Maine Blog 2

Good Evening Bloggers,
I have no internet connection what so ever here at camp and so I write this to you in Microsoft office with every intention of posting it just as soon as I can get to a place with Wi-fi. It is about eight o’clock or shortly after and I am absolutely beat, spent, exhausted. This trip has been non-stop since it began at the pre-trip festivities on the Fourth of July….I literally have not stopped going. Yesterday I went to the ocean. It was beautiful and exactly what a Northern girl like me needed, her first full day home. Although it was not a beach I would have typically chosen or frequented when I lived here, it was nice just the same to get back to good ole Old Orchard Beach. It was the same as I remember from way back in 1996 when I was last there to see Hootie and the Blowfish – back in the day (sorta)
The pier was packed full of vacationers and the smell of funnel cakes was in the air, the sand was sandy and the water was cold – all the way I last left it.
I commented to my son Matthew that the sky is different here in Maine, somehow it seems higher up than the sky in Virginia – the air feels lighter, it moves you and you want it to.
Sometimes the “breezes” in Va. feel like cotton balls assaulting your face – heavy and hard to breathe.
Not that I don’t love Virginia, cause I definitely do – the sky here is like I said, just higher up somehow and I have truly missed the space between the Earth and the clouds – that space is good space here in the Northeast.
I would be remiss to not mention that the Bruins gear was loud and proud in every storefront and this also pleased me greatly – that and the sign for ‘wicked good wieners.’
I even went for a dip in the ocean and frolicked in the frosty froth, which in all truthfulness was a lot less freezing than I expected. It was nice to taste the salt in my mouth and to have genuine ocean in my hair, rather than the salt water pool. I had the most massive beach tousles you would have ever seen if you had passed me on my way to the tattoo parlor –
Yeah I said it, tattoo parlor – Oooopps I did it again….
Whenever I get a tat, it happens just that way - on a total whim. Funny but my last two have been while in a bikini – hmmm I say? Something about the summer that screams INK to me.
This time it was almost a missed chance, but I managed to use my charm and persuasion and ended up with an eight pronged needle in my big toe.
It occurred to me while driving on the highway, a co-pilot to my captain sister in – law Pam, that a tat would be a cool way to honor her battle with breast cancer. I could get inked for her and my nieces, for my kids too – so we honor her, each other, our places in her life and each other’s – not to mention that every time someone looks at my cute foot they would see Pam’s pink ribbon and ask, “Hey, what’s that tat about?” And then I get to tell her story and spread the word for a cure.
What a cool idea I thought, and then the next second my thought turned to decision and decision turned to determination and I was getting a tat come hell or high tide.
One parlor was closed on Wednesday of course – nothing is ever easy for me. The second and only other on the beach was booked solid with only one artist in for the entire day….
I waited outside until he took a cigarette break in between clients and told him my story, made myself a new friend. It took three hours of nail biting to get the call to come in, he had made room, a kid showed and was not legal age YESSSSSSS.
And I was in like Flynn.
How cool that my kids, my niece Taylor and my hero Pam, got to watch me add a permanent memorial on the wall of my world.
It was way cool and hurt like a Motherfucker.
I chose my big toe on my right foot (closer to my heart), I just thought a pink ribbon on the toe would be really cute and visible. Jason (the artist) said it would hurt bad, the knuckle would present a pain problem – he wasn’t lying but it was nothing compared to my lucky 7 – that pain still lingers I swear. I sweat a pool on to the floor for that one, felt like my spine was on fire….
When all was said and done this time, I hugged the artist – what a sweet guy – said he was a sucker for a hot chick and was glad to have been a part of our experience.
I will never forget sweet, kind and very bald Jason – the dude from OOB that fit me in.
After the tat, the day seemed ready to wrap, until I got a text message from Mary who informed me that an OZ like storm was blowing in on Snow Pond and that her camp, down the way from my camp, had no power.
Seriously ??? I had enough sand in my bikini to name it a new beach front.
OMG if we have no power I am going to freak.
Then I got the text that I had missed the rainbow – there are always rainbows in my world and I smiled that we were in close enough proximity that she could rub it in my face and it would mean something. I was just down the highway far enough away to miss it….
I showered finally and passed out cold, tan like a Brazilian with a permanent pink toe 
A really good kind of tired.
This morning I woke to my wife standing over my bed at 6am….No power, means no coffee and no shower for her – I was happy she had no power – the most beautiful alarm clock you ever did see.
Today was a down day spent in my bikini again, just me and the kiddos at camp while Pam went for treatment (chemo)
Fuck you cancer, FUCK YOU.
I would apologize for my language, but I cannot and plus, I have that whole warning thing at the beginning – enter at your own risk.
FUCK YOU CANCER.
I won’t go there now, as she sleeps snoring quietly on the couch while I type – I can’t go there and ruin the peaceful vibe with my anger – not really what she needs, but yeah again, Fuck You cancer.
Ugh sigh grrrr deep breath watery eyes.
I wish I had the power, I would change so much for so many, I would start with her and then move to Alyssa Divers and get that all straightened out too.
And I feel my mood changing and it’s not where I want to go – I want to stay here in the peaceful quiet while the camp fire roars and the kids make smores and Pam snores.
And so I say Peace out for now. Blessings to you all.