Off the Digital Wagon

Dearest Rachel – A couple of days ago, I started in on a letter to you about a recent discovery about myself and my reactions to those around me. I’ve gotten maybe a third of the way into it, and every time I re-read what I’ve written, I’m less and less sure if I canContinue reading “Off the Digital Wagon”

We Can’t Disconnect Completely

Dearest Rachel – For all that part of the appeal (at least for me, a non-fisherman) of this place – indeed, the entire island – was that it was a refuge cut off from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, you and I had difficulty going ‘cold turkey’ from it all.  A weekContinue reading “We Can’t Disconnect Completely”

Maybe We Don’t WANT Closure

Dearest Rachel – Happy fifty-fifth birthday, honey. This is it; the day we set you adrift the way you wanted to be. This is why we’re here – right down to why we’ve waited so long – we wanted to make sure your closest friends were here to share this moment. Given how long it’sContinue reading “Maybe We Don’t WANT Closure”

What Has Changed?

Dearest Rachel – Part of me can’t believe it’s been eighteen years since you took this footage as we scoped out the cottage you used to refer to as “Miz Fay’s place” back when your family were still staying at the Bretz cottages a short wade further north. Another part of me can’t believe I’mContinue reading “What Has Changed?”

The Long Way Around – a Visit to South Bass

Dearest Rachel – We had fully intended to make a stop in Put-in-Bay while we were on the island this time around; while your parents rarely bothered to venture over there (their priorities leaned into the fishing aspect of island life, after all) it was pretty much de rigeur for the three of us after a while,Continue reading “The Long Way Around – a Visit to South Bass”

The Part You Used to Play

Dearest Rachel – So, yesterday was Mothers’ Day; the real one, not the early one we observed last week in order to celebrate with my mom, since we were going to be on the island this week.  And with that having been said, I should mention that we made a point to head to theContinue reading “The Part You Used to Play”

A Sense of Wrongness

Dearest Rachel – Morning on the island, and the house is silent.  I’ve slept well, if somewhat layered up (we had to turn on the heater when we first got here, and it’s particularly chilly this morning, still (albeit only in the florida room in the back of the house). Did I say the houseContinue reading “A Sense of Wrongness”