What Westport is Lacking (rough draft)

While Westport Massachusetts has many desired qualities that one would look for in a small town she is lacking one important thing, sidewalks. Every day when I drive down Main Road I notice the elderly woman with her walker hobbling along the narrow path of gravel and grass next to the road. Seeing this woman on her routine walk is inspiring as I can’t imagine it is easy for her. As I watch her it makes me wonder why I don’t see more people walking or running around town. It is, after all, a small town with beautiful picturesque scenery to take in. Throughout town there are a few nature paths to hike and explore but the lack of sidewalks makes the roads a treacherous and dangerous place to navigate for pedestrians. Sidewalks would be a great addition to this town. The implementation of sidewalks would inspire physical activity, help the environment and increase the revenue for both small businesses and property owners.

 

One of the leading health concerns in America is Obesity(Top 10 Most Common Health Issues). The addition of sidewalks would benefit many individuals from the young to the elderly by encouraging individuals to get out and walk more! Over 64% of the Westport population is 35 years of age and older(Westport). If you take into account that “65% of our nations adults are overweight or obese, and 10% of the population has type 2 diabetes, a preventable and ruinous disease that stems from inactivity and poor nutrition” Ratey (pg 4) the addition of sidewalks, which is a free form of activity, becomes difficult to argue. Aerobic training such as walking has been scientifically proven to improve numerous conditions including but not limited to obesity, coronary artery disease and hypertension (Coburn pg 151-153). It has also been documented to have mental health benefits as well. “It turns out that moving our muscles produces proteins that travel through the bloodstream and into the brain, where they play a pivotal role in the mechanisms of our highest thought processes” Ratey (pg 5).Regular aerobic activity can help to reduce anxiety and depression. It also helps to decrease responses to psychological stress and enhances cognitive effects (Coburn Pg 126). Walking more can also benefit the work place as those who are more fit are overall heathier, more productive and, satisfied with their work. These qualities make them less likely to “call out”(Implementing Pedestrian Improvements).

 

Along with the physical and mental benefits that sidewalks would bring to the community of Westport let’s not forget the environmental benefits it would bring. The encouragement of more pedestrian traffic would lead to less automotive transportation, and there-in reduce fossil fuel dependence. “Since the internal combustion engine continues to dominate automobile propulsion, cars dispense vast amounts of pollution in the form of air emissions, noise, used oil, and disposable parts.”-Melosi (The Automobile and the Environment).  The automotive industry is dominated by the oil industry that in turn has undue influence over every aspect of modern life including politics and is certainly one of the greatest contributing factors to worldwide pollution.  Statistics from the EPA confirm that “Most of the nitrogen oxides released in the U.S. due to human activity are from the burning of fossil fuels associated with transportation and industry”(The Sources and the Solutions). They also state that “Twenty-seven percent of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is from transportation. Transportation is the second leading source of GHG emissions in the United States, just behind electricity” (Carbon Pollution and Trasportation). As a means of solution to the pollution problem caused by transportation the EPA recommends carpooling along with walking when possible.

In a world full of Wal-Marts and Sam’s Clubs, local businesses need every advantage to remain competitive.  Sidewalks provide an excellent opportunity in a place like Westport to help “level the playing field.”  IN an affluent community like Westport, many would be more inclined to choose local, family owned businesses to purchase merchandise from rather than to travel to a corporate owned chain if provided an environment in which to stroll through and shop.  “In debate about $800 million KCMO infrastructure bond, evidence shows sidewalks and bike lanes bring the biggest return on investment of public money.”  (BikeWalkKC) Furthermore the addition of sidewalks has been shown to increase property value as more and more individuals seek out “walkable” communities(Small Town, Big Picture).

Many cities have taken on the project of becoming more Walkable with much success. The Mayor of Oklahoma City made the addition of sidewalks a priority after being dubbed “One of the Fattest cities in America”. Along with other healthy lifestyle implementations his movement was a huge success and the city collectively lost one million pounds(governing.com) Austin Texas is another successful city with their Walk! Texas Program which has also become a popular tool for prevention and management of chronic diseases.  (Walk Friendly Communities).  Other cities that have successfully become more “Walkable” include Charlotte NC, Houston TX, and Minneapolis MN(City of Austin). The addition of Sidewalks has proven to be a success in many cities across the US I have no doubt that the implementation of Sidewalks in Westport would be just as successful.

