Boston & Back Home...

Honestly, It’s hard to write this entry to the blog while sitting at home on my couch...1) because the first (well, if you count Balmorhea, the second actually) leg of the Queen’s Travel Tour has come to an end :( ... 2)I’m at home and I’m exhausted and on my couch in my pjs, which means it’s hard to stay awake... and 3) I’ve written the rest of the entries at a remote location still in the midst of the atmosphere I’m writing about, but I’m hoping my notes and memories will hold up and make this entry interesting and informative as well...I did just finish up a Sonic lunch and have my Rt 44 diet dp with vanilla (oh, the joys of my hometown) sitting right here, so maybe that’ll be fuel to keep me going... here it goes...

On Wednesday morning I had my last lovely breakfast at the Hawthorne Inn ((btw, if you ever get to Concord -- pronounced Concurd, not Con-Cord as I tended to pronounce it before and also the famous resident Thoreau is Thorough, not Thu-Row...the other incorrect pronunciation I used to use -- you should definitely stay at the Hawthorne Inn. It’s lovely and the innkeepers are outstanding)) The breakfast consisted of a warm peach cobbler (or pan dowdy is what I’d call it because the crust was thick and on top of all the fruit except the few roasted peaches added on top,) yogurt with homemade granola and cheese. I then waited for the Sunshine Taxi company to come and carry me in to Boston. I again had the driver with the Boston brogue and curly grayish mullet and again he talked to me about my stay in Concord, the Inn and some of the best sites to see in Boston. He delivered me, despite a good deal of early morning Boston traffic, to the Lenox Hotel after a fairly brief 25 minute drive.

The Lenox, which was recommended to me by Dr. Kordestani’s new practice partner - and I owe her a big, big thank you because I hadn’t a clue about where to stay and the Lenox was near perfect --is a beautiful and luxurious hotel in a splendid location. The Lenox literally sits in the shadow of the Prudential building. I arrived long before the check-in time, but the staff was more than happy to store my bags and point me in the right direction to catch the Old Towne Trolley that would transport me to the sites of Boston. There are 17 stops on the tour, but frankly, one day is no where near long enough to see them all, so I as I walked the short block or so to the Copley Square Marriot where the Trolley would pick me up.

I immediately saw the Duck Tours drop off, but didn’t see where I was supposed to catch the Trolley. As I stood there staring at my map, a wonderfully helpful and friendly Bostonian in her skirt and sneakers with her briefcase in hand was kind enough to point me to the valet area of the Marriot where the Trolley would actually stop within 15 minutes to pick me up. I immediately had a great impression of the city from the staff at the Lenox and this Boston woman who had no reason to stop and help me, but did so anyway. I got on the Trolley and headed to the first place I decided I’d stop -- Fenway Park.

Ok, I’m not traditionally a huge Red Sox fanatic and frankly didn’t know all that much about the team...I mean, I was aware of the curse of the Bambino and the Green Monster, but I didn’t know much more than that. I AM, however, a HUGE fan of baseball (it is America’s pastime AND what could be better than a game that’s whole goal is... to get home safe!!!) and at some point I’d really love to see every major league ballpark, so this was a GREAT opportunity and Fenway is a GREAT ballpark.

I paid the $12 tour ticket fee and waited the 15 minutes til the tour started. The tour was great. The first big stop was the right field seating deck. These seats are phenomenal!!! They are assigned by lottery and you only get one game and four tickets (which equals one table) when you win the lottery. The incredibly cool thing about the seats is that there is a Budweiser bar and grill up there AND if you win the tickets you get to watch the game there AND have someone wait on you the entire time so that you don’t miss a second of the action from your excellent perch above the field...And, speaking of the field, that’s where we headed next...And, it was so cool!!! Being on the field of a major league ballpark is an outstanding experience. The grounds-workers were busy preparing the beautiful grass and baselines for a game with Baltimore later in the day. We walked along the back edge of the field right in front of the Green Monster...We learned about the history of the building of the ballpark and the Green Monster AND got to see the door that leads to the area behind the Green Monster where apparently many, many famous baseball players throughout the years have left their autographs.

The next stop was again up top...On top, in fact, of the Green Monster. The latest owner of the franchise and ballpark has made many efforts to increase seating and one of the areas he has done that in is a seating section on top of the Green Monster. On the way up to the top we also saw the red seat in the midst of all the green outfield seats. If you don’t know, the red seat marks the spot where the longest homerun was hit.

The seats on top of the Green Monster would again be another place at this ballpark that would be an incredible place to watch a game. These are also sold by lottery for one game per win and a four ticket minimum. And these seats are AWESOME. From this vantage point, there is at least a fairly good chance that you might get to take home a homerun ball...if not from a game, there is also a special batting practice that you can buy tickets to where you just might get a baseball to take home.

From the seats atop the Green Monster we went back down into a section of seats that are actually the original seats from the ballpark from almost 100 hundred years ago that were removed, restored, and re-installed in the ballpark. We sat in these seats for the end of the tour that included a great deal of historical information about the ballpark, franchise and the retired jersey numbers on the outfield rim.

I finished the really informative and enjoyable tour by visiting the team store across the street. I bought a lapel pin, of course, and also bought AJ a baseball laces bracelet because I know there are probably other Sox fans in my group of friends, but he loves them more than anyone else I know of.

I headed into the CVS at the corner by the ballpark to grab a diet DP and some more camera batteries -- which I have come to realize are essential tools for success on a day of sight seeing -- and wait for the Trolley to come back around.

My next stop was going to be Harvard Square...However, on the way over to Cambridge, I realized that once I got to the Trolley stop I would have to ride the subway or walk more than a mile to get to Harvard Square. At this point, it was already afternoon and I didn’t think I had the time to saunter through Harvard, which was distant from all the other attractions I wanted to see, and still see a bulk of Boston in the one day I had to drink it in. So, I did see the campus of MIT and learn a bit about that school -- as well as learning that there are something like 38 or more institutions of higher learning in Boston (and it’s hard for me not to love a place that has that many institutions dedicated to education in its midst) -- and I stayed on the Trolley as we headed by many more lovely sites of Boston. (Besides I had already seen the Harvard campus on my cab ride to Concord and I could buy my Harvard hoodie, the one souvenir I knew I wanted from Boston, somewhere else in the area.)

The Trolley then took us past the Boston Commons and many other attractions. I was struck by how many beautiful parks and natural locations there are in Boston. It’s a bustling urban area with skyscrapers and narrow streets crowded with businesses, but among the many narrow streets and historical locations are nestled numerous preserved naturally beautiful parks.

Soon we headed to the Trolley terminal. At that stop a rider can easily walk to Quincy Market (which is a great cobblestone pathed shopping area,) Faneuil Hall - a historical location (and Faneuil Hall Marketplace -- which it seems is basically an extension of Quincy Market,) the Waterfront and the North End.

These shopping areas are beautifully situated across a street from the waterfront and combine such retail locations as Coach, Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, and others as well as local stores such as Lucy’s League (which carries really cute women’s sports team fanware and college clothes and which is where I ended up buying my Harvard hoodie and the really cute matching pj bottoms,) Bostonian Society Shop, and a replica restaurant of the Cheers bar (which is actually located in another part of Boston I visited later,) and numerous kiosks selling everything from purses to socks and wrap dresses to scarves. The area is also heavily populated with restaurants, which I was definitely interested in as it was well after 1 and I hadn’t had lunch. I considered the replica of Cheers, but because it was only about 65 degrees and breezy what I really wanted was some good New England Clam Chowder because that was one New England treat I surely didn’t want to miss. I decided on a seafood speciality restaurant called KingFish Hall. I had a wonderful cup of chowder and a Lobster Salad. The chowder was really good and the Lobster Salad was not only tasty, but also presented beautifully. After enjoying my lovely lunch, I felt re-fueled to see more sites.

I headed back across the street to the edge of the North End area and walked down a couple of streets (which are heavily populated with what I’ve been told are excellent Italian restaurants brought there by the Italian immigrants that settled the area.) Since I wasn’t hungry and didn’t need to do more shopping, I decided to head to the Waterfront area. Sailboats and yachts dotted the water and numerous boats of all sizes were present in the slips. There was a nice area to sit on the boardwalk and enjoy the area, but the wind off the water was cold, and I’d also very unfortunately developed a headache.

I decided to jump back on the next Trolley and head to my hotel for at least a few minutes. We passed the North Church Tower, where the famous lamps where hung in the belfry on the night of Paul Revere’s ride, the cemetery where Paul Revere and other patriots are buried, Boston Gardens, the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill and also the original (and still operating) location of Cheers. We also saw a wedding taking place in the Boston Public Garden near the statue of the ducklings and their mother inspired by the book Make Way for Ducklings. During this portion of the tour, we actually took a few unscheduled detours in the area near Bunker Hill and beyond. Apparently two movies are being shot in Boston - one starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz and one starring Ben Affleck. We didn’t actually see the stars, but we did encounter a lot of signs pointing to various sets and also lots of large trucks that apparently move all the paraphernalia needed to make a movie.

I actually ended up seeing a good deal of Boston on this ride back to my hotel. And, although, I have not ever denied that I’m directionally challenged, I did figure out that Trinity Church -- which I definitely wanted to see closer up -- and the Prudential were going to be within easy walking distance of my hotel.

When I arrived at the Lenox, I went up to my room for the first time. It was an exquisite west-facing room with a wonderful view of Boston. My window faced the view down Boylston Street and the Prudential Building. I was pleased with my accommodations, but was still suffering from a headache. I tried resting for a few minutes, but it wasn’t helping. I decided to grab a jacket -- which I definitely needed on the cool slightly windy streets -- and try to find somewhere to get some Tylenol. I stopped by the concierge desk to ask where I might get something for a headache. He reached into his jacket pocket and produced a packet of two Extra Strength Tylenol and then asked me to wait just one second while he went and got me a cold bottle of water...Ummm, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but I LOVE a hotel with a concierge. Like room service, maybe it’s unnecessary and indulgent and something you pay more for that you might not actually ever need...((not sure why, but that description also reminds me of insurance -- something else that may not be necessary and may also never use, but...)) if you do ever need concierge services, ie, Tylenol, directions, restaurant suggestions, transportation, tickets to an event (which by the way Tom, the concierge, told me he could get me for that night’s Sox game,) or any other little bit of help, it’s so nice to have someone there whose whole job is to provide those things for you, and who in my experience do so happily and kindly and as promptly as possible...(gotta admit makes me kinda wish I had my own personal assistant...i know, crazy and super over-indulgent, but I’m just saying...)

