I’ve been holding onto this piece of paper since a few weeks before the trip I took to Chatham with my parents in early April. It was my scrap piece that I was writing down all the cravings, ideas, names of places, etc. that I wanted to go to/to do when we went.
If you know me, you know that’s hilarious, because I’ve spent a large part of my life on the Cape, where Chatham is. But nowadays, you can be a tourist just about anywhere thanks to Covid. Suddenly, googling Chatham became my hobby for a few weeks leading up to the trip and it became another way to pass the time.
Here’s the list:
On it:
- see the aunts?!
- as much family as possible
- seafood (fried)
- soft serve
- Golf! w/Dad, Ma, B?
- Go to the beach every sunset
- Try to catch a sunrise
- Bring Lu to the beach again : )
- Hang in the yard with everyone
- Share meals
And to the side at the bottom (mostly the same but with a few additional specific places):
- Walk the beach with Lu and everyone!
- sunset
- sunrise
- golf
- Mom and Pops burgers (with a mention that *inspired by their hometown Meriden – where lots of my family is from! and they’re famous for steamed burgers – Ted’s!)
- Chatham Bars
- Corner Store
- Buca’s
- Marions
I wanted to do some kind of blog for this trip because it meant the world to me for so many reasons. Most importantly, I was beginning to feel a bit safer in the world, thanks to science. My birthday fell just four days before my full immunity from my two doses of the covid vaccine and I was comfortable enough that I asked my parents what they thought about a trip to the Cape. The timing was ideal as it was also Easter weekend, and my aunt was back on the Cape (with my cousin Maggie) so we went for it.
This wasn’t by any means a typical birthday/Easter weekend but it’s one I’ll always remember and feel so grateful to have had the privilege to sneak away for a few days of fresh salty air. I tend to always spend my birthday with as many friends and family possible, in one place all together. Nothing makes me happier than my family and friends interacting but this year that wasn’t going to be physically possible. My family and friends went absolutely out of their way in to call, text, FaceTime, etc. and wish me a happy birthday.
I had a quick Zoom with a few of my closest friends the night of my birthday who managed to get this Cameo made by Paul Pierce (if you know, you know this was THE BEST)
It’s worth noting that this was about 12 hours before Paul Pierce enjoyed himself at a party so much, that he blasted it live on Instagram. Never a dull moment. Either way, I’m obsessed with the cameo and cannot believe my friends actually got me it. Totally cracked me up and I’ll always think of this pandemic and my friends when I see Paul Pierce now.
I went through the items from the list. Below are the ones that I successfully checked off (with photographic proof in most cases – aside from that seafood we devoured)
- see the aunts (as much family as possible):
2. Fried seafood – we had this but I inhaled it too quickly to even grab a picture. Our local favorite on the cape is Kreme n Kone. It never disappoints. Highly recommend the fried shrimp, fries, and onion rings! I also love the fried seafood at Sesuit Harbor Cafe but that’s typically packed.
3. Golf with Dad, Ma, B?
This was a blast! I hadn’t golfed in at least a couple of years but I love it every chance I do go. I was actually hoping to write an entire separate blog on golf, but for now this will have to do. I started golfing in about 7th or 8th grade with a few of my friends who needed golfing buddies. But, I really became serious about it in high school. I unfortunately had to drop my favorite sports (basketball and lacrosse) soon after middle school due to health conditions. It took until about 10 years later for the doctors to figure out that I in fact had POTS and MCAS paired with SFN but it only took a few minutes for me to lose out on my most favorite activity – basketball. I grew up playing in the driveway, then onto my first organized teams through small town leagues, followed by CFO league and AAU league teams, along with the middle school travel team. I really was obsessed with all things basketball. My parents supported me every dribble of the way. But, sadly in my freshman year of high school my basketball playing career came to a pause.
Since those basketball tryouts freshman year, where I experienced tachycardia for the first time, I’ve worked basketball back into my life in equally fulfilling ways. Whether it’s coaching my skills development team via Special Olympics MA, sharing the sidelines at Celtics with my dad – my fellow season ticket member holder (8 years strong), sending my nephew a basketball to introduce him to the sport, or simply ducking out back to the court behind my house for a quick workout (my absolute favorite).
But, we’re really talking golf. Which has become such an important part of my life (even when I go years without playing). I’m a big lover of nostalgia, and I don’t think it stops for the course. The moment I step on to the course and pull out one of my beloved late aunt Tricia’s hybrid clubs (that she was so nice to share with me – even when I can only hit them 40% of the time lol) I feel her with me. Even more so, I feel that kid in myself, that Captain of the high school team – or better yet, that Freshman (missing lacrosse thanks to the fast heart), following in their childhood best friends footsteps (hey, Linds). It’s something I can only access when I’m on the course. And I’m instantly flooded with memories the second I tee off. Most times, I’m joined by family. This time, I was lucky to be joined by my dad (who’s also part my boss and was gracious enough to block his afternoon for my birthday – thanks dad, I appreciate you more each year) and my brother, B (who was unbelievably generous to take the afternoon off and drive to the cape from Cohasset). We played just 9 holes (my preference, as I don’t have quite the same level of interest quite yet – at least this time of year).
I’ve played an endless amount of rounds with family from Boston to Duxbury to the Cape but there was something extra refreshing about this birthday round. Coupled with the fact that my brother was willing to take an afternoon off just to celebrate me (during an already hectic busy year) and my dad (who cancelled his afternoon), I felt the love beginning on the green. My brother Brady is to thanks for the effort in making the tee time, and I’m so happy he was determined to make it work (little did he know it was on my list)!
