We Don't Want to Go Back

What do these guys have in common? They all grew up together in Roslindale, MA and just happen to be 3 brothers from the same family. Pictured here are Larry, Richard, and Billy accompanied by sweet Fiona. The brothers no longer live in that Boston neighborhood. They have made their separate ways in the world, but they are intentional about staying in touch. Over the years they have gathered at Grady’s where they unplug their phones and focus on time together. On one of the days of their visit this year, the weather turned near perfect. The sun was shining. The winds were calm. Mark and I decided to take a break from learning the motel business and take the boat out for a spin. We invited the boys and Fiona to join us. As we leisurely motored around Highland Lake, we got to hear their stories and get a glimpse into their lives. It was a fascinating and enjoyable afternoon. They shared about life growing up in Roslindale in their family of 7 children and about where their lives have taken them since those days. The stories made us smile and laugh. If they ever wrote a book about their adventures, we would be among the first to read it! Even though we puttered around the circumference of Highland Lake so slowly we could hear each other speak, when we made it back around to the Grady’s dock, Richie said, “Mark, we don’t want to go back.” Neither did Mark or I so we kept on going. We might still be out there gabbing and enjoying each other’s adventures, but the perfect weather of earlier had changed over to some ominous clouds that brought a strong wind with the promise of rain. We headed back. The first drops began to fall as we stepped onto the dock. We each made our way back up to the motel with smiles on our faces of beautiful scenery and new friendships made.