Last week was likely the pinnacle of our summer. I know, we're peaking early.
But given the increasing frequency of the under-the-ribs harrassment Anna's getting from her uterine tenant, and the sultry torpidity of DC's infamous, swampy summer weather, the time we spent at the Conathan family beach shack at Saquish is the early clubhouse leader for top dog days. Finn would clearly agree.A Saquish (pronounce it SAY-kwish) tutorial for the unannointed: it's a strip of barrier beach about halfway between Cape Cod and Boston--check the map--closest town is Duxbury. There are no utilities, no phones, and no paved roads. Boat or four wheel drive are
your only transporation options. Technically, cell phones work out there, though Saquish purists frown upon their use, and I noticed that blackberry batteries have a mysterious tendency to lose their charge upon reaching Gurnet Head and without a power outlet to crank them back up, what's a congressional staffer to do? Not work, apparently. I opted for a lot of sitting on my ass and drinking beer.
Anna, meanwhile, sat for pictures. Or, occasionally, laid down and hosted some of the local tidepool dwellers.
Only slightly more than an hour's drive from Boston, including a 30 minute sojourn over the dunes, the beach is literally unknown to the vast majority of even lifelong Massholes (no offense intended, it's just a far more pronouncable term than "Massachusettsians"). Even cyberspace has yet to discover this oasis of rusticity--google "saquish" and hit "I'm feeling lucky" and you'll end up at a site hosted by our friends Jamie and Molly Talbot with a slate of photos from a weekend excursion in 2003.
The house itself was built by my grandfather, Ed Conathan, after his return from World War II, and the place has borne witness to the ongoing evolution of the six Conathan kids of my father's generation, and the eleven Conathan/Kopke/VanOrden kids of my generation. I don't know whether my cousin Jenny (due in August) has ventured out to the cottage with her cargo, but it was a good feeling to deliver a fourth generation.
We're back in DC now, and into the home stretch. More monuments tomorrow since we're already on to week 31--lack of electricity makes for late blogging. The mercury's supposed to hit 99, so maybe we'll find some more of those nice fountains around town... Until then, signing off...
