On My Mind Today

New Year's resolutions - we all make them. We promise to quit smoking, to eat better and exercise, to lose weight, and many other things that we believe will make us healthier and happier. If we are lucky we at least make an attempt to keep them, but often never even get stared. We take on something we are not ready to tackle and then feel like a failure when we have not followed through. Maybe it is time to be kinder to ourselves. To realize that if we have a few great days where we keep our resolutions and a couple of days we do not it is okay. We can get back on track after a bad day - it does not mean we have failed because of that slip up. Nobody is perfect and depending on what is going on in our lives, we will have bad days. The key is to move forward and not get bogged down by negativity. I believe if we try to be the best person we are capable of being, if we treat everyone (family, friends, co-workers and strangers) with kindness, then the rest of our life will eventu

We are finally having our first significant snowfall of the season - on December 27th. Certainly not a typical New England winter. On a normal year we would have had many storms by now, and many feet of snow piled high. Growing up I can remember days and days of snow with 2 or more feet during that time. The snow banks would be so high that you could not see to pull out into the street (if you dared venture out at all). We would have to inch out slowly and hope that nobody would come along and clip the front of the car. We would have 2-3 days with no school. Just time to play out in the snow for hours on end. Funny how the cold does not bother us when we are young. We would only come in to change into dry clothes and back out we would go. Having snow ball fights, making snow forts and tunnels, using our metal saucers to slide down whatever hills we could find. It did not matter if it was a small "hill" we made ourselves from the freshly fallen snow. Playing King of the Hi

Lately I am having a hard time trying to comprehend where so many young people got the impression that life would be easy. That growing up, being an adult, working and raising children would go along like a smooth running river. At best it is more like a river that has smooth days, but one that also rages from time to time and puts life in turmoil. I know that growing up I was never led to believe it would always be smooth sailing. Did we as parents make life too easy for them growing up? Did we neglect to make them want instead of getting all the time? Did we lead them to believe that they would always succeed and never fail? We know if you never fail, you never learn how to pick yourself up from that failure and move forward. If you can do that you will have many successes in life. We also know that if you want something bad enough you will work hard to obtain it. I am not saying that we should make our children's lives so difficult that there is no joy. And there is nothing

Today I am thinking about all the Christmas traditions my family has had for as long as I can remember. Traditions that have been passed to me by my mother and I have passed to my children. Also new ones that I have added over the years. There were certain things that we could count on. Our stockings always had a homemade popcorn ball, an orange (which was a treat in the winter) and a candy cane. We knew we would get knitted or crocheted slippers in a variety of colors to keep our feet warm on a cold winter night. My grandmother always sent the fruitcake. What child likes a cake with alcohol and dried fruits and nuts? I guess not many adults either, as to this day I will not eat fruitcake. Putting alcohol in sweets just seems so wrong. My mother always baked so the house smelled of fresh baked goods. All of us wanted to eat it as soon as it came out of the oven, but knew that we would have to wait. Bowls of nuts were on the table as well as freshly made fudge. So many treats to c

Once again we are dealing with an unspeakable tragedy in our country. Too many of these are taking place and we need to get better at recognizing the signs. Recently it was a mall shooting and now a school in Connecticut. I cannot begin to comprehend how someone could walk into a school and shoot innocent children. What has gone so wrong in their mind to push them to this? To watch the news and see a father almost drop to his knees with grief is so heart wrenching that it is unbearable to see. I cry with him and all the parents and families who lost loved ones, unable to grasp the depths of their despair in this moment. One can only imagine what they are going through. The parents who had to go to a fire house to see if their children were ones who survived or one of those that did not. The mix of emotions when you found your child - the absolute joy that they were spared and the total grief for the parents who lost their babies. Your friends and neighbors that you need to console an

Last night the big bad Houston Texans came to Foxborough and we had been told all week that it would be a tough game for the Patriots. The Texans were 11-1 and viewed this as the biggest game in the franchise history. The Patriots did what they always do - ignored the hype and played great football. And the outcome? Patriots 42 - Texans 14.  Brady threw 4 touchdown passes for the 18th time, passing Johny Unitas, and moving into 4th place all time. In the past seven games he has thrown 19 touchdowns and only one interception. The defense did a great job holding back the Texans, and are improving each week. Like every week it was great fun to watch. And as always when the game was over the Patriots did not have a huge celebration. They were happy with the win, but know there is no time to sit back. Time to move on and prepare for San Francisco next week. Because that is what Bill Belichick and the Patriots do. They may not always win, and sometimes when they do it is not a pretty w

