Do The Math

I have a friend who teases me that I always "do the math." Its true. I do. I rarely think "oh, that's only $75 more a month." My mind immediately jumps to "that's an additional $900 a year."

When I was a kid my mother taught me to mentally add the cost of my groceries as I shopped. Back in the dark ages it was a lot easier because I figured out that the items averaged $1 a piece. All I had to do was keep a count and then I'd be able to estimate my total. Now, with a big bottle of laundry detergent costing almost $20 it's a lot harder. Still, I'm normally within about $5 of the total once everything is rung up.  I actually switched groceries stores because I estimated that the average cost of items was 20 cents less at one store. I realized that if I typically buy 100 items I'd save $20 a week (or over $1,000 a year.) No brainer.

Same thing with personal services. Around here a cut and color costs about $150. If I color it myself and get a trim at Great Clips I save $130 a month (more than $1500 a year.) No one even noticed when I made the switch - except the time that I accidentally bought the wrong brand, but that's a whole 'nother blog. I don't get a weekly mani/pedi because at $25 a week it's $1300 a year. Those three small changes saved us $3,800 a year - that's a nice vacation, the down payment on a new car, or who knows what else. 

Now if I could talk myself into giving up takeout food... A pizza each week costs more than $1,000 over the course of a year. A daily grande latte adds up to more than $900 a year - and at 190 calories each it's a good thing to drop from my routine.

I don't make any decision without mentally doing the math. I calculate a cost/benefit analysis almost automatically. Some things are definitely worth paying someone else to do. They are too complicated or too dangerous. Sometimes its just nice to have someone else take care of you, to pamper you. I just think its important to realize what you may be giving up in exchange. Personally, I'll take a week at the beach  over a weekly manicure any day.

It's a matter of looking at the big picture.

Can I sacrifice a moment's happiness or convenience for something in the future? Sometimes the answer is "no". Sometimes I want the overpriced cup of coffee or the quick dinner. Sometimes I need the help. Sometimes I just want to look and feel pretty. As long as I understand what I'm sacrificing, it's okay.

We live in a society where we all think we can "have it all." I'm not sure why we think that. My parents grew up at the tail end of The Great Depression and during World War II. I grew up hearing stories about backyard victory gardens and gas rationing tickets. I never expected to have it all. I'm happy to have "some". The nice thing about not having everything is that, just like when you were a child, when you get what you want it feels special. It gives little treats that Christmas morning feel.

Also, I realize that I have so much more than many people. I get to make the choice between luxuries rather than necessities. I'm not challenged with considering whether I should pay the electric bill or buy groceries. I understand that my desire to take an annual vacation is as much a luxury as getting regular spa treatments.

I'm not judging. We all make our own choices. I just think we should try to make informed decisions - you know, "do the math."

I'm ready, Mother Nature, bring it on!

My mother was a worrier.  I bet I'm the only one who grew up in the 1960s with a set of "Fall Out Shelter" instructions hanging from the door to the basement of our suburban home.   Is it any wonder that  I've had an Emergency Kit since
9-11?

I was able to assemble it mainly from things I already had - they just weren't consolidated. For instance, I received a  fire extinguisher as a shower gift. I've never used it, but I have it. I now give fire extinguishers as gifts. It may not be used any more than a setting of fancy china, but I know that if it is used it will be more appreciated. And it's a gift the recipient will remember long after he or she has forgotten who gave them how many water goblets or wine glasses.

Take the time today to put together a basic emergency supply kit. Keep it in a closed plastic storage tub someplace easily accessible (under a sink or on a closet shelf). A complete kit will cost about $100-$125 to assemble, depending on what you already have on hand.

Basic Emergency Supply Kit: 

• Water: 3 gallons per person, for drinking and washing
• Food:  3 day supply that doesn’t require heating or refrigeration (cold cereal & power bars for example)
• Portable Can Opener (if kit contains canned food)
• Self-Powered AM/FM/NOAA Weather Radio with Flashlight and Cell Phone Charger
• First Aid Kit

bandages, antibiotic wash, antibiotic ointment, burn cream and pain relievers at a minimum

 Emergency Whistle to signal for help

 Dust Mask Dust masks

Moist towelettes and hand sanitizer

Cell phone with car chargers

Lighter

Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher

Copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in a big ziploc bag

Kids are not likely to wear dust masks willingly. There are cute child's masks that might encourage them to put one on. You could buy a box and split them with friends and neighbors. You might want to try some simple woodworking projects that require they wear a mask during a non stressful time. That way the sensation of covering their nose and mouth won't seem so alien in the event of an emergency.

