Change of Scene

I've been having some relaxation time at the family homestead in Little Compton, RI.

The weather has been mostly gorgeous, allowing me to walk, swim, and sail. Lots of family is here, including my nephew Dan, his wife Alicia, and their three adorable kids. They live in Madrid and this is the first time I've met the kids. It is a lively bilingual scene, with many of us practicing our rudimentary Spanish and five-year-old Isa happily (and competently) translating our English for her younger siblings.

I think I was happiest about going swimming. There has always been something about swimming in the ocean that feels very healing to me, and I feel great bobbing around in the surf. We had just big enough waves to play our favorite game of Overs and Unders -- which is nothing more than judging how big a wave is, and how close to you it will crest, and deciding whether to jump up and get safely carried over the top, or dive into the face before it crashes on you. We go for simple pleasures here in Little Compton. I have to say, it felt a little strange going in at first. Partly I wondered how well the waterproof covering on my dressing would hold up. Mostly, after this whole weird summer, it just felt so normal ...and that felt weird.

Some of you know that for several years I have planted a vegetable garden here. It's a great excuse to spend lots of time in this place that I love. You might be wondering how the garden fared this year? Not very well. I got four beds of potatoes planted in early May, but by the time my next planting date rolled around at Memorial Day, surgery was imminent, time and energy were short, and enthusiasm waned. David and I planted a few beans and squash and let it go at that. Chris and Caroline subsequently planted some transplants that arrived by mail. And then the hayfield overran everything.

Nevertheless, Caroline dug a decent crop of potatoes with her young cousins, and a couple of squash and quite a few beans await harvest in October. This garden has always been something of a community effort, and this year more so than ever.

On the hair watch: very little additional hair has fallen out so far this cycle, proving once again either that I continue to defy odds right and left, or that I am a worse procrastinator than previously thought.