The Calm Before the Storm

The schedule says we are supposed to leave here first thing Saturday morning, which leaves us two full days left. But there’s a problem. I mean, other than the fact that we only have two more days. The problem is that one of those two days—today—looks to be a washout. It is pouring down rain at the moment. However, tomorrow’s forecast is lovely. So, Pam thinks we should do 90% of our packing today so we are freed up to enjoy Friday’s nice weather. On paper this sounds like a totally reasonable plan. There’s only one problem…Lucy.

Actually there are two problems…Lucy, and the layout of Loon Landing.

Lucy, our famously neurotic pup, has never been a fan of suitcases and the process that goes in to packing them for a trip. Whenever we start, she immediately assumes we are preparing to leave her forever. Use all the happy voices you’ve got, it won’t make any difference, so convinced is she of our pending betrayal. Combine her conspiratorial mindset with the prospect of leaving the lake and she will be at Death-Com 5.

Then, there’s the issue of space. As you can imagine, when you pack up to go anywhere for six weeks, you bring a ton of stuff with you. Now, although we love Loon Landing, it’s smallish. There isn’t a lot of room for extraneous knickknackery. Fortunately there is a lovely loft upstairs which serves as a suitcase storage facility while we are here. So, in order to start packing, we will have to haul all of them downstairs. But, once they are packed, there isn’t anywhere to put them downstairs. We could begin loading them into the car, but doing so in a driving rainstorm sounds like a terrible idea. 

The struggle is real.

But, the plan is sound. We will pack up today, doing our best to calm Lucy’s fragile temperament. Then tomorrow we will enjoy our final day in beautiful sunshine. Later today a final shopping trip into Camden is on the agenda. We will say our goodbyes and pick up a new collar for Lucy, one that doesn’t smell like fish. Then, Saturday morning we will begin the two day drive back home. Believe it or not, we will be happy to be back home, to sleep in our own bed, to take a proper shower in a proper sized bathroom, to be back in our lovely neighborhood. It is quite possible to miss Maine and look forward to Short Pump at the same time.

Just don’t try explaining that to Lucy.

…the calm before the storm.