I always knew this day would come. Christmas morning with a missing member.  Inevitable that they grow and fly, building their nest elsewhere. Mentally I was prepared. It wasn't a surprise and yet Christmas morning there was a piece missing. He was in Maine, (l'aute cote), the other coast. 3200 hundred miles away Since we had spent a week with him, moving him from Basic to his first station I hadn't prepared any presents to ship out. While we were touring the East Coast, Lona was at home, busy saving Christmas for us. She shopped, wrapped presents and decorated the house. I tried to keep some of our traditions. We read the bible, but this year we read the Lego edition complete with photos. It was very enlightening and I must say entertaining. And then we opened presents.  I have to say the whole time we were on the East Coast, I was missing Lona. Christmas morning I was missing Job. Christmas has changed for us and I understand that nostalgic longing for the way things used to be. However, life is about change and growth, so I'm embracing technology that allows me to stay intouch easier and instantaneous. To enjoy the time we have. To celebrate and have traditions such as cininamon croissant rolls and stocking stuffers and coffee and Bible readings, grounds me and allows me to embrace the change. So Merry Christmas and here, here to new normal holidays.

So we had until 4 pm before Job needed to check into the station and report for duty. That gave us time to check out a couple of light houses along the way.  There are over 60 along the coast of Maine.  We chose two to see.  Owls Head being on of them. Leaving Highway 1, we made our way along a back road to Owls Head and then out to lighthouse. We pulled into the empty parking lot. Mid December is not tourist season in Maine. We walked along the road, past the Coast Guard house and closed gift shop to the wood plank walk way to the light house. Once at the top we could see out to the Penobscot Bay and the the islands of Knox County.  This lighthouse is listed as being built in 1852 and is manned by the USCG under the Department of Homeland Security. Poor Job, I would have made him stand next to each sign and pose but the guy definitely had other ideas and refused. We returned to the car to warm up and continued onto our next destination of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.

We pulled into the parking lot and Isaac took one look and refused to get out of the car. What better way to get acclimated to Maine than by walking out to the Rockland Head lighthouse in Maine on a windy cold Maine day. He said “HELL NO, I’m NOT going out there. It’s going to be cold and miserable. I am NOT going.” And as an understanding and very loving mother I made him get his butt out the car and walk the 7/8 mile out to the lighthouse and back over ice crusted uneven slippery and jagged rocks with 25 mph winds at 10 degrees just so we could take some photos. But we saw some Coasties zipping by in one of their boats and I got the photos I wanted so that was a win in my book. The Coasties were probably dressed better than us. Truth be told, my lips were numb by the time we got back to the car. I think it took another hour to warm up with the heat on full blast. Finally we rolled into the small town of Southwest Harbor Maine. Checking into our Condo, we hauled bags and bags in. Job changed into his dress blues and we drove to the USCG station to drop him off.  And that is another story all together. 

This might have been the point where John turned to Isaac and whispered "It's f*ing cold." but that is hearsay since I didn't hear it.  They might be a tad bit miserable.

We checked into our condo, unloading all this guy's gear and there was plenty of it. Quickly we chose rooms and set up home base and then he put on his nice dress blues. He looks so sharp. I am so very proud of him. Then it was time. We piled into our rental to drive the five miles to the station.I couldn't help myself. I made him stand there while I took photos. We didn't know what to expect now. He grabbed his orders and turned around. Walking through the gate to make his first report. A milestone, a heartbreak, a proud moment. 