 

BikeWalkKC. “Sidewalks Mean Business.” BikeWalkKC, 9 Jan. 2017, bikewalkkc.org/blog/2017/01/sidewalks-mean-business/.

“Carbon Pollution from Transportation.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 17 July 2017, www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/carbon-pollution-transportation.

“City of Austin Sidewalks Peer Cities Report.” http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=237459 2015.

Coburn, Jared W., and Moh H. Malek. NSCAs Essentials of Personal Training. Human Kinetics, 2012.

“Implementing Pedestrian Improvements at the Local Level.” Https://Safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/Docs/Localpedguide.pdf, 1998.

Ratey, John J., and Eric Hagerman. Spark: the Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. Little, Brown, 2013.

Small Town, Big Picture, betseybuckheit.com/posts/the-cost-andor-value-of-sidewalks/.

“The Automobile and the Environment in American History by Martin V. Melosi.” Automobile In American Life and Society, www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Environment/E_Overview/E_Overview.htm.

“The Sources and Solutions: Fossil Fuels.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 10 Mar. 2017, www.epa.gov/nutrientpollution/sources-and-solutions-fossil-fuels.

“The Walking Cure: How Oklahoma City Lost 1 Million Pounds.” Governing Magazine: State and Local Government News for America’s Leaders, Governing, www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-oklahoma-city-walking-obesity.html.

“Top 10 Most Common Health Issues.” Eastman Institute for Oral Health – University of Rochester Medical Center, www.urmc.rochester.edu/senior-health/common-issues/top-ten.aspx.

“Walk Friendly Communities Embrace Open Streets.” Walk Friendly Communities, 9 July 2018, walkfriendly.org/2018/07/09/open-streets/#more-1312.

“Westport.” Bridgeport, CT Demographics and Population Statistics – NeighborhoodScout, www.neighborhoodscout.com/ma/westport/demographics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playgrounds and Their Role in Child Development

Given the hurried lifestyle and schedule driven form society has taken on in the modern era, it is increasingly important for children to experience the benefits of play.  Playgrounds can provide a much-needed outlet and environment for the kind of play that is conducive to proper development.  “Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and youth.”-Ginsburg.  The social benefits of playground in the modern world are more important than ever.  In a world of electronic social interactions, the ability for children to play without the influence of modern technology-based environments helps develop much needed skills.  Playgrounds also offer a place for parents to observe their children acting on their own, and therein to understand the workings of their mind, which can in turn lead to better parenting.  The health benefits of playgrounds in a country plagued with obesity are fairly obvious.  Subsequently, playgrounds help enhance the emotional and social aspects of a child that enhance the academic growth in a synergistic relationship.  Last, but certainly not least, playgrounds offer a level of social equity in creating an environment that anyone, no matter socio-economic status can benefit from.

All children will benefit from social interaction and development with a diverse population of peers.  “Undirected play allows children to learn how to work in groups, to share, to negotiate, to resolve conflicts, and to learn self-advocacy skills.”-Ginsburg.  As adults, we stress so much the importance of educating our youth, we may not give adequate attention to the supplementary role of other types of learning to the formal education.  There is a myriad of skills necessary to adulthood that cannot be taught in a classroom.  Free play offers a great environment to build such skills.

Playgrounds also offer a great semi-controlled environment in which parents can enhance both their relationships with their children and their own ability to parent (National Program for Playground Safety).  In the playground environment, children are allowed unguided play in a less structured environment where there are still rules.  Watching their children play in this environment can lead to a deeper understanding of the way their children think.  Understanding the workings of their little minds allows parents a better way to make the kinds of connections that deepen a child’s understanding of the world and their role and behavior in it.  After all, children do not come with manuals, and even if they did, they would all be different.

In a country plagued with an obesity epidemic, there has never been a time in which active play was more important to children-(The Role of Modern Playgrounds). By implementing policies that encourage a healthy diet along with at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity the obesity epidemic can be corrected (Healthy Schools). In an age of cell phones and tablets, where children would rather watch Youtube than play baseball, having the opportunity to explore an interesting and interactive environment that offers physically charged play is imperative.  Children who are actively playing are not only in better physical health, but they are experiencing better cognitive development as well.

