The End

After several job changes I actually got an offer of employment in Southold and now my commute was no longer westbound to my work it was eastbound.  The commute was like a vacation with the scenic sights and sounds of the early morning on the north fork of Long Island.  As it became my habit I would stop at Harbes to buy local produce that was currently in season.  Of course I couldn’t resist using my lunch hour and purchasing bottles of wine from several of the wineries.  Finally it was fun going to and from work.  In looking back I would say this was my happiest stretch of employment.

Ann was always one not wanting to sit at home and just watch TV.  As the North Fork became the in place to go on Long Island the traffic during the weekends resembled going westbound on the LIE.  Ann wanted to take a three day weekend and head to Montauk on Friday, so off we went.  No traffic, just a beautiful Long Island’s summer day.  Blue sky, light cirrus clouds and a brilliant sun greeted us as we drove eastbound along route 27.  On this day the kids weren’t with us, they had long been on their own.  Also they weren’t there to talk two people in their mid-50s out of doing something silly.

Just what was it that we foolishly did?  We had finished doing all the tourist attractions at the point and were about to head back to the car when Ann spotted a trail down to the water’s edge.  Always wondering where roads, paths and trails lead, off we went.  We descended onto a little beach; to the right the path continued.  Planning to walk just a little further we somehow found ourselves on the biggest rocks we had ever seen.  Breathing deeply to steady our nerves we continued.  At first climbing over each rock went easy enough and we were feeling pretty proud of our accomplishments. Then we made the mistake of looking down and behind us.  There was the Atlantic Ocean just feet below crashing with all its might onto the rocks!  How had we gotten into this?  People make poor decisions every day, this was a doozie.

We took it slow and easy, grabbing our way from a southeasterly direction to a westerly direction.  Would we ever get off these rocks? You are probably thinking; just go back the way you came, but at this point there were young people following us.   Not wanting to appear “chicken” and since there was no way to safely switch places, we had to continue, one foot after another.    Negotiating one boulder at a time we finally got to safe ground.  Relieved we hadn’t fallen into the ocean we gratefully headed to our car. We had done a foolish thing, but it was something we believe few have accomplished, walking THE END.

Ann and I now live in Bristol Connecticut but we still go back to Long Island to see old friends.  Occasionally we will revisit are very own vacation spots along the trail of wineries and farm stands on the North Fork.  And now we may even come home with a case of wine!