I am a collector of paper ~ journals, cards, notebooks ~ I have blank pages at the ready for jotting down memories, sending greetings, compiling the books of adventures completed and planning those yet to happen. I am also a collector of memories, lines jotted down with corresponding snapshots that seem to bring smiles at just the right moments.
This morning I happen to grab one of these books on my way out in the darkness as I left pre-dawn to assist in proctoring a test. Later, once the testers had settled in I unpacked my notebook. This one has a deep navy leather binding with natural, beige soft pages. Opening it I discovered I have used this notebook at least once before.
May 12, 2021 is scribbled in the top right corner, and the recounting of the day begins….
There were some missed turns and a navigational system re-direct that resulted in a loss of cell service and subsequently more missed turns. That is how we ended up on the narrow, not actually paged but kind of packed down, road that went over the mountain. I have no idea what the name of the mountain is or if it actually counted as a mountain here in this beautiful part of the world.
Meadows full of small yellow flowers, spring blossoms and young leaves on the trees, rock wall borders and picturesque homes and shops with a few spots that required 4-Wheel drive, and even more missed turns due to construction vehicles blocking roads.
Eventually we made our way to the intended destination, a general store with a restaurant that had been recommended by a local as a great spot for lunch. The air smelled delicious and wonderful, and the chalkboard listed sample sandwiches, pizza and soups. Sadly, our arrival was 30 minutes too late and the store had stopped serving for the day.
We made our way on to Petersborough, New Hampshire, reading descriptions of other restaurants on our cellphones along the way. That is how we found “The Waterhouse Restaurant” with waterfront dining and lunch served until 5 and dinner after 5, and a great atmosphere as part of the description.
That description was quite the understatement.
Upon arrival, our hostess led us to a table overlooking a rushing river through a clear wall of glass windows. We were in-between the lunch and dinner crowds, and were nearly the only patrons in the restaurant. The view was amazing and our first meal of the our trip was nearly perfect.
We sat there for hours, over courses of appetizers, main course, desserts and coffee, listening to the rapids roll, talking with the waitress, hostess and one another. It was as all meals should be, filled with friendship, laughter, love and good spirits.
These lines were written on the first day of a journey to New Hampshire for the graduation celebrations of my God-daughter, and the rest of the trip only got better from this first meal. We visited covered bridges, had pot roast in new england and lobster on the Maine coast. Bucket list items for sure, but some of the best moments were watching the graduates finally march and collect their degrees a year after their original date was postponed due to the pandemic, and evenings in our rented home, also overlooking the river, with hours of conversations over wine & cheeses.
Most of our trips together are fantastic; even if our trips are just a few miles down the road.
The back story, and there’s always a back story, is that I am a terrible navigator. That fact coinciding with the low cell service is how we ended up missing so many turns; but had we not gotten off schedule, the day might not have been filled with images of the beautiful yellow flowers and the riverfront meal in the perfect restaurant.
In the end, I like to believe we were meant to take those detours, see those sights, and end up exactly where we should have been all along.
~Until the next adventure, may we all find beauty and encouragement in all of our detours!
Kel.
Kelly's keyboard 