The importance of play in its supporting role to the academic environment cannot be overstated.  Academic learning is certainly of the utmost important, but without emotional development and social interaction and growth, it leads to unbalanced cognitive development-(The benefits of Playgrounds).  Children benefit from a greater preparedness for learning, better behavior as it relates to the learning environment, and problem-solving abilities that are a huge part of academic learning.  The problem-solving skills also create the ability to apply what is learned in the academic environment.

One of the great things about playgrounds is they level the socio-economic playing field.  Children in economically disadvantaged homes and environments may not have access to the same resources children in wealthier homes may find commonplace-(The benefits of Playgrounds).  Lower income homes need the many benefits of play addressed here as much as children in homes where there may be the ability to create the kind of environment that these types of learning can take place.  It should not be a pre-decided fate that these types of opportunities for growth can only be available to the ‘lucky” ones.  Playgrounds offer these things to everyone.

The benefits of playgrounds are boundless. The ability for children to get much needed physical activity exploring age appropriate and safe environments while developing interpersonal skills is invaluable.  While the cost is measurable, the limits of the payback is not.  We are constantly stressing on the importance of education, and the supplementary learning of a different sort provided at play is equally important.

 

  1. Ginsburg, Kenneth R. “The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds.” Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1 Jan. 2007, pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/182. An article delineating the importance of play to child development. Includes a clear outline of the social, academic, emotional, and health benefits of childhood play and gives a clear understanding of the necessity of this unguided play. Also addresses the modern roadblocks to these activities and the lifestyles that have diminished the time allotted to such activity. Also looks into the anxieties and stresses caused by the aforementioned reduction of play time. Concludes with recommendations for parents, child care, and medical professionals alike to build structures that will allow for the environment needed for these types of activities.
  2. “The Role Of The Modern Playgrounds In Child Development.” Fundamentally Children, 3 Jan. 2018, www.fundamentallychildren.com/2012/09/06/the-role-of-the-modern-playground-in-child-development/. Article by Dr. Amanda Gummer, the founder of “Fundamentally Children”, looking into the benefits of playgrounds. She addresses the usual health concerns such as obesity, high levels of inactivity, risk of injury, not to mention the influence of crime. She also gives a list of developmental benefits both in cognitive reasoning and emotional stability. Dr. Gummer also gives a solid framework for what a good playground consists of, including but not limited to a diverse set of play options, social/cooperative enhancing aspects, and physical activities. She then concludes with an outline of benefits for parents both with their children as participants and as observers.
  3. “National Program for Playground Safety.” ADA | National Program for Playground Safety, playgroundsafety.org/safe/age-appropriate-design. Provides guidelines for playgrounds. First addresses the need for “age appropriate designs” and lists such for age groups 6-23 months, 2-5 years, and 5-12 years. Clearly outlines the requirements of each age group as the needs progress and change as the child does. Next discusses emotional benefits of playgrounds with suggestions for proper parental support. Also looks into the benefits for playground environments as they are available to all, a good playground being a place that accommodates for all. Closes with a list of things (materials, structures, etc) recommended to avoid in playgrounds.
  4. “The Benefits of Playgrounds on Child Development.” Foundations for Learning, 2 Oct. 2017, www.thefoundationforlearning.com/the-benefits-of-playgrounds-on-child-development/. A direct outline of the benefits of playgrounds. Discusses the physical and health aspects as well as the benefits of outlets for energy and aggression in children. Also looks into the benefits to self-esteem of the activities in playgrounds. Next addresses the necessary social developments of children and how playgrounds can enhance them. Next lists the mental strengthening benefits of playgrounds for problem solving skills and other intellectual exercises. Finally provides an insight into the benefits of playgrounds to the ethical development of children, how fairness and rules can still be observed in a freer environment making ethical boundaries a thing of choice rather than being forced by authority.
  5. “Healthy Schools.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Jan. 2018, www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm. A direct report from The Center of Disease Control that gives current statistics regarding the obesity epidemic. Includes the most recent statistics of the percentage of youth effected by obesity. Also includes recommendations for how to treat and manage obesity.