Feeling a bit better, and certainly well enough to walk down the block to the park in front of Trinity Church to take some pics and enjoy that area for a while, I asked Tom for one more bit of direction (where should I go in easy walking distance in addition to Trinity Church? and he quickly answered with the recommendation to go to the Prudential, enjoy the nice shopping center and definitely go up to the 52nd floor, the Top of the Hub, and have a drink and/or dinner) and headed off with my camera in hand.

The Trinity Church is beautiful and has a fountain, a grassy area and several places to sit outside of it. The tortoise and the hare -- you know, from the children’s story AND one of the symbols of the Boston marathon -- statue is also at the end of one of the benches and that’s where I decided to sit and finish my water, relax and take some pics while I waited for the Tylenol to completely kick in.

Up until this point, I had really not noticed many homeless people in Boston, but apparently this area in front of the Trinity was a place where many congregated. I never really felt apprehensive and in some ways I guess I felt like seeking refuge in the shadow of a beautiful church seemed somehow appropriate. The Boston Public Library also sits at the west end of the park area in front of the Trinity. I took some photos and although the Prudential was to the west, I decided to head east. I just wanted to see a bit more of Boston on foot and I knew that Boylston street was supposed to be a safe, somewhat upscale, area. I walked a few blocks mostly observing the people and places, went a couple of blocks south and then headed back west toward the Prudential.

I entered the Prudential Center from the north side walked through the food court and wandered around the shopping area. I sauntered through the Barnes & Noble and window shopped at other stores. I had looked around the very pretty shopping area for some time, but still hadn’t quite figured out where to go up to the 52nd floor. My hunger and my tiring feet led me to ask a security officer exactly where I needed to go to find my way to the Top of the Hub.

I rode the elevator up and saw what is my favorite memory and view of Boston. It was shortly before dusk and the view from the 52 floors up was breathtaking. I was fortunate enough to get a window table and I was so pleased that I did. I sat at the table enjoying a couple of blueberry mojitos, a shrimp scampi flatbread sandwich and mostly the view. As the sun set it cast beautiful colors across the windows of the modern structures before me. It also cast stunning colors across the waterways including the bay, the Charles River and the ocean that were all visible from the perch above the city. The brownstones and other historical buildings across the city absorbed the color of the coming night and became sharply defined angles and curves against the night sky. I was mesmerized. As nightfall came and the lights below began to twinkle, I felt myself growing very relaxed and really ready to head back to my room and in to bed. I made one last stop at the Paradise Bakery in the food court on the way out and grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and a couple of bottles of diet Dr. Pepper.

The walk back in the cool Boston night was mostly pleasant...I say mostly because although I’ve become increasingly more comfortable with walking alone even in cities where I’ve never been, I don’t suppose I will ever get used to homeless people who are shouting obscenities at themselves or me or whomever it is they are talking to...As I got back to the Lenox, I was greeted by the doorman, who also pushed the call button for the elevator for me-- again, I realize that this sort of service isn’t really necessary, and probably not cheap, but I don’t mind admitting as ridiculously extravagant as it likely is, I like it, I like fancy -- I entered my room and immediately went over and opened up my curtains and windows, slipped in to my pjs, turned on my computer and to record my reflections of the day and talked to mom on the phone for a bit.

I went to sleep to the sound of my classical tunes from my iPhone, but also to the sound of the city street and strangely to the smell of pizza cooking or some such baked goodie.

I slept in on Thursday morning, partly from travel exhaustion I’m sure and partly from reluctance to face the day that would end my journey and take me home. After a long shower and a light breakfast from room service, I packed up all my things -- stretching my suitcase to its limits since I’d bought not only a hoodie, but also matching pj pants AND had a free t-shirt to pack from spending over $50 at Lucy’s the day before -- I headed down to check out with my bottle of Diet DP in my hand and asked the concierge about transportation to the airport. For roughly the same price as a cab, (ok, it was probably $15 more) I could take the hotel car service to the airport. A black Suburban pulled around, they loaded my bag and just minutes before the noon check out time, I rolled away from the exquisite Lenox and toward Logan airport.

Things went smoothly with the check in -- ok, with the small exception of the brusk attendant of the metal detector who bellowed not only at me for not placing my laptop in a separate bin (which by the way was not available since I’d picked up the last bin for my stuff) but also huffed at several Japanese women who also didn’t place there items on the x-ray belt in a way that was to her liking. Unfortunately the same woman did my pat down and I suppose she could tell I was annoyed at her behavior or maybe just tired of being touched by someone I didn’t know, but she did end the pat down with a somewhat nice comment about my pedicure. And I headed off to my gate...

I had about an hour to kill before boarding the plane so I decided to have one more exploration of an unfamiliar locale and look around the airport. I saw something within about 10 minutes that caught my eye -- Legal’s Test Kitchen. Phil Evitt had suggested that I not leave Boston with chowder from Legal’s and since it was lunch time I thought why not enjoy one more bowl of New England Clam Chowder before I leave New England. Legal’s is apparently famous for their chowder and their crabcakes, according to the waitress, but since I’d had breakfast I decided on just a cup of chowder, which was, as Phil said it would be, truly fabulous.

As time to board my plane for Houston drew near, I really didn’t feel terribly excited about coming home. I wanted to see my family and my friends, I wanted unlimited access to Sonic and good Mexican food, but I didn’t really want the adventure to end. I headed to the gift shop -- the bag with the bulk of my souvenirs was being shipped back and I decided to grab some really small things to bring home from Boston for my nieces and nephews since their other souvenirs were from DC -- and grabbed a diet drink, unfortunately not diet DP --ok, so maybe this going home thing wasn’t going to be all bad...

