maine. People find it remarkable that this Californian walks around in shirt sleeves in 55 degree weather. The air is still, so I don’t feel much need. Nevertheless, I bought a fleece vest in Ba Ha Ba (say that and see if you can guess the town’s written name) and spent the last hours of sunlight standing on the family beach, fingering the tepid water and wishing that the air temperature was at least its equal.

We’ve gone from Massachusetts to Maine on this trip, doing a little tourist runs to places like Salem Maritime NHS, Saugus Iron Works NHS, the Freedom Trail in Boston NHP, and the secretive streets of Boston African American NHS. A man from Poland had my picture taken with him after I explained to him the significance of the Robert Gould Shaw monument across from the Massachusetts State House. I was disappointed that the latter is closed, apparently due to terrorist threats, and that I could not be allowed to see the [[Sacred Cod]]. Nor did any of the guidebooks mention the [[Boston Molasses Disaster]] which happened below Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, a stop on the Freedom Trail.

We’re going to fetch mussels some day this week. I’ll find some of the spirit that used to characterize my vacation narratives if I can. Ever since I stabilized, I’ve become dull.