 

 

 

 

 

Lee’s Market: Not my usual shopping experience

Downtown in Westport lies a small plaza which contains the only Grocery Store in town known as Lees Market. Lee’s Market is a midsize market that was originally established in 1949. Back then it was merely a general store but with time it has grown and evolved into the market it is today. Lee’s is considered to be a bit pricey but the variety and selection that they supply is top notch giving it the feel of Whole foods meets mom and pop small town market. I’ve visited Lee’s numerous times for various items. That’s what happens when you’re the only grocery store in town I guess. Everyone finds their way there eventually whether they like it or not. In all of my trips to Lee’s I’ve never really stopped to take in all the fine details that gives this store it’s character and charm. Today I will be observing to see if the theories and observations of Paco Underhill from The Science of Shopping match my own.

The first thing I notice about Lee’s is that the small grocery store shares a lot with the Westport Federal Credit Union. According to the theories of Underhill this is a no-no. He claims that potential shoppers speed up when they walk past banks as there is nothing to look at. In other areas of the world this may be true, however, maybe it’s because Lee’s is the only grocery store in town, or maybe it’s because all of the traffic that passes by these days are cars instead of pedestrians, either way the presence of the bank does not seem to discourage or slow down business. The small parking lot is packed and buzzing with activity. It’s so busy, in fact, that on a nice Summer day you may find yourself in a line of cars waiting for a spot to open.  On the holidays, it’s such a hub of bustling activity, Westport’s finest are needed to direct and motivate the flow of traffic.  Mostly because no one is in a great hurry.

As customers make their way across the small parking lot the quaint small town general store appearance is what customers first notice as they approach the building. The outside of Lee’s is shingled and those shingles are weathered from the elements. The roof top of Lee’s is a bright sky blue which contrasts against the lush green landscape that it’s set on. There is medium sized black plaque sign with white script that reads “Welcome to Lee’s Market Open Daily 7am-9pm” greeting customers as they approach the white trimmed entrance. As you pass through the automatic sliding glass door you will find an abundance of hand held hunter green shopping baskets to your left. But what if one needs more than this? Directly behind you are the regular black push carriages. Paco calls this area “the decompression zone, and something he tells clients over and over again is never, ever put anything of value in that zone—not shopping baskets or tie racks or big promotional displays—because no one is going to see it.  Despite Paco’s theory, Lee’s market is bustling with customers who have all managed to find a basket or carriage disproving yet another one of Paco’s theories.

As you pass through the decompression zone you are immediately spit out into the floral shop of Lee’s Market. The small entry way is lined with glass shelves that are covered in lush green potted plants while the opposite wall is covered with an assortment of greeting cards and wrapping paper. Just past that on the same wall are more shelves, but these shelving units are attached to the wall and are made of wood, covered in different brightly colored floral arrangements. As you walk through the arrangements the scent of roses and lilies dance in the air. Directly ahead lies a mosaic half wall where there are more bouquets made up of carnations, roses and hydrangeas to name a few, all sitting eloquently on more shelves that are attached to the wall. At the end of the hall of flowers, to the right, the store opens. I can’t help but think this is what Paco was referring to as the Invariant Right. From here the store opens to the Bakery.

The Bakery is full of tables complete with cakes, cookies, brownies and pies. The smell of sweet delicious baked goods fills the air.  Here I watch a mother struggle to make it past without her daughter asking for “Cake? Mom. Please???”  She looks like she is no more than 7 or 8. Her messy blond hair is pulled back into a sloppy ponytail that sits crookedly on top of her head. Her dress is white and blue striped and there are stains down her front indicating that she is probably a bit of a messy eater.  “No. We are here for something for Dinner. Don’t ask me again,” she responds looking a bit annoyed and frazzled. Mom is sporting a messy bun that also looks a bit crooked. I’m left wondering if this interaction had taken place with her father would he have said yes?  Well played Lee’s. You can’t “avoid the cookie Isle” when it’s placed directly in your path(Gladwell). A little further along is the deli. A man in a gray long sleeve shirt with beige Carhart pants and work boots is at the deli counter gives his order to the clerk, “I’ll take 1lb of the Boars Head roast beef.” As you turn away from the deli there is a self-service station with homemade dishes that are ready for the taking. Paper bowls and paper boxes at the end of the table wait to be filled by a hungry customer. There’s an assortment of meats and various sides. Pulled pork, Italian meatballs, pot roast, fried chicken, baked fish, roasted vegetables, bacon mac n’ cheese and mashed potatoes to name a few, all awaiting to be brought home to be devoured. The smell of cheese and marinara penetrates the air making it difficult to resist temptation.

