Flying Tents in Salem

We left Sunday afternoon and drove to Salem. It is always so wonderful to arrive at Winter Island---just looking out the window to see the boats in the harbor is so uplifting. Chloe is in heaven--we've had some of her favorite people over for cocktails --Charlie (the guy who used to run the campground) and his wife, Debbie and the other Charlie (John's old army buddy) and his wife, Gail--and of course, John's ex- Jane. All of that, plus she makes the rounds every day to see all of the locals lining the harbor. The weather has been gorgeous--so everyone is out enjoying the last bits of sun and warm weather--and they ALL know Chloe. She is going to hate us when we take her away from here.

Charlie, Debbie, Jane and Gail
Seems like every time we come to Salem, something awful happens. 3 years ago, we crushed our front bumper--last year, it was the slide that wouldn't go back in and this year, our neighbors left their portable tent up in a storm and it smashed into our car!! They knocked on our door last night about 10 PM to tell us how sorry they were. It looks like someone took a bowling ball and threw it at our front windshield. The entire windshield is caved in, the rear view mirror is destroyed, there are numerous dings on the car. I just spent the last 3 hours talking with insurance companies. I'm watching them happily leaving the campground--no worries on their part, but we have an undriveable car! Anyway, trying to get any straight answers from insurance agents is a challenge. I called their agent, who told me that it would probably be next week before their adjuster could get out. So she suggested that we call our car insurance company. If we file a claim with them, it goes on our record.... and it goes on and on. Finally, we got our insurance company to schedule the windshield replacement (no cost to us)--but they don’t do the rear view mirror--so we have to wait until the adjuster comes out and then try to get it fixed in a reasonable time. I don't know if it's legal to drive without a rear view mirror??? I am so frustrated!!!!!! I guess the good news is that we'll have a semi-driveable car today....but it hasn't done much for my mood. And, we still have to deal with the body repairs..... Oh well--is it too early for a drink??

A Spencer Weekend in West Stockbridge

We finally left Cleveland (after 4 MONTHS!!!) and made the trip east. We made a stop in West Stockbridge (The "Berkshires") in western Massachusetts. The town Historical Society was having a big "Spencer" weekend. We got in on a Wednesday night--arriving in the dark! The campground is in a very rural area--and fortunately, we've been there before or we would have been in serious trouble. We watched the sun go down as we were about 10 miles away from the campground and then had to navigate these dirt back roads. Another stroke of luck- we had a pull through site so we didn't have to deal with trying to back-in to a site. The next day, it was pouring rain and John went off to one of the old cemeteries (guess who stayed behind!!). That evening, we met at the home of the guy coordinating the weekend events- Bill. Claudia and Richard (John’s Mormon cousins from Utah) drove out for the weekend--so it was fun to catch up with them as well as talk about the plans.

On Friday, the 5 of us went on a preliminary scouting investigation to look at all the sites for the official walking/driving tour on Saturday. That night, there was a presentation on the Spencer Brothers in the old Town Hall (now the Historical Society building). They had the 4 of us sitting on the stage. (I did have a major moment when I realized that I hadn't muted John's cell phone and if it rang, I'd have to dash across the stage before everyone heard "Big Butt Woman" on his ringtone!...)

Sophronia Spencer's Gravesite