Boston

 I woke up in Haverhill, freezing. Cold weather is not my speciality and morning cold snaps I find particularly disheartening. In my last place I had a smart thermostat that would switch on the heater before I woke up. Nothing like waking up and feeling oh so cozy. Unfortunately that was not the case today and I began a morning bedrot, checking the weather in each northern place I was to visit. As it turns out, Copenhagen is downright balmy compared to New England. I’ll be fine.

Installed

Evan was kind enough to prepare breakfast and the three of us drove to Newburyport. As the name suggests, ages ago this was a shipbuilding and port town. As the name does not suggest, it is now an extraordinarily expensive river living and tourism town. Sailor taverns and whoring are out. Cashmere and bookstores are in. The antique markets did survive. It’s a beautiful place with deep history. We walked the river and checked out all the shops nearby.

Tea Break

Evan dropped Abbie back at the house for a nap (she’s napping for two) and went for a snack at a local restaurant. Damgeuda is run by a couple that gets it. Good hospitality and a menu that reflects whatever is growing and good right now. The cuisine is Korean influenced and now that I think about it, don’t New England and Korea have relatively similar climates? We catch up and talk about life and his impending fatherhood. Out west I have some married friends, even fewer home owning friends, and no expecting friends. Somehow this isn’t making me feel old, just surprised.

Next door is antique and tchotchke shop. Even walks out with his first ever Cow Tail, a Baltimore treat that takes me back to my childhood. My grandparents would bring my sister and I a handful of them when they came to visit. We’d eat way too many all at once and always get sick. Good times.

Too many cow tails lead to a nap. When I woke up Evan started working on dinner. This was fantastic. A sampling of their CSA produce and my first home cooked meal since I hit the road. I slept like a baby.