Just past the deli in the far corner of the store is the Dairy section where you can find your milk, creamer, cheese and yogurt. Lee’s has quite the selection. Everything from your normal run of the mill brands to various unique all-natural brands with names I have trouble pronouncing reminding me of the selections I can find in Whole Foods. The assortment here is sure to please any shopper with any range of preferences. An older woman with short white hair wearing a blue T-shirt and khaki shorts stands and ponders all of the different yogurt options in front of her. Dead ahead is the frozen food section and at the end of that is the produce.  Lee’s does appear to follow Paco’s guidelines of an ideal supermarket set up. This makes it impossible to not completely circle the store when making your shopping rounds ensuring that the majority of customers will venture as far into the store as Zone 4.

The customers found inside of Lee’s market are for the most part middle aged. Here and there I’ve noticed that some of the customers are younger and some are older. Some appear to be of the middle working class while others look like they might belong to the higher middle class. Both Men and Women are found through-out the Market dispersed among the many isles.  The isles are marked with pale green signs that are framed with wood. Each contain the isle Number and a list of items that can be found there. Each sign also has a picture of a person, place or thing from the town of Westport giving it that small town market feel. An older couple muddle through and talk amongst themselves about their pending purchases. She in her bright pink polo shirt with Khaki capris and he in his Brown plaid long sleeve button down shirt and weathered jeans. “Should we get that to go with dinner tonight?” he asks as he points to a box of rice. “No” she replies with an under tone of disgust “we tried that brand last time and I think that’s what made me sick”. They continue down the isle slowly inspecting each item they come across. Debating amongst themselves if it is worthy of a place in their cart. The isles at Lee’s are filled with all varieties of goodies. Normal name brands and brands that you have probably never heard of nestled in amongst each other offering shoppers plenty of variety.

Past the isles and on the opposite end of the store from the Bakery and deli is the produce section. The lighting in this part of the store is a bit darker and dim. Track lighting dangles from the ceiling. I imagine this has something to do with keeping the produce fresh but I’m not certain.  The walls are filled with fresh leafy greens and locally grown organic vegetables. In the middle of the produce section are four stands which extend the selection of fresh fruits and vegetables a bit further through out the area. Melons, cantaloupes, Pineapples, Lemons, Limes, Apples, Cucumbers, Potatoes, Tomatoes, the list goes on. I watch as various people, both men and woman, select there produce. They all thoroughly examine each piece by touch and smell before placing it into the green produce bag. The produce at Lee’s hardly ever disappoints.

Upon exiting the produce section you will find the Meat section. Displays of meats, poultry, and fish sit on top of ice garnished with pieces of green to contrast the various reds and pinks. Here you can also find a freezer filled with an assortment of pre-marinated packaged meats. Here I find the same couple from the rice isle, pink polo shirt and brown plaid guy, contemplating what selection they would like to make. “I think the lemon pepper chicken sounds good” he says. She makes a face of disapproval and starts to suggest another selection. I wonder if her decisions are based on reason or does she just enjoy disagreeing with everything her husband suggests?

As I make my way towards the registers which leads to the exit I stop to observe the scene. 6 registers all boobytrapped with various knickknacks that are plainly put into view to entice one last minute purchase. Chocolates, small potted plants, all-natural tea, soap, playing cards. No customers is safe as there appears to be something for everyone. As the clerk scans each item with every beep I wonder if the scanned information is being sent to a research firm for analysis(Gladwell). Surely in a small town market such as Lee’s the consumers are safe from the “Big Brother” marketing firms. But as I type this paper and reflect on “The Science of Shopping” I realize that most of Paco’s theories were actually correct. The Variant Right, Woman being the target audience, The landscape of the market and Zone 4 all proved to be correct. I can’t help thinking that times have changed but surely now a days it must be someone else’s job to study, document and implement these changes into the shopping world.