There is also a secondary set of supplies you can assemble when you're preparing for a potential emergency (hurricane, tornado, etc.). Locate these things and place them near a door in case you need to evacuate when you have a storm warning in your area.

• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Prescription medications and glasses
• Cash and change
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.
• Complete change of clothing for each person
• Soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste
• Paper cups, plates and plastic utensils
• Paper towels
• Paper and pencil
• Books, games, puzzles or other low tech activities for children
• Infant formula and diapers
• Pet food and extra water for your pets

 My final nag: please, please keep emergency supplies in your car during the winter if you live in a cold climate. You need to avoid hypothermia or frostbite if you get in an accident or your car breaks down. These are the things my mother kept in her car all winter.

• Emergency mylar blankets - as kids we called these Space Blankets because they were developed for NASA
• Folding Shovel to dig your car out (added bonus for kids - great to make forts, trenches, etc.)
• a bag of kitty litter or sand - it will provide weight for additional traction; you can also pour it under your tires for traction
• Non-perishable snacks. Mom kept juice and granola bars in her car at all times.
• In the early days Mom kept emergency flares, later she switched to light sticks from the Dollar Store. You can use them for "flares" or to light your car interior so you don't run down the battery.
• Hand Warmers (my addition)

There is an old English proverb, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst." Mom's motto was "prepare for the worst, expect the worst, hope for the best." She definitely put the preparation before the hope. She was a product of her times. She grew up during a World War. She remembered the U.S. "dropping the bomb" on Japan. We've lived through terrorist attacks, nuclear plant melt downs and natural disasters. It's no wonder that one of my friends daydreams about building her own panic room - it's the fall out shelter of our generation.

 For more practical advice - and some funny reading from the 1960s, please go to:

 http://www.wikihow.com/Get-Your-Car-Out-of-the-Snow

http://wardomatic.blogspot.com/2006/11/fallout-shelter-handbook-1962.html

http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0900/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0900/stories/0901_0132.html

http://www.crimedoctor.com/panic_room_1.htm

Wallpapering War Stories

or as a friend subtitled it, "The Glue always wins."

When we were looking for a house I kept describing this as "the house with the palm tree wallpaper." The owners were from Savannah and apparently quite homesick. Maybe plastering the house with palm trees made them feel more at home. There were palm trees in the master bathroom, palm trees in the hall bathroom, lots and lots of palm trees in the dining room...

And there still are.

I am the least girly of girls. My mother reupholstered furniture and sewed new pillows for each season. The decorating (and the do-it-yourself) gene skipped a generation. I don't decorate rooms; I inhabit them. I am more interested in comfort than style.

However, I hate wallpaper in general and the red palm tree wallpaper in the hall bathroom in particular. I've heard so many horror stories about wallpaper over the years that here I am, seven years later, still living in a house with wallpaper in 3 bathrooms, 2 bedrooms and the dining room.

Amanda is about to turn 13. I've decided that it is unfair to keep a teenage girl (in a wheelchair) in a room where roller skates, baseballs and footballs circle the ceiling. So, the other day I grabbed a corner of the hideous border and pulled. Ooh! Success.  A long, ugly strip of wall paper curled away from the wall. I pulled again... an even longer strip ripped off this time. I was in paper stripping Heaven. I pulled and ripped for half an hour until all of the ugly stuff was down.

Well, almost all.

I was so proud that I dragged one of Danielle's friend's mothers into the room to show off my handiwork. I didn't realize that I had to get the white paper backing off as well until she calmly offered me her steamer to remove the rest. Oh crud.

I made a pilgrimage to local Lowe's where the clerk cheerfully informed me that I would need a scoring tool, Piranha wallpaper remover spray, a wallpaper shaver and a special sponge with a paste scrubber.  Total cost: approximately $25.00.  Okay, I had the tools. Time to go attack that ugly off-white paper.