The flight was uneventful, but long...today it seemed really, really long. I even got up and went up to the restroom - which is something I hate to do on an airplane...I read some, I tried to sleep some -- which is something else I can’t really do on an airplane...I played games on my iPhone and I waited to land. Once I got to Houston, I made the long trek to the next terminal, tripping on the moving sidewalk, and not quite falling, but thinking to myself how crazy it would be to walk the many many miles I had in the last 17 days and actually trip so close to home.

Something happened in the Houston terminal I hadn’t expected...Somehow being less than two hours from my home and back on the ground in the great state of Texas, I suddenly felt very, very ready to be home. The 40 minutes I had to wait to board my plane was much longer than any other 40 minute period in the last couple of weeks...

The flight home was a bit bumpy, we flew around several storms apparently, but nothing bad. I was so excited to see Ransom Canyon and then identify my parents home from up above as we descended in to Lubbock. Seeing my parents house made me so anxious to see their faces. And soon I was on the ground and on my way. Mom picked me up and we headed by Sonic (of course) and then by Kristie’s and on to mom and dad’s to pick up my car and King to head home.

I stayed at Mom and Dad’s for a while and I don’t think King was really all that anxious to leave -- he loves the freedom to run and play sans leash he has out there that he definitely doesn’t have at the apartment, but in 5 weeks he’ll be back out there again -- but I really was ready to sit down in my house, on my couch, on my balcony and put my head on MY pillow.

I arrived around 10 to a clean home (thank you so much Mom & Kaeley for doing that for me before I came home) and to a sweet message drawn by finger into the suede of my couch that said, “I LOVE You Aunt Mel.”...Wow, what a welcome home...HOME...maybe it’s not exciting, maybe it’s not full of great history or art, maybe it’s not elegant or excellent, but it’s home...and it’s familiar, and it’s family and friends, and I’m happier to be here than I really thought I’d be...

And, besides, I’ve got to be home for a while...I leave for NYC in 5 weeks!!! Til then my friends, thank you for taking my trip with me...I never felt like I was traveling alone and it was a comfort and a joy and an absolute pleasure to take you with me...I sure hope you enjoyed this adventure at least half as much as I did -- because even half as much would be a ton of enjoyment -- and I hope you rest up and get ready, we leave for NYC in 34 days...(oh, and we have a weekend trip to Houston two weeks from yesterday too...) Til then...Remember...

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller

Live deliberately...

The morning started with a homemade breakfast of baked pears with raspberry sauce, yogurt with homemade granola, and blueberry cake at the communal table with a few of the others that stayed at the Inn. One couple was from Australia -- Melbourne, more precisely -- and one man from the Houston area. We were later joined by a couple of other young women, but I don’t recall them saying where they were from. Breakfast was yummy and the conversation was for the most part interesting. The issue of politics and health care and even Southern accents (well, all accents because we discussed the Boston brogue and the Australia accent as well) came up. I avoided speaking about anything I felt might lead to unpleasantries because I was focused on what I was certain was going to be a pleasant experience waiting ahead for me.

When Gregory, one of the innkeepers (the innkeepers are a couple) returned from taking the new cat that they had rescued from starvation on the streets of New York City where their son is in med school, he was going to drive me to Walden Pond.

Ahhhh...Walden Pond. A legendary, mythical, magical place in my mind...A place that inspired Henry David Thoreau to live a tranquil and solitary life for 2 years and 2 months while he wrote Walden....OK, I’m guessing that’s what you’ve been told too...and, you’d be WRONG...From my visit to Concord, I have learned that while Thoreau did live in a one-room cabin for 2 years and 2 months in order to re-connect with nature and simplify his life to the barest of necessities, he did not feel that doing away with the company of others or isolating himself to that spot for that period of time was necessary. He had guests at Walden Pond -- among them, the Alcotts, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. He also walked in to center city of Concord on a fairly regular basis. It is probable that he walked in once every week or two (and after walking that same walk myself today, I’m pretty certain I could have stretched those visits into town to more like once a month...2 miles was a fairly long walk for me after having spent a bit over 2 hours walking the perimeter of Walden Pond, but more about that walk later...)

Gregory was kind enough to take me to the CVS for camera batteries and a Diet Dr. Pepper that was I felt surely needed as fuel for my days’ journey. He dropped me off across from Walden Pond at the Visitor Center/Gift Shop and told me to head right after leaving the pond and walk two miles back to town. He said there were several shortcuts, but being as I had already explained to him that I was somewhat directionally challenged, he decided it was best not to pass on the information due to fear that I might get lost heading back.

The gift shop was not open yet and although the replica of Thoreau’s cabin (the original cabin was sold to Hawthorne’s gardener and disassembled for use as firewood and the roof of an outhhouse) is also on that side of the street I was more anxious to see the real Walden Pond and would visit the replica cabin and shop later.

I headed down the hill and caught my first glimpse of the beautiful Walden Pond. The forest surrounding the area is lovely and the trail is a beautiful walk that winds all the way around the pond. In many areas in an effort to conserve the woods, there are fences on both sides of the trail. But they are simple wire fences that do not obstruct the views and there are numerous places where there are gaps in the fence and stone stairways of sorts that allow a visitor to walk right down to the edge of the water.

