I breathed in the salt-infused air from our hotel on Cape Cod Bay, bidding farewell to summer from North Truro, a couple of miles outside of Provincetown. The glorious week with our extended family went by all too quickly.
This vacation was our last hurrah before summer ends.
The girls are a study in contrasts about fall’s imminent arrival. Chloe is excited to take high school by storm. “To be honest, I’m not that sad summer’s almost over. I like learning. I’m ready for school. I’ll be able to impress everybody with my amazing clothes. And my intelligence. Plus my charming personality. I have so many great traits to offer,” she jokingly remarked the other day as we strolled along the beach on the National Seashore.
On the other hand, when Sophie asked me how many more days she had left before the start of school, she groaned at my less-than-satisfying response. “Noooooo!” she sadly exclaimed before promptly giving me the stink-eye. Apparently, I am single-handedly to blame for our town’s school calendar.
I’ve experienced a disconcerting sensation that’s become more pronounced with age: time frequently seems tactile to me. I am so aware of its passage that I can practically see and hear, if not feel, the seconds ticking away, escaping my grasp, receding just out of reach.
Occasionally the seconds stand in place. I treasure those moments.
Mostly, however, the seconds are frustratingly fleeting, not unlike the many boats I watched disappear beyond the horizon as I typed these words.
Chloe and Sophie are now another season older. Next month Sophie will celebrate her 10th birthday and Chloe will experience her first day as a high school freshman, milestones that evoke a jumble of emotions – happiness, pride, anticipation for the future, angst, a tinge of sadness, more than a little nostalgia for the past…
I can’t stop the clock. The vacation started to end as soon as we arrived.
Happily, however, cameras are instruments of memory.
They capture childhood exuberance.
They document celebrations.
They record history.
They immortalize life.
And they freeze the passage of time.
Great post and thanks for reminding me how much I enjoy Cape Cod. Wonderful photos.
Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to comment, Stephanie! We had such a wonderful time and I loved being on the Outer Cape – so much to explore and low-key in the best kind of way. Provincetown was a hoot – an exuberant place. Loved it.
Beautiful beautiful…and I particularly loved your caption under the photo of your daughter running . I’m such a Cape cod fan, that I have a few scenes of it in my first novel.
Thanks so much, Angelika! It was my first time back to the Cape since college – many, many years ago. My husband and daughters had never been, but we all loved it. It’s a beautiful place. What’s your novel about?
Hi pinkmenotmom.
I grew up near Boston, and the Cape was always our summer retreat. I live now in Germany. You can learn about my novel on my author blog: https://authorschwarz.wordpress.com/… If you like, please leave a comment. I’m new at this ‘author’ business, and its challenging to get the word out. I wrote about the Cape at the beginning and at the end of my novel…It always represented a combination of quaintness and vastness; I know, those are contrary descriptions, but maybe that’s the appeal. So nice to get to know you.
I’ll definitely have a look! Good luck with your book – what a wonderful accomplishment.
Thank you! 🙂
Beautiful post and stunning photos! <3
Thanks so much, Sarah. I hope you’re enjoying these last few days of summer!