It was fun. I made a few mistakes the first time (note to self: next time start in a corner that you can't see from the rest of the room.) Rolling the scoring tool around made a wonderful noise. I felt empowered as I watched it punch rows and swirls of tiny holes in that persistent paper backing. I sprayed the spray until the paper turned brown and the liquid ran down the walls. Then, my personal favorite, I shaved it off. It peeled off in pieces like wet felt. They fell to the floor in clumps at the base of my 6 foot ladder. I was back in Heaven.

Four hours and a few gouges later the silly white paper was lying in damp piles on the floor. Next horrifying revelation: the paint under the border doesn't  match the rest of the walls.

Crap. Now I'm going to have to paint.

Carnival!

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words...

Nothing says "summertime" more than a merry-go-round, a ferris wheel and a big inflatable shark!

Rhode Island with Two Kids & a Wheelchair

Okay, I admit it. Growing up in Connecticut I was a bit of a beach snob. Even though it was right next door, tiny Rhode Island was mostly overlooked. I think maybe because even in the 1970s you had to pay to get on to most Rhode Island beaches. On the weekends we went to the Connecticut shore. We went to Cape Cod for vacation. It wasn't until I was a teen that I realized Rhode Island had nice beaches. And then, it was only Misquamicut, for some unknown reason.

The Girls Hanging out at Naragansett Beach

As an adult I am in love with Rhode Island. The beaches are lovely - flat with very few rocks. The soft, fine sand sticks to everything. Our favorite beach is the Naragansett Town Beach. It is beautiful - but it isn't free. In addition to a daily parking fee there is also a $6 per person beach access fee. A day at the beach can add up quickly! 

If you are staying for more than a week, nonresidents can buy a seasonal beach access pass for $20-50 per person, depending on your age. Residents can purchase a seasonal parking pass, but visitors have to pay the daily parking rate. However, with ample handicap parking, two pavilions, a snack bar, showers and bathrooms - as well as the piece de resistance in our minds - a ramp right out on to the beach - the price is fair. After struggling with Cape Cod beaches for a week it was such a relief to have easy access to a beach that we could all enjoy as a family. I probably would have paid twice as much and still been happy.

We wheeled Amanda up the ramp to the pavilion, then down directly on to the beach. There were surf chairs available for free and the staff kindly offered us one every time we showed up. Instead, we bought Amanda a low beach chair and let her hang out on the sand. She only had to walk about 10 feet across the sand to get to a prime spot. While the area closest to the water was crowded we had lots of space to ourselves toward the back of the beach.

Most people have heard about Newport, but the rest of the state is a well-kept secret. Newport is lovely with its shops, mansions and yachts. The Newport Cliffwalk is a lovely path past glorious old mansions along the water. Only the north end of is accessible by wheelchair, unfortunately. Providence is a growing city with a wonderful spectacular, WaterFire, during select summer nights and the Roger Williams Park Zoo.

This time the closest we came to Newport was the Narragansett Cafe in Jamestown to see my brother-in-law Bill's band, Brass Attack. The band was awesome; the place was... interesting. I think we found the favorite haunt of Rhode Island's over-forty divorced population. However, it is places like The Naragansett Cafe that make me love Rhode Island so much. While there are McDonald's and Walmarts just like everywhere else, there are also small fairs and festivals, hole in the wall diners, little nightclubs and Mom and Pop ice cream places.

We were lucky enough to be in Naragansett for the annual Blessing of the Fleet sponsored by the Lions Club. In addition to a beautiful parade of decorated boats there is a road race and a seafood festival. The girls loved the seafood festival. Amanda hung out in the tent, listening to a live band while Danielle explored all of the carnival rides.

Two of my favorite places are in Wakefield: Phil's Restaurant and Brickley's Ice Cream. Phil's is small and dark with red vinyl booths - some with duct tape patching tears. The breakfast foods are delicious and the portions are big, for very modest prices. My mother-in-law is addicted to their fluffy, sweet pancakes. I like the home fries. Despite the complete lack of ambiance on a weekend there is typically a line outside the door. The breakfast is that good. We rarely miss an opportunity to eat at Phil's when we're in Rhode Island.

Across the street from Phil's is Brickley's Ice Cream.  When you walk in the door the scent of warm, fresh made waffle cones washes over you. We just sat and watched a girl make waffle cones for five minutes. It was fun to see her pour the batter on the waffle iron, press down then pick it up and quickly twist the soft hot waffle around a metal cone form. I love the ginger ice cream. Danielle votes for the strawberry. Brickley's in Wakefield only has four tiny tables and eight chairs. It's not an "eat in" sort of place, although there are also picnic tables outside. It's also not accessible, having stairs to the front door. No matter! We got ours to go -with 38 flavors of ice cream and another dozen or so frozen yogurts and sherbets all made on site - you've got to take some extra home any way!