I hardly feel that I have adequate words to describe the beauty of the area. (I did, however, take about 160 pictures of the pond and little things in nature around it that I found fascinating. I am uploading those photos now to the shutterfly share site...IF you like nature pics, you should check them out. I really feel in this case that a picture -- or 165 pictures -- is worth a thousand words (or maybe 165 thousand words...and I’m betting you are relieved I’m not going to even attempt to write those 165000 words to describe what I saw)...

A few things I will mention here are that 1) apparently a lot of people come out to the pond to swim. I was told that the water is less than pristine, but you can see to the bottom at the edges and it’s a beautiful blue-green in many other places. 2) It is a long, but very enjoyable walk. At first, I was bothered by encountering others along the way...But then I remembered that not even Thoreau chose to always spend his time here totally alone. 3) The earlier you go the better as far as solitude. I arrived at about 9:45 and stayed at the pond til around 12:15. By 11 or so, there were quite a few people there. 4) It is easy to see by walking through the woods at Walden why someone would choose this as a perfect place to commune with nature and simplify one’s life to the basic necessities. It is also quite easy for me to see how this place would inspire someone to think and to write. (BTW...if you have not read Thoreau’s works, I strongly urge you to do so...If you feel that you simply don’t have time to read -- ie, that developing your mind, thinking deeply and expanding your views on the world aren’t important enough activities to spend some portion of your day doing -- then at the very very least Google Thoreau’s quotes and spend some time at least reading those....In fact, do it NOW...I assure you that as witty and wonderful as I’m sure you think I am, you will be much more enlightened and entertained by the words of that great author)... 5) Walden Pond is a wonderful place to explore, to explore the natural beauty of the woods and the pond, and also to explore yourself and your thoughts and your relationship to the world around you.

One other important occurrence at Walden Pond that I will tell you about is the visiting of the site where the cabin actually stood. I knew that the tradition was to carry a stone and place at the site. I did not realize that it was a tradition because Hawthorne had helped conservations and researchers place stones where, to the best of his remembrance, the original cabin was located so that when they returned to excavate and search for relics from the cabin that the place would be easier to locate in the woods. The original footing of the chimney was eventually unearthed and in that spot there is a marker that indicates that and several stone columns that roughly outline the dimension of the cabin. To the left of that is a stack of stones. I forgot to bring a stone to add. I wish I had remembered to do so. I wish that I had brought a stone from Garrett’s rock collection to leave amongst the stack of stones. Instead I walked back down the trail a bit and found a stone large enough to write on. I pulled my hot pink pen out of my purse and sat down on a stump to write my message. I wrote “I will LIVE DELIBERATELY” on one side of the stone and wrote my name and the date on the other side and then rather unceremoniously -- because frankly, it’s hard to have much of a ceremony when you’re alone in the woods -- placed my stone on the stack, took a picture of it, and walked on.

I finished my walk around the pond. I found myself slowing down as I knew I was nearing the end. I knew Walden Pond was going to be one of those places that I didn’t want to leave. I walked to the end with the beach house and swim area and sat for another 20 minutes or so. I saw a park ranger on a horse and took photos of the plaques and the US flag that grace the top of the hill. I knew there were other things to be seen back in Concord so I reluctantly left Walden Pond and crossed the road to the gift shop.

I browsed for a good while. There were many things I wanted, but I settle on a lapel pin and a dark green wristband that simply says ... LIVE DELIBERATELY...(I’m sure you see a theme here...) As I checked out the cashier asked where I was from. When I said, Lubbock, Texas. He said “I have always wanted to go there.” I kid you not, those were his exact words...and my reply...WHY?...(yes, Lubbock is a good place and all, but I rarely run into anyone who says they’ve ALWAYS wanted to go there...) But this guy was a huge Buddy Holly fan...Had been since his childhood...He asked if the museum was nice and if I’d been to his grave (which I have not...and sadly, this spring was honestly the first time I’d ever been to the museum.) I told him I liked the museum a lot and suggested that he should definitely visit. I guess Buddy Holly is to him what Thoreau is to me...an inspiration and an icon ...and I think it’s worth visiting those places that inspired the ones that inspire you.

After quickly stopping by to visit the cabin replica -- mostly to check and see if there were indeed three chairs present..(if you don’t understand that allusion read Thoreau...heck, you can honestly probably find the reference if you just read the quotes collections you’ll find from Google) -- I took a few pictures, considered what it must be like to live in a cabin like that in the woods surrounding Walden Pond, felt a tinge of jealousy and a bit of satisfaction in the belief that I too could survive like that, and I took one last look and headed across the street, took a right turn down the path and headed back to Concord.

It was a long walk. And it wasn’t too bad til I crossed the highway that runs along the end of the woods nearest Concord and the path disappeared. I was walking down the side of Walden Road. Walden Road is a two-lane road that is really very busy. Unlike the wonderfully kind and courteous drivers in Concord who seem very aware and very obliging to pedestrian traffic, the drivers on Walden Road didn’t seem to notice or at least not care that I was there. I walked cautiously along the side of the road (and I mean the actual side of the lane of traffic -- there is NO shoulder) and although I’d been told to follow that road all the way back to where I took it out of town, I decided against this option...Directional challenges be damned...I was DELIBERATELY looking for a way to feel less concerned about protecting my own life. About a mile and a quarter in from Walden, there was a street named Thoreau. This street did not look as busy, had a sidewalk and also had a sign that said Thoreau Street shopping. I knew I was headed back to the center city shopping area off Main and Lexington so I figured this street was a safe bet. Well, it wasn’t exactly a shortcut, but it did get me safely back to Main Street...eventually...

