It’s such a joy to return to Massachusetts to celebrate Abigail’s graduation from Bridgewater State University. Her dedication and perseverance through every challenge have been an inspiration to us all. So proud of you, Abigail — you did it!
Abigail’s graduation at the Xfinity Center brought back wonderful memories of the old Great Woods, where Stacey and I saw Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac more than 30 years ago. Seeing Abigail among the first to cross the stage and receive her diploma filled our hearts with pride. Even the cool evening air couldn’t diminish the warmth and joy of such a special moment.
After the ceremony, we all gathered at Dairy Queen at Abigail’s request, and it was the perfect way to celebrate. Between the good food, wonderful company, and Abigail’s delicious homemade cupcakes, the evening was filled with laughter and joy. A kind stranger even took a beautiful photo of all of us together — a memory we’ll cherish!
Stacey and I finished our drive to Scituate for what promised to be another special long weekend with Mimi and Bapa on Hazel Ave!
Stacey, Bapa and I took the shorter walks on a gorgeous morning to meet Mimi at The Coffee Corner. The weather was perfect, so we carried our cups over near the Harbor Master and watched the marina come to life before enjoying an easy walk home.
The ladies planned a girls’ day and headed to Plymouth to meet Sara for lunch and a visit to a craft fair. Sara is growing Starfish Bay Company with beautiful crocheted creations handmade with love. She was checking out this regular Plymouth event to see if it might be a good fit for a future booth. Mackayla joined Sara, and later Abigail, TJ, and Karla joined the fun as well. Everyone reported a lovely day that included lunch outside on the deck at The Lobster Hut!
Bapa agreed to join me for my traditional trip down memory lane with a drive through Scituate and Cohasset, making several meaningful stops along the way. It’s the same drive I shared with Chip year after year before he passed away, and it ended with a quiet visit with him and his Dad for a brief, peaceful chat.
After lunch, I took the car back to Cohasset for a spontaneous visit with Maggie and Ron. They’ve rented a beautiful home on King Street for the year, and it was such a treat to see them in their new place. Thanks for hosting me for the short reunion, guys — I can’t wait to come back for a longer stay and join you at Sandy Beach!
Sunday morning brought plenty of sunshine for Stacey and me to enjoy a walk around Cedar Point and the lighthouse break walls. We did not attend Mass, but Mimi and Bapa said a prayer for us. Along the way, I quietly gave my own thanks for the blessing of this time together here by the sea.
Upon returning to Hazel Ave, there were some small but important chores to get done as summer descends on Scituate. We helped a little, but Mimi did the most while I followed Bapa around to “supervise” his activities.
Dad was rewarded handsomely as he and Mom headed to JJ’s for the first hot dogs of the season. Stacey and I were thrilled to discover that the Maritime Irish Mossing Museum on The Driftway was open for the afternoon! A legendary local volunteer gave us a wonderful tour and shared some fascinating stories and history about Scituate. We had a fantastic time and even learned a few things we never knew about the towns where we grew up. Proof that you really do learn something new every day!
On our way home, we made a detour through North Scituate to check out an event outside of Brewed143. There were food trucks, live music, and several cool vendor tents to explore. It was a great little stop before heading home to relax and watch the PGA Championship ⛳🏌️⛳️
Chowdahh from Satuit and a big salad prepared by Dad rounded out a nice Sunday in Scituate!
It was such a wonderful surprise that Abigail’s graduation weekend lined up with the annual Austin Reardon Golf Tournament! We always love playing in this event together, and it felt extra special to reunite again by the putting green. After enjoying the bananas Bapa thoughtfully brought along, we headed off with smiles to our first tee on #4!
What a special day on the links Gentlemen!⛳️
Summer arrived early here on the South Shore, with temperatures soaring into the 90s. But as always, it was still beautiful. Sara and Dave had the day off, so we escaped down to Onset for a little Cape-side adventure! We were greeted with lovely low-70s temperatures and a proud ocean breeze that made the day even sweeter. Lunch at Marc Anthony’s Pizzeria was an absolutely DELICIOUS decision. Thanks, O’Bs!
And so another wonderful visit with family — and a joyful celebration of Abigail — came to an end. On a beautiful final evening in Scituate, I painted a rock honoring our newest graduate and placed it beside the lighthouse by the sea. A small tribute to a very big accomplishment, surrounded by a place filled with so many special memories.
