Thursday, August 27, 2009

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

All summer I had promised Mom I'd take her to Kennebunk Beach to take a ride by the old house. Mom had heard rumors that the house had been sold and painted white and we had to see for ourselves if it had been ruined! Well, summer days go flying by and suddenly it's the end of August! So today was the day! And what a great day it was! Perfect summer Maine weather! I picked Mom up at around 9:30--our first stop was to go "see" Daddy. We did some "dead-heading" of the flowers and a little weeding. At least the best we could do considering we had no tools but our bare hands! Then we took off down the turnpike heading south.
We got off in Wells, and I showed Mom my "old" classroom at the Elementary School, then off to our first landmark,


I ran in and got us a half dozen of the greatest donuts in Maine (half chocolate/chocolate, half jelly) and we took them down to the Center (by Forbes) at Wells Beach to enjoy--see proof below!!

Sorry, Mom, but the author of the post has complete control over all pictures she chooses to put in the blog (therefore you will see no posts of me eating donuts!)
We then rode up and down Atlantic Ave., commenting on how all the renovated cottages have ruined the old look of the beach and reminiscing about the all the great summers at Wells. Then off to Moody, to ride past Aunt Ann's house and those beaches before heading to Kennebunk.
We finally made it to the old house on Kennebunk Beach after a quick stop for new camera batteries. The house has in fact been painted, not white, but gray with white trim and a pretty blue door. Although it's not "our" house the way "we" had it, it looks great!!

Of course, Mom would never do this, but I hopped out of the car and went and introduced myself to the new owners (who happened to be on the porch) and told them it had been Dad who renovated the house in 1966 and turned into a year round house from a summer place. They couldn't have been nicer! They are from Worchester, Mass. and have only owned the house for a few months. Apparently it had been on the market for about a year. They wanted to give the house a more "beachy" feel. They even insisted we come in and take a look around to see what they'd done. They were very cordial-and apologetic for the mess (it wasn't messy) as they have at least 3 small kids. We talked and shared some history of the house--it was really nice--I told the husband seeing our old tv room downstairs brought back vivid memories of us all crowded round the tv on 7/20/1969 watching the first steps on the moon, and the morning I came down for school and found Mom watching the breaking news that Robert Kennedy had been assassinated--ironic considering the current headlines about Ted Kennedy. So many memories came flooding back--so many great times in that house in High School and college for me--many of which cannot be revealed here as I still have some that Mom doesn't know about!!! I did snap one quick shot of the living room--beautiful fireplace is still in tact--and even got Mom to pose in front of the house.



After waving goodbye to the new owners, I was so glad I got out of the car-they couldn't have been nicer-I still miss the old place, but it's nice to know the new owners clearly love it too, and are beginning to make new memories there!
We finished our tour with a ride around the beach, through the Port, and around the ocean past the Bush's house to Cape Porpoise then home. It was a great time, Mom--so glad you thought about doing it and we got to do it together! Nancy

4 comments:

  1. What a great day you and Mom had, Nancy. I love the photos. Wish I could have been there with you!

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  2. SO GLAD YOU GOT "MOM" OUT TO THE BEACHES. SHE WANTED TO SEE THE OLD HOMESTEAD. WHAT A NICE RIDE. YOU CAN DO SOME OTHERS THIS FALL. NICE PASTIME FOR THE FAMILY. LUV, A. MARION

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  3. This young couple did a beautiful job of bringing "our house" up to this generation.It was so young and freshand tho not my taste I loved the end result. It was a super day, thanks Nancy....Mom

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  4. does bring back memories... I wan't to visit ! Love, Joanne

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