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Quincy
- In our stage of life, we all have our senior moments, but
I divide them into two categories. There are the negatives,
which most people associate with senior moments, and the
positive moments, which I always recall, that bring to mind
days of happy thoughts and joy from the past.
I remember back in 1970, when the kids were very young.
April was the month we started planning our summer vacation.
Finally, when the time came, it was never too soon and
always with much anticipation and excitement.
At last driving on Route 3, the children made a game of who
would spot the Sagamore Bridge first. Spectacular views of
the canal running beneath us were always a highlight of the
day.
Our big ‘57 Dodge sedan, which I enjoyed driving, had a
push-button shifting gear box to the left of the steering
wheel and high up on the dash board. I believe the ‘57 Dodge
sedan was one of the first cars to have shifting gears with
buttons, but then the steering column shift came along and
proved to be popular.
I remember one year we overloaded the trunk of the Dodge
with more gear than usual, causing the back of the car to
sag. Everything went smoothly until we had to cross some
railroad tracks and I heard metal scraping the road with a
clunk. While my face dropped, I sensed something much more
serious, but the children screamed with delight.
After reaching our cottage, I took the Dodge to a mechanic
and was told that the rear axle was demolished. What a way
to start a vacation! The car was tied up for several days,
but before long and with a lot of patience we were back on
the road.
Our evenings were spent at the National Seashore Visitor
Center in Eastham, where we learned about the formation of
Cape Cod during the Ice Age. The lectures and slide
presentation gave us knowledge about Bartholomew Gosnold, an
English explorer who discovered the Cape and named it Cape
Cod because he was impressed by the abundance of codfish in
the surrounding water.
In the evening I remember beautiful sunsets at Rock Harbor,
picking beach plums with stops at Marconi Beach in Truro,
the Pizza Barn, soft ice cream and the aroma of fresh coffee
in the early morning. Outdoor showers, flying kites, people
watching, the rushing surf with its icy water, I still
remember.
The many art galleries we visited inspired us to get back
and try to put our own thoughts on paper. A dog bite sent us
rushing to the medical center in Hyannis. I recall the many
fishing trips out of Provincetown, young kids diving off the
pier for coins thrown in the water, favorite subs and
watching with anticipation taffy being made in the window,
to fill my own box to take home.
We all wanted one last dip in the warm water on the bay side
before our time came to head home. These days are gone
forever, but will stay within me as positive senior moments.
How about yours?
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