This past weekend we went to Watch Hill, Rhode Island, to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. It was a very special trip on many levels, but the one that was most significant to all of us was that we were able to experience together, as a family, with Mark's childhood memories of this wonderful beach town, and with the adjacent town of Westerly, where his grandmother lived for 30 years or more. I have been to Watch Hill twice before. The first time was when we were dating. The second time was when my parents visited five years ago. I don't think I ever connected with this place so strongly like this time. It was as if I walked into a black-and-white movie, as we spent the weekend together.
The drive to Watch Hill from our house was a little more than 2 hours. As we drove, Mark described how he used to drive from Amherst to Westerly to visit Grammie, and back, and how he hasn't done this route for so long now that he's forgetting some of the directions to get there. But somethings do still stick in his memories:
"This section used to have less development", as we drove through Stop and Shop and Home Depo near Westerly.
"Man, this house's front yard still have the same yellow flowers, just much bushier now", was the comment about a house located at the bend of a road.
Mark told me that every summer as a little kid he would come to Grammie's house at Westerly, spent two weeks there and went to the beach every day after lunch. Sometimes his parents would send him and his sister on an airplane and Grammie with pick them up at the Rhode Island airplort. Sometimes they would come together as a family. Many times other cousins were around also, and they would go to the beach together, play at the famous merry-go-around, eat ice cream and popcorn, and after a full day playing at the beach, they would all go back to Grammie's for dinner.
Our children had never been to Watch Hill before. As we pulled into the town, the sight of the boats, music from the merry-go-around, the beach smell, the moving horses, colorful signs from the stores, etc. immediately captivated them.
The view of the main street in Watch Hill
Oh the horses! Fei Fei is somewhat familiar with them since she had read a book about them at Grammie's apartment in Boston. Mark said that they used to have to reach for the stainless steel rings from a machine arm loaded with them. Kids had to reach out hard to get them, and the person who got the last brass right got to have a free ride. Mark remembered having to work so hard to get the last ring, and he did win his free rides many times. Now it seems to be easier, because a staff is there to help hand out the rings to kids who are smaller and who can't reach the machine. Also, you can pay for one ride and get a free ride if no one is waiting in line.
"Look at me! I am flying with my horse!"
Reaching for the rings
Therefore, kids like Fei Fei can proudly boast, " I got on the carousel for 12 times and got 20 rings!"
At the beach, we were grateful for a fine weather. The forecast was that there would be thunderstorm and the possibility of Hurricane Bill. But it bypassed us and went up to Maine during the weekend. The kids totally entertained themselves with sand everything--digging and building things, drawing and writing on sand, burying treasures and finding them. At different times, Mark also took them for walks along the beach, finding rocks and shells and playing at the waves. Both Fei Fei and Jun Jun are much bolder now with water, compared to the last trip to Cape Cod. Fei Fei was learning to jump when the waves came to her feet, and Jun Jun was daring enough to inch closer to the water this time.
But to Mark, it was different. He missed the community that once was here on the beach with him.
"Grammie always came with her group of girlfriends. They would all sit near the entrance on their beach chairs, and with their pretty beach umbrellas up, they would chat with each other while the kids played." It must have been such a scene for a little boy to remember so vividly all the ladies behind him. And he pointed to us the 30-years-long parking spot that Grammie used to have at the beach. I stared at that space, picturing how Grammie the "chief commander" was like, driving all the kids in and out of the beach, and everyone knew her.
A colorful display of umbrellas
"A whinbow!" Jun Jun yelled,
as he looked up from under the umbrella.
Checking out the water with Daddy
The wave was still pretty big, even though we missed Bill. The next day the beach was closed down for swimming, but we could stand and watch the crashing waves.
Making sand art together
Our kids befriended with the ice cream lady by the beach, who is of Cantonese descent and who also has two children. She recommended Italian Ice than popsicles for the kids because they fall too easily. She was right.
One of Jun Jun's favorite spots on the beach: the feet watching station
"We are so happy to be here!" Watch Hill light house is at the background.
Lindsey, Fei and Jun's 6 yr-old cousin, made these beautiful shirts for them
The same water fountain by the waterfront promenade where
Mark's Dad had held Mark to drink water from
Taking a walk by the beautiful waterfront promenade
I loved the view of this window box from where we were sitting for dinner.
The sunset was gorgeous.
The last view of the water before the day ended
The next day we visited Westerly and the outside of the house that Grammie used to live in, on 35 Spruce Street. Grammie's friend, Nancy Balentine, bought it from her 11 years ago since Grammie moved to the assisted living apartment in Boston. No one seemed to be at home, so we just let the kids peek in the front porch screen door. The swing chair is still there, dark green color seat and connected to two chains hooked to the ceiling of the porch. Mark said, "the smell of this space is still the same."
35 Spruce Street, Westerly
I imagined the summer days when the kids would sit on the swing chair in the front porch, looking to the people on the streets. Houses around that neighborhood all seem to have generous front porches for socialization and engagement with the street life. I imagined there must also have been plenty of fighting among the kids on who got to sit on the swing chair first and why. Those were the days.
Riding on a rabbit sculpture at the Wilcox Park, Westerly.
Mark thought it may have been the sculpture of the famous Peter Rabbit.
The kids were excited to see ducks in the lotus pond,
but were wondering why the fishes were hiding.
As we concluded our trip to Watch Hill, Mark said to Fei Fei, "it seems like you have done all my childhood here in two days!" It was a joke, although with a much faster pace of life now, it is somewhat true. I feel like we will be returning to this place again, and each time we will walk into the same black-and-white movie just like the old days.