I walked down Main to the area where I knew some restaurants were and settled on Comella’s, an authentic Italian restaurant. I was tired AND hungry. I ordered the shrimp parmigiana sandwich with peppers, onions and mushrooms and a salad. Both were absolutely scrumptious. I also finished my meal with a mini-cannoli and a second Diet Coke for the road.

I decided to shop for just a bit before heading to the Concord Museum. I stopped in several nice little shops. One had a good selection of Vera Bradley purses, luggage, etc. I wanted another small bag like the one I carry now in a different print, but it was only available in two other prints at this particular store and neither one of them was one I really liked. My feet were tired and achy and I knew I didn’t really have room in my bags for any more stuff, BUT...I decided to go in this store called FootStock. That’s where I found a cute and comfy and great pair of backless black clogs. I loved them...it was love at first site...In fact, I spied them through the window yesterday, but hadn’t really planned on shopping again so I thought that quick loving glance at them yesterday would be all that I had to remember them by. Alas, I was wrong...and although I’m not certain I need these shoes, I most certainly bought them. In fact, they will be waiting for me at home when I arrive (the nice saleswoman is shipping them to me at no additional shipping cost)... I suppose this love story would be better if it were a fabulous man who I fell head over HEELS for (head over heels -- for shoes -- get it???)...But that’s not the case...And now I have something wonderful for me waiting at home (which I’ve been thinking having someone wonderful waiting for me at home would probably make me more anxious to actually go there)...And some day when I’m back in Lubbock and bored or it seems like nothing else is going right at least I’ll have cute shoes.

(I also found a great wool jacket, but it was a bit pricey AND I think I can find it online when I get home...) So, with my shopping bug cured and my purchase securely on its way, I headed down to the Concord Museum.

The Concord Museum, like many other museums, to my great chagrin does not allow photography. That does not however mean I do not have pictures...(It’s a self guided tour and I do have an iPhone with a camera (albeit not a great one) built in...so, yes, I deliberately disobeyed the rules and took a very few pictures inside the museum.) The museum was lovely and informative. It has the actual furnishings from Emerson’s study set up in a room to replicate the study and has many other exhibits about the intellectual endeavors, the social causes, the historical occurrences, and the other aspects that make Concord a unique place.

I learned a great deal -- a great deal more than I feel able to write about at this late hour -- but I did learn one thing that I will pass on... I learned that Henry David Thoreau and I share a birthday. While I am certain that at some point someone had passed along the years of both Thoreau’s birth and death, I was not aware until today that his birthday was July 12. I have never felt like sharing a birth date with someone really meant you shared any larger connection with them, but for some reason seeing that he was born on the same day of the year as I was did make me feel even more connected to a man whose philosophies and writings have always stirred a special feeling within me.

In addition to the things about Concord the museum also currently houses a traveling collection of Presidential China. It was interesting to look at and since I’ve recently been to DC it was a nice addition to the information about our presidents (and their tastes --or at least their wives’ tastes in dinnerware.)

I spent a bit of time in the gift shop at the museum. I had not intended to purchase anything there, but when I came across a collection of letters from Thoreau to a Mr. Blake entitled, Letters to the Spiritual Searcher, I decided to buy the book.

I left the museum with the intentions of visiting the Author’s ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery and the Old North Bridge where the Minute Men statue is and where the ‘shot that was heard ‘round the world’ was fired on April 19, 1775 starting the war for independence from English rule.

I had to walk back down to center city and turn up Bedford to get to the Author’s Ridge at the cemetery. I walked the long path uphill (or at least mostly uphill although it was a gradual climb) looking at the lovely homes that lined the street opposite the cemetery. At the second gate there is a sign directing visitors up another hill to the area known as Author’s Ridge. The cemetery itself is pretty and interesting. There are headstones dating back hundreds of years. The graves of Thoreau (in fact the entire families of all the authors,) Louisa May Alcott and Emerson are all very close to one another. I took photos of all of them. I was mostly struck by the simple stone that read Henry where Thoreau lies. Although there is a much larger family monument that says Thoreau, Henry’s stone like those of the rest of the Thoreau family is small and simply bears his first name. The Alcott family plot is set up similarly. The Emerson plot has many stones that are more elaborate, but Emerson’s is actually a much larger stone...and it is in fact a stone... a large rock (which I believe is quartz) that has the rough shape of a stone from nature and is much larger than any of the other elaborately inscribed stones in the family plot.

After visiting the graves, I heard the church bells ring out that it was 6 o’clock. I was still at the cemetery at this point. I was still more than a mile, and probably close to two miles away from the Old North Bridge because there is no path across from the cemetery to Old North Bridge and I would have to return to center city to make the trek out to the bridge.

I decided at that point that I am a good student of American Literature, but a bad American. Although I was less than two miles from the historic place where the first shot that led to the birth of our great nation was fired, I was NOT walking up there. I know...I’m a bad American...Sorry...but at least it gives me a really good reason to come back to Concord.

