After the cold and fog of the last week of the Greenland Expedition, we spent a night in St. John’s, Newfoundland – a cool, live-music town before returning home to enjoy the final weeks of a glorious Connecticut summer and the beginning of the fall.

At the end of September, we rejoined the ship in Boston and had an early Thanksgiving dinner with 20 of our 27 family members. Having been to Boston many times, I didn’t even take one photo off the ship, but I still think it is one of the most beautiful cities in the world on a blue-sky day. The weather was perfect and it was great to see so many of the kids together.

The ship then stopped for a couple of days in Portland, Maine. When I was growing up, my paternal grandparents had a small place on a small island just off of the coast. Every year, my parents took us for a week’s visit (up to 6 kids eventually). I hadn’t been to the island in over 43 years, and I was anxious to visit and show Debra around.  We took the ferry out and were graciously hosted by my aunt Nancy, who still lives on the island – though in a different house.  She took us around the island, which has hardly changed.  She even got us in to the old homestead for a tour. What memories the whole day brought back – swimming in the frigid ocean, clamming, picnics on the rocks, exploring old World War II fortifications, fresh lobster, the kerosene stove, and waking to the smell of grandpa’s cigar in the morning. And for the first time, it occurred to me that 8 of us descending on their tiny house with no indoor plumbing (in the early years) must have been a stressful time to my aging grandparents. But if it was, they never showed it. Fond memories – thanks Nancy!

After Portland, the ship headed south to New York City ahead of schedule, trying to get to safety as Hurricane Jaoquin was bearing down on us. Fortunately, the storm veered out to sea and we had a week of spectacular weather docked on the Hudson River at 53rd Street. Since we were early to NY, we didn’t have a plan for Sunday night – a relatively quiet time.  But friends Joe and Danielle took us and our guests Nick and Sar to Lavo for dinner.  Every Sunday they do something funky there.  At about 9:30 they put on a wild circus-like show and everyone ended up with clown gear and dancing on the tables.  It was a real hoot.  When we came back to the ship late at night, the security and immigration people couldn’t hold their “tough guy” looks.  Thanks Joe!

Six months ago, we sent a “save the date” invitation to about 45 friends for a dinner party on board in the city. We also booked Tangled Vine, our favorite cover band to play on the top deck of the ship. We were thrilled that almost everyone we had invited accepted and made it, despite it being in the middle of the work week. The hurricane threat had me a nervous wreck, but the weather couldn’t have been better. It was so much fun seeing so many friends together – it was like a wedding without the in-laws! But like a wedding, time flew by, and we felt we didn’t really get to visit enough.

We were especially happy that the “Lori gang” all made it, though none are local anymore. Lori was our trainer when Debra and I first got together 9 years ago in Stamford, where neither of us knew anyone. She not only became our best friend, she introduced us to her 4 best girlfriends – and we’ve all stayed close ever since. They were all single, young, vibrant, fun, and beautiful. Now they’re married (all but one if you’re interested), young-ish, busy with 8 kids amongst them, but still fun and beautiful! What great times we had together – it was such a treat to see them again.

Here’s a brief (2 minute) video of the band: