the long good-bye

First, my plan is to leave on Sunday, September 6. Zelia is supposed to return to the Cape but then has a problem finding a cat sitter so she can't return.

Then I am going to leave on Thursday, September 10.  But the weather for the weekend sounds great. And I've gotten into long morning walks. And hanging with my mom and sister has been nice.  And what am I really missing in NYC? And the beach has been pretty perfect. So why not stay longer? I do.

Next I am going home on Monday, September 14.  I  buy a non-refundable ticket on the Acela. I'm not thrilled about taking a train and then being let off at Penn Station but I have no choice.

Until...

M decides to drive to NY today.

Instead of staying 9 days, I end up staying 18. But that extra time allows me to:

• Confirm that West Falmouth Market is just as good as Dean's... well, maybe better. They appreciate their customers more.

• Eat outside with M at C-Salt, my favorite Falmouth restaurant. Their calamari with mango and grapefruit is worth a trip to the Cape.

• Introduce my favorite dog, Jean and Jim's airedale Roxy, to the joy of golf cart riding. 

• Have one of my best dinners while here at the Green Pond Yacht Club. I had no idea that coffee crusted pork tenderloin could be so good.

• Get to drive a bit more, something I miss living in NY.

• Have dinner with my mom at Bleu, my second favorite restaurant on the upper Cape.

• Make use of my mom's washer and dryer... if you have your own (which most people do), it's hard to understand the thrill of doing laundry.

• Hear my mom say, 

• "What do you want for dinnah on x day," asked on x minus two days.
• "Have some brie (watermelon, lemon cake, etc)." "It's good." "You like it."And then repeated at least three more times within the next hour.
• "Did you turn up the air?" Every night I turn it down to 70 and every morning I put it up to 76 and every day my mom asks in case I've forgotten.
• "Where's the clicka?"
• "When I say I'm going to bed, watch. Ellie will follow me." And my mom's cat does. Every single night.

• And best of all, hear more of my mom's infectious laughter. 

I'm so glad I came.