The annual trek to Maine is over, and we had a great time. Usually in Kennebunkport there are "Bush sightings" of one sort or another all summer long.
Every year, we go out to Sunday evening dinner at the Cape Arundel Inn, which has a really nice restaurant on the ground floor. The inn is on a hillside overlooking the ocean and also Walker's Point, summer home of the first President Bush. I couldn't park because the lot was full, so I let Gail and the others off, and went around to the back to park. I just assumed the crowd was due to a wedding or some occasion, and I walked around to the front entrance.
When I walked in, Gail walked up to meet me and said "Look over my right shoulder".
There, off to one side of the restaurant was George H.W. Bush, his wife Barbara,and George W. Bush, and his wife Laura. They were with another couple (I'd didn't recognize them, but I'd love to know who they were!). Politically, I can think of people I'd have rather shared the room with, but it was still kind of interesting, and like them or not, being in the same room with an ex-president or two is still pretty unusual, to say the least. When I parked, I saw a lot of people standing around, but it never occurred to me that they were Secret Service. It was dusk, and I didn't notice the ear pieces.
The entire Bush family usually gets together at Walker's Point for the week before Labor Day, so this was a bit early. We had actually eaten at a table next to the elder Bush and his grandkids (by Jeb) at Barnacle Billy's in Ogunquit a few years ago (somewhere during the Clinton years). That was the year we ran into 41, 43 and Jeb all in the same day, at different places.
When I worked in politics back in the 70's, I shared several elevators in New York with Jimmy Carter, when he was campaigning for delegates in the 1976 New York primary, and the Secret Service searched my box of campaign goodies every time, even though we saw each other at every single stop. (I was working for Milton Schapp, then Governor of Pennsylvania, who entertained thoughts of the presidency for a brief few weeks.)
This is the first time I've been in the same room with TWO presidents. All four of the Bushes looked very well, even though Sr. was using a wheelchair to get around. Last summer, he visited the cast of a show our friend was in at Ogunquit last summer and he was wheeled backstage, but did get up and around to shake hands. Sunday, he did not leave the chair all the time he was eating, and they wheeled him out a side door afterwards. He did not show any outward signs of the Parkinson's that he has been reported to have. I hope I look that good when I am 88 years old.
Aside from all that, we had good weather and good food every day, even though the widely reported low-priced lobsters never did pop up in the places where we ate.
Our corner table is at the center of this photo below, and could have been taken from the Bush table. If you click the photo with the white railing, you'll see the Bush compound at Walker's Point in the background. We didn't bring our cameras with us, but, frankly, it wouldn't have been appropriate to be snapping pictures anyway. Besides, then what would I have....photos of two presidents I didn't particularly like?
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/photo-kennebunkport-maine-lodging-cape_arundel_inn-lodging.html
Maui Vacation Surprise (Pic!)
I like surprises like that... B-)
Wendell and I had something similar happen while in Maui. We were in Lahaina walking Front street and I came up to this booth on the side road that was advertising a new restaurant being opened called "Fleetwoods" of Fleetwood Mac.
Well, my cousin is a huge die hard fan. She has been since age 12. Ya know, one of those ones that pays $$$$$ to get front row seats to get a handshake, a nod, anything!! So I went and chatted with the booth girl. They had tank tops for $25 and t shirts for $35. I wasn't sure if she wanted a tank top or t-shirt so when we got back to our hotel I mentioned it to my cousin via text. She about lost her mind when I told her about this restaurant and begged me to go back before I left Maui to get her a tank top and she'd pay for it.
Wendell and I went back a few days later to get the tank top. It was the day before opening night so there was all sorts of last minute preparations going on. As I approached the booth, I noticed this older looking laid back guy in flip flops and a Hawaiian shirt chatting on the side with a few people. I told Wendell, "Hey, I think that's that Fleetwood guy!!" Wendell was pretty sure it was him. I kept looking and smiling, and he kept looking back, and smiling, and nodding.
So....I asked the booth girl and by golly it was him!! So I told her about my cousins story and how I was sent back to get a tank top for her. Mr. Fleetwood could hear me going on and on about my cousin being a die hard fan, paying gobs of $$ for good seats, how she's gonna pee her pants when she gets this tank top, etc... Wendell asked if Mr. Fleetwood would sign it for her?? He did!! In black marker!! The booth girl comes back with a signed tank top and Mr. Fleetwoods assistant. They gave it to me, signed, under one condition, requested by Mr. Fleetwood: They wanted a photo of her opening the tank top!! I had to promise to keep it a secret and could not tell my cousin!! They had me take a picture of an un-signed one to text to her to show her I got the tank top. Sneaky!! She about went hysterical just seeing THAT picture!! I told them you think this is bad wait until she gets the actual tank top!
Anyhow, I kept that secret from her and called my aunt and mailed the package to my aunts house in Buffalo, NY, so my aunt could get a picture. She fibbed too and told my cousin "Oh Angel just wanted to see a pic of you opening your tank top." Well, the look on her face when she opened it and saw it said it all. I'll attach the pic to show ya. 🙂
She called me screaming and laughing like a giddy teenager. Now she won't wear it; she framed it!! And...Mr. Fleetwood got his photo. Maybe he is going to put it up in his restaurant or something... And this fall I get Buffalo New York sponge candy out of the deal. B-) :clap:
