Cape Cod Day 6

I learned long ago that the tighter you try to hold onto something the swifter it passes from your grasp. Yet, this week, I still tried to hold onto to time with mom, the time here on the Cape a little too tightly, wanting the time to last, and here I am at the end of the week happy to have had this moment but sad that it is almost over.

I asked G3 last night if he wanted to get up early this morning to head into P-town to walk across the breakwater since I promised I would take him, but he didn’t want to wake up early again. I thought about going alone, but that was something we always did together and I decided I’d rather not do it without him. So, I hiked the Great Island Trail instead. It’s in Wellfleet, on the Gulf of Maine, so it was closer. It was breezy and cool—66 degrees—when I got there. The trail is essentially a walk on the beach—on the soft sand and through the sea grasses. I only did part of the trail because I didn’t want to be gone from the house for more than a couple of hours. I wanted to get back to do something with mom.

The hike was pretty and peaceful. Blue water sparkling in the sun, green grasses blowing in the breeze. Sea birds squawking as they flew overhead and fiddler crabs marching across my path.

I could live here. On Cape Cod. Yes, I also love to be in and near mountains but I think I prefer mountains as a place to visit. A destination to travel to. A place to camp and hike and explore periodically. I want to live near the ocean in a state, a town that is accepting and less likely to discriminate. I want to be able to take daily long walks on the beach to think and clear my head before sitting down on a deck or in a study, breathing in the salty air while I write. This is what I want. If I meditate on it enough, will I find a way to make it a reality?

Back at the house, my brother made waffles for breakfast and then Mom and I went out together for a bit. We stopped at the National Park Visitor Center and walked part of the Nauset Marsh Trail. It was flat and relatively easy with a view of the marsh.

This afternoon, we went to Marconi Beach which is only about ten minutes from where we are staying. My brother didn’t come with us. He said he had things to do and that he would meet us there. The water was cold at first, but the waves were decent and once I went completely in I didn’t feel the cold as much. G3 and I weren’t in the water long when the button fell off his swim trunks. Afraid they might fall down, he got out of the water. He did not bring a second pair of swim trunks to Cape Cod, but I did.  So, I went back to the house to get them for him. They are a bit big but they fit decently enough.

When I returned to the beach, we played frisbee until we were ready to return to the water. While we were swimming, my brother finally showed up.

G3 and I wrapped up the day with some ping pong. Or rather that was my intention. We started playing but he got an attitude within minutes of starting a game. It seems he always has an attitude lately.

Tomorrow is our last day. I don’t want to go home. I am so much happier here than in New Jessy. But all good things must come to an end and reality must intrude on happiness.