And I can't forget the sweetest spot in Wakefield - Sweenor's Chocolates.  My in-laws always ship us a big box of their truffles for Christmas. It's one of our first stops when we visit them. This time around we bought a box of dark chocolates for my father, a pound of fudge, gummy worms. lobster shaped barley lollipops and several shaped chocolate lollipops. They make their own chocolates and truffles and each is more delicious than the last. If you can't make it to Wakefield to try some, you can also order them online.

And, of course there is always the wonderful Del's frozen lemonade to try... I think I could just eat my way across Rhode Island.  So, next time you're in New England, give tiny Rhode Island a try. Explore the small towns and beaches - you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Cape Cod with Two Kids and a Wheelchair: Outer Cape

Wellfleet, Truro & Provincetown

Amanda in her new glasses

We spent a week on the Outer Cape - Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown. It's a great area for kids, but a little tough for anyone with a disability. For instance, Amanda's glasses' frame broke and due to the strength of her prescription Kevin had to make a 4+ hour round trip to get them repaired. There were more high points than low, however.

PJ's in Wellfleet

Our favorite place to eat was PJ's in Wellfleet. The menu is so comprehensive that it spans two walls. They serve good hamburgers, hot dogs, fabulous seafood, etc.. They also make their own ice cream - both soft serve and hard. The soft serve comes in vanilla, chocolate, raspberry and coffee. While there are always lines in front, the main dining area is accessible by a ramp and is rarely crowded.

We ate there at least 4 times over the course of the week so its safe to say that we've tried a good number of the items. I liked the fried clam roll - more than enough clams for a meal! Friends liked the lime marinated shrimp and the lobster roll. My girls love the  kids' fare - especially the macaroni and cheese. They have thick, crunchy onion rings and crispy sweet potato fries. You can eat inside in the breezy dining room or outside at a covered picnic area. PJ's opens at 11AM and has a line all day.

Lighthouse Mini Golf

We've been loyal Poit's customers for years. There is a grill in the main building as well as pizza and ice cream in the snack bar. However it was a big disappointment. The pizza was awful - squares of what tasted like frozen pizza reheated for $3.95 a slice. The snack bar had a good ramp, but the main building only had a small ramp in the front. We had to back Amanda over the high threshold to get her into the arcade area.

For years Poit's had a little mini golf course consisting of astro turf ramps and some cement statues. It was kitchsy but it had charm. The owners must have recognized this because they saved two of the original animals next to the newly designed course. As glamorous as the lighthouses and water features are, the course is the same. There are none of the challenging obstacles that make mini golf exciting. And it wasn't accessible. We bumped poor Amanda up and over the edges of the golf course. Also, it was expensive - even with a $2.00 off coupon we paid $5.95 per person.

Midway between Poit's and PJ's, in South Wellfleet, a small sign signals the entrance to an often overlooked site: "MARCONI STATION SITE -- NO BEACH ACCESS. Site of first United States Transatlantic Wireless telegraph station. Built in 1901-1902."  Take the turn - it's worth the drive!

The Marconi Station is a  great site for a picnic with several small decks looking over the ocean. It's the end of a bike trail so its very accessible - while we were there a man with an artificial leg rode up on a recumbent bike. There is also a nice walking trail through the White Cedar Swamp. It is not a beach access - the dunes are a sheer drop. For beach access follow the signs to the Marconi Beach.


Shopping in the center of Wellfleet is a delight, but completely inaccessible. Every store has at least one or two steps. Many have four steps. Amanda and Kevin sat out our shopping trip. I doubt either of them was heart broken. My favorite stores in Wellfleet are Abiyoyo (an amazing toy shop), Newcomb Hollow Shop (lovely pottery pieces and affordable limited edition jewelry), The Secret Garden, and the Wellfleet Marketplace. We also enjoyed the whimsical crafts at the Luna Sea gift shop.


"Fairy Door" at Luna Sea

There are wonderful art galleries in Wellfeet as well. My favorite is The Left Bank. Over the years I've bought several pieces from the Left Bank  including framed prints, sculpture and a lovely bird bath. I also love The Blue Heron and the Kendall Gallery. There is a weekly gallery opening "wine and cheese" on the weekends during the summer - a great date activity if you can find someone to stay with your kids (we couldn't).

