The wind started around two am. It was fierce. The rain came with the wind. It pounded the windows, but I fell asleep anyway as did the dogs. When we woke up, everything was still wet, but the rain had stopped. It will be cloudy and in the 50’s today. The wind is still fierce and still blowing the pine branches, even the tallest and the thickest pine branches.

When I was a kid, this was spring vacation week. We never went anywhere because my father worked every day. I entertained myself by bike riding, picking out books at the library and spending time with friends. April weather is iffy here. Some vacations had warm weather while others still had a bit of winter about them. I didn’t usually care. It was vacation after all.

When I was a teacher and later an administrator, my parents and I started traveling during my April vacation. We’d choose one country, rent a car and tour all over. I was the driver. My parents paid for the car.

My favorite country was Portugal. We saw Iron Age and Roman ruins. My mother and I climbed a hill to see those Iron Age ruins. My father waved from below. We went way up country to Miranda do Douro, my favorite spot of all. I remember the wisteria was in bloom. It hung from trees and covered fences. We roamed the town, visited the cathedral and castle and the ruins around it. We stayed at Pousada Santa Catarina. One night we ate dinner in the hotel. The meal was extraordinary.

We loved our stay in Miranda do Douro, but after a few days, we had to leave to go south. A couple we had met during our stay left a while before us. They took the main road. I took a dirt road we happened upon which seemed to be headed in the right direction. It was scary as it was steep and winding, and I had to go slowly. At one spot my front wheels went off the road a bit and hovered over the side, but they were easily turned back to the road. My parents didn’t notice, but it scared the heck out of me. At the end of the dirt road we joined the main road. Later, we saw the couple was behind us. I’m sure when they saw us they wondered how we got ahead of them. I would have told them a death defying road.

The morning is a delight, a bit chilly, but it is April after all, early spring here on Cape Cod. The sky is brilliantly blue. Yesterday’s clouds have disappeared. Nothing is moving though there had been a wind warning earlier. The sun is shining so brightly I could barely see when I went to get the paper. It is one of my favorite sorts of mornings.

Some days are exciting by their very natures. Today is a holiday in Massachusetts, a big day around here, an amazing day filled with tradition. First and foremost it is Patriot’s Day which commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord, fought near Boston in 1775. The festivities of the day started with a reenactment of the battle. We love and celebrate our history here. It is also Marathon Monday. The race has already started. The male wheel chair athletes were first. The winner has already crossed the finish line. The Red Sox start at eleven, an odd time, but scheduled so the fans can walk to the finish line of the marathon after the game to cheer on the runners. Today is a wonderful day to be in Boston.

When I was a kid, I loved the parades, the ones on special days. My town had one on Memorial Day. I was so excited to march in my first one when I was seven. I marched with my brownie troop and in my brownie uniform. When I was older, I marched with the drill team. We usually had a barbecue, the first of the season, after the parade. I still go to watch my local Memorial Day parade.

I think birthdays are sacrosanct. We get to celebrate our own special days. This summer I will invite my friends to celebrate with me at a barbecue. It is a special birthday, a milestone birthday. I won’t have a cake. I’ll have a lemon meringue pie. It is tradition for me.