Mount Desert Island

Another trip to Maine has come and gone. It was an activity packed, short 2 1/2 weeks! This was our first trip up to Maine without my father and for me his loss was felt much stronger there. We have always stayed in the same house as my parents and I have years worth of vacation memories and rituals that included my father. I missed our early morning coffee and chats before the rest of the house had risen. (Although Kim tried to help fill that void by walking over in the mornings to share a cup of Joe with me). It felt like he should have been with us on the green at night listening to the town band play while watching the kids run around the Gazebo and all the other family traditions that he so much enjoyed. Overall it was an enjoyable yet bittersweet trip.
The kids and I traveled up with my mother,stopping overnight midway through the ride. We can make it there in about 8-9 hours but with the kids being so young we have been making it a two day journey to make it a lot more relaxed for all involved. DJ was unable to join us until almost the last week because he had taken two weeks off for our Disney vacation in June and needed to get caught up at work. Luckily he was able to work in a business trip to Maine and leave a couple days early.
This year the vacationers included: my mom, myself, DJ, Zoe, Violet, Marina and Gavin in one house, Bob, Heather, Harrison and CJ in a second, Kim, Will and Annie in a 3rd and her parents Barbara and Art took residence in a 4th home close by. Friends Walter and Sarah stayed in their trailer at a local camp ground. All but the campground location is shown on the island picture below.

Here is a link to some pictures from Maine 2008.
MAINE 2008 Pictures
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Over the next several days, I will continue to add more details, stories, and pictures of our latest Maine adventure with the Natives and Co.