So sorry I didn’t get around to responding to your comments on yesterday’s post. As you know, that’s not like me, but I confess I was just plain exhausted. After three nights in a row of too little sleep, a trip to the mechanic to get the car fixed, a trip to the dog wash to shampoo Scout, which wasn’t easy as she seems to have taken a sudden dislike to the whole process, and then time spent as a tour guide, via the phone, as Don finally explored Cambridge, I found myself too fried at the end of the day to even consider signing into the blog.
I’m tired. I slept a bit longer last night but, unfortunately, when I got up at 5:30 to go to the bathroom, Scout heard me and let me know she had to go out. And there you go. Once again, up too early.
Photos courtesy of Don’s iPhone
I’ve been bugging Don to get over to Cambridge and do some sightseeing but the weather in Boston has been awful for most of his time there. Yesterday was the first nice day in a long time, so he crossed the Charles River to explore my former home, a city I love and miss. I helped him navigate his way around Cambridge.
Just call me Claudia: Your Phone Guide to Cambridge.
He loved it there, as I knew he would. In the few hours he had available between shows, he got to drink in the charm of Cambridge, saw Harvard Yard, Harvard Square, The Old Burying Ground, Longfellow’s home, the Harvard Coop, a couple of restaurants, and my former apartment building.
There it is! I lived on Harvard Street, just a few blocks from Harvard Square. Do you see the corner apartment on the third floor with the bay window? That was mine. I loved it.
For the first year I was in Boston, I had been living in the tiniest studio apartment you can imagine. I mean tiny as in a large walk-in closet. When I read about small apartment decorating, I usually laugh at what is considered small. You ain’t seen small until you have seen where I lived that first year.
Now, do you see the corner apartment on the first floor? My friend and colleague, Judith, lived there. In fact I stayed there when I took a quick trip to Boston from Philadelphia to search for a place to live. This entire building was rent controlled and owned by an eccentric woman named Mary who sported a beehive hairdo. I loved Judith’s apartment and envied her lower rent and the beautiful street she lived on in Cambridge.
A year later, during the summer, I got a call from Judith one day saying an apartment had opened up and if I wanted it I better call Mary ASAP. I did. And I found myself moving to Cambridge, to an apartment that had a separate bedroom, hardwood floors, a charming non-working fireplace, a bay window, a sunny kitchen and a pantry. All for less than half of what I was paying for that studio apartment.
I felt like I’d died and gone to heaven.
I loved that apartment. I lived there for four years. I loved Harvard Street. I loved Cambridge, a city that just begs you to take long walks and explore all the history and beautiful buildings and streets and bookstores and charming cafes. I walked all the time – there’s nothing I like better than the opportunity to explore a city on foot.
I would have gladly stayed there but I was underpaid and knew it. And I knew the rate at which my pay level would increase just wasn’t enough. So I applied for the job in San Diego and got it. I said goodbye to my charming little apartment, to Harvard Street and Boston University. I had loved teaching there. I passed the apartment on to the guy who was going to take on my teaching load. When he left, he passed it on to another colleague. Eventually, Mary died, the building was sold and the rent control was no more. The apartments are now condos. I often wonder what happened to everyone living there. All of us seemed to be struggling artists or employed by non-profits and we knew how lucky we were to live in a rent-controlled building.
I’d live in Cambridge again if I could. Yes, I’d dump country life in a second if we could afford it.
Don’s pointing to my apartment. I love that he took the time to walk there and see it. He did that for me. It means a lot to know he’s been there, as I’ve certainly talked a lot about it and Cambridge and Boston over the years we’ve been together. Just as I’ve seen his childhood home and some of the places he lived in San Diego, he’s seen my childhood home in Michigan and now he’s seen this building I loved living in.
By the way, Scout has been a lot better the last couple of days. Very feisty and energetic and full of the devil.
Happy Friday.
How wonderful that you could guide him around the city and that he took the picture. Pretty neat guy. Thanks for sharing.
He is a pretty neat guy, Michelle!
That was a lovely story! The 2 of you are so lucky to have each other.
Thank you, Lisa.
I love Boston it has so much history and always something to do. It is a vacation spot I would go to again. What give up country life??? So glad Don had a nice day to explore, we had one nice day too and now it’s back to freezing rain :( Will it ever end….
I think I would, Dawn. Sometimes I really miss walking in the city.
Boston is such a wonderful city, Claudia, and Cambridge is just so lovely. It’s so neat that Don was able to trace your steps there and see what you saw when you were living and working there.
I’m so happy he was able to get there.
I’m so glad Scout is doing better. Hope you’re able to enjoy your walks for a long, long time with your girl. It’s so great that Don was finally able to get out and do al little exploring and with his very own tour guide too. Just after we were married we lived in a tiny little apartment for about a year. You could stand in one spot and cook, wash the dishes or get something out of the fridge without moving. It was okay then but now it would drive me crazy. Hope you have a wonderful day and get some much needed rest.