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, which happened over 2000 years ago. The word "Christmas" translates to "Mass Of Christ". Many of the traditions that we observe during the Christmas holiday season began way before the birth of Christ. Exchanging gifts, decorating trees, and the burning of the Yule log were all winter traditions that began before Christ was born, but were eventually incorporated into the holiday that became known as Christmas, and became part of Christmas history. I am not sure when it all began, but over the years society has not only lost the meaning of Christmas, but also insisted that we no longer say Merry Christmas. Everywhere you look it is Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings. Merry Christmas is no longer politically correct. Some even act offended if you wish them a Merry Christmas. There are many people who celebrate other religious and cultural holidays such as Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and many more. I res

We decided to take a day trip the weekend after Thanksgiving. We had talked about going to see the Vanderbilt Mansion for some time so off we went. It turned out to be a beautiful day and a very easy, pleasant ride with little traffic on the road. The Vanderbilt Mansion in Newport, RI, called The Breakers, sits on a large piece of property looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. It is a large mansion with 3 floors - the first 2 floors were for the Vanderbilt's use, with the 3rd floor providing servants quarters. All the rooms on the first floor are very ornate with all the luxuries available during the time it was built. The 2nd floor, although very nice, was much more subdued as they were the sleeping quarters for the Vanderbilts and their children. On the front of the mansion is a large patio that opens to the magnificent front lawn going down to the rocky ledges to the ocean. No photos are allowed to be taken inside the mansion. When CorneliusVanderbilt died during 1899 at the

It is very disconcerting to see the growing intolerance and hatred in our country over the last several years. Not only because someone is different than you, but because their views of politics or religion do not align with what you believe. It seems that even if you do not agree with someone over religion or politics it is now acceptable for them to demonize your beliefs or views. When did this become acceptable behavior?  Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs, and nobody has the right to tell you that yours are wrong. Or to portray someone as ignorant, or even worse, evil because their opinion differs. I was raised to treat people with respect, and to be kind and courteous. Even if my opinion was different from another, we may have had discussions on the subject, but never argued, shouted or belittled one another. Today people seem to obtain joy from making someone feel bad for what they believe or because they are not like them. The bullying that used to be just

I strive to keep a positive attitude in spite of the many things that can turn a day upside down. As I age it has become clearer that not to do so only creates negativity. The past 18 months have been quite a journey in my life with many good things, and some not so good. Both of which shape the person I am. I started my own business just over a year ago and it has been exciting and stressful at the same time. Exciting as I have come to know so many wonderful people who have been supportive and encouraging. I have learned much from their experiences which they have so generously shared. Stressful due to the monetary constraints of being self-employed. In the pursuit to build a successful business it has been necessary to use "reserve" funds, and we all know the reserve funds only last for so long. But I persevere knowing that I am on the right path for me, and that I can make a success of this endeavor. Nothing good ever comes easily. I have also lost loved ones during th

Thanksgiving has come and gone which hardly seems possible - until the Christmas commercials started. They seemed to sneak up on us and I am sure they were slipped in a week before we enjoyed our Thanksgiving meal. We should be allowed to give thanks for all the wonderful people in our lives before we think about shopping. Don't get me wrong - I like to shop and give to others, but like to wait for one holiday to end before I go there. Having said all that, I did get my Christmas decorations out this past weekend and carefully placed everything in its proper place. Funny how we know exactly where they should go even after a year in storage. As I go through the day putting up the tree and decorating with lights, bulbs, special ornaments, and garland I think of what this holiday is truly about. It is about time with my family sharing memories and making new ones. Seeing the joy on the faces of my grandchildren as they open each package with such excitement. The simplest of gifts ar

Thanksgiving - the holiday where no gifts are given - only thanks for the things in our life. Today I am thankful for many things. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family, great children and beautiful grandchildren. My family has always been there for me with love and support and I know they always will be, as I will be for them. They are my rock. I am thankful for a man who is kind, and has a great sense of humor. Someone who has been supportive of my journey over the past year to get my struggling business on its feet. I am thankful for the many wonderful friends in my life. There are those I have known for most of my life, and new friends that have appeared over the years - all of whom have been an inspiration to me for so many reasons. I am blessed to have all of these people in my life. They have made me laugh, shared tears with me, helped me get through tough times, and always encouraged me to follow my own path. Every day that I get to spend with them is a gift that is

