Why is a visit from a child never long enough?  Because of teaching responsibilities, my son Seth could only visit for 2.5 days during the July 4th weekend.  He arrived from New York City by train at 1:00 a.m. Friday morning after teaching. He had to be back to teach on Monday.

We spent 24 of those hours in a magic world with my cousin and his partner on a tiny island off the coast of Connecticut that has six houses and is reachable from the mainland only by a little motorboat and only when the tide is right.  The house, built in 1848 has no electricity, but propane gas drives the stove and refrigerator.  Every window has a gorgeous view. 

Saturday was beautiful, so it didn’t matter that it poured on Sunday morning. There was no newspaper or TV, so lots of great catching-up conversation and lots of laughter. We had to rush back to the mainland in a short break between downpours.  It was a lovely adventure.

I dropped Seth at a commuter rail for his short trip back to New York City, and headed off for my 2-plus hour drive home alone.

Any visit from a child is over too soon.