Melissa Ann Goodwin

Melissa Ann Goodwin

Monday, June 4, 2012

Highs and Lows

I feel as though our road trip adventure/life has been like Life Exaggerated, in that the Lows have been looooowww.... and the Highs have been HIGH!

The lows have mostly resulted from bad weather. At every key stop along the way, we've had at least one really viscious rainstorm and high (scary) winds have played a factor too. In San Antonio, Louisiana, Charleston and Vienna, we had at least one night of violent rain. And now, here in New England, we're stuck in a rainy pattern that will take a few days to clear.

We arrived last Thursday at the state park beach campground. Thursday and Friday were sunny and glorious, and we made the most of sitting on the beach. We also drove up to York, Maine, where Dick (RVPainter) and I lived for our first 13 years together. Those were happy, content times and we reveled in seeing and enjoying this place that we loved together. We drove up around Nubble Light and got ice cream at Brown's. It was a perfect day in every way.

Then Saturday, the storm descended. The weatherfolks said there would be rain showers off an on, with some clearing and then some more showers over the next few days. Well! There were times when Saturday seemed like a hurricane with torrential downpours and crazy wind. Sunday it drizzled all day, and then last night wild winds and rain. This morning it's drizzly again and it will take a few days for the pattern to clear out.

But in and around the wild, sometimes scary weather, there have been wonderful moments. On Saturday, friends I'd known from high school drove up and we went to dinner along Rye Beach - lobster rolls, onion rings and lots of laughter. Here they are - Marylou and Jim - I've known Marylou since second grade - maybe even kindergarten!



Then on Sunday, Dick's sister Cathy had a family reunion at her house in Dover, NH. There were neices and nephews and Dick's cousins that we hadn't seen in YEARS! More than 10 years for most. Cathy's kids all have little ones now, so there was a new generation of young uns running around, and one brandy new baby - Hannah - just a month old.





Dick's brother has some health issues, so that was emotional for them both. But I felt emotional too - realizing how long it had been since we'd seen and enjoyed these wonderful people.

Dick has a fear of rain - it's an actual phobia - and he works hard to keep a good attitude when the weather is like this. It's why he doesn't like New England. I love New England, but I have to admit that this weather doesn't just put a damper on things - it's actually scary at times, and when it goes on too long, it gets depressing.

But a major part about this part of our trip was seeing and reconnecting with family, and that part has been wonderful beyond our expectations. Last weekend it was with my family and this week with Dick's. It's not about the weather, it's about the people.

Another low is that we have to waste some time on this trip having the leveler system replaced, and we have a problem with our slide that needs fixing too. But I guess since the weather isn't exactly glorious, it doesn't much matter. Depending on when those things can get done, we may be delayed on our departure for our next leg up into Maine. We have to remind ourselves that even though we have an overall schedule, it really doesn't matter if we have to change it some.

Last week I had a wonderful visit with third graders at Kittredge Elementary in North Andover, and tomorrow I talk with 4th and 5th graders in Londonderry, NH about "Show, Don't Tell."

So you can see the lows and highs have been very intense. I know the weather pattern will pass (eventually! sometime! it has to!), but the good memories of time with family and friends will stay with us forever.


21 comments:

  1. Anonymous6/04/2012

    Still having trouble with the levellers eh? Sounds like you had a lovely visit with family.

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    1. Yes, we've been looking ahead to this stop to have them replaced - supposed to be Wednesday. But today found out they hadn't sent the new parts to the repair place and now they have to overnight them. This was also true of the parts to fix our slide. We spent all day having to follow up to make sure people do their jobs. Ugh!

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  2. I didn't think you'd have this much trouble with a brand new vehicle. :(
    The family and visiting--priceless!! Adventures rarely go as planned. ;)

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    1. I didn't think we would either Rita - but I understand this is common - unfortunately!! Yes, the family and friend s- Priceless. And thank for that reminder about adventures - what is it they say about making plans??? This is one of my spiritual emotional lessons - letting go and going with the flow. Working on it ....;)

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  3. Oh, I'm so envious of your gray skies and rain storms!
    It's very warm here, and cloudy,
    though it's the unrequited kind of day when
    maybe a few raindrops graze your nose,
    or by chance, flick your toes!
    And that's all you get.
    Enjoy the next leg(s) of your journey Melissa.
    Love to you both.
    Shelley

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    1. Hi Shelley!!! Thanks for the lovely prose. I love a good rainstorm, for a day or two....then it gets old! I know just what you're describing about the southwest though - how I yearned for a rainy day. I understand that smoke from the wildfire is just awful. :(
      Love to you too,xoxo

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  4. I hope the rain eases soon! Seeing family again sounds great, especially new-born cuddles :-)

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    1. Me too Annalisa. The wee ones were a delight :)

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  5. Get a kindle and take up knitting...it works for me:)

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    1. I've got a kindle ... would like to learn to knit

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  6. I've always wanted to go to Maine - I look forward to seeing your pics.

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  7. Hugs on all your lows. I hope it all gets better soon. Looking forward to more of your pictures!

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    1. Thanks - the ups and downs are rather remarkable. but it's all part of the journey and I know it's about growth too - somehow we are handed just what we need to work on. Whether we want it or not ... The hugs are greatly appreciated!!

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  8. Dear Melissa, this road trip, I hope, is going to truly jog all your writing genes into creating many more books. I'd so like to learn how you talk about showing instead of simply telling. That's something all of us who want to write must learn. Slowly, I'm getting the idea of how to do this. Peace.

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    1. Dee, it's definitely stretching me and I know it's all valuable life stuff for future writing. The Show don't Tell is mostly a combination of active verbs and vivid descriptions that include all five senses - makes it come alive. What I did was read from the book and then we'd talk and I'd say, "what if I had just said: 'it was really cold.' Then we looked at the words I did use - 'artic cold stung him like a thousand pin pricks' - things like that. Then I let the kids act out the descriptions to show "he was running" - which tells you nothing, but then "he was being chased" "he was chasing someone" "he was chasing a small dog." It was a ball.

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    2. Dear Melissa, truly using your book is a wonderful idea to explain the difference between showing and telling. Congratulations on being so inventive! Peace.

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  9. Rain is a way of life in the Northwest. We adapt by reading, hanging out in coffee shops and visiting with friends, knitting, writing, cooking, etc. It also helps to have some very good outerwear, as you just have to learn to do your outside activities while getting wet! Glad you're enjoying family and reconnecting with old friends!

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  10. Sorry the weather has been such a problem for you guys. It is trying to storm here as I write this so I must get off before it gets too bad.
    You are visiting places I have always wanted to see.
    Glad your hubby was able to visit with his brother especially since he has health issues. I am sure everyone enjoyed having you both.
    I am having a giveaway that Novica is sponsoring so I hope you can drop by before it ends on the 7th at midnight.
    Love
    Maggie

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  11. How wonderful that you got to catch up with your childhood friend! And baby Hannah is just precious :) I hope the book is coming along nicely by the way. I'm finally starting to seriously get into mine and I'm very excited about it. Maybe one day you'll get to read it! I hope so anyway :)

    Megan @ Storybook Love Affair

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    1. Megan, I will be among the first to buy your book when it's published!! I actually haven't had much writing time, but plan/hope to have lots when we get to Nova Scotia. I'm excited because the kids I've been meeting during my school visits are really responding so well to The Christmas Village and even the ones who haven't read it yet are excited about the sequel! xo

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