Site of Vacation #1 for Camille
The first vacation I ever took was to Peaks Island Maine, a beautiful spot. Imagine my utter delight at staying for 2 weeks in August in a house right on the ocean. We could walk to the beach or out to the rocks and sit and read or meditate all day if we wanted to. When we heard the bell, we filed back to the house and into the dining room and were served a delicious fish dinner.
A great intro to "vacationing!"
I was 25 years old and a nun.
It did seem a little strange to me that once I took a vow of poverty, I was exposed to all the things rich people had—running hot water, showers, medical doctors on call, meals served, and vacations. Strange, maybe, but who was I to question it?
I wrote on that first vacation, a kind of prose poem like the "Picturesque Speech" entries in the Readers Digest magazines we were allowed to read (with about 40% redacted). I'd probably be embarrassed to see the passage now. I'm sure I used phrases like "crashing waves" and "majestic rocks" and "salty breezes."
I don't remember writing much before that, but it was kind of a thrill when the short piece appeared in the order's newsletter.
I haven't thought about that vacation or that bit of prose in many years.
You never know what memory a LadyKillers topic will bring to the surface.
Wow! Sounds like a great place. With dinners served, no less. I'm sure there was more involved than fish dinners and meditating (and hot water! not always part of the vacation picture)... but still...
Posted by: Ann | July 25, 2012 at 12:03 PM
The Dominican Sisters got to visit nice places too. They had use of a house out on Bolinas Point for decades. I think they made up for the premier location with determindedly spartan meals, if the ones I was invited to join in San Rafael were any indication. I mean, bologna sandwiches on white bread? (They had good wine, however!) Your memory brought back one of mine that made me smile - thanks!
Posted by: Susan Shea | July 25, 2012 at 06:25 PM
Susan -- I know the Dominicans from teaching at DC in the 70's and 80's . . . never knew that about their diet, however!
Posted by: Camille Minichino | July 25, 2012 at 09:32 PM