Pilgrimage-Part Two

Eleanor and Chauncey boarded the train for Old Saybrook at 125th Street in Harlem. The train was crowded and there were no seats together. Their suitcases became a burden. For a moment, both Eleanor and Chauncey were frozen, incapable of moving along the aisle. Another couple pushed past them and somehow found two seats next to each other at the end of the car. After Stamford, more seats became available, and Eleanor and Chauncey sat down.

They were greeted in Old Saybrook by their friend Nate. He apologized for forgetting to buy beer. Eleanor suggested they could stop on the way to Nate and Fiona's house. Nate reminded Eleanor that blue laws still existed in Connecticut which meant that alcohol was not sold on Sundays. He distracted them with stories about Old Lyme residents as views of Long Island Sound appeared out the window.

Two offspring nibble at apples.

Nate and Fiona live with their 10 year old daughter Naomi in a house filled with art. There are colorful ceramic objects from China, paintings of all kinds, large framed kimonos, and cool collages by Nate. Outside, the house is protected from the street by hedges and trees growing as they want. Every evening as Naomi did her homework in the kitchen, Eleanor watched a mother deer and her two offspring nibble at apples fallen on the ground.

They stared at the water.

Fiona was determined to show Chauncey and Eleanor her favorite natural places starting with Harkness Memorial Park in Waterford. She was inspired by the fact that the owners of the land had donated it to the public. She wished for her own family's land on a point south of Harkness to be made into a park but suspected there would be resistance from her siblings and cousins. A strong wind threatened to cut the walk short, but Fiona persisted, and they found themselves seeking shelter in a duck blind near a pond. All complaints about the wind ceased as they stared at the water.

As a departing gift, Chauncey and Eleanor were treated to massages by Fiona's friend, Trish, who came to the house on a rainy Wednesday with table, towels, hot stones and soothing music. Towards the end of the massage, she asked Eleanor if she minded hearing about the spirits who were in the room with her. Eleanor said she did not. Trish told Eleanor that there were many children in the room who were joyous and happy. She said they wanted Eleanor to keep saying what she had to say. Eleanor asked if that meant she should keep writing. Trish said she didn't know.

The next day, after a trip to Pelham-Grayson for some healing stones, Chauncey and Eleanor climbed into their rented yellow Camaro and headed off for the Cape to stay with Eleanor's relatives. Eleanor felt sad saying goodbye to Nate, Fiona and Naomi and wished she could stay a little longer. There was still so much to talk about.

They climbed into their rented Camaro.