I headed in to center city, had another small dinner at Walden Grille & Bar (and btw, the bartender/aspiring comic/dog breeder from last night was the waitress tonight...and there was no obnoxious talk about how uncivilized Southerners are) and headed back to the Hawthorne Inn. I arrived shortly after 7 exhausted from my day in Concord, but also inspired. Concord has proven to be another location that passes the test of a great destination...1) I was emotionally engaged and affected...2) It was a place that made me think...and 3) I will leave here in the morning wanting more of Concord....

It is a place that has inspired, comforted, educated, and enlightened me. It is a place of independence, educational and philosophical exploration and a place of kindness and integrity...It is a place that I am pleased to have deliberately decided to add to this leg of the Queen’s Travel Tour...

Living the Life I’ve Imagined...

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined." ~ Henry David Thoreau

I’ve always believed that somewhere deep inside me beats the heart of gypsy, a traveler, a wanderer, an explorer...

For a long time I suppose that fear quieted that beat. I suppose if I did not now know what it is like to state in no uncertain terms what you’re greatest fear is, and then have to live through the realization of that fear that today might not be possible.

Traveling alone for the first time was at first --in the early morning light of LaGrange, Ohio -- a bit frightening to me. I felt a bit apprehensive, a bit nervous, a bit out of my element. And then I thought that if I could face the realization of the greatest fear of my life and survive that, I could likely face anything.

And fear slowly became excitement...

The flight to Boston was for the most part uneventful. I did have a Cinnabon in the Cleveland airport this morning. To be more precise I had about half of a Pecan Caramel Cinnabon...I only ate half because I didn’t really want to go into a diabetic coma on my flight to Boston and ruin the last portion of this leg of the Queen’s Travel Tour. I found it absolutely necessary to eat half of a Cinnabon because that’s what I do in airports. In fact, for some time I honestly believed that Cinnabon was something that only existed in airports. Some sort of sweet reward for weary travelers who make their way through endless terminals dragging bags and dodging airline carts (you know what I mean here...Those obnoxious glorified golf carts that carry disabled -- or whomever else qualifies to ride -- passengers from one place to another in an airport with no regard for those who have to walk from one gate to another) only to miss their flights and be able to only be comforted by some terribly bad for you gooey goodness that comes from Cinnabon...Apparently there are Cinnabon locations outside of airports, but I refuse to patronize those places...I firmly believe that Cinnabon should be the right and reward for the weary -- or nervous, or excited, or bereaved, or any other --traveler...

Upon arriving in Boston, I collected my one bag -- I am having my other huge suitcase shipped home via FedEx from the Grimmett’s house (thank you Jessie & Jason, not only did you take great care of my comfort while I invaded your household, but now you are also taking care of my luggage...You’re the BEST)... -- And I headed for the Limo pick up area...No, I was not actually being picked up by a Limo...I’m over-indulgent, but that seemed a bit over the top even for me... but I did decide not to catch the bus to the North Station, the commuter train to Concord and then a cab to my Inn. I made this decision because 1) i’ve mentioned the negative connotations I associate with the word COMMUTER and 2) because of an adjusted holiday schedule taking the bus/train/taxi option would have made me arrive well after 4 pm at my Inn when I had landed in Boston at 1:25...So, I hired a car service, which turned out to be a mini-van with a large man with a mullet for a driver. He did have that unmistakable Boston brogue and was nice enough to point out Cambridge, Harvard and a few other points of interest on the drive to Concord.

When we arrived at the Hawthorne Inn, I viewed a lovely pink, mauve, and grey-ish teal green home that likely dates back to the 1800s where I would be spending the next couple of days. The innkeepers were on ladders outside painting the trim of the house, but promptly came in, showed me to my room and then ushered me to the parlor where he asked me about what I wanted to see and basically just chatted for a few minutes. He then showed me a map of Concord and said that it might be possible for me to catch a couple of sites before they closed for the day.

I set off, camera in hand, toward the center of Concord. On the way, the first site I would pass was the Wayside Inn. The former home of the Alcott family that was then purchased by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The Wayside was closed for the holiday, but I did get a few pictures of the outside of this historic residence.

The next place I encountered is known as the Orchard House. The former home and current museum is the actual home in which Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women. The Concord School of Philosophy, which was built by her father, Amos Bronson Alcott has also been moved from just up the street to this place as well. I entered the Orchard House and purchased my ticket for the tour, which was to begin in 15 minutes with the viewing of a video about the Alcotts in the Concord School of Philosophy. I wandered through the gift shop wanting to purchase everything, but settling for just a lapel pin (I’ve decided to buy one at each place I visit and attach them to the inside of my luggage -- or possibly post them on a bulletin board -- to keep a record of my travels from this point on) and I bought a magnet with a quote by Alcott for Blair, my hair stylist. That probably seems random and strange, but Blair is a sweetheart AND she is also named after Louisa May Alcott, her middle name is Louisa and the quote is about beautification...so, it really seemed appropriate.

The tour began and the video was very informative. I suppose as an educator -- or a former educator on sabbatical -- I found the information about Louisa’s father, Amos Bronson Alcott, and his philosophy on student-centered learning and the Socratic method -- unheard of and not incredibly embraced in his time -- to be some of the most interesting information. I also very much enjoyed the information about the similarities and differences in the Alcott sisters and the characters they inspired in Little Women.