We did take the kids to the Wellfleet Pier for the Wednesday night square dance. In case you're concerned that you'll be surrounded by big skirts and cowboy hats, this isn't really a traditional square dance; its more of a line dance. There is a DJ calling out the moves using instructions like "turn to the harbor, turn toward the town, turn toward Macs, turn toward me." It was fun. Unfortunately the night we went the tide was very low and it reeked to high heaven. We couldn't stay because we were overwhelmed by the smell. If the tide is in your favor its an easily accessible activity for both kids and individuals in wheelchairs.

A sentimental favorite of mine is the Wellfleet Historical Society. It spans two buildings, interrupted by a small art gallery. One side is a museum full of artifacts, the other side is designed to represent a typical 18th century seafaring household. My mother was a passionate, dedicated volunteer to the Historical Society. My father donated the funds to develop the front garden in her memory. While we were there we purchased a memorial brick in the walk for $50.

Truro is the town next to Wellfleet. We toured the Truro Vineyards. They offer tastings every 30 minutes for $8. My friend and I shared our selections so we had the opportunity to sample ten wines. There are crackers and water to cleanse your glasses and palate. Plus you get to keep the very pretty souvenir wine glass! There is a gift shop with everything from wine to openers, T-shirts and cheeses. The wines were mostly good and the prices fair (about $14/bottle). The shop had steps in but the tasting area was level as were most of the paths around the vineyard. The incredible scenery and lovely picnic area on the front lawn make it worth a visit.

Highland Lighthouse

We also visited the Highland Lighthouse. It was $4 for the tour of the lighthouse including a video and a guide inside the actual light. Kevin was the only one to get to the top - lots of stairs and you had to be over 4 feet to climb them. I nobly volunteered to stay at the bottom with the girls. Okay, I'm scared of heights... The view from the observation deck is spectacular and free - and at ground level.

The farthest point on Cape Cod is Provincetown. Provincetown is a fun, funky place with lots of great food and good shopping. However, like Wellfleet, most of the stores are in older buildings and not accessible by wheelchair.

While we struggled with accessibility at most of the Outer Cape's beaches Herring Cove in Provincetown was a pleasant surprise. In the middle of a bicycle trail, it has a paved "boardwalk" running the length of the beach. While the embankment is too steep in most places to safely maneuver a wheelchair down to the beach there is a ramp at the far left end. The beach itself is flat, but rocky near the water. As a bayside beach the water is calm and a bit warmer than an ocean beach. Happily it is a National Seashore Beach so Amanda's new Access Pass got us in for free. Parking is typically $10. There are bathrooms, accessible showers and a small concession stand. It's really a nice family beach - although, in fair warning, it is "nudity friendly" in parts.


Herring Cove Beach, Provincetown

For more information on Wellfleet and the Outer Cape, please see:

http://www.wellfleetchamber.com/Shopping.html
http://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/marconi-beach.htm
http://www.wellfleetma.org/public_documents/wellfleetma_RecProgs/summer/Square%20Dance
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/massachusetts/cape-cod/review-134704.html

College - Then & Now

Many of my nieces and nephews have already graduated college. Another starts in a few weeks. It started me thinking about how things have changed since I was that age.  Back in the 1980s:

• You had a hot pot, not a microwave.
• You had a typewriter, not a laptop.
• You had a hall phone, not a cell phone.
• You used a check book, not an ATM card (they were new back then!)
• You brought batteries, not chargers.
• You brought a big boom box (the bigger the better!) not a tiny MP3 player.
• If you had access to a computer it used big floppy disks, not a USB flash drive.
• We had hot air popcorn poppers...yes, an appliance just to make popcorn.
• We did reaserch using the books in the library, not the internet.
• And when we needed articles we had to photocopy them, not download them.
• Tuition at a private 4 year institution averaged $8,451 - not $27,293 (those are averages - many cost much more during both periods!)

According to FinAid, tuition costs increase by an average of 8% every year - doubling every 9 years.  "An 8% college inflation rate means that the cost of college doubles every nine years. For a baby born today, this means that college costs will be more than three times current rates when the child matriculates in college."  That means for Danielle, who was born in 2006, tuition will average more than $85,000 a year - roughly ten times what it averaged when I was in college.

