The Way Life Should Be

As you drive through three states in one hour in the Northeast and pass from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and into Maine (a giddy experience for a Central Texan who needs a flight on the Concorde to pass through three states in an hour when starting from Austin), you'll see this sign:


And I have to agree. We recently returned from 8 days in Maine and it was most definitely the way life should be. Except for the drive out with the HUGE bottlenecks of traffic that happen at the toll booths. But other than that -- yes, it's the way life should be.

Our man of New England, Ben, was getting hitched and it was too tempting to enjoy cool temps and a break from the Austin summer grind. So we indulged and went for the full week instead of the traditional wedding weekend. Plus once you load up the bags with baby gear and get your head wrapped around putting your 6-month old in a long tube for many hours en route to the furthest corner of the continental U.S., you feel like you better get while the gettin's good. Just witness our staring point of packing:


But the Planes, Trains and Automobiles adventure was worth the calculated effort. We arrived Saturday night after baby Grace was a champ on the long flight and the LONG drive from Boston to Bar Harbor, ME. Of course we stopped through BWI and met the President (and future President?...shudder) along the way.


We rented a house that was, uh, fantastic. Very relaxing front porch that got a lot of mileage with the cool mornings (and afternoons and evenings) as seen from bubble-blowing pics:


Anyway, we knew the wedding week would be a marathon, so we didn't want to sprint right out of the gates. You know, being experienced track nerds and all. So we took it easy and strolled around beautious Bar Harbor Sunday. This started the first of many "this is the best place I've ever breastfed" moments of the week.


Monday, in typical Monday-like fashion, was rainy (but it was the only such day except for the following Sunday when we returned home, which is like "so what" you know? Totally). But we still went around beautiful Acadia National Park (I'm having trouble with word variety since everything truly was beautiful). We hit the one sandy beach in the rain (and some crazies were in the 55-degree water) and visited our buddies staying back at a house with a no-fooling polar bear in it.


The next couple days were hermosa again and so we toured the beach, Cadillac mountain and a lovely island restaurant with the wedding crew. Mucho good times.

On a seaside hike with the family and Gracie strapped on.

The sandy beach on a sunny day -- packed with many brave swimmers

Grace hanging with Nana and Pops -- our triumphant baby sitters/vacationers for the week.

Atop Acadia's "Cadillac Mountain" with a view of the sailboat that Nana and Pops were aboard.

Crossing the actual "bar" of Bar Harbor which only materializes during low tide and you can hike across it and hike on the island it connects with. Pretty cool.


Dining on Isleford (another island that most certainly cannot be walked to) after a brisk boatride for a pre-wedding dinner evening with friends.

Then as the wedding neared and more folks arrived, we rendezvoused with many an old friend and enjoyed hanging out and, as usual, enjoying the surroundings.

Grace making friends with Leila, another babe traveling with brave parents and friends of ours. They were also toting 2 more kids...somehow.

Hiking around Jordan Pond with friends. Kelly stopped to breastfeed at a very suggestive viewpoint.

The old crew after the rehearsal dinner. Yours truly messing up the picture as usual.

And on the magnificent wedding day, we were treated to a loving, pitch-perfect ceremony, a (yes, again) beautiful reception and much good fun. It truly capped the entire week (as it should!) and Ben and Courtney were clearly quite the happy couple.

The ridiculously picturesque altar, where the happy groom awaited with the officiant who also happens to be a college buddy. Nice perk for sure to have a friend marry you.

Group photos of the W&L alums, friends and drunkards.

Finally . . . food montage!

BWI aiport seafood. Really not bad, and we really could not wait.

First of many lobster rolls at Gritty McDuff's on the drive up in Freeport, ME

Breakfast at a blueberry pancake mecca - Jordan's - in Bar Harbor

Multiple lobsters (of course!) with and without Grace in attendance. And with and without touristy lobster aprons. Both delicious.

Here's the full album with all the photos for those that are really bored . . .