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” –Proverbs 18:21 We all love FaceBook for the immediate access to our loved ones and friends. To be able to see pictures of our children and grandchildren is such a joy. To stay connected with friends and be able to share our lives and also keep up to date on their lives is a wonderful thing. I would not give up this connection. Used with good intentions it is a great thing. There are the postings that makes us laugh, postings that make us think, postings that encourage us to help others, postings that make us count our blessings - but there are also the posts that offend.  The posts that are hurtful - intentional or not. It is far too easy to get caught up in the moment. To allow our emotions to dictate and before you know it something has been said that you wish you had not said. Even if you take down the post after people react it is too late. The words were there, no matter how b

Family is truly the one thing we can count on in life. They will accept us for all the great things we do, and also when we do things that are not so great. Their love and support are unconditional and will get us through even the most difficult times in our lives. Throughout our life we travel many paths and along the way we will meet people who become important to us for many reasons. When we become a part of their lives we sometimes separate ourselves from family initially, but eventually we move back to our family circle. If the people we meet are truly a good part of our life, then they will enhance it and encourage a good family connection and be a part of that. They should never make us feel we have to choose between them and family. If they do we need to ask ourselves why. I guess the following are the things I have learned about family over the years: 1. They love you unconditionally, even when they do not agree with choices you make. 2. Nobody knows you better - warts

So many people today have become terrified of aging and looking older. We see an abundance of this with celebrities, both men and women, who feel they will not be accepted if they do not look youthful. Unfortunately what they fail to recognize is everyone knows how old they really are. We also have seen what happens when plastic surgery has gone too far and how unattractive it can be. It has the opposite effect of what they were looking for, and can cause much heartache. When did we become so afraid of growing older, and lose the ability to do so with grace and dignity?  Some of the most beautiful people I have seen (celebrities and otherwise) are those who have chosen to grow old gracefully. The wisdom in their eyes, and the wrinkles around the eyes and mouth as they smile are absolutely beautiful. These are the things that show who we are and come from a life filled with both joy and sorrow. A face with no lines can tell no story. I have gone far beyond 50 and 60 is closer than I

This blog was one of my early ones from 2012, and it struck a nerve with many who are dealing with ADD and ADHD on a daily basis. I am choosing to post it once again after coming across a documentary on PBS called ADD and Loving It!? It was presented with humor and made it clear what it is like to have ADD with the help of the narrator, who is a comedian with the disorder. I have added the link to this documentary at the end. I hope that those dealing with ADD find it useful and enjoy the humorous approach. Once again - Trying to Understand ADHD: ADHD brings up many emotions in varying ways depending on if you are a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, teacher, coach or just a bystander. It is very hard to understand if you have not seen or lived with ADHD and its effects firsthand. Unfortunately most look at it from the viewpoint of how it effects the people around the child with ADHD. Hard not to do this when the actions have an impact on your surroundings. The sch

So many in our society have come to believe that nothing is their fault, and because of this belief  lawyers are getting rich. They will find a way for you to blame someone else for the choices you have made in life. That is not to say there are not companies and individuals out there who take advantage or make decisions that will cause harm - and they should be held accountable for this. However, so many of the cases brought into court are nothing more than someone looking for a pay day after making a choice they had to know was not a good one. And lawyers are getting rich encouraging this behavior. If you watch any television at all then you have seen the many commercials where an attorney (or an attorney spokesperson) tell you they can help you get the money you deserve. Of course they try to make it sound like they only want to help you and don't say how much they will make off the lawsuit if they win. I call them the ambulance chasers. Maybe I am showing my age, but I was

It is so hard to believe that we will be changing our clocks back this coming Saturday night. Seems like only a few short weeks ago we turned them ahead for the longer days of spring and summer. Did that much time go by so quickly?? As I look around me on the lake it is truly apparent that season has come around again. Fall foliage has gone by, the leaves have fallen, the days are cooler and that gray November look is in the sky. Over the past several weeks I have watched the ducks and geese as they have done their practice runs over the lake. Preparing for that inevitable trip for warmer climates in the south. Many days I wish that I were taking this journey with them so I too could feel the warmth of the southern sun on my face over the long cold winter. Although I have spent my entire life in New England I am finding as I age that the winters are not so kind and the thought of being out of the cold, snow and ice is more appealing. Having said all that, the first thing I do is re