Of course, my parents were confused that colleges no longer had curfews; that men and women lived in the same dormitory; and that we didn't all hang out around a piano singing college fight songs when we drank. 

Somethings never change, however. Students still need some basics.  For instance:

1. 3-way Metal Manual Can Bottle Opener (for canned soup or chili and  bottles of beer!)
2. Apollo Precision Tools DT9706 39-Piece General Tool Set (things will break)
3. Sewing Essentials, Sewing Kit with Scissor and 10 Threaded Needles (the needles are already threaded!)
4. Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit, Safe Travels (Pack of 2) (one for the room, one for the car)

For more information about inflation and tuition go to:

Digest of Education Statistics http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d07/tables/dt07_320.asp

FinAid website http://www.finaid.org/savings/tuition-inflation.phtml

Cape Cod National Seashore - then and now

Unexpectedly we found ourselves on Cape Cod during the week of the 50th Anniversary Celebration for the Cape Cod National Seashore. Standing in the Salt Pond Visitor Center, looking at the actual document signed by John Fitzgerald Kennedy brought tears to my eyes. Kevin was surprised that I could be so moved by the acts of a man who died before I was born. However, without JFK's foresight Cape Cod as we know it would have inevitably been different. My childhood would have been different.

Cape Cod has been a touchstone for me throughout my entire life. I spent my first vacation on Cape Cod just before I turned two. More than 45 years later and my heart still soars when I see the surf pounding the coast off of Maquire's Landing. When I was a child I cheered every time we crossed the Bourne Bridge onto the Cape. How wonderful to hear Danielle spontaneously yell, "Yip-pooo!" from the backseat when we reached the crest of the bridge and I told her that we were on Cape Cod.

The Cape Cod National Seashore is a precious piece of America. The Pilgrims first landed here- in Provincetown in November 1620 - not at Plymouth Rock. The Cape Cod National Seashore encompasses more than 40 miles of shoreline and preserves several  lighthouses and homes from the 1800s as well as 5 Modernist cottages built in the 1930s through the 1960s. There are miles of hiking and bike trails. There are public beaches and glacial rocks. You can swim, fish, surf or kayak in the waters.  It also a unique habitat, home to 800 pound gray seals and tiny piping plovers.

Me, 1966

By creating the Cape Cod National Seashore, JFK essentially arrested time. By preserving the coast and surrounding area he prevented Cape Cod from becoming overdeveloped with strip malls and waterfront hotels. The Cape Cod National Seashore was created by eminent domain and agreed upon sales and encompasses over 43,500 acres of ponds, woods and beachfront  in Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, and Chatham. 

Only 11 commercial properties were allowed to remain within the boundaries of the National Seashore. One of these was the Beachcomber Restaurant. Another was the tiny colony where we rented a cottage every summer when I was a child. The stipulations were simple: the land/property had to remain within the family.  Any sale of the property outside of the family was prohibited and the land would revert to the government. 

Making ice cream, 1975

I was able to go back to a place unchanged by time every summer for more than 20 years thanks to President Kennedy.  There are still  14 relatively primitive cottages at Cooks by the Ocean. Each is unique, but they have much in common. They have no cable TV. They don't have phones - or even showers! If you want to shower you have to walk to a communal shower house. These small cottages sit atop the dunes overseeing one of the few remaining private beaches on the Outer Cape. To one side is Marconi Beach, to the other is Maquires' Landing, both public beaches.



I loved those cramped cottages with their knotty pine paneling. Every cottage had a small deck, some with bouncy vintage 1950s metal shell back chairs in an array of eye popping colors. There was no air conditioning. You left the windows wide open so you could hear the surf and catch the ocean breezes. There were no phones, no radios and no TVs. We played outside. We played kickball, baseball and volleyball. We pretended that we were horses and superheros. We went to the beach early in the morning and late at night.

Me, 1981

As a teenager I brought friends to sleep in the living room of the one bedroom cottage. We'd wake up early to walk the dog along the beach at dawn. At night we'd head to the beach for a bonfire. Even as I changed, the place remained constant.

The kitchens all had a temperamental gas stove fueled by propane tanks behind the cottage. Our kitchen had vintage tools including an antique curved chopper that my mother loved, but never would have dreamed of removing. There was a sense of permanence. No on would steal anything because then when you returned it wouldn't be the same.