Sources cited

Gladwell, Malcolm. “The Science of Shopping” New Yorker November 4th 1996

Memoirs Final Draft

On October 31st 2005 I received a call from my Mom. I was at work and had missed the call so she left me a message. I listened to it fully expecting it was just the usual “Hi. I love you. Just checking in” but this message was different. There was a tone in her voice. A tone that immediately made my heart drop and my stomach turn. She told me that “she has to tell me something important” and to, “call her back as soon as I could”. I went out back to the little food storage shed where I was working for a small general practice as a Veterinary Technician at the time. She picked up on the first ring. “Mom” I said “what’s going on?’. Her voice was shaky and broken. “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this,” she replied. “Tell me what?” I asked. “Your father,” she paused, “passed away last night.” She broke and started to cry. I was speechless. Time stopped and it felt as though that shed had come crashing down on top of me. I was shocked. How could this have happened? He was gone. Forever. I didn’t cry. Not right away. I left work and by the time I got home I finally broke down.

I remember that day in the middle of the Summer. My sister and I had been at home with Dad just hanging out much like any other day.  As I looked out the front bay window I noticed a woman approaching the front door with a baby on her hip. She had light brown wavy hair and a small fragile figure, she proceeded to knock on our front door and Dad answered. “I just thought you should know” she said to my father, “that your wife is sleeping with my husband”. With that she turned, got into her car and left. My Dad paused, only for a moment, he turned to look at us and said, “never mind that,” and went about the day like everything was normal. Later that night when Mom came home Dad begged her to talk to him. She refused. He remained as patient as he could but everyone has their limits. Mom grew impatient as well. There was yelling and harsh words exchanged. After that night that was the end of their relationship and everything changed.

From then on “Home” became two places for my sister and I. My Dad’s house and my Mom’s. Down a long driveway off a busy road was Dad’s “house”, a small in-law’s apartment on the second floor of a house his friend owned where he lived on the floor below. There was a wooden staircase that hid behind a pine tree which led up to the one-bedroom apartment.  Dad would sit at the top of the stairs and eagerly call out “My girlies!” when we arrived. There was a small kitchen with tacky wood paneled cabinets and laminated flooring.  The bathroom was cramped as it was also small but had a large, white Victorian style bath tub which is where my sister and I took frequent bubble baths. The living area and bedroom were divided by an old curtain which I’m sure at one point was white but had developed into an ivory from use. In the living room there was a couch and a twin bed. There was also a TV stand with a small TV on which we played legend of Zelda, often. Sometimes I would fall asleep on the couch as Dad would watch football. When my sister and I stayed at Dad’s we would share the king size bed in the bedroom and Dad would take the twin in the living room. His house was quaint. The décor was old and outdated but it was comfortable. On the weekends this was home.

Weekends at Dad’s were always an adventure. He was a carpenter by day and a musician by night. He always smelt of a guitar case and sawdust. He had a small bluegrass band and they would play at local restaurants and events. My sister and I would tag along on the weekends that we were with him. We would even get up on stage and sing along sometimes. Dad loved to fish, so we would drive out onto Sandy Neck and spend the night. There is nothing quite like the view of sand dunes and water as far as the eye can see awash with the sound of the waves as they crash against the shore while the air is filled with the smell of salt mixed with fire. We would set up a bonfire and dig holes in the sand big enough that we could lay blankets down and sleep in them to block out the wind. When we weren’t at the beach or one of Dad’s gigs, we would go and explore local nature trails. Hikes and Bike rides were also some of our favorite activities. I remember one time we were on a hike that went around a pond and there was a large fish sitting next to a rock that was protruding out of the water. You could see the fish perfectly as the water was crystal clear. Being that Dad had come unprepared for such an event he decided he would give the “Steve Irwin” way of doing things a try (Steve Irwin was a conservationist that was well known for swimming and wrestling with salt water crocodiles). He waded into the water a ways away from the fish and attempted to sneak up behind it. As he attempted to catch the fish with his bare hands the fish inevitably got away and left Dad soaking wet and empty handed but he was smiling. My sister and I were bent over laughing as we had never seen such a spectacle before. We made our way back to his truck laughing and recalling the event.