P.S Add golf to the reasons as to why I can’t wait to see my brother, Jeff. The original Duxbury golf captain. Jay can strike the ball longer than anyone we all know and it’s always hilarious playing with him. I’m hoping maybe he, my dad, B, and I can sneak out come August in Brewster. Oh how thrilled my aunt Tricia would be!
4. Go to the beach every sunset. We didn’t go every sunset but we did take an incredibly nice walk on the beach with my aunt Sheila (my mom’s sister) and her dog Molly at her local beach, Hardings Beach. They also have one of the most picturesque sunsets on the Cape, and I was able to catch one with my parents on our last night. Pics don’t do it justice.
5. Bring Lucy to the beach again (also counting this for “walk the beach with Lu and everyone” – though she didn’t make it far after her initial jaunt). This was likely the most special thing on the list. Lu is my nearly 18 year old family dog (18 in August!) who grew up by the beach with us. One of our favorite walks in Duxbury growing up was the bridge walk. I know being by the beach brings her just as much joy as it brings me. I tried to capture a bit of that below:
Added bonus was the back yard. Lu grew up with free rein over the pool yard at our house. She at times would give me extreme anxiety when she taught herself to dig under through the mulch to go explore (in the road under a trucks wheel nearly dying or running all over till we came by with a car and tricked her back in) or try and sneak out the gate every time it opened. But what she loved most was being in on the action. Whether it was chasing us around and doing endless amounts of laps throughout the day or chasing plastic golf balls as I hit them back and forth (she didn’t learn the art of fetch until Covid) she was always out there if we’d let her.
She retired to the city in 2012 and now spends the bulk of her days soaking up the sun on her familiar oriental rug from home (scratching out the perfect corner each time before she lies down) or in one of her many beds (my mom may or may not spoil her in her old age). She goes on three strolls a day (one bright and early with my dad, an afternoon stretch with my mom, and her evening walk again with my dad) and can never make up her mind between the deck and inside if the door is open. Clearly, she’s living the life (and thriving…18!!!).
Check out what happened when Lu went on her first vacation since I don’t even know when. Backyard included (as well as me hitting golf balls back and forth).
6. Hang in the yard with everyone:
This was even more meaningful because my brother Brady who is a fantastic baker, surprised Ryan, Sheila, and I with birthday cupcakes (three different flavors from scratch – okay B!). We have some really great pics from growing up when we’d group all the March and April birthday’s together in my family for one big celebration. From the middle of March to the beginning of April it goes my aunt Sheila, then my cousin Brett (West Coast these days so not here for this one), then Ryan, and finally me! Covid has made everything uniquely memorable and this birthday was just that.
7. Share meals:
Something as small as “share meals” typically wouldn’t be on my vacation to-do/wish list since it’s pretty much a given. But with Covid, sharing meals (aside from with my parents/pod) became a luxury. Being able to gather with a small number of my family meant the absolute world to me. The fact that it fell on my birthday weekend which was also Easter weekend was the icing on the cake. This meal/celebration was special for so many reasons : ) We of course had to go with tradition so I requested my absolute favorite Nana Pasta (I will write this recipe soon), honey baked ham, and the delicious sides.
In addition to the Easter meal, my absolute best friend from childhood, Lindsey, and her husband Wes sent me an entire cake and a box full of cookies for my birthday. I think we all slowly picked at them throughout our stay there and somehow still had half a cake when I returned home (that I was able to share with the staff in my building thankfully). It was the best. And again such a treat.
Lastly, the pic on the far right is from the last day when my aunt Sheila had us to her home for brunch. She made a frittata to die for but the best part was being back at her house in Chatham. Sheila bought the house over ten years ago and had been renting it out to a former coworker till recently she and he decided it was a good time for the next phase. Sheila spent the rest of the time after this photo up until now doing a deep dive into some home improvement and endless projects. Her goal is to rent it out this summer and eventually she’ll be back living there full time (ideally by next summer!). For now, just being able to see her on the Cape is great. I know how eager she is to continue making family memories and now on the Cape once again!
8. Another from the specific list – Mom and Pop’s Burgers!
This was a gem that I stumbled upon during my googling (and it was new to me). I was intrigued because the burgers are steamed which was as far as I knew semi rare to see. I then kept reading and learned that the owners were in fact inspired by the one connection I have to steamed burgers – Ted’s in Meriden, CT. My parents met and grew up in Meriden and still talk about Ted’s – we’ve all had it. It’s incredibly unhealthy for you, but that’s pretty much the point when you go there. A delish greasy meal. With the perfect balance of cold toppings. Certainly a treat worth checking out! They had a pretty solid menu. This is definitely a place I would have gone to eat there as I’m sure it’s even better fresh instead of takeout, but covid. I opted to have it at the rental with my parents and was still really happy we got to check it out! You should too if you’re ever in Chatham!
Things I didn’t get to:
- “try to catch a sunrise” though I did definitely try, it just didn’t happen.
- Chatham Bars Inn – originally I thought it could be nice to have an outdoor drink or meal with my parents but the weather and timing didn’t quite cooperate, which I was perfectly okay with.
- Corner Store – this is a cute little town market (specializing apparently in burritos now!) that I meant to make it to for lunch someday. We didn’t end up getting to it because they’re closed a few weekdays (or were in April) – so be sure to check the hours.
- Buca’s – this is in Harwich and is a really tasty “Tuscan Roadhouse”. It’s a bit pricey but definitely a nice treat. I’ve only ever been once and that was years back during the off season with my parents. Though my brother and sister in law just went and said it was amazing (not to mention an awesome patio).
- Marions – speaking of amazing, if you’re on the Cape and like pie – you need to go here. Best pies around. It’s in Chatham!