For a city, I think Boston was my favorite.  Admittedly it wasn't as easy to get to and we ended up having to drive into the city instead of staying outside and taking the public transportation but we were able to park at a garage right at the starting point of the Freedom Trail. Since we were in Boston in the middle of December, it was decorated for the season. It seemed as though every business, every house and every lamppost had wreaths and swags and ribbons adorning it. I loved it and have it on my bucket list to see Boston again around Christmas time but this time I want to wander little Italy and eat my way through that part of town.
We started the Freedom trail at the park with a stop at the visitor center where we purchased a small brochure that listed each stop on the trail.  It was a bit chilly and we bundled up, but could have worn even warmer clothes. The squirrels at Boston Common were brazen and forward.  In fact, they would run right up to your feet begging for food.  I leaned down and the squirrel turned its back on me since I didn't have anything in my hand so I reached out and petted it's tail.  That thing shot straight up in the air and did a 180.  It glared at me and scampered up the tree.  From the commons we walked up to the Massachusetts State House which we ended up viewing from every angle.  We came around the backside of it on our way back to the commons.


We looked for John Hancock's tomb as well as Paul Revere and Samuel Adams but many of the names were so worn that we decided to continue on our way.

Faneuil Hall is also marked as a nuclear fallout shelter.  I thought that was interesting.  I'm not sure that I've seen buildings here in the PNW that are marked as fallout shelters.  Maybe there are and I haven't paid attention to them.


Paul Revere's house is a little wooden house tucked behind a large brick wall with large brick apartment buildings stacked next to it.  It was open for tours but since we were walking and had much of the tour left we opted to snap a couple of photos and be on our way.  I wish we would have waited though until this area of town to grab a bite to eat.  It was like being in Italy with all the names of the restaurants and canoli being advertised.  We instead ate at a typical Irish restaurant earlier.  20/20 hindsight. After Cop's Hill bBurying Ground, we crossed the Charles River and made our way over to Charlestown.  It was here that we climbed to the top of the monument at Bunker Hill and was able to get a view of Boston.  At the museum we went inside and met a super nice park ranger.  He noticed John's Coast Guard Dad hat and asked who was in the coast guard and then shook Job's hand and thanked him for his service.  It touched my heart.







The USS Constitution was our very last thing we saw and we arrived just as they were lowering the colors for the day.  A couple of cannon shots, and the bugle signaled the time.  Job just smiled and said since he wasn't in uniform he didn't have to stand at attention. and then it was a trek back to the car in the dark, trying to find short cuts so we could make our way out of the city and onto our next destination - Maine.

We made our way towards Battery Park but once we reached South Cove Park, we realized that we weren't going to get a good view of the Statue of Liberty.  She was barely viewable through the fog but the buildings of across the water was moody and dark. There were other things we had wanted to see and so decided to make our way towards Times Square and Rockerfeller Center by walking.  Hind sight, we should have purchased a map of manhattan, gone to a cafe and circled all the stops we wanted to make and then just rode the subway to each stop.  Now there has to be a next time.  We walked and walked and walked.  We walked down Wall Street for Isaac.  Looking back we should have stopped at the Charging Bull for a photo. We walked past Trinity Church which was so impressive in the middle of the modern buildings. You could spend an hour here easily searching for Alexander Hamilton and other notable historical figures.  It was a sharp contrast to modern Manhattan.  We continued walking down Broadway. I wanted to pass by the Flatiron building and the Empire State Building but when we reached White Street I gave up and begged to take the subway to Time Square.  Time Square was overwhelming with people, with screens, with activity.  It was too much.  You could feel the energy and for some I could see the appeal it had but for me, I felt my energy draining. It took a few blocks and I realized that I needed to find my way to Rockafeller Center and leave the crazy. And yet Rockafeller Center was just as crazy as Time Square. Granted it was a Saturday and during the Christmas season. We arrived just on the outskirts of the center. There were so many people that we didn't see the ice rink.  When we saw the tree I was underwhelmed.  I thought it would have been larger but now realize that we were a ways away and it would have looked larger if we had gotten closer.  It was past lunch time and I wanted street food from New York.  I choose  Gyros and the guys choose hot dogs.  I think I got the better deal. Then we made our way back to the hotel and onto Maine. If we did ever go back I would probably stay at the same hotel: the Element in Harrison New Jersey since it was so convenient and nice and it was relatively inexpensive.  Also I think spring would be a good time.  Bucket List I guess.