The Luxury of Time

Gerty is resting in the Raiatea boatyard, waiting patiently for her captains to return.
“Soon,” I whispered this morning. The word came out in a fog as my breath touched the cold Maine air. Then it floated upward through the autumn leaves.

A west wind stirred. The branches swayed, and I imagined soon traveling across the continent—letters tumbling as they drifted over the Rockies and across the Grand Canyon. Then they blew over the Pacific, just as we did a year and a half ago. Eventually, soon landed on the tippy-top of Gerty’s mast, and she smiled her two-hulled grin.

We’ll return to her with plenty of stories from Great Pond because staying in one place—from spring green through the burnt oranges and reds of fall—gave us time to get to know the land and its people. We had time to learn to wingfoil, count loons, hike six mountains, and attend umpteen concerts on the green. Time to share countless meals at The Grill and drink hot spiked apple cider.

We had time to unraveled local secrets—like Cocktail Cove, the Carrabassett Valley swimming hole, and why so few can call themselves true Mainers.

Time to spy turkeys, foxes, deer, owls, snapping turtles, fisher cats, and hummingbirds in the woods. But never a moose—those ever-elusive creatures!

We had time to eat so many blueberry donuts from Day’s Store that we finally decided we should stop eating blueberry donuts from Day’s Store. We even had time to leave Great Pond and visit my parents, siblings, Jenny, and Domingo.

We had time to walk the tree-lined gravel road again and again, and time to spend with Zachary, Elaine, Alice, Mira, Karen, Jac, Celine, Andrew, Ray, Dale, Becca, Matti, Chris, Bert, Sarah, Liz, Fred, Page, Ben, Barb—and so many others.

And of course, we had time to sail.

Last remarks

• For months our brother-in-law, Steve, has been in our thoughts and it warms our hearts to write that he is doing well.
• Thank you to Hutch, Mira, Megan, Becca, Shariqa, Doug & Lori for making the trip to Belgrade this Fall
• For the sailors, Great Pond Yacht Club [GPYC]!!!
• Last but never least, to the Betty $#&! Crockers who made Friendsgiving in October—we’ll see you in the spring (if not before)!