Lessons from the Road
By Evelyn David
The vacation was wonderful. But I’m happy to be home. The
place where the shower has real water pressure, the mattress already has lumps
in the places I like them, and I have access to a refrigerator for a midnight snack
that doesn’t cost $20. Forgive me if I sound a bit like Dorothy when I say
“there’s no place like home.”
enchanting Tattoo, a cross between a military exhibition, complete with gunfire,
and Barnum and Bailey’s Circus. This year’s dual theme was a commemoration of
the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, as well as a
celebration of the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen
Elizabeth II. A little schizophrenic, but they made it work.
they brought the victims of the ship’s sinking. We even ate dinner in a
restaurant that had been converted from the funeral home that had been used in
1912. You could order items from the First Class Menu that had been served on
the ill-fated trip (which seemed a tad morbid). We passed and settled on fish
(actually fish was the theme of the vacation, as we only ate items from the sea
for the entire 10 days).
everywhere. We visited every historic site my husband could find (the family
calls him a Kamikaze tourist). But a couple of chance encounters stuck with me,
reminding me again of the journey we all make in life.
included whale watching on deck with sea spray everywhere; driven with the
windows open for hours at a time; and there had been a heavy mist in the area
for two days. Result? I know I’ve used the metaphor before, but I resembled a
Chia pet, an unkempt one at that. I had an unexpected break in the tour
schedule my husband had plotted out for us and decided to treat myself to a
salon visit.
crazy coincidence that the hairdresser had a tattoo of a teapot with a stack of
teacups running down her arm? She was young. She came from a small village
about an hour outside of
and loved living in the “big city.” I’m from
know from big cities. She was now living in a municipality of less than
400,000, but since her hometown had less than 1,000 residents, it’s all
relative. She needed to move to the “big city,” she explained, because
there was no future where she was from.
herself that she’d visit
before she was 21, and her milestone birthday was in just a couple of weeks,
with no money for the trip. Living in a “big city,” you know, is
expensive. Specifically she wanted to come to
and stay at the
Janis Joplin, and Iggy Pop used to stay. She reminded me it was the hotel where
Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols, was found stabbed
to death. Doesn’t sound like the typical Holiday Inn to me, but it broke her
heart that the hotel had closed before she could get there.
third, and fourth acts in life. There will be other
and if she doesn’t get there by age 21, with the drive she has already shown to
leave her small town behind and move to the big city, I had no doubt that she’ll
get there in time.
under 20,000, where the ferry for
John
kill before we were due to board and so looked around for somewhere to have a
“cuppa.” Couldn’t resist the small restaurant called Mag Pyes Bakery
Shoppe and Café (spelling correct) since I often refer to my darling daughter
Maggie as Magpie. Plus according to Trip Advisor, this place was a gem. There
was tea served in a ceramic pot, china teacups, and a strawberry cheesecake pie
that was to die for. In a vacation replete with memorable meals, this afternoon
delight ranks near the top.
not to lick the plate. She told us that she had grown up in the area, gone off
to the big city,
with her husband and worked for 20 years in marketing. She then saw an ad for a
bed and breakfast for sale in Digby (http://www.holdsworthhousebandb.com),
and just down the street from the B & B that they fully restored, was a small
restaurant for rent. Her comment to her husband summed it up” “Why
not.” Margaret and her second act dream was what I wanted to tell the
hairdresser from
If you don’t get your dream at 21, you can have another dream at 40, 50, or
more. The important point was to keep dreaming.
supermarket. I bought the brand of tea that I drank at Mag Pyes (King Cole,
produced in the maritime provinces of
scouring the Internet for a recipe for strawberry cheesecake pie. I suspect
it’s a specialty of Mag Pye herself.
vacation and they’re even more fired up now that I’m back home.
Sweet dreams to all.
————————–
Brianna Sullivan Mysteries – e-book series
I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Dog Days of Summer in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Holiday Spirit(s) of Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Undying Love in Lottawatah- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
A Haunting in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Lottawatah Twister – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Missing in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Good Grief in Lottawatah – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
The Ghosts of Lottawatah – trade paperback collection of the Brianna e-books
Book 1 – I Try Not to Drive Past Cemeteries (includes the first four Brianna e-books)
Book 2 – A Haunting in Lottawatah (includes the 5th, 6th, and 7th Brianna e-books)
Sullivan Investigations Mystery
Murder Off the Books Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Murder Takes the Cake Kindle – Nook – Smashwords – Trade Paperback
Riley Come Home (short story)- Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Moonlighting at the Mall (short story) – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Romances
Love Lessons – Kindle – Nook – Smashwords
Marian, I love your account of your vacation trip. It sounds like the kind my husband and I love.
I especially love your comments on 2nd, 3rd, and 4th acts in life. Most young people don't realize those possibilities. We didn't back then, did we? I believe that's why so many of the young commit suicide or attempt it. They have no understanding yet that this "now" isn't forever. I think I'm working on Act 6 in my own life, and each has been better than the one before it. Hurray for Mag Pye!
Thanks Linda. I agree that at 21, I probably didn't know about later acts either — nor would I have believed anyone if they had tried to tell me about them 🙂
I haven't found a good recipe for Mag Pye's strawberry cheesecake which included a hint of almond, and instead of fresh strawberries on top, she essentially made a strawberry conserve (without any pectin). Maybe the memories are better than adding yet more calories after a decadent vacation 🙂
Lovely post. It made me yearn for the road-and some great food. Very important lessons. I have learned that personally. Thank you.
Thanks so much Lil.