As I got older, spending weekends at Dads became less and less of a priority. I was developing my own social circle. Creating a life for myself. Over the years I distanced myself for no other reason than I was too busy in my own world. I thought time was on our side. There was always “some other day”.

Losing Dad was hard. To this day one of my biggest regrets is that I took our time together for granted. I didn’t get enough of it. I wish that I hadn’t pushed him away and brushed him off the way that I did but I am certain that he is the reason why certain things and places make me feel at home. I’m reminded of him with every sunrise I watch. Every trail that hike. Every day spent at the beach. The smell of sawdust and guitar cases. Every time I hear a great bluegrass tune. It all reminds me of him. This is why, to me, “home” really isn’t a specific place or structure. “Home” is a feeling.

 

 

 

Memoirs rough draft

Growing up in Marstons Mills, a small village in the town of Barnstable on Cape Cod, was more than living in some place, it was a feeling. I lived in a quiet neighborhood where the streets are old and dilapidated, and if the snow falls our streets are the last to be plowed, so you better plan on not leaving the house for at least a day.  It’s one of those small-town neighborhoods where kids play basketball in the streets and get together at dusk to play manhunt. Kids can ride their bikes without fear of speeding vehicles, and when summer is in the air the ice cream truck does its rounds as dusk begins to fall. Kids hear the carnival-like melody from down the street and they scramble inside to find enough money for a cool, tasty treat. Every Halloween the neighborhood bustles with kids going door to door to collect their goodies and to show off their costumes. At the end of the neighborhood there is a little farm with a couple of horses and a bunch of chickens. Past the farm is a dirt road that leads to the cranberry bogs where I would spend hours catching turtles and frogs, searching for salamanders and snakes, or roaming through the trails that wind through the woods.

For a time, 163 Audrey’s Lane was my only home until I was in the first grade and my parents got divorced. From then on “Home” became two places for my sister and I. My Dad’s house and my Mom’s. Down a long driveway off a busy road was Dad’s “house”, a small in-law’s apartment on the second floor of a house his friend owned where he lived on the floor below. There was a wooden staircase that hid behind a pine tree which led up to the one-bedroom apartment.  Dad would sit at the top of the stairs and eagerly call out “My girlies!” when we arrived. There was a small kitchen with tacky wood paneled cabinets and laminated flooring.  The bathroom was cramped as it was also small but had a large, white Victorian style bath tub which is where my sister and I took frequent bubble baths. The living area and bedroom were divided by an old curtain which I’m sure at one point was white but had developed into an ivory from use. In the living room there was a couch and a twin bed. There was also a TV stand with a small TV on which we played legend of Zelda, often. Sometimes I would fall asleep on the couch as Dad would watch football. When my sister and I stayed at Dad’s we would share the king size bed in the bedroom and Dad would take the twin in the living room. His house was quaint. The décor was old and outdated but it was comfortable. On the weekends this was home.

Weekends at Dad’s were always an adventure. He was a carpenter by day and a musician by night. He always smelt of a guitar case and sawdust. He had a small bluegrass band and they would play at local restaurants and events. My sister and I would tag along on the weekends that we were with him. We would even get on stage and sing along. Dad loved to fish, so we would drive out onto Sandy Neck and spend the night. There is nothing quite like the view of sand dunes and water as far as the eye can see awash with the sound of the waves as they crash against the shore while the air is filled with the smell of salt mixed with fire. We would set up a bonfire and dig holes in the sand big enough that we could lay blankets down and sleep in them to block out the wind. When we weren’t at the beach or one of Dad’s gigs, we would go and explore local nature trails. Hikes and Bike rides were also some of our favorite activities.

As I got older, spending weekends at Dads became less and less of a priority. I was developing my own social circle. Creating a life for myself. Over the years I distanced myself for no other reason than I was too busy in my own world. I thought time was on our side. There was always “some other day”.

