Cape Cod 2025

So I vanished last week and I forgot to say goodbye. Sorry about that. I was at Cape Cod for my family’s annual reunion enjoying the beach and my cousins and staying up to ungodly hours and trying not to get sunburned (I didn’t). The first day we got there there was a nor'easter and instead of a ferry my brother, cousin and my brothers girlfriend all had to arrive by boss. I don’t think I’ve endured winds that strong as I was unpacking the car. I was drenched in seconds and freezing. It was insanely unpleasant. The weather wasn’t looking to be our friend but fortunately that was the only day it rained. Here are eleven other things that went right:

1. I didn’t forget my  bathing suit (which is a major OCD worry)

2. No one pathetically shouted “shots”. Okay there’s a bit of a backstory to this. One of my family friends brought this really obnoxious girl and she came into my hotel room (generally we are all in and out of each others rooms) screaming “Let’s do shots!” This happened either the year of or the first year after my sobriety. Then some other people jumped in and I had to leave so I wouldn’t leave. Now I don’t give a shit. But it was difficult in the first few years.

3. I didn’t cry on the beach. This sounds weird but Cape Cod is a very emotional place for me. I lost my grandparents and they used to come with  us. My grandma would give us doughnuts and my poppy would take us for walks on the beach. They were part of my Cape Cod childhood. I will always miss them. Then there’s just an overwhelming nostalgic feeling. Like I’m small and part of something bigger and that makes me teary sometimes. I try to keep it in check.

4. I didn’t buy a single thing from the candy store.

5. I only gained one pound. This is like one of the eight wonders of the world. Anytime after 11:00 am is acceptable for a cocktail or a hot dog. There are chips all day and salsa and quac and cheese and pasta salad. And hot dogs. And hamburgers. And chicken. And on Sunday…..lobster (which I actually don’t eat but the big lobster dinner is a family tradition. We push about seven picnic tables together and eat lobsters and clam bakes till we all have corn in our teeth.

6. I got along with my family friend’s new girlfriend. She was telling me how much she missed her dad in Columbia and started crying. I hugged her. 

7. I found good books in Provincetown and Wellfleet plus a book of logic puzzles

8. I got a batch of white shells to paint and decoupage 

9. Hot dogs

10. Impressing my aunts with their birthday presents (two of my favorite aunts have birthdays on the same day)

So in conclusion, not too shabby for a vacation.