Final Prep. M&M.

West Marine, Cosco, ACE Hardware, US Post Office, Bed-Bath-&-Beyond, and a few other stops kept us busy on our final weekend in Shelburne. Pete repaired the roller for our anchor chain, fabricated a water hose pigtail to help with marina water hook ups, then he helped me to secure our new Canadian flag on the bow pulpit. (It is customary to fly the flag of the country you are visiting as a courtesy.) 

Monday we welcomed Mike and Maria! (M&M)

I first met Maria in the fall of 1975. I was a freshman at the University of San Francisco, a naive girl to big city life and an eager new nursing student. I was moving into my all-female dormitory, anxious to meet my new Italian roommate. I pictured a brunette with brown eyes, Mediterranean skin, and perhaps voluptuous with tales of exotic international travel. I stopped at the door of my assigned room, which was opened, and saw a blonde, blue-eyed, fair-skinned young lady of slim build. I looked down at my orientation packet, verified the room number, and squinted at the name of my new roommate: “Maria Monteleoné.” Before I could reconcile the discrepancy, she said, “Susan?” 

We were instant best friends with similarities in work ethic and study habits, food likes and dislikes, clothing styles, music, and athleticism. She was a ballerina, I was a gymnast. We couldn’t have asked for a better pairing! We roomed at Hayes-Healy Hall for two years together. By year three, she was ready for an off-site apartment while I needed a more affordable option. I applied to be a Resident Assistant in the dorms. I was successfully placed in Gleason Hall, a co-ed dorm. Despite the separation, then and ever since, Maria and I have remained connected. Our bond is treasured and timeless. 

We had lunch at the Farm House Tap & Grill, enjoyed wine tasting in the afternoon at Shelburne Vineyard, then returned to the boat for a surf and turf dinner. We talked about life. We bragged about our children. We shared our thoughts on aging, on politics, on immediate and distant goals, and we acknowledged how very blessed we have been in this life.

Tuesday, after a wonderful breakfast, we returned the rental car and then we all went to the Shelburne Museum.

“Founder Electra Havemeyer Webb described Shelburne Museum as a “collection of collections.” …From fine and decorative arts, folk art, circus collections, textiles, toys, and carriages to an array of objects that illustrate four centuries of design in America.”

When we were nearly exhausted with the treasures of this museum, we drove to central Burlington for a farewell dinner at Leunig’s Bistro & Lounge. After a wonderful meal, Mike and Maria safely delivered us back to our boat. With promises to share more moments like the last twenty-four hours, we said our good-bye’s.

It struck me that we ended our last season with the help and support of Maria and Mike (as we decommissioned Reverie), and we were starting this season of our journey with them. I felt the significance. My emotions were visible.

It was hard to fall asleep. In the morning we would restart our Great Loop Adventure!