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Next: Ghosthunting

Family Ties in Nantucket

Next: Ghosthunting

The next day we had lunch at a great sub shop on the wharf, did a little grocery shopping and eagerly awaited the afternoon arrival of my relatives...Uncle Howard, Aunt Tess and my cousin Dale, who would join us for a couple of days. Their 90-minute ferry arrived early, just as we found the correct dock.

I only get to see my relatives from Massachusetts once every few years, so this was a real treat. Back at the house we enjoyed a reunion in the backyard and I took these shots.

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Howard and Tess are kind, funny people who go along with anything and complain about nothing. Including taking their picture.

Here's Dale with my son Chris.

Dale is a computer wizard and an excellent musician and we always have lots to talk about, though we are just as happy reminiscing about our childhood antics, which were many and often musical.

Chris just got his driver's license and now wants a Durango.

Or a Ford F-150. Or a Lexus.

Tess and my son Adam. This picture captures one of my favorite moments of all time.

My mother-in-law arrived much later that day and I forgot to get a picture. But here she is when she was six.

One more scenic view from the backyard. Through the trees you can see that church again.

None of us had been to Nantucket before so we would enjoy discovering many new things together. This, I thought to myself, has all the makings of a great vacation. Give me leisure time near the ocean and I'm a happy camper. Add some interesting things to do and I'm really sold. Import some of my favorite people and what else could a person need?

We would soon be off in search of seafood.

We ended up at an excellent restaurant on the wharf, again within walking distance (don't worry, we'll get in the Durango soon), and for the first time in two decades I got my fix of authentic New England fried clams. These are the kind that still have bellies attached; the dark meat as I like to call it. It makes for a richer, earthier clam experience and tends to gross out the non-clameaters in my family, which is everybody.