I took my girls back there when Danielle was 11 months old and Amanda was almost 9. The daughter of the family now owns the place and she was happy to let us wander around and enjoy the amazing sense of timelessness.  From the outside things were the same.  I bet if I'd gone into our old cottage I'd have found that chopper in a kitchen drawer.

Danielle, 2008

For more information please refer to:

 http://www.nps.gov/caco/cape-cod-national-seashore-50th-anniversary.htm

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F70A12FF395F1B738DDDAC0994DF405B8685F0D3

http://www.ccmht.org/links.html

http://www.cooksbytheocean.com/

Cape Cod with Two Kids & a Wheelchair: Eastham

Today we went to the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham. It has a wonderful view of the salt marsh. It also has a small museum, complete with a box of shells pleasantly labeled "please touch." Danielle loved listening to the sound of the ocean in a whelk and was mesmerized by the prehistoric looking horseshoe crab.

She was amazed when I told her that horseshoe crabs were around before dinosaurs. In fact, the oldest  horseshoe crab fossils were found in 445 million year-old rocks. She would have loved to see a live one. Unfortunately she's unlikely to see one this time of year. They're deep sea dwellers most of the year, coming to shore mainly in May and June.

Horseshoe Crab

While we were at the Visitor Center we got Amanda a National Parks "Access Pass". This is a free pass available to any U.S. citizen with permanent disabilities. The Access Pass admits the pass holder and up to  3 adults for free where per-person fees are charged. (Children under 16 are always admitted free.)  It also admits the vehicle the pass holder is riding in for free in parks where vehicle entry fees are charged (for instance, Yellowstone National Park.)

The Park Rangers were friendly and helpful. We got the pass in less than five minutes. Not only that, but the Ranger pulled out a map of Cape Cod and marked all of the National Seashore beaches on it, highlighting the ones with free surf chairs.

I love the wild ocean side beaches on Cape Cod, but for the most part they aren't accessible by wheelchair. Now Coast Guard Beach in Eastham has a wheelchair-accessible ramp to the beach and two submersible wheelchairs. Most summer visitors take a shuttle bus from a remote parking area, but anyone with a handicap parking permit can park at the top of the hill. The Ranger at the booth at the bottom of the lot checked our parking pass, tipped his mounty hat and waved us in. The view from the parking lot is spectacular.  

There were a lot of cars in the lot reserved for individuals with disability parking permits, but we only saw one other person in a wheelchair. She was in a power chair, looking at the view from the parking lot. It made me wonder why she wasn't down at the beach.

It turns out that it is a long trek down the dune even with a ramp. The two surf chairs were free and readily available. But, why are the surf chairs left at the beach end of the ramp? This is one of those instances where things may have been set up by someone with good intentions, but no practical experience.

A person in a wheelchair needs to either have a companion walk to the far end of the ramp and bring one up to the parking lot or has to get his/her usual chair down the ramp. Then where do you leave your wheelchair? We left ours at the end of the ramp, getting sand in the wheels and heating up in the sun. I suppose one of us should have pushed the empty chair back to the car.

The beach chair worked, but was it heavy going through soft sand. And I don't think it could have actually been used in the water at that beach (at least not during high tide) because there is a sheer drop at the shore and a heavy undertow. I was happy to get Amanda on an ocean beach for the first time in 6 years- I'm just not sure that we'd do it again.

I am sure that we'll be back in Eastham later this week. Danielle specifically asked to see a "red lighthouse." The closest I can find is Nauset Light. It's white with a red top and a light that flashes red and white at night. It's open on Wednesdays so we should be able to drop by in the late afternoon. Unfortunately, this is one place that Amanda just won't be able to access.

Maybe when we're in the area we'll go for a short hike. The Nauset Dunes Trail starts at the Visitor Center and is not too tough for wheelchairs and strollers. It's about a mile and a half with a slope at the beach end. However, the views of the dunes and marshes make it worth the climb, even pushing a wheelchair. When I was a kid we took our puppy, Noodle, for a walk here. He got so tired that my father had to carry him the entire way back to the Visitor Center. I'd better make sure that the same thing doesn't happen to Danielle if we do hike!

For information regarding the National Park Service Access Pass please go to: http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm

For information about horseshoe crab fossils please go to : http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080207135801.htm