We arrived bright and early and had some breakfast at the Billow House with Nana and Gramp. We stayed here until about 2:00 playing on the beach. JD we watched you work your skim board for quite some time.
You have practiced so much this summer. At the beginning you couldn’t stay on for more than a second and now you are riding the board for 10-15 feet and learning how to move your weight to steer to the left and right. You are still taking some big falls but I’m thinking that won’t stop until you’ve nailed down the “Jump on.” From here we left for the Cape arriving close to 6:00. When we arrived we couldn’t believe what the house looked like. We expected a small, traditional, cape cottage. This was anything but! It was a 12 bedroom, 6-bathroom mansion right on the water. As we pulled up we double-checked the address to make sure we were in the right place. Before we knew it, Cauf and Brown came out to greet us in the driveway.
We immediately got a tour, showing us the full bar and gameroom in the basement, the roof deck porch, the gigantic greatroom, and the many, many other rooms that we could use at our leisure. We were happy to be spending time with the Caulfield’s, Benoits, and Browns.
During the first few days we spent a lot of time at the beach down the street. It was a two minute walk and the water was warm, considering what we’re used to up here. Adam had fun playing with Riley
and JD spent much time with Mike, which is typically the case when we all get together. We spent quite a bit of time on the swimming platform about 30/40 yards out into the water. When the tide was in, it was a challenge for JD to swim out to the platform but each time you tried you made it! Mike, Cauf or I were always at your side, but you did almost all of the swimming by yourself. It was very nice to see. Mike brought his fishing pole and was excited to do some fishing in the ocean. JD, you were all about this idea also. Mike took you to the bait shop down the way and you got some salt-water worms. You were surprised to see that they had teeth and bite pretty often! You and Mike spent
about 3 hours fishing and one day you caught three fish! Mike put the worm on the hook and cast it out and you did the rest. He even let you (or made you) reel in the fish each time you got a bite. You had a blast and were talking about your fishing experience for much of the week. One of the nights on the Cape we decided to take in a Cape League baseball game. We were staying in Falmouth and there was team playing only 10 minutes away. I have to say, I was impressed with how much fun this game was to observe. The kids playing were all from big name baseball schools and some had been drafted already. I took the two of you around the way to stand right behind home plate! It was interesting to actually see what a 95 mph fastball looks like!
At night after the kids were in bed, the adults had a fun cocktail hour. Each night a new couple was responsible for making a new drink. This required some prior planning and we actually discovered some new, tasty drinks! We also played some sort of game each night. The house was so vast that we didn’t have to worry about being too loud, which was probably a good thing.
JD, one night Mom took you to a water park. All of the kids that were down for the week were Adam’s age and that got old for you at some points throughout the week. Mom noticed this and whisked you away on this evening. You had a great time here and even went down your first GIANT water slide!
Later in the week we checked out some different beaches on the cape, all were beautiful. We also spent time at one of the largest playgrounds I have even seen. Adam you just stood there and looked up at these wooden towers made for kids to climb, then you looked at me and said, “Addie climb up in the sky?” Soon enough we were both up in the towers. It was not very easy for me to get down, as the preferred departure method was a little slide!
Some of our most fun times came just before dinner. Everyone was back from his or her daily excursions and ready to relax. We played Hillbilly Horseshoes, football, and hit around the baseball almost every night before retiring to the front porch for drinks. While the adults were
on the porch, Adam and Riley enjoyed time in a blowup pool in the front yard. It is amazing how much Adam and Riley look alike. Adam, you are noticeably bigger, but you both have fair skin, big blue eyes and long blond hair. You both got along well all week long and seem to have similar interests. This week was filled with laughs all week long. You guys got to spend some quality time with some of my good friends. Its always fun to see you enjoy them and their humor just as I do. They all remarked throughout the week, what good guys you are. Adam, you did your thing all week.
You were giving your sneaky smiles, dancing and tackling people, as you often like to do. You even locked yourself in your bedroom at one point causing a bit of panic. Luckily Pop Pop gave me a new Swiss Army knife just before we left on the trip! I look forward to having additional vacations with these families as time goes on.
We went from the Cape to Nana’s house. She was in Maine but we stayed at her house as Mom and I had one more event left in our 2.5-week adventure. There is no better way that I can think of to end a family vacation than taking in the greatest rock n’ roll show of all time. Bruce was playing in Foxboro for an 8:00 show on this Saturday night. Cauf, Denise, Mom and I arrived to tailgate in the parking lot around 4:00 on this day. Soon after, Donnie, Kim, Tiff, Dick, Cathy, and Heather arrived just a few spots away.
The forecast was for rain so Mom and I picked up a bunch of ponchos, which ended up coming in very handy. In the parking lot we got some drizzle but nothing serious. We had a couple brews and lots of food while waiting for show time. This was one of the most fun pre-game times I have had for a show. The fans at show like this are almost always somewhat legit fans. People that want to see a show, not just that arrive for the hits. In my opinion there is no point in going to a concert to see the artist play meaningless “Hits.” You can hear them on the radio every day. Bruce’s songs have substance and meaning and the people, all around seemed to understand this. My Uncle and I were standing around wondering how many people in the crowd actually, “Get it.”
There was a “Dark cloud Risin” as we made our way into the show and soon enough the skies opened up. It poured and poured but luckily Mom and I were in a food line prior to the show, when everyone in the stadium got soaked! There was thunder, lightning and crazy pouring rain. Our ponchos would have done us no justice under these extreme conditions.
Bruce eventually came out around 9:00 and jumped into, “Summertime Blues.” He typically plays a cover for his first song based on what is going on in each city. In the parking lot we collectively thought the opening might be, “Who Stopped the Rain” by Creedence. He didn’t open with it but he did play it later into the set.
Mom and I had a great time. It had been a while since just Mom and I were seated together at a show. Last show I brought JD, and many of the prior shows, I went with Cauf. Over the years Mom has admitted that Bruce is her fav. She knew almost every song he played and there were some
obscure songs on this night. Our butt’s didn’t hit the chairs one time throughout the 2.5-hour show. We went about 25 rows up to spend the encore songs with my family. Badlands(Moms favorite), Long Walk Home, Murder Inc, Rosilita, She’s the One, This Bus Stops; he played some great songs on this night. It was one of the five best shows I’ve seen and the weather only added to the ambiance. I drove more in these two weeks than I had in month’s prior. So much the I woke up one day after and couldn’t move my right hand! I had to go to the doctors it hurt so much! We had an excellent vacation and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. From Moosehead to the Cape and everything in between. As much fun as we had, I think you guys were happy to be home in your own beds and back in your own routine. We’ve been back now for a week and a half and its as if we never left. JD, found out who his first grade teacher is, we signed Ad up for a few days in pre-school, and I am back at work. Funny how things work.
Bruce Setlist:
Setlist:
Summertime Blues
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
The Promised Land
Spirit in the Night
Tunnel of Love
Little Latin Lupe Lu
Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
Hungry Heart
Who'll Stop the Rain
Youngstown
Murder Incorporated
She's the One
Livin' in the Future
Mary's Place
The Rising
Last to Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands
* * *
I'm Goin' Down
Jungleland
Born to Run
Glory Days
Dancing in the Dark
American Land
Rosalita
