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

Celebrating Freedom

We prayed, we pleaded...I resigned myself to believe it would be sunny regardless of the forecast....


...and at last, the sun made a miraculous return for the Fourth of July.


It was a whoopla of activity at 77 Fortunes Rocks Road as the Croteau clan descended with food, drinks and beach gear galore. The concept of "bring your own sandwich" turned into "bring your own mini sandwiches that will feed the army.

I was just happy to be in the sun shine, with the family.

Dad and Gordon went on their annual brigade to BPool dressed as if they were hailing from a different decade in the refurbed WW II Jeep. (Watch out for the mounted machine gun boys).

And it was Memere's 81st birthday, with Miss Hailey's first birthday just around the corner. For her first trip to the beach, I'm not so sure she was keen on the sand and the waves, but she'll learn.

Then, my collaborator on life joined me with two friends from the workshops. We dabled on the beach, enjoyed the OOB firework show and explored Palace Playland...yes a bunch of 20-something-year-olds on all those rides.

This, my friends, is what summer is all about.

I never want it to end.