Friday, September 12, 2025 – Day 395

Friday, September 12, 2025

Good morning from the Jordan Hotel at Sunday River in Maine.

This is a remote spot that doubles as a lively ski resort. They average more than 100 inches of snow, and the runs look plenty challenging. I can already see some ski days in Alex’s future—if he ever decides to take it seriously. Nicole’s family cabin is less than 30 minutes away, so the convenience factor is covered. Convincing Alex will be the tough part—too many years of winter swimming instead of skiing!

Yesterday we took our time traveling from Portland up to the lodge. Nearly 90% of Maine is forest, and our winding backcountry drive proved it. We’re just starting to see hints of color in the trees; in a few weeks, this place will be exploding with reds, oranges, and golds. That would be spectacular—but no regrets that we’ll miss it. We’re here for a family wedding, and that will take all of our attention!

Of course, we managed to find a brewery along the way. Actually, there are plenty of breweries here—we’re about to hit our third in as many days. With an open day until the rehearsal and welcome dinner tonight, I’m sure stories will follow. I may not be around to see all of them firsthand, but if anyone wants to pass along the colorful ones, I’d be happy to post them tomorrow.

Last night was an informal gathering at Nicole’s parents’ (Liz and Eric) cabin, which overlooks a small lake called Howard’s Pond. The extended family owns several plots at the end of the road, and the whole area feels like a peaceful hideaway—straight out of On Golden Pond.

The cabin sits above the road, which made getting me inside a small adventure. We debated whether to take the steep stairs or the long gradual bridge that leads to the water. Both had their challenges, but either way there were plenty of willing hands. We chose the bridge route—still with stairs, but rest spots along the way. Nikki and Alex took charge, with Barb and Mark as spotters and others behind me. I had a few tears along the way that no one saw, overwhelmed by the support and especially by having both kids right there helping. Within 15 minutes, I was inside.

Eric and Liz couldn’t have been more gracious. They greeted me with warm tight hugs that said more than words and offered me several comfortable options for seating so I’d stay in the heart of the party. I chose a couch that I thought wouldn’t take a whole team to get me back up. Throughout the night, family members came by to introduce themselves and make me feel welcome. I’ll admit, I may need a refresher on some names today—it was a lot to take in at once!

The evening lasted a few hours, and I was treated like a VIP the whole time. Outside of one bathroom trip near the end, I didn’t move from my spot. Everyone made it easy on me, and I was so glad we could be there.

On the way out, I decided to take the stairs back down to the driveway. I had enough spotters that even if I stumbled, I’m confident they would’ve caught me before anyone went tumbling. They got me safely to the car, though Nikki did have to give me a push up into the Expedition—my legs had run out of energy.

It was a wonderful night, the perfect way to kick off the wedding weekend and meet more of Nicole’s family in a relaxed setting. Everyone was kind, inviting, and fun to talk with—especially Nicole’s grandparents, Bumpa Bob and Grammy.

Looking forward to exploring more of this area today and enjoying whatever unfolds. Have a great Friday. Love you guys! ❤️