Daily life for us includes painting and repairs, grass cutting and grounds maintenance. Sun-showers late afternoon, either warm or cool, depending on June sunshine. Evenings on our front porch to dine, play either cribbage, canasta, Scrabble or Quiddler, and watch the sunsets. Almost every evening the Western sunset is pink/orange spectacular. As we relax, we are often treated to evening sailboat clubs tacking around Salem Harbor.
Painting is an especially quiet, contemplative time for us when it is just Greg and Mary. Having been together 45 years, there is often just the sound of songbirds, gulls and surf. However, when Leslie, an Essex Heritage volunteer came out a few weeks ago, we talked non-stop all morning. We painted the first coat of a dark brown paneled mid-20th century room, which we are now transforming to modern white after three coats of paint.
Mason, Martin Nally, and his 3-man crew arrived early yesterday to start re-surfacing of the light tower. Marty, the mason who did the last Coast Guard resurfacing in 1995, wrote a children's book back then, "My Dad Fixed the Lighthouse." His 5 year old son Marty was the main character of the book. Marty Jr is now a 25 year old member of the masonry crew. Power washing is much louder than painting, however it is such a pleasure having these guys who love the island and the sea this much.
Mary and Greg are unique gemstones in our rocky world. Those whose lives are touched by them have truly experienced a gift. I am lucky.
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