the beauty of life

I went on a road trip to Boston this past w/e. While there I saw Gordon Lightfoot play at Harvard and visited with a buddy in Beverely, Ma. I stuck very close to home this summer so it was good to hit the highway and see some new sights. We stopped off at Lloyd's of Lowville diner in NY State on route which made me wish I had brought my camera along. Perhaps I like to romance the idea, but there is something about greasy spoons that brings out the desire to waitress in me. I left the booth I was sitting in for the last seat at the counter so I could lean back and people watch. It was early morning on a Friday so all the regulars had bellied up to the counter for their coffee, donut, eggs and bacon. The kitchen was entirely run by women and I relished watching the cook throw her eggs and hash browns on the grill while another made sure every old guy who sat down had a cup of joe in their one of a kind, thick Lowville Diner mugs. I sipped my green tea all the while imagining a photo essay on the history, customers and workers of this diner. To drive by you would easily miss it, but inside is a cacophony of smells and sounds that have proven longevity.

It was a beautiful w/e weatherwise and the scenery did not disappoint. I dined on lobster, corn bread and peach cobbler thanks to my buddy who served up a yummy meal in a park along the ocean front. Thanks Ry!
Saturday morning I went for a run in lovely Manchester by the Sea and later played frisbee oceanside on a big lawn/preservation area that was donated by the Coolidge family I believe back in the early 1900's. On the return home I made sure I stopped off at Trader Joe's, (man I wish we had them here!) and vowed to return one day to explore more of the obvious beauty this part of the world has to offer.

Highlights:
the stunning rolling hills and country side
taking the wrong exit and finding ourselves on back roads to discover some incredible old architecture in quaint towns
Lloyd's of Lowville diner!!!
watching Gordon Lightfoot enter the conert hall with a standing O
sitting on the rocks by the ocean
eating great food in a park
meeting new folks
Trader Joe's
lovely early morning run in a new town
fantastic breakfast smoothies made by Linda
listening to my friend Phil's hilarious stories about his experiences
driving alone in my car for a short outing listening to music along winding roads, getting lost and finding my way