And if I’m five pounds heavier, I just don’t give a hoot! Tomorrow is soon enough to restart my campaign to become a skinny old lady. My sister and I had a FABULOUS time together revisiting our old stomping grounds. I get down to Newport a couple of times every summer, of course, and DH & I have friends in Jamestown, so we go there quite often, but this is her first visit in many years. We found our aunt, too, who is 92 years old and still living on the old family acreage, but despite our childhood years staying there and playing across every square inch of wood and field, it was extremely hard to find. It’s in Little Compton, which is across the bay from Newport - not far at all, but another world, really. Little Compton is one of the ONLY coastal towns on the eastern seaboard that has retained its historical demeanor - no chain restaurants, no motels or hotels, nothing at all for tourists with the exception of a few art galleries, a blacksmith shop, a few restaurants, and lots of cemeteries dating back to the late 1600’s and early 1700’s. John and Priscilla Alden’s daughter - the first child BORN here in America - is buried in the old church cemetery on the Little Compton common. Our family goes back to 1655 in Little Compton, and we walked the cemeteries and read all the old gravestones. But there are very few street signs in Little Compton. Very FEW streets are marked, and they all look remarkably alike, wind on in and out of woods and through fields and end, eventually, at the ocean. We actually stopped several times to ask directions, and STILL didn’t find my aunt’s place until we’d driven around for nearly two hours. But we did finally find her, and she’s quite spry for her 92 years. It was lovely chatting with her. It gave me some hope that maybe my sister and I will make it to a ripe old age. Sis is 72 this year - not quite 12 years older than me - and she’s very active and energetic, which is something I aim for, as well. On Friday, before she and I headed out for the coast, we went to the apple orchards with my DH and my granddaughter, who had the day off from school because of a teacher’s conference. My granddaughter Morgan is going to be 7 next month. But we picked apples, and I even dragged these old bones of mine up three or four trees in order to pluck the perfect apple. I really hate the thoughts of giving in to age, you know?
While in Little Compton, Sis & I drove out to Sakonnet Point, which is where our Dad (who would be 102 years old if he were still alive) kept his boat and would take it out fishing. The last picture above is of Sis and I out on the point - we hiked the whole length of it, which I am hopeful offset a bit what we had eaten for dinner earlier. (Best not to discuss the grim details of that seafood orgy). It was absolutely beautiful out there at sunset. My eldest daughter, who lives about a half hour from Little Compton in Berkley, MA, was with us and snapped that picture.
The first picture, upper left is my sis - this was taken off the rocks at Newport, and I’m going to frame it. I think it’s an absolutely wonderful shot of her. Then, the next picture - the one that’s fuzzy - is me out at our friend’s boat in Jamestown Harbor, and then me by the car in front of their condo in Jamestown, which faces the harbor and is absolutely gorgeous.
And this morning I drove Sis out to Bradley International in Connecticut to catch her flight home, and drove back wanting to cry all the way. Couldn’t help thinking about how short life is, and how a next visit may never come, although I’m certainly hoping to have many more together.
And tomorrow it’ll be back to work for me, and on with the ordinariness of every day life.
Until I go to L.A. on Nov. 4 to visit my DS.
Between now and then, I’d better be very careful about what I eat. I don’t seem to do so well when I’m “on vacay”.
Now I’ve got to catch up on everybody’s blogs…
Hey, Soclose, Ruby Jean, Lyn, & Dritta!
Has anybody heard anything from Ann-girl?
TTFN,
E! (AKA Z)
Thanks for sharing the photos and wonderful description of your adventures. What is your family name - the ones that go back to the 1650s? I’ve traced some of my relatives back to Essex MA, and Northfield VT.. family name of Avery and Stevens. I also miss my sisters (both younger) - one in China and one on Cape Cod. We were all very close growing up, and now lucky if we see each other once a year.
October 10, 2007 @ 3:45 pmWhat a beautiful entry to come back to Ms. Ella…. What a wonderful time you had with your sister. I agree that picture is as precious as the time you spent with your sissy! How fantastic is that?
I agree - sometimes there are things more important than food… keep floating on that bliss cloud - you’ll come down soon enough….
xoxoxooxoxoxxoxo missed ya
October 10, 2007 @ 5:40 pmLyn, our family name is Mosher. During the late 1700’s, some family migrated to New York, and others, who remained loyalist during the Revolution, moved up to Nova Scotia and founded a town called “Mosherville” which is still there, and still populated by family. We’ve actually traced ourselves back to Hugh Mosher, a Baptist minister who bought up property from the Sakonnet indians in a pact with Roger Williams and ten or so others…which was the beginning of Rhode Island. Hugh’s father, also Hugh, was the son of a Nicholas Moger (German migrants to England) whose father was John Moger - born @ 1560-ish. Such a pity that these old horse thieves (for I have little doubt that they came to “the new world” because they were in legal trouble and used religious freedom as a handy excuse) didn’t leave ME any of their ill-gotten gains. Now, as for the Essex area…do the names Loring or Williams ring any bells with you?
October 10, 2007 @ 9:06 pmAnd Anngirl, I have just read your breathtaking blog entry. I will comment, but not until I’ve read it a few more times and digested it thoroughly. It’s truly a wonderful piece of writing. If you don’t write a book, I shall find my way to your door and give you one of my up close and personal lectures, the likes of which my daughters tremble to think of.
Missed you too, dearest.
Welcome back!!! Sounds like you had a fabulous time of it with your sister; thanks for sharing the pictures–that one of your sis at the water is wonderful.
October 10, 2007 @ 9:34 pmThis part of the country would argue with you about the first child born in America. We claim Virginia Dare as the first; daughter of Eleanor and Ananais Dare, born Aug. 18,1587 in the Roanoke Island Colony in what is now North Carolina. Her grandfather was the govenor of the colony and returned to England when she was a month old. When he came back there was no sign of the settlement.
Anyway, great to have you back!!!
Oh Lovely Lovely Lovely. I so enjoyed reading your blog and looking at your photos. Thanks for sharing it all with us. I liked your turn of phrase…best not to discuss the grim details…I know it was all worth it! Have always loved history and the idea of how families are connected. You will surely have many more visits.
October 12, 2007 @ 9:59 am