From Shelburne Falls, we headed east--stopping en route in Montague, MA, to visit with Jeremy's pal from Brown, Peter Masi. Pete taught Jeremy everything he knows about radio, back in 1972. Now he runs his own business selling old books and paper.
Our final, most northern destination was Brunswick, ME, home to two of Jeremy's aunts: Lydia Horton and Sophia (aka, Sally) Pfeiffer. Lydia and Sally retired there years ago and Lydia's 1810 house has an apartment in the back. During the academic year, the apartment houses Bowdoin students (the campus is literally across the street), but in the summer she makes it available to Butlers looking to escape the heat. Mom and Dad have been spending a good chunk of the summer there for 6 or 7 years.
This year, they arrived the same day the Butler-Galbraith Family did (18 July). They gave us the apartment for a week and they stayed in the main part of the house with Lydia.
Three Jeremys asmilin' in the Horton apartment (Jeremy Ian is in a high chair that Mom and Dad rented):
The day after our arrival, Sally hosted a festive dinner in honor of the visiting, multi-generational Butlers. In attendance were three of the four Wells sisters...
Jeremy's cousin, Cleavie, and his wife, Lindy (on their wedding anniversary!)...
Jeremy's cousins Hilary and Penny...
Jeremy's cousin Chris...
whose wife, Tootie, knit Ian a very stylish hat.
Our days in Maine were spent eating lobster and exploring the Bowdoin campus (old and attractive) and having picnics on the Brunswick town green.
We even ventured to a beach. Presuming that the water would be too cold to swim in, we neglected to bring bathing suits or towels or even a spare diaper. To our surprise, the water was quite temperate and Ian greatly enjoyed his first "swim" (wade, really) in the Atlantic--bottomless (Ian, not the Atlantic). He particularly enjoyed squishing the sand in his hands and only ate a very little bit of it.
We took a day trip to Bath, ME, to visit the Maritime Museum (very informative) and eat at Mae's restaurant--formerly owned by a friend of Tootie's.
On the 23rd, Mom and Dad helped us pack up and, after one last cheer for Maine, we headed south once again.
Stopping in an Embassy Suites hotel in Marlboro, MA, we met up with Marysia's friend from her Northampton days, Su Eaton. Marysia and Su ran a family day-care center together. Su had come from a kids birthday party where she was the entertainer. She left a pterodactyl and some "fairy kisses" on Ian's forehead before she left. He sparkled for several days afterwards.
The next day we made an impromptu stop at Jeremy's old stompin' grounds, Providence, RI, and the Brown University campus. Ian was nonplussed.
From Providence, we headed south on I95--encountering the only traffic slow-downs of the entire trip (thank goodness!). We arrived at the Bridgeport ferry station just in time to catch the 3:30 ferry to Long Island.
Once we returned to the Island, Maria took the Butler-Galbraith Family out for a yummy meal at the Old Dock Inn right on the Sound. Quite scenic and a fitting conclusion to our New England Vacation.