Managing My Berkshire Expectations

When my kids were swimming competitively, there was a tshirt that read: "If I have but one day to live, please take me to a swim meet because they last forever."
That has kind of become my motto this summer. If I were facing the end of my life, these days in the Berkshires stretch interminably in front of me.
How many are left?

But who's counting?

What did I think it would be like spending the summer in the Berkshires? Well, I knew it would be cool (as in the weather), and it has been. 

I guess I pictured the Berkshires like the Catskills or the Poconos. The kind of places you see on television from Dirty Dancing or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

A scene from the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in the Catskills

Perhaps there'd be dinners out and boating and games. 

I didn't plan for no cell service and the closest neighbors being not close at all. 

Don't get me wrong. I know some people would adore being isolated in the woods, maybe people with high-stress jobs who just want to get back to nature. 

And it is beautiful here in places, not unlike where my parents grew up in Kentucky.

The tiger lilies bloom later up here 

We have had some ventures into towns. I would say nearby, but truthfully, the closest towns are 45 minutes to an hour drive.

Last week we drove to Northampton, having no preconceived notions about it. Why did we go there? To work in a Starbucks. (I know, Theresa, but we all make compromises sometimes) My writing has stalled and I hoped that by returning to a coffee shop, I might jump start it. 

Instead, a man sat down at the communal table with me and Earl and began telling us his life story. 

Still, Northampton is an interesting town. The most liberal town in Massachusetts, where Smith College is located. 

Luckily, I wore an Indian designed top so felt right at home amidst the tie-dyed shirts and bright colors.

A shop window in Northampton

There were lots of people asking for money on the street and several musicians busking, even on a weekday afternoon.

Best of all, there was a candy shop called Sweeties. I took a picture and sent it to my friend Derrick. Sweeties is what the Brits call candy and I'm trying to make his niece and nephew learn American English so they have to ask me for candy instead of Sweeties. 

Jelly beans, fudge, chocolate, runts...

We also found a book shop, so the trip was definitely worth it.

On Sunday, we traveled two hours to Saratoga Springs, New York. Earl has a friend there that he went to Ohio State with in the journalism department. I had never met Barb and her husband Jim, but now I regret all those years we didn't know each other. We had a delightful time. 

A beautiful copper roof on the new building. The original building was built is 165 years old. 

The horses sweaty after a race. 

We went to the racetrack and spent about $20 betting on horses. Earl won $10 and my horses sometimes were limping so I was very bad at choosing.

Afterward we walked downtown. It's a very civilized town and even had an Aveda shop, which I've been searching for. I bought some new moisturizer and felt like I might be able to survive the remaining days in the Berkshires.

So, it's a lot of driving to get to anywhere, and most days, we don't leave our big, but cluttered house with the old dog and two mischievous cats. I've been walking every morning after I teach. I've managed to run down hill some, but I'm still having pain in my ribs from my fall so can't push it uphill because of that thing.. oh, yeah, breathing. It hurts to breath too deeply. 

We plan to go tubing, maybe Friday or Saturday. Apparently, there's a reservoir that lets water into the river on Wednesday, so the river is not high enough for tubing early in the week. Some things are still a mystery to me here. 

There's also kayaking for another day. And we even spotted a zipline. 

We're spacing out our fun activities so we always have something to look forward to.