Summer 1975. Every year we would go to Cape Cod for two weeks, but this year my mom started a job so we could only take a long weekend. We went to this motel by the beach for the first time. It was utterly short but the owners, a large rambunctious clan from Boston (Quincy I think) we utterly nice. They were hard working, sun baked and delightfully Irish.
When my dad died in November (massive heart attack while bowling – the way he would have wanted it) my mom mourned the fact that we didn't have a nice long vacation that summer. Our family would go back to the Cutty Sark year after year and Veronica, the owner, would become a lifelong friend of my mom. I would be left to pine after one of the daughters, to no avail.
All the things that would change after this picture. I know….life, but damn, what a change. I still have that hat my dad is wearing.
by THEBIGHUNGERDC
17 Comments
What an awesome story fellow human. I think I’ll go on a walk. Take some time to appreciate the good. Life’s a matter of persepctive and what a wonderful life it is. Thank you!
If I guessed your parents were 47/48 here would I be right? I could also go with mid to late 50s if I didn’t read your story but also late 30s after reading it.
Leaving this world though bowling seems like such an American thing to do. I have no doubt that your father is knocking pins down in Heaven as we speak.
Thanks for sharing
Great story. We never know the points in our life where things change. Cherish the memory.
Still crazy to me (1) how much and (2) how quickly life can change. And then it is changed forever.
Mobil Travel Guide. That’s something I’d totally forgotten about. I used to go through that and fantasize about all the places I could go.
I hoped that as an adult, I’d have enough money and time to just drive around, stay where it looks interesting, for a long as I wanted, then drive on to the next place.
Thank you for the story! Also grew up around there, was wondering about the motel name, and learned this:
https://preview.redd.it/6r6a28py2s1h1.png?width=1079&format=png&auto=webp&s=9a3dad2ab2a3c51a343e42f1b319cbc22c796846
Dennisport? Looks like its still there. Such a great area esp for kids
To expand on the bowling angle of this story, my great -uncle died of a heart attack whilst clearing a heavy April snow from his driveway in order to go play in his bowling league. There was a message on his telephone answering machine that the day’s play was cancelled due to the snow.
There was over 80 bowling balls in his home that were donated to a local pig farm. Him and his late wife were hoarders. I learned pigs enjoy pushing around bowling balls.
I recently lost my dad, also to a sudden heart attack. It’s so true, life really exists in a before and after going forward. It’s strange looking at photos of myself and the family before. I almost don’t recognize that version of us.
SeaScape Motel, Indialantic, FL. Hasn’t changed in 60 years.
https://preview.redd.it/4mywwx6pfs1h1.jpeg?width=1411&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73b74a0ed9f5b5110d8553f22b38cb75eb1900a2
I see Jean Stapleton and Walter Matthau
For my grandparents it’s was the Governor Prence (or something like that) in Orleans. A different time!
I remember this place! I’m pretty sure it’s still there.
Really nice write-up. And I know Dennisport when I see it. You probably bumped into relatives of mine if you made your way down Old Wharf to Campers Haven.
Beautiful story and a bittersweet reminder of how things can change so quickly. I love the smiles on their faces, and the way you can feel the sunshine through the photograph in only the way film seems to capture it. It looks almost like a dream from midcentury America. I can’t help but think, as I read over your story and think of my own family, how precious life is and how little time we have here with the ones we love.