After waking at 8 a.m. or so, we set out for my niece Deb's house in Brunswick Maine.  After a brief visit with my sister-in-law (ex actually), Deb took Linda and I to the harbor where she launched her Starcraft boat, a 15-foot run-about. We cruised along the waterway for about 30 minutes before we arrived a cute little lobster-shack on the river. I drove the boat "on the way" and Linda drove "on the way back". It was Linda's first time as "captain"! We enjoyed a delightful lunch and talk for about an hour before heading back. We promised to return tomorrow for some more talk and continue getting to know each other after a 20 year hiatus.

David and Karen's "backyard"!

After arriving back at David and Karen's, we than had an opportunity to go boating again! David has a beautiful 25-foot "Lyman". It sports a beautiful teak deck, mahogany wood work and HUGE Chrysler marine engine. The Lyman boat-works date back to the late 19th Century and started boat-building on the Cleveland waterfront. They're quite "collectable"!!

Karen, Linda and David

We made our way to one of the local "watering holes" for some drinks and talk about the old days of "Jewish America" we had all experienced with our parents and grand-parents. It was an enjoyable get-together of good friends. The discussion centered around the "foods" we enjoyed a kids!

The evening was capped off perfectly with a Maine lobster dinner made by the chef himself -- David!! (did I mention he is a really great cook??). What a fabulous end to a perfect day of boating and friendship.  So, more is to follow, so stay tuned!!

Ciao for now.....

Linda, self, David and Karen at Fair

August 12, 2012. After the festivities in town last night, we arose late -- 10 a.m. or so. The weather was thick fog and the temperatures cool. After the heat and humidity of Washington D.C., New York and Boston, the cooler weather feels good. It's a lot easier to sleep!! We spent the morning with David and Karen, enjoying coffee and talking about the evening before. The bagels, lox and cream cheese capped off a perfect morning.

Early in the afternoon, we all decided to go to the Topsham Fair. Topsham is about 20 miles away. It's a small town of about 12,000 people with a long and interesting history dating back to the 17th Century. The Fair itself was small but interesting -- a blacksmith was working in a shed, explaining his work and making, at the time, what appeared to be small nails or hooks. We watched for a few minutes and moved on. As is the case with most fairs, there were animals on display, crafts of all descriptions and foods. We stayed for about an hour enjoying the people and entertainment.

Topsham Faire Antique Tractor Display

 In the evening we all went to a favorite Chinese restaurant nearby. The food was excellent, but talk and company were even better! After returning to David and Karen's house at around 9 p.m., David and I sat in the "kitchen" talking until we called an evening at about 11 o:clock. I've put "kitchen" in quote because of its uniqueness. The kitchen was, it turns out, the original log cabin when David and his wife bought the property 30 years ago. The construction is rugged logs, beams and wood-planks of natural wood. Since then, the house has evolved into David and Karen's "castle" --  a truly beautiful and impressive home on one of the many inlets of Maine's waterways called the Damariscotta River. The Damariscotta is a 19-mile tidal river in Lincoln County that empties into the Atlantic Ocean.