Trying to, Janie! I just need one really good night’s sleep.
Hi Claudia, and happy Friday. So glad Scout seems to be doing better. and, all shampooed as well – ha-ha. Great shots of your former apt building. Boston and Cambridge are just great places. Our last visit to that area was when our son looked at MIT (where my Dad had gotten his PhD), but opted for a different school, so it’s been a number of years. Last year our son ws teaching English in Korea — talk about small apartments! A 2 burner stove, no oven (washer was under the stove…no clothes dryer), the bathroom was one small room with a toilet, sink and shower head on the wall…the drain was in the middle of the floor. Yikes! He survived the cramped quarters, but is glad to be back in the States now.
I think apartments are even tinier in Korea and Japan, Vera!
That apartment building reminds me so much of the ones in Evanston – a beautiful town right outside of Chicago. I love older buildings like that, with beautiful windows, hardwood floors, and so much character.
I know Evanston, Melanie – it is beautiful.
Claudia I love Boston! I lived in the suburbs for a few years before moving to Cape Cod. I visited Harvard a few times and always found Boston/Cambridge to be such an amazing place. So glad Don could visit and sightsee with your guidance. Good news about Miss Scout!
hugs, Linda
I really miss it there, Linda.
I love going to see my childhood homes. What a neat place to live!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)
It was such a great place to live, Teresa.
What a beautiful place to have lived! I love Don’s picture of your apartment. So happy Scout is feeling better.
Tana
She’s tired today after her big day yesterday, but she’s doing well.
If one has to be full of something…. the devil is surely IT for sweet Scout!
I could picture the apartment as you described it and understand why you would have been so sad to leave it behind.
So neat that Don had the opportunity to see it. Just a few more days and your family will be together again. YAY!
3 more days, Chris.
So pleased Don got to visit your old stomping grounds! I’ve never been to Boston…it’s on our travel bucket list though! Great news about Dame Scout…glad she’s feisty again…and just in time for Don’t home coming! ;)
Don’s home coming!!
You should definitely go there. So much to see and so much history on every corner.
Oh, Claudia, I can completely commiserate with you on Boston. If there was one place in the world I’d live [besides here where my family is], it would be the Boston area. I love it so much I think I must have lived there in a former life. I have a good friend from college who lives on Mount Vernon Street – quite possibly the most beautiful street in America in my humble opinion – and I love it when it’s her turn to host our every-other-year college crowd reunion because it means I get to go to Boston. We always do this in October – and I don’t think Boston could be more beautiful than it is in October. I always work it so I can stay a few extra days and explore. PS – sounds like Scoutie is responding to Spring like we’re all supposed to – with joy because warmth and Life are returning to the world at last. I guess Winter is the price we pay for our Springs. Have a great weekend and hope you get some serious sleep.
I know Mount Vernon Street. Lovely!
That was a great story about your apartment. I’ve heard of rent control, but never experienced it. Very interesting. I love that Don took the time to get a perfect picture of not only the building for you, but of him pointing exactly to your apartment. Now that is a man who loves you!
Blessings,
Betsy
He’s pretty cool, Betsy.
What a pleasant post! It made me want to go to Cambridge. Of course Don has a great tour guide, which makes a big difference than just wandering around with no idea of any back story to anything. I am happy to hear Miss Scout is being her feisty self. It does a heart good to know she is feeling better.
Don will be home soon!!!!!!!!!
Yes, he will!
One of my favourite posts on your blog. Thanks to you and Don for sharing. J
You are very welcome, Julie!
What a great picture of Don..He looks like he is touching the window in your old apartment..lol..Very cool..the picture and Don that is..looks like he had a wonderful day plus great weather..just look at those blue skies..
It was a beautiful day. Gray and rainy today – though Don managed to snag a ticket to opening day at Fenway – he’s there right now!
WOW..He is having quite a happy ending to his time there!
That sky! Makes me homesick for New England.
When did you live there, Claudia?
And is Don pointing to your apartment or showing off his wedding ring?
Both, I think!
(Remember when everyone was commenting on his wedding ring when the PBS show aired?)
I guess it’s possible that the caffeine in the hot chocolate is affecting your sleep. Maybe you could have it earlier in the day, or skip it for a few days. Just an idea.
I don’t know. It hasn’t affected my sleep all winter, but I suppose it could be now.
I lived in Boston/Cambridge from 1988 – 1993. I moved to San Diego in August of 1993. Met Don in 1994.
What a lovely post. A beautiful city. Good to see Don. Sounds like Scoutie knows someone is coming home soon.
I think she does, Regena!