From the time our children are born there are really two things we want for them - to have a happy life and to be safe. Mothers are like a Momma bear with her cubs. We want to stand back and let them explore their surroundings (always watching of course) as we know they need to be able to stand up on their own when we cannot be there. However, let anyone try to mess with our children and we are just like that Momma bear and we will protect them with everything we have and more. We do have a tendency to try and make everything right for them and in many ways there is nothing wrong with that, however we cannot fix it all as they grow up. If we do not allow them to fail, then they will never figure out how to pick themselves up and succeed. As heartbreaking as it can be to watch them fail it is a necessary part of growing up and finding their way. In the end it makes them stronger and wiser. Over the years my children have had many successes and I am very proud of who they have grow

Today  - a pet peeve of mine. Per the Webster's Dictionary the definition of yield is to surrender, relinquish or give way. I have been on the roads quite a bit lately and it appears that many drivers do not know the meaning of this word. They seem to think it means to speed up and cut off the person who is already in the traveling lane on the highway.  When taking drivers ed I know that we were told it meant to slow down and enter the highway once the roadway was clear. I have talked to many other people and asked when they took drivers ed if they are taught to yield upon entering the highway. They all have told me yes, but it is not apparent by what we see today. The other thing that seems to have changed is what the traffic lights represent. I was taught that obviously red means stop and green means go, but the yellow light meant caution and that you should slow down and prepare to stop. We all know the light will turn red very soon once we see the yellow light. It seems

I live with someone who watches every show on ghosts that he can find. Some I don't mind watching, some have hosts who just love to hear themselves talk, and some just freak me out. When I watch some of these I wonder at times why anyone would continue to stay in a house that is haunted with bad spirits that continuously harass them??? No doubt in my mind I would be gone after the first encounter. We went on our first ghost tour in Edinburgh, Scotland and it has ruined me for the many more we have taken since that time. The young woman in Scotland was very adept at telling tales to make the hair raise on the back of your neck, taking us through Edinburgh as she spoke. Telling us upon entering one room that all of the torture devices there had actually been used at some point in history - very gruesome. We ended up in the underground tunnels where many were killed in a fire and so it is filled with the trapped souls of those unfortunate people, which certainly would give anyone th

Fall Foliage Trip - Bar Harbor, Maine. Our last mini vacation for the year - and fortunately most of the rain held off. I had not been to Bar Harbor for over 30 years and things have changed so much.  My memories were of a very rural, quiet vacation spot, but it has grown immensely into quite the tourist destination. I did not recognize the area at all. Having said that.....it is still an incredibly beautiful area. Bar Harbor is truly a quaint New England coastal town. Filled with unique shops, wonderful restaurants and views of the harbor that can take your breath away. Walking around to check out the shops and sitting on the waterfront in the sun made for a very enjoyable afternoon. In the evening we went to Testa's restaurant and had the most incredible fish and seafood in a relaxing atmosphere with great service. I cannot say enough about the Grilled Haddock Amandine they serve - will remember that for a very long time. We took a trip through Acadia National Park on the Par

Fall in New England - a time to enjoy the beautiful colors of the foliage, feel the sun warm our face on a cool day, and smell fresh baked goods wafting through the house. All of these things conjure up memories from my childhood. My mother is a great baker, and there were always fresh baked goods in our home. Growing up we knew that even after a tough day at school we would arrive home to the loving smell of cookies, pies, cakes or whoopie pies. All of our friends would love coming to visit because they were not used to having this at home, and thought we were the luckiest kids in the world. I'm sure that we tended to take all of this for granted as it was commonplace in our home. Every Saturday night my mom would make homemade pizza and our close friends would try to make sure they were present for this treat. Fortunately I learned from watching my mother as she created all of these great things. Once I had my own family they too would come home and know that there would be f

