March12, 2008, Western Head, Nova Scotia. Friends.

Yesterday it was like being in another country. The ocean was calm, with not a ripple in sight. Just the quiet waves coming and going. Not a breeze in the air. Yesterday morning when I woke up I could not hear a thing. No waves and no wind. At first I could not get my bearings, and wondered where I was. But I sat up, and then I could the sea, so I knew I was in Nova Scotia, still in Nova Scotia, The best part of gettting older is you get smarter, at least I hope so.

Tonight we are going to the home of Diane and Vinny Risotti with our friends Mary and Walt. Diane and Vinny are our friends too and they are interesting people. Vinny was an Obstetrician from Long Island, N.Y. and Diane is an artist. For 20 years they vacationed in Nova Scotia near Sable River. Diane and the children stayed all summer and Vinny came and went. Diane painted all summer, which kept her in business the rest of the year finishing all the unfinished paintings, then selling them in New York. All was well until Vinny decided to retire. Diane announced they were moving to Nova Scotia full time. Vinny was not pleased. Too cold, too far from the family, too isolated, house too small, nothing for him to do. But he agreed kicking and sceaming. He knew it would take a long time to get their immigration papers. Much to his surprise the papers arrived, so after selling their home on Long Island and starting on the addition to their collage, they moved. Another New York friend came too, but just for the summer. The friend and Vinny started to make wine. And soon Vinny had more to do than he had time to do it. They kept adding on to their house, a room at a time. In fact the first time I saw their home I commented that although their home is interesting and beautiful, it was a real estate agents nightmare, with an absolutely horrible traffic flow. But they love it. Now Vinny will never go back to New York, while Diane goes several times a year for her art shows. You just never know the end from the beginning. Vinny is the cook and he is a good one so we are looking forward to seeing them tonight.

We drove out to the cottage today. The lake still has ice, and the water is very high. In fact the ice took out our lower deck by the water. But everything else looks good. We have changed our insurance company, so the agent wanted to take a picture of the cottage and she could not find it, we suggested we go together when we were in town. She was brought up in a home that was in their family since the 18th century. So many homes will transfer title for many many generations with never a sale only by the will. Two years they they found a family will from 1802. Just amazing.