I had been looking forward for months on returning to my home state of Maine. I longed for the bright colors of fall and the crisp red apples that awaited me as we planned our trip back home.
I was not disappointed.
With my suitcases packed with fleece, long-sleeved shirts and real shoes and socks not to mention a winter coat I boarded the plane with much anticipation. This anticipation only grew as we approached the coast of Maine and oh.....the colors even from the plane were awesome! Or should I say WICKED?
Seeing that Maine coast from the air with the bright colors of fall brought me to a realization I hadn't known before. Homesickness! I missed New England afterall. I couldn't wait to get on the ground and smell the fresh air of my home state. The first thing we saw as I got off the plane was a sign that said "Welcome Home."
Within a half hour of deplaning until we would re-board a week later our lives were a whirlwind. So many people to see, so much to do and not enough time to see and get everything done in that short amount of time.
Our friends we were staying with picked us up and we were off. It was just past peak for the fall colors but still very colorful to me. It was brisk tho and I was glad I had my coat with me. We went out to lunch and then stopped at our old business to see the guys for a chat. It was great to see them.
Then it was back to our hosts' home where a lovely dinner was prepared and we unpacked for a very busy week. One of the older ladies in our congregation was very gracious in giving us her car for the week. She stopped by and enjoyed dinner with us.
The next day we went to our still unsold house to begin the task of winterizing it for the cold weather ahead. This was Wednesday. We had plans on Friday of blowing the pipes and shutting off the water until Spring rather than having to heat it all winter. The heating costs would just be too much to handle. Dad would be meeting us back at the house on Saturday.
One of my friends, who couldn't wait to see me, showed up picking up another friend and came to the house. Later I ended up running at the fairgrounds with her as she rollerbladed alongside me. It was cold. I was freezing because of the cold air wearing a long-sleeve shirt, sweatshirt and shorts. She laughed at me.
Later that afternoon I was scheduled to meet with another friend with plans on going to the Christmas Tree Shop in Conway. Come to find out another friend who got wind of this met us there as well. We had a great time shopping and I bought stuff to bring back making my husband a bit uneasy on how we were going to fit all this in the suitcases. We managed.
We had dinner at the church that night and it was so good to see everyone hugging one neck after another. So many were waiting to talk with us we just felt so rushed trying to connect with everyone.
On Thursday morning, after a dental appointment, I met with my old study group still going full swing and enjoyed a great conversation with them. They took me out for lunch and I was happily surprised that everyone of them went. We had a great time of meal and fellowship. It was so great to see them all. They all looked so good to me. I miss them terribly.
Then it was time for my hair appointment (got it all chopped off) so I could visit with my friend who was also my hairdresser. Then off with my husband to an invited dinner where we got to fellowship with a couple of families who got together to have supper with us.
On Friday we spent the day again at the house. The plan was for me and a few girlfriends to cut down the perennial gardens while my Dad and husband shut off the water.
So much for man-made plans. It was a bright beautiful warm day, as far as a fall day in Maine goes, and the helpers who came were wonderful. We got the gardens cut down, the house vaccumed and the driveway swept. Just as the hose was set up to blow out the pipes we got a call to STOP. We received an offer on the house. If this works out an inspection might have to be done and the water should not be turned off. So we disengaged the hose and put this on hold for now.
Soooooo since then we've been in negotiations and they are in the thinking about it stage. And here we are. We're back in Florida and the house is not shut down for the winter. We turned the heat on low and are playing the waiting game.
After all our helpers left we decided to go for a run one last time having planned ahead of time by bringing running clothes. On the return with two miles to go we saw an SUV pass us, slow down up ahead and make a turn coming back to us. We had no idea who it was but found out sure enough. It was Bonny who went by us, wondered "that can't be" and then realized "yes it is" and turned around. She jumped out of her car and hugged my neck saying how much she missed us. So I told her to go to the house and we'd meet her there.
On Saturday I spent the day with my old high school cross-country team getting on the bus with them in the morning and returning at dinnertime. It was a very important regional meet. The boys made the State Championships but the girls did not. It was a great loss for the girls who had expected to easily make it.
After the meet, my husband picked me up as we had another invite for 6 pm for dinner so I went as I was. I was running out of steam. I was very pooped! I'm sure I looked very bad, tired and cold but her home cooking was so good and appreciated.
We had a great dinner of beef stew and apple crisp with ice cream only further instigating my desire to bring home some fresh Maine apples to make my own apple crisp on my return. I kept reminding my husband all week that I needed to take home some apples.
On Sunday the church put on a luncheon for us and we had another great time of fellowship. So many people to catch up with, so little time. After this luncheon we spent the afternoon visiting a few others and headed back to begin packing for the next day's trip home. After a quiet evening of catching up with laundry and our hosts we went to bed more than a little tired. It had been a great week. I now had a full fledged headcold to boot.
We returned the car to Polly meeting two of our friends at her home who drove us to the airport. We made one pit stop on the way and that was to buy me some apples. We stuffed them into my husband's now full suitcase and off we went.
I'm planning on making some apple crisp and enjoying every bite as I remember what a great week we had in Maine.