Hello, everyone! How have you been? I've been blog dormant for the past couple of weeks. That wasn't by design. I had every intention to post while I was at my parent's house in Maine for a vacation. Unfortunately, I was thwarted by wi-fi that made my phone and computer “chill out” and take a breather of their own while at the “Gannon Camp.”
Most of my growing up years were spent in Maine in a teeny, tiny town called Turner. In my own personal Wikipedia of the town, it is known for a smell egg farm and Patrick Dempsey. The latter and I shared the same sixth-grade teacher although weren't in class the same year. And at some point in the 80's he made out with one of my childhood babysitters. What a lucky dame!
It was the winter of 1985 when my parents told my siblings and me that they had purchased a “camp” in Acton, Maine. This seasonal house on Mousam Lake would become my home every summer from 5th grade until I graduated from high school.
As a kid, I didn't always appreciate my time at the Camp. Being an hour and hour away from school friends for a couple of months wasn't easy especially when phone calls were charged by the minute. And it didn't help that the other kids that lived in the nearby camps were total d!cks.
However, the Gannon Camp was a meeting ground for one of my best friends since babyhood, Jenn. We have never lived in the same state, so we have always made the most of any time that we are able to share. One of my favorite childhood memories is when she came to our lake house to spend a weekend and ended up staying two weeks. My parents view her as another daughter so her invite has and always will be open-ended.
As an adult, my love for Gannon Camp has grown to the point where it is one of my staple vacation go-to's. It's peaceful, relaxing and I get to spend time with two of the best people I know – my parents. I try to make it home for a week each summer. The key word being “try.”
It's crazy to think that I hadn't been home in a couple of years! Purchasing a new home just before the start of last summer made it a bit of a challenge to take a longer-term vacay. But I made up for that this year by enjoying a temperate August week on Mousam Lake!!!
I kicked off the vacation with some catching up time with Mom and Dad. Lots of wine and lots of laughs. And after the second glass of wine, my mother let it be known she didn't like my hair.
Mom: “Soooo…are you trying to go back to your natural color?”
Me: “No, Mom. I was trying something different, and I should have stuck with my original instinct to wear a light blonde wig. Or hide my hair in a hat.”
I knew she'd hate my hair. It's getting blonder in a week or so, Mom.
I digress…
It had been a long time since Jenn and I were together at the Gannon Camp. It was so much fun having her and her two kids, Trey and Marin, over for the night. Jenn and I spent some time on the dock catching up with adult grape juice and later enjoyed a game of Apples to Apples with the kiddos.
The next morning I was able to spend a bit of time with Marin while everyone else got their lake snooze on. We tried to put together a soda can robot but realized we didn't have all of the necessary parts. So we pivoted to making a Can Man and creating stories about his uncanny life.
Before I knew it our time with Jenn and the kids was over. I would love to sit down with Father Time and have a chat about going a wee bit too fast. Still…it was so much fun to make new memories with Jenn and her brood. Who wouldn't want to make memories with wine in a Burger King Cup and a Mr. Crabby Patty?
Does anyone else go home for vacation and genuinely find it relaxing? Does anyone else have a Mom that is super judge-y about their hair? Don't worry…I still think my mother is totally rad.
There's more to come about my trip to Vacationland. The wi-fi in this house is strong like bull, so hopefully, I will get off my duff and post like a boss soon.
Work Hard. Play Hard. Drink Chard.
Laurie
P.S. I might wear a blonde wig the next time I see my Mom just for fun. Maybe I should wear a pink one? Hmm…