Dan went big for his half-century mark, with a four-day extravaganza for family and friends in Maine. Chris, who had recently returned from Moscow, flew in from Washington. Donald and I met up with him at the Portland airport where we rented a car.
The birthday weekend got started at Grandma's House in Boothbay Harbor. Grandma "who" I never knew.
Dan was already there to greet his guests.
Apparently, he'd had plenty of time to watercolor.
He's better at abstractions.
Painting runs in the Pelletier family. His sister Tina is a wee bit more talented.
Her husband Brooks brought their boat and galumphing dog, Chauncey.
Captain Clark took Chris, Randy and I for a misty spin.
He also explained that fisherman used these buoys to locate their lobster traps.
Meanwhile, back at Grandma's House, Dan entertained the Hottins, the parents of one of his closest friends, Lisa.
Randy and I roomed together at the Atlantic Ark, just as we did in the Pines. The bed & breakfast remains open although its website doesn't look as if has changed since we stayed there.
It gave us some time to explore the charming town on our own.
I'd never seen candlestick bowling before.
I had way more in common with Caroline and Caitlin--Lisa's lovely teenage daughters--than many of the other guests. I picked them up at Grandma's House for an evening drive.
Ted stayed at the Atlantic Ark, too. I'd first met Dan through him in the Pines, where they had been housemates. Ted designed the t-shirt I'm wearing. It says "Peace 2000."
Randy and I took another walk before the day's main event, a lobster feed on Cabbage Island.
On the ferry, Dan insisted everybody wear name tags to encourage mingling between his family and friends.
There's no way I ever could have gotten this many people to celebrate my birthday.
Then again, Dan's not an only child. He's the eldest of seven siblings. Only his father is older in this family photo which doesn't include Billy, his youngest brother.
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| DeeDee (sister) & Jerry (father) |
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| Carole (friend) & John (brother) |
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| Joe, Marc (brother) & Laurie (cousin) |
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| The (mostly white, cisgender) Gay Table |
This was a real nice clambakeWe're mighty glad we cameThe vittles we etWere good, you betThe company was the sameOur hearts are warm, our bellies are fullAnd we are feeling primeThis was a real nice clambakeAnd we all had a real good time
Dan's youngest sibling, Joelle, is included in this picture with her husband.
Mayo & David shopped at Bergdorf Goodman for their Gucci gift
. . . while Tina quilted hers. Guess which one I coveted.
We played Celebrity when we reconvened at Grandma's House later that evening. Dan, Randy and I had spent Y2K with Lisa and her sister Linda on Martha's Vineyard.
Marc, the only Pelletier sibling who dedicated his life to the pursuit of art, didn't clue as well as he painted. I treasure a sketch he left behind in the Pines as a house gift.
We ended the celebration with several days at another house Dan rented on Sebago Lake. En route, we stopped at an auction house.
The weather improved but there wasn't a lot to do if you didn't enjoy the sun, swim, draw or play Scrabble.
I swam to this island
. . . while Joe painted it. Such a talented, nice guy.
Chris broke out a jigsaw puzzle
. . . the perfect group activity.
When in Maine, do as Mainers. I guess we must have had lobster. Again!
Dan's three sisters paid a visit, too.
You can't beat the gloaming on Sebago Lake!
I captioned this photo "Dueling Sweatshirts," as good a metaphor for our friendship as any.
I had celebrated my own 50th a year earlier with "The Boys in the Band" in a Manhattan apartment on the 37th floor. Different vibe altogether!
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