Our fifth house in the Pines was almost as far east as 448 Boulevard and inequitable bedrooms made it challenging to share but we loved the pool. It got sun all day, something 485 Tarpon had lacked.
We hadn't known that Mark, one of our housemates and newly single, would buy the place before the season began. What would it like be living with our landlord? That turned out to be the least of my problems.
Nearly everyone from the summer before--including Steven, Randy, Thom and Andrew had returned. For some reason I didn't take a lot of housemate pictures.
The roof deck offered great views of Casa Debris, with its ever changing cast of characters. Unfortunately, the spiral staircase to get there made it a pain for cocktails although Thom managed to serve a fabulous focaccia as the sun set late one afternoon.
More shore beauty.
There were several colorful guests, too, none of whose names I remember.
Except for Matthew & Wolfie, on his last legs. Apparently the crew was headed to something called "Brendan Nights."
Long walks appealed to me more than other people's parties.
I negotiated for the least favorable bedroom--an angular sleeping loft off the staircase with a window that didn't open--in return for unrestricted guest privileges. Florian flew in from Chicago.
He was very happy to be back.
At 52, I long ago had realized darkness and distance were my two best friends.
Chris joined us for another long beach walk.
But leaving Florian at the house on his own for a week during his second visit proved to be a mistake. After I discovered he had hooked up with both a porn star and a reputed Kohler--from the family that made a mint manufacturing bathroom fixtures--our relationship went down the toilet. Lots of drama ensued when I put him on the ferry back to Sayville, several days early. It personalized a belief I've always held about the Pines: it's a candy store that can be toxic for couples.
I'd kicked my best pal out of paradise.
You can't beat the Grove for crafty wit!
My days working for the American Red Cross September 11 Recovery Program would come to a planned, well-compensated end in November. Jeanine, Rosemary and Melvin celebrated their earlier RIF (reduction in force) packages with a day at the beach just before Labor Day.
Gray weather discouraged less intrepid colleagues from making the trip on the LIRR.
But Ted (far right) joined us. Melvin, who had a great eye, took this photo. Covid killed him in November 2020 after a six-week fight.
Nature, like art, offers a lot of solace.
At the end of the season, developers tore down the Pavilion--where I had spent nearly twenty seasons drinking at high tea and dancing after midnight--to make way for a new nightlife complex, a gym and a store selling prepared foods. The Pines was definitely changing, and not always in a good way. Holmes never would have approved of serving prepared food for dinner.
But the place never has lost its natural beauty.
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