On October 31st 2005 I received a call from my Mom. I was at work and had missed the call so she left me a message. I listened to it fully expecting it was just the usual “Hi. I love you. Just checking in” but this message was different. There was a tone in her voice. A tone that immediately made my heart drop and my stomach turn. She told me that “she has to tell me something important “ and to call her back as soon as I could. I went out back to the little food storage shed where I was working for a small general practice as a Veterinary Technician at the time. She picked up on the first ring. “Mom” I said “what’s going on?’. Her voice was shaky and broken. “I’m so sorry to have to tell you this” she replied. “Tell me what?” I asked. “Your father,” she paused, “passed away last night.” She broke and started to cry. I was speechless. Time stopped and it felt as though that shed had come crashing down on top of me. I was shocked. How could this have happened? He was gone. Forever. I didn’t cry. Not right away. I left work and by the time I got home I finally broke down.

Losing Dad was hard. To this day one of my biggest regrets is that I took our time together for granted. I didn’t get enough of it. I wish that I hadn’t pushed him away and brushed him off the way that I did but I am certain that he is the reason why certain things and places make me feel at home. I’m reminded of him with every sunrise I watch. Every trail that hike. Every day spent at the beach. The smell of sawdust and guitar cases. Every time I hear a great bluegrass tune. It all reminds me of him. This is why, to me, “home” really isn’t a specific place or structure. “Home” is a feeling.

The Place Where You Live

So, this place I live is really not my own, not yet anyway.  I don’t mean the house, but the place, the town.  I moved here less than two years ago, this small seaside town of Westport with its quaint little “Lees Market”, it’s beautiful river full of Osprey and Canadian Geese, the old town fairgrounds, and some of the prettiest beaches in New England.  It’s my boyfriend’s hometown, but I moved here less than two years ago.  So, I’m still getting to know it.  Which I suppose is like getting to know him.

We live down the end of a lane that’s only been here for about 10 years.  He tells me the Wood family used to have a farm here.  Bob Wood (his high school principal) still comes by to ask if he can hunt in the woods behind us.  Last year he brought us some venison.  Right up the road is Lees Market.  Some other Supermarket from Portsmouth bought it a few years ago, but I guess the Lees lived in the neighborhood he grew up in.  A little way past that is Ten Cousins Brick Oven Pizza.  It used to be Fred & Anne’s where he used to go with his grandfather to raid the garbage to feed the pigs.  Country boys are gross.

Further along is the Head.  It’s a bustling fishing wharf, a place that seems about 20 years out of place, as do the people working there.  But it feels right.  Like somehow the rest of the world is off, but everything is the way it is supposed to be there.  A small bed and breakfast leading up to it, the old but perfect homes with back yards leading down to the harbor…and that’s where the heart of it really is.  That’s “home”.  We’ve got a little sailboat on a mooring out there.  We spend more time there than back at the house, waking up to the sounds of the fishing boats coming past to the ocean, gently rocking the boat while the smell of salt from the ocean fills the cabin of the boat, sailing out to the ocean and the islands just on the horizon.  That’s what home feels like.  So I guess it IS my own.

My first post. Am I doing this right?

Who am I as a reader and writer? When it comes to reading I may not be an aficionado but I do have an eclectic taste. I love to read a bit of everything. Non-fiction, fantasy, romance, self-help, the list goes on. I love books filled with pages that can transport me into another time and space. Books filled with words that can make me completely forget about where or who I am. While these are my favorite books to read I also appreciate non-fiction and the benefits of educating one’s self through reading.  I’ve learned so much from reading various books and articles pertaining to health and wellness. I consider myself a bit old fashioned in the sense that I much prefer a book over a tablet or a screen. I love the smell of a new book. The crisp pages. The way the binding resists being pulled apart.

As far as writing is concerned I don’t consider myself much of a writer. I do prefer to write on paper with pen or pencil then to type on a screen. Typing on a computer screen feels too impersonal and foreign to me.  These days the most I write is protocols for the office or notes of gratitude to myself in a journal. Occasionally I’ll write a long-winded letter to the Universe when I’m feeling lost or overwhelmed but those thoughts are always private. Not anything that I would consider sharing.  Writing has never been a passion for me. I hope this class helps me to become more confident in my writing capabilities. I hope it offers me the opportunity to open up and express myself a little more freely.