...house photos

77

Third cottage from the public beach, it’s the tiny one with blue trim. You know, the one right next to the red cottage. That’s 77 Fortunes Rocks Road.
It’s the smallest cottage resting on three miles of sandy, Maine beach. Within the four walls is everything I define summer by. And, if those four walls could talk, well, they would probably tell the stories that will unfold in the pages to come. Stories of laughter and tears, triumphs and sorrows, drunken nights and sobering moments. Tales of a family that is nowhere near perfect, but a family who loves each other just the same.

'da HOUSE

Ooops...five months in review

So, obviously, I've been slacking here...sorry. If anyone out there actually reads this anyway...hello? anyone??? anyone else???


uuughmmmm

Well, in July, I lost my job. Gained a cousin (Adam finally married Katie at the best wedding I've been to), I sat on the beach, I went to the gym, sat on the beach more, tried some surfing. Dealth with unemployment. Tried to waitress. Failed. Tried to get a job at a bookstore. Failed. Went back to my roots being a ho(stess) at Buffleheads. Went to the beach. Drank. Read. Reached my 50 pound goal. Came to terms with moving back with the parents.

Then, by the end of August, a sweet little birdy sent me an email about a job at the Portland Press Herald. The BIG paper. I turned right around and sent an email out. Biting my fingers until Monday morning came and I got a response. Tuesday I had an interview. The following Wednesday (09/09/09) I started said job. Filing, answering phones, writing briefs, checking briefs, one feature story (woo), business stuff and yes, the kicker, the featured obituary. Kept the apartment. It was a smooth transition into the world of daily news and it's been a fun ride ever since.

I've learned a lot about myself and have gained a whole new appreciation for a lot of things in life. Especially, don't take anything for granted.

By the end of September, Tyler Ashton Croteau was born to Keith, my cousin, and his wife, Megan. Tyler is great grandchild number two for my grandmother. Great grandchild number three is baking and due to pop sometime in February. Cousin Michelle and her husband, Dave, are awaiting his arrival.

Then, a fated phone call from dad in all of his random glory.
"How much do you pay for rent?"
Why dad?
"I'm thinking about buying a duplex."

A week later...
"The bank wants you to co-sign."

A day later...
"The bank wants to talk to you."

Another week later...
I was preapproved for a mortgage and sitting in a first time homebuyers class to get my $5,000 Gift of Green from the state of Maine. Already qualified for the $8,000 in tax credits. It's like they were paying me to buy it. I made an offer. It was accepted. Holy shit.

By Thanksgiving...
I hadn't told anyone. Dad had told EVERYONE.

The week of Christmas...
I closed.

By New Years...
It's home.

Hang Ten

It's something I tried as a kid, but never stuck with. I was never successful, so I didn't continue to try.

Getting back in the water Wednesday, with a wetsuit and a 10'10" surfboard and Nanci by my side, certain things came back naturally.

I hopped on the surfboard and paddled out, only to need a break by the time I got to where I needed to be. Yep, I remembered that. Then...turn around to get ready for a wave...check. And paddle, paddle, paddle...and didn't catch it.

That's when Nanci stepped in. She got in front of me. Timed the wave. Told me when to paddle. Gave me a little nudge....and I WAS OFF!

As the waved picked me up, I started to pop up and got to my knees. So awesome. So exhilarating!

The best part...everyone out for Mom's Morning was cheering me on. Cheering each other on.

It didn't matter if you'd never surfed, been there once or were a regular to the morning group, because everyone is still learning and it's amazing how things feel with a little hooting and hollering to keep on rolling.

Granted after nearly two hours in the water and then an hour long training session in the gym, I can hardly lift my arms today, it was all totally worth it.

I found what I had been missing and am psyched to get back in the water. My summer's goal was to learn to surf (for real), and I've finally started working toward that goal. Just because I'm unemployed doesn't mean I can't have a little fun....right?!?!

New Chapters

After nine months of planning, there was a wedding that brought two people together. United their families and opened a new chapter in their life...a chapter "together...until death do us part."

It couldn't have rained harder the morning of the wedding. A slow moving storm hovered over the southern coast of Maine dumping rain by bucket fulls as everyone prepared for the event.

Hair was styled, make up fashioned, clothes pressed and each detail of dress checked and re-checked. As the day progress, the rain lightened to a fine mist as everyone filed into the church.

Katie and Adam came in as woman and man, and as they left the church wife and husband the sun was trying to shine. The sun came and went into the night as family and friends celebrated the wedding and the union known as marriage.

Festivities continued into a sunny Saturday beach party, recanting stories of the previous night. They enjoy calling each other husband and wife, and the smiles on their faces are telling of the happy future they will create.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As one door closes, another opens.
Turning the page on a new chapter brings a new outlook on life.
For every mishap there is opportunity.
Be positive. Don't wallow.
Live without fear.
Everything happens for a reason.
It's meant to be.
It's a sign.

The couple start a new chapter in their life, just as one of mine is ending. Just more than 14 months out of college, I'm finding myself without a job.

It's the economy.
You're not alone (Dave too).
We've saved jobs for months now.
I've been waiting for this to happen.
Everything will be fine.

"We're going to have to let you go," he said almost a week ago.
And my mind went blank.

In my first week of unemployment, I have gone through waves of emotion and realization.
Woohoo, I don't have to go back to work.
Oh God, how am I going to pay for stuff...my apartment, my loans, my insurance, my food...
It will be fine. Totally fine.
Why should I even get out of bed.
Apply for jobs. NOW...FIND SOMETHING.
Nope, just ride it out. Everyone else does.

While everyone had told me all the cliche phrases in the book when someone loses a job, I have to agree with every single one of them. It's time for a change and I think this will be a great learning experience.

The best one yet - "This will make you stronger," Adam told me.
He's right.

It won't be easy, and I'll go through the waves of emotion. In the meantime, I'm going to enjoy the pause between the chapter in my life "first for-real job" and the next chapter yet to be determined.

Because maybe, no probably, all those cliches are right.

White Wedding