Final Thoughts.

It is August 20th, 2009.
Almost 2 months have gone by since my last post and I have now been living off the Cape for almost one month. I have put off writing this because my experience will seem too finalized if I put it all down in words. The emotions were also running wild in that last month, trying to experience all I could before I left....trying to take things in....slow time down....possibly find a pause button, or better yet, rewind button to do it all over again. As much as I tried, the end inevitably came and I now sit in my bedroom in Sheboygan, WI reminiscing about my year on the Cape.
IT WAS GREAT!
It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done. On September 8th, 2008, I nervously entered a parallel universe of sand dunes, loppers, waders and dead marine mammals. I have always considered myself an independent person, but moving so far away & knowing NO ONE really upped my anxiety. The drive from Boston to the Cape on the first day was a continual Q&A session with myself, the most common question being: "What the f*$% are you doing!?!?" It turned out that I was doing the BEST thing ever! My mom recently asked me what my favorite thing was and like a 5 year old, I answered, "Everything.", because it was the truth....mostly. My least favorite part was July 25th, 2009: The Day I left the Cape.....part 2 of the hardest thing I have ever done. Our last week consisted of exit paperwork, mass cleaning of the house and packing up. It was cold and overcast most of the week (we did not have a summer on the cape) with some drizzles....almost like the Cape was sad to see us go, too and then like some cruel joke it was GORGEOUS, sunny and hot that morning we all said our good-byes. I didn't want to leave....so I stuck around that morning as long as possible and was one of the last ones to go. Alex & I had planned to go camping in Maine for a few days, so I made him drive my car while I tried to keep it together for the long car ride off the cape. It was intense saying good bye to 13 people who you have shared basically everything with the last 11 months. We worked together, we hung out together, we lived together....ate together....slept together. We shared clothes, food, cars, advice, stories, laughs, tears. We occasionaly fought and got upset when someone got the service project we wanted or was sitting in "our spot" on the couch. It WAS a family. & still is. I talk to at least one person from my house in some form every day. I know that this will fade eventually, but right now it is a nice comfort as I am still adjusting to my surroundings....knowing that I am not the only one who feels a little out of place and alone. & I know that I will see them again. I stayed with Sam on my drive back to Wisco. Brian & Korinda stopped at my parents house for a night on their way out west on a roadtrip. Alex is coming to visit in a few days for a whole week...& because so many people are still out on the Cape (returning to AmeriCorps or working) I plan to get out there sometime this year. So I will be OK! I am currently in the market for a job.....& really want to get back out east. I really loved it out there and am missing it immensely. SO....if you know of any great enviro/research/fieldtech/really anything jobs out east & want to hook me up.....feel free! (This also applies to anywhere really because I just really need a job)

But moving on.....
highlights of my last month:
*LOTS of shellfishing! Going through oyster cages, raking up clams, wearing waders....always a good time!
*Our final project was removing old oyster cages that were buried in the sand and hauling them back to shore. It was HOT and the cages were HEAVY. It was definitely a testament to our work ethic.....we got it done!
*Lots of attempts at catching some waves on the ocean side. We broke some boogie boards and there may have been some bloodshed caused by washing up on rocks.
*Frolicking bay side.....swimming in the warmer water, watching fireworks (the town of Truro celebrated its 300th year!), & sunsets.
*4th of July was CRAZY.....tourists everywhere and no where for us to go. I actually got sick and missed the fireworks. oh well.
*LOBSTER! amanda, erin, alex & i bought some live lobsters @ the grocery store and brought them home & steamed them....delicious! & so much fun.
*SEALS! I did a seal survey with IFAW. We rode around in a little boat looking for seal haul outs. We found about 150 gray seals and then attempted to disentangle one that was wrapped up in fishing gear. Little guy was too fast and got away, but it was so amazing to be so close to them!
*THE POND! our favorite place. When the beaches were packed, we walked down the road to the pond. Almost always empty and always a good temperature. Also a great spot to enjoy some beer!
*"Graduation"....we had a ceremony and I gave a little speech about our time at Taylor-Bray Farm and AmeriCorps week. We even had to walk across the stage & accept a "diploma" (certificate verifying that we put in 1700 service hours)
*"The Last Supper"....our last house dinner and meeting took place on the beach! We had a bonfire, some booze and everyone brought a dish to pass! definitely an eclectic dinner.
*Our last weekend.....we spent hitting up our favorite spots......the bomb shelter on friday night and then Drag Queen Karaoke on Saturday night where we sang "Bohemian Rhapsody"....one of the first things we did together to "bond".
*Our last nite we all went and ate at Moby Dick's....the first place we all went out to dinner together (we are all very sentimental, if you couldn't tell)...and then went to the pond one last time.....for skinny dipping!
*Alex & I went to Sebago Lake State Park in Maine after we all said goodbye on the Cape and went camping for 2 nights. We got rained out the first night and had to switch campsites. We spent an afternoon in Portland and then headed to Boston for the night to stay with my cousin and hang out in the city before I took him to the airport.

I then spent 11 hours in a car...by myself...driving from Boston to Aurora, OH (where Sam lives!) and then 9 hours the next day to get back to Sheboygan. It was long and awful, but I made it!

I wanted to thank everyone for reading this "blog" and being interested in what I was up to out there! It was hard to keep up with at times because I was always doing something, but thanks for hanging in there. It was a wild ride & one hell of a year!

& Stay tuned....who knows where I will be next!

Much love,
ABBEY