Paris, Ontario to Coxsackie, New York - 650 kilometres driven
Shore leave was fantastic. After arriving home nearly two weeks ago I immediately assembled a "Things To Do" list to give my life on land meaning and purpose. I cut the grass. I planted the garden. I cleaned the shed. I replaced the water heater. I did the banking. Ana and I painted the outdoor canopy ceiling and posts. We decided on a plan for our crumbling deck. I helped my friend Dave with his triplex construction project and a small art project (including creating a poo emoji using PL construction adhesive). I discovered more and more things to fix around the house (jobs I'd diligently procrastinated for years, but no longer had the convenient excuse of a full time job), then added them to the list after they were complete and scratched triumphant pen strokes through them.
Then, the kids arrived. Stella first, then Magnus eighteen hours later. Ana and I were overjoyed to have our ninos back with us. They both seemed older to my eyes, even though it had only been a few months since I'd seen them. We enjoyed family dinners together and heard about their shared trip to Europe, and Magnus's time in Scotland, and Stella's busy life at home. I had missed the kids so much.
My brother Curtis arrived yesterday and had a late night with Ana and I visiting and tippling, while the kids and a few of their friends visited and tippled and played poker in the dining room. It was a 2am finish and a 7am start to get ourselves to the Newport Yacht Club open house this morning, as a stop on our way back to SeaLight in Coxsackie.
I was so happy to see all of our Newport friends again. Dear friends. And Lydia and Daryl's little baby Zach, whose beautiful face we've been tortured with for months through digital images instead of in person. Once Ana got hold of him she refused to give him back and I thought she might try and smuggle him to the boat with us. The visit to Newport felt like a homecoming, and everybody welcomed us back, even though we weren't quite back yet. I will admit, I was shocked at how many of our friends had been following our trip through these journals. I thought it was only my mom and aunts reading them. It was all fun and games until a couple of Newporters physically assulted me in retribution for the little literary trick I pulled on them a few weeks ago. I took it like a man. And started planning my next big bullshit journal.
Shorly after 1pm we left Newport and headed south for New York state. Seven hours later we were back in Coxsackie, sitting in SeaLight, having drinks and eating custom naan pizzas. Once again, we stayed up way too late.
The boat trip was back on.
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