As with many museums, photography is not allowed inside the Orchard House. However, there are many treasures there to view. The drawings that May Alcott did as she grew up in the house grace the walls, windowpanes, closets and even the bread board in the kitchen. Louisa was not the only incredibly talented Alcott sister. May’s drawings and paintings are beautiful and somehow the fact that many --but certainly not all -- of them are drawn on the walls of her bedroom and the other rooms throughout the house adds to their beauty and the sincerity of the expressions of self that she was creating.

In Louisa May Alcott’s bedroom I saw the desk where she sat for at times up to 14 hours a day for about 7 weeks and wrote Little Women. For some seeing this probably wouldn’t be a monumental event, but I found it inspiring and breathtaking.

The study housed photographs of family members as well as pictures of Thoreau, Emerson, John Brown, Hawthorne and others. These men and their children and friends sat in those very rooms and conversed with one another as contemporaries and friends. It was awe-inspiring and made me wonder what they spoke of and how amazing it would have been to be present on those evenings of fellowship amongst such literary and historical greats.

It also made me miss my friends a bit. Although I doubt that there will ever be a room that people tour where it is said that ‘Ms. Howle and her contemporaries sat her and discussed the matters of the day and their philosophies of life while sharing drinks and laughter...,’ It made me certain that my time with my friends is as valuable to me as I am sure theirs was to them.

As I left the Orchard House somewhat reluctantly I walked toward the Concord Museum and the Emerson House. Unfortunately, the Emerson House was not open and is apparently only open on weekends. But I took some pictures and headed to the Concord Museum. I arrived only 15 minutes before the museum was to close so I talked to the woman there and she suggested that I return tomorrow.

Not yet ready to return to the Inn and starting to feel a bit hungry since I hadn’t eaten since I had my traveler’s treat at the Cleveland airport, I decided to walk the 1/2 mile or so up to Main Street and get some dinner. As I walked in to Concord, I was struck by the beauty of many of the homes I passed, many dating back to the 1800s. I took photos of many of them. I was also struck by the large number of people who drive convertibles...Of course, at 67 degrees and sunny, today was a beautiful day to take a drive through a beautiful part of New England in a convertible.

I walked in to Concord pausing to take a picture of the gorgeous Anglican Church and headed down Main. There are a number of very interesting shops and bookstores along the street, but many were closed or closing as it was nearing 6 pm. I may wander back down there tomorrow and do a bit of shopping after I visit Walden Pond. I saw a great number of gorgeous jackets in the windows. I am certain their selection of jackets is much better here considering they have a need for them for much more of the year than we do in wonderful West Texas. So, although my bag is packed pretty tight, I may just have to purchase one.

I turned on to Walden Street and weighed my dinner options. I thought about the Main Street Cafe, the Cheese Shoppe, or a little Italian place in the alley, but decided on Walden Grille & Bar.

It was a great place to eat and relax -- well, great except for this obnoxious chinless fellow at the bar, who was clearly trying to pick up the bartender, who does stand up comedy when she’s not bartending or breeding dogs...(Ok, I’m an avid overlistener and I picked up all of this without ever speaking to any of these people.) The thing that made this particular New Englander annoying is that he and his group of 3 companions were having a discussion for some reason about laws regarding marrying your first cousin -- it is legal by the way, to marry your first cousin in about 35 states...including Massachusetts. He said no fewer than 7 times how he was sure it was mostly legal and practiced in the South. He even specifically made reference to the great state of Texas in his slurs. I am pretty sure it is illegal to marry your first cousin in Texas...and I do NOT know ANYONE who has...I was appalled by his behavior, but being an out-of-towner and a bit unsure of how to show him the error of his ways without giving him a good old-fashioned Texas-style ass-whooping (or at least a talking to,) I opted to say nothing. 1) The whooping would likely have proved his point about the lack of civilized manners he thinks Texans and all Southerners have and 2) I was really enjoying my Concord Cooler AND decided that I would not engage in a battle of wits with a man who was clearly unarmed...

So, I enjoyed my drink, my dinner of Turkey BLT and mixed greens and indulged in creme brulee...As a reward for my constraint in dealing with what I just cannot refer to as that Northern ‘gentleman.’

I walked back to the Inn enjoying the excellent weather and the ringing of the bells in the tower of the Anglican Church, put on my pjs and hoodie, and sought out the innkeeper for advice about a place where I might sit and write. He pointed me to a lovely gazebo and after I played catch with the resident big black dog for a few minutes, I settled in to write this blog.

The gazebo has mosquito netting around it and is furnished with numerous chairs and a lovely tableclothed table complete with several candles.

I settled in to reflect, to listen to the gurgling water from the fountain nearby and to write. I was feeling very relaxed and very sure that despite the one unpleasant encounter that Concord is indeed a lovely place. About that time, a big grey cat strolled in to the gazebo -- and although I’m not usually a huge fan of cats his purring won me over -- and the innkeeper descended the steps of the Inn with a wine glass in hand. He offered me the white wine, which is by the way delicious, and left me to my thinking and my writing...Thinking mostly that this was a truly splendid moment and Concord is indeed a lovely, lovely place...

Although it’s quite early by my normal standards (just after 9 pm,) I’m going to wrap this up for now, head in to the Inn, upload some pics, and take a long relaxing shower before I climb into my four poster canopy bed with the lovely lace canopy and drift off to dream about the interesting adventures in store for me tomorrow in the lovely, lovely town of Concord and the tranquil surroundings of Walden Pond.

And tomorrow, as Thoreau said, I will “go in the direction of [my] dreams...and live the life I’ve imagined.”