Technology is great, but there is something to be said about writing a letter. Not only can it bring a smile to the recipient, but also allows the author of the letter to share their thoughts, hopes and dreams with someone they care about. To release all the things that have been running around in our minds just waiting to be shared with a confidant. I remember growing up how excited I would be to receive a letter from a family member or friend - anticipating what they had to say as I opened the envelope. After reading every word carefully I would sit down and send a reply. And so it would go as we shared our feelings and thoughts back and forth over the years. Somewhere along the way we have lost this art of writing letters and the joy it can bring to write and receive such a letter. I recently decided that I am going to start writing letters to my grandchildren ages 9, 4 and 2 (yes even the 2 year old). I want to make sure that they know me in a way that only can be done in a let

We recently returned from a mini vacation to Block Island (located 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island). The entire island is just over 9 square miles and is beautiful, peaceful and a great place to rejuvenate your soul. Since it was after the Labor Day holiday it was very quiet which only enhanced our experience. We are blessed to have some wonderful friends who have been going there for several years, and they invited us to join them for a few days. Spending time with them is always a joy, and this trip was great fun. The house we stayed in was wonderful and most places around us were empty so we had a great deal of privacy. These houses and condos on the property had access to a private beach which we pretty much had to ourselves the entire time. The guys did some salt water fishing while the rest of us either walked the beach or just soaked up the sun. We went to the National Hotel for dinner and sat out on the porch overlooking the ocean - what a spectacular view to enjoy

We all have them - the things that bring fear to our hearts and make us shake at the thought of facing them. One of the biggest is public speaking - right at the top of my list. I would rather do most anything than stand in front of a crowd to speak. I started my own small business about a year ago, and to try and grow this business I attend networking meetings. As part of these meetings we all have to say who we are, what we do and what a good referral would be. After a year I still get extremely nervous, my mouth gets dry and I almost forget what I need to say. Once it is done I am so relieved but the shaking stays with me for a few minutes more. Oh how I envy those who make it look easy - wishing I could take some of what they have that appears to work so well. I know I need to overcome this fear to some degree. I may never be a great public speaker, but I at least need to have some comfort in promoting my business. So, I am taking a first step by being interviewed on a radio pr

When we are in high school our friends are the main focus of our lives. We cannot get through a day without being with or talking to them - their opinions are so important to us during this time. When we graduate we are initially still very connected to them and spend a lot of time together. As the years go by however, things change and we tend to lose touch as we get busy raising our children and doing all the things that grown ups do. I recently was very blessed to reconnect with two of my best friends from high school. Two people that I spent many hours with during those years - having fun and getting each other through the typical high school problems. We all had our moments and shed our share of tears, and we were there to help one another. We met for lunch and when we saw one another all those years that had  passed just melted away. We seemed to pick up where we had left off as if it was just yesterday that we had been together.  We shared the things that have been taking pl

When listening to young mothers and fathers it is apparent that they find the day to day routine sometimes difficult and definitely mundane. I know that when I was raising my young children these same feelings were expressed at times. It can be hard to do the same thing day after day, and raising children is a joy, but one that comes with a lot of hard work and stress. Adding a busy work schedule to it all can sometimes push you over the top as they say. What I can tell you is that as you age your perspective on life changes. Your children grow up and before you know it they are in college, and then out on their own. Your time becomes "your own" and you start to fill it with all the things you never had time to do, and things you never thought you would do. There are not enough hours in the day but you embrace all of these things with joy and as a new adventure. All the time you spent in the past being "bored" with your routine or stressed seems so far away. Som

Reality TV - the Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor Pad, Big Brother, The Housewives of wherever (take your pick), Jersey Shore, 16 and Pregnant, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, and on and on. This is not reality -  it is cheap programming. The people they are following and filming are not showing their true lives, they are putting on a good show for the cameras - looking for their 15 minutes of fame and hoping to get rich quick. Seems that so many want to peer in on other people and their bizarre behavior. I can't imagine that their own lives are not more interesting than watching this. Then we have the true crime shows such as The Investigators, 48 Hours, Body of Evidence, and many more - where they show the most horrific things that humans will do to one another. Not sure if they are going for the shock of it all or if they are giving the already deranged more ideas. No matter which one you look at it all comes down to both money for the studios (programs cheap to produce), and a

