The B&B season is in full swing, and it is taking me down. This morning the phone rang at 6:30am - I pick up, no answer. Again, at 6:45 it rings. I spring up, expecting to hear the worse, death, accident, people I love dying in pain. But it is a foreign voice asking if we have certain dates in September available. "Let me look", I say through clunched teeth, "yes, we do". And the rate is as your website says is $125 for two people? "Yes, that is right, plus tax"...and the foreign voice continued what does that come to? $140 a night. "Good, good" I hear...we are traveling around America with two big suitcases...will that be a problem? "Yes" I say quickly thinking maybe I can get rid of him, "Yes, the Bird's Nest is above the garage, you have to go up stairs." "How many stairs"? Now, I am starting to shake....this man is killing me. "A set of stairs". "Is there anyone to help us up the stairs?" "No", I almost scream, NO there isn't. Well, we still want it. I will check with my wife and call you back in a few minutes.

Now this is when I lost it. "It is not even 7am in the morning. I do not like early morning calls. They scare me. "Oh, I am sorry to wake you up". "No you didn't wake me up, you scared me. The phone ringing this early is not good. Don't call me for four or five more hours, I requested.
Now he is apologetic...."I am sorry, but keep the rooms for us."

The day before I had a call, "Do you have towels at your B&B" Yes, we do. And do you have soap? Now, what would compel a person to ask these questions.

Monday the phone rang at 7am and our guest who was to come that night was on the phone from a motel in Poughkeepsie. "How do I get to your place?" I said, Oh it is easy. Go up 9...and he stops me. I do not have a car. Then, I said, you will need a cab or take a bus.

Last weekend the Bard freshmen came to school. The parent drove up, the mother, got out of the car, but the daughter refused. The mother puzzled went back. Is the door locked? What's the problem? "Spider" the girl says, pointing at the outside mirror. "Spider". I looked and said I don't see a spider, and the mother came around and brushed an imaginary spider from the mirror. Ok, now, she said. You can come out.

Do you see how they drive me nuts?

Here we are in August - after the fourth of July the summer is over...where is it going? Well, in July we had the wedding - and it was all we expected and more. The girls all looked beautiful, the location was perfect, right on the river, the tent, the food, everything wonderful, but what stands out in my mind is the PHOTOBOOTH. Yes, the photobooth was the hit of the party, in constant use, and the pictures getting better and better as things loosened up. I love the pictures of Timmy and me, the second shooting that is.

Then there was Cape Cod, another fun filled week, a new house right in town to explore and the same cast of characters. Our neighbor had puppies to exclaim over, a chipmunk filled himself and his nest with the bag of seeds I brought, and two visiting cats ate our leftovers. The ocean was warm and the bay was great for swimming. Kevin and I went to Provincetown to a psychic who specialized in readings and aura camera pictures until her dog ate the aura camera wires. Kevin tried to fix the wires while I had my reading. Then it was his turn. The readings were good and Kevin and I both kept saying, "boy, was she right on" for the drive back to Wellfleet.
Laura and I met Caleb, the boy who lived and entered our lives for ever, and he was sweet, saying "I love you" to both of us over and over. Another scene that stays in my mind is an old man going for a swim in the ocean. His daughter on one side, his wife on the other, a cane in his hand, he made it through the waves, the strong undertow and into the water. We all shared glances with each other, the sight was a warm touching tribute to both him and the ocean. Water is a great bonder of all - connecting the young and the old, each laughing as the waves try to overpower them.

Then it was home to hot, hot weather and get ready for Yard Sale Day in Tivoli, which was this past Saturday. We used Sabra's yard, Sabra, her friends, Laura all putting everything out and boy it was busy. The neighbors all had sales so the street was hopping. The best part of that day was when a boy of about 8 or 9 picked out one of Tim's combination locks for himself. "He loves to figure out locks," his father explained. Sabra and I regret that we didn't give him the whole box.

Now we are in August. Lots of bookings at the B&B as the Bard students come back, and the music festival is taking place. Already, the stores are full with back to school items so it does seem like the summer is dashing away. We only have picked one red tomato, so we have that to look forward to and whatever else this summer will bring in the next month.