R O M A N C E

Romance – so many ways to spell it
So it is Labor day weekend and also Monday is the 35th anniversary of our wedding.
I met up with Jerry on Thursday evening in Gorham NH. We’re staying at a mom and pop motel until Saturday when he will take off hiking with Tom and Dave who are joining him for about a week on the A.T.
Last night we had dinner out at a nice but nothing fancy restaurant. It still amazes me how much he can eat. Came back to the motel and I fell asleep while Jerry played with his pictures on the computer. This morning we went to the laundry mat where Jerry played with his pictures on the computer and I did the laundry. Oh, here’s a first – It was the first time I witnessed a thru-hiker (not Jerry) actually strip down in the laundry mat and put on his rain gear so that he could wash everything he was wearing. He was very discrete about it, I just happened to look up at the wrong/right time.
After the laundry mat we went to breakfast – did I mention how much Jerry can actually eat? Then a stop at the outfitters. Jerry at the moment is looking through his resupply box before we make a run to walmart.
There is a pool at the motel which we will certainly make use of this afternoon. Tom and Dave are suppose to arrive sometime in the afternoon.
Well, I made a decision to return home with Tom and Dave. Sitting quietly in the back seat they will not even know I’m there. Jerry has apporx. 4 weeks to go. There are not many road crossings in ME and then there is the 100 mile wilderness, so I wouldn’t be able to connect up with him much at all. It would be a long four weeks at the farm. Once we have a frost the water to the camper will be turned off – I have more excuses but most of all I’m just missing everyone – kids, family, friends…
I’ll be leaving the van at the farm and then riding back up with Jay and Judy when Jerry summits. It just seems like the right thing to do – perhaps for my mental health as much as anything. The opportunity is so perfect so I’m taking that as a sign.
I’ll be working on the farm this week yet until Tom pulls out. BTW, no holiday weekend here. I have to work Saturday and Sunday to make up for the time I’m taking off to be here now.
It is good to be together again if just for a short time. It makes me smile. Guess that is how we spell romance at this point in time.
P.S. one more night to stay here and Jerry has 3 pints of Ben & Jerry’s stashed in the freezer – ah, romance!