Well.....another birthday and another year gone by. It does not seem possible that this is true. The birthday yes, but a year gone not so much. My mother always said that time goes by faster the older you get. I now know what she means. When my children were small it seemed like time went much slower - at least until they started school. Once this took place then the years did seem to go in a flash. One day they were entering kindergarten and the next they were graduating from high school. Leaving me to wonder where all those years had gone. As each milestone in my children's lives have passed - school, marriage, children - the years go increasingly faster. There does not seem to be enough time to spend with my children, grandchildren, family and friends. I find myself trying to squeeze more and more into each hour, day, and week. Hoping I do not miss a thing along the way. So as I start my journey through this next year of my life I will try to slow down enough so as not to

When did it become acceptable to use slang instead of proper English when delivering the early morning or nightly news? Do they believe that the average American is not intelligent enough to notice - that they will think it is alright to do this? The first time I heard a newscaster use the term "my bad" on a national morning news show I knew I must have heard them wrong - I did not. I have always believed that our newscasters are educated, intelligent people and would hope that they believe their audience is also educated and intelligent. I know that it does offend me when they assume I will not notice if the language and grammar are not correct. Do they truly think that Americans should accept slang as part of a national news program? When informing the nation on the events in our country and the world, they should speak up to their audience and not down. Raise the bar and expect that people do understand, and that they will learn from the news when they do not. After al

Each spring I anxiously await the arrival of the Loons on the lake. The first time I hear them call out to one another a feeling comes over me that I cannot fully explain. Maybe it is joy that they have returned, and maybe it is the touch of peace it brings to my soul. The sound is like no other and always makes me stop and listen - waiting to hear them again. It is fun to watch them during the day as they float along the water so gracefully. First right in front of you, and then all of a sudden they are diving deep under the water for food. The next time you see them surface they are so far away, and it amazes me how far they can go submerged. Throughout the summer they continue their calls and I never take it for granted as I know the season is only so long. When I wake up in the morning it is the first thing I hear, and at night their melodic, almost haunting call lulls me to sleep. Nature is so giving if we allow her into our lives. Now that we are in the dog days of summer I

We are planning a trip to Italy next year. He has family there that he has not seen in many years, and he wants to show me Italy through the eyes of an Italian and not as a "tourist" as he says. We will start in Austria and work our way down through Italy ending up in Sicily. I am very excited about this trip. So to prepare I am teaching myself Italian as I do not want to insult anyone by not being able to communicate at least a little. I want his family to know that I at least have put some effort into understanding their language. As the title of this blog states it has been like teaching an old dog new tricks. The audio CD program I purchased is very good and uses repetition which is definitely a great way to learn. The first few lessons were easy and I was able to move on quickly. However, lesson 4 was a bit more difficult and lesson 5 is even more daunting. I find that even when my mind comprehends, the mouth does not always cooperate. Amazing how hard it can be to t

Today I only wish to share the letter my brother posted to his son's Facebook page:   Thoughts of Marine Parents As Kodys parents we thought you might like to know what it is like to be parents of a Marine. If you have access to this Kody has "friended" you on Facebook. For him to do that you, in some way, are a part of his life and finds it important to stay in touch with you. He has committed the next eight years of his life to defend this nation and protect your rights as Americans. In the next few months he will be deployed to God knows where to protect this nation. Our only hope and prayer is that he comes home safely after his tours of duty. For him to succeed he will need the thoughts and prayers of all who know him. As you tag, post, text, tweet, email, write or call him, please always keep in mind his safety is predicated on his ability to have a clear mind. To be focused on his job as a Marine. His life and the lives of his fellow Marines depen

Recently my daughter arrived for the weekend with my 2 grandchildren, Anthony - 9 and Emily - 4. They are bright, inquisitive and full of energy. Sometimes I wonder if I will be able to keep up with all the jumping and running. Not quite as easy as it used to be, but they make me feel young again at least for a few days. We decided to take them to Hampton Beach for the morning since it was so hot and humid. I assumed it would be extremely crowded so we left early to try and beat the rush. When we arrived we had to keep checking parking lots until we found a spot in one on the upper end of Hampton Beach. This made me a bit apprehensive as I assumed we would not find much of a spot on the beach to park our things while they played. We had chairs, a cooler, towels, etc. so we asked the kids to help.They were great and carried what their size could handle. Much to my surprise when we got to the beach the upper end was fairly quiet with plenty of room. We settled in and then headed to t