June 6, 2014
Another retirement adventure in the books. And this one … soooo easy. Up early for the drive to Alewife to catch the subway. Didn't even have to switch lines. Took the Red Line from Alewife straight to Quincy Central and then walked directly across the street to the Visitors Center where we got our tickets to tour the Adams National Historical Park. Our tour would take us through the lives of five generations of the Adams family in service to their country.
To digress for just a moment. Who would have thought that I had worked 40 years just so I could get an America the Beautiful Pass that gets me in free at national parks. The rewards of being a senior citizen just keep on coming.
We dashed into the obligatory introductory movie designed to remind old-timers like ourselves who John, John Quincy, and Abigail Adams were. Minds refreshed, I sat down and repeated as many Adams facts as I could recall from the film before they all disappeared again into the labyrinth of my mind.
Anne, on the other hand, amused herself with a senior moment of flag waving wearing a colonial hat.
Before we knew it, the park ranger was announcing that the shuttle was here and ushering us out the door while admonishing us not to be late and reminding us to go potty before we left. The royal coach awaited us and we boarded, as instructed, with empty bladders. Anne chose the seats. Anne always chooses the seats. I never get to choose the seats.
First stop … the birthplace of John Adams, second President of the USA. John Adams was definitely no newcomer to the area - fifth generation to have lived there on what was then a one hundred and fifty acre farm.
Less than fifty yards away, was the second house we came to see … the birthplace of John Quincy Adams, the son of John Adams and the sixth President of the USA.Our shuttle arrived again for us and we were spirited away to our final destination. After the Presidency, John and family moved to Peacefield where he hoped to engage in his real passion, farming. The lives of five generations of the Adams family would play out at Peacefield. Unlike the other two houses we had seen, Peacefield was filled, not with period pieces, but actual family furniture and processions from the home … very interesting.
Added to the site in more modern times, was a small section of flower gardens. The gardens, as usual, was a favorite for us.
We shuttled back to the Visitors Center in time to do lunch before exploring more of what Quincy had to offer. The restaurant I had chosen was only a five minute walk away.
We had lunch at The Fat Cat, a funky local spot with an eclectic menu. It was packed, which we took to be a good sign … and it was. The star of the menu was clearly the mac and cheese selections (had about six including lobster mac & cheese). We saw several plates come out and it looked incredibly good. However, each plate had enough m&c on it to serve at least five people … the servings were enormous. No way did we want to haul our leftovers around with us for the remainder of the day. We tried other menu options instead and were well satisfied.
We started with a funnel of onion rings served with a hot chipotle sauce. They were excellent, but I prefer a thicker cut. These were very thinly sliced (mmmm .. would be great this way atop of a nice juicy steak). Notice the fat cat on the wall in the background. Though, he doesn't look fat … but he does look cat. I, on the other hand, seem to have a cheshire cat smile affixed to my face. I am fat, but I am not cat. Taken in my totality of fat and cat smile, I just might be the fat cat however.
Old favorites, beckoned to us from the menu and we caved like a Florida sinkhole. Anne had the fish and chips, which was way too much food for her. Thank goodness I was there to help. In addition to my good Samaritan efforts with Anne's fish and chips, I had the chicken wings with sesame sauce. I was so full … but deep down inside, I knew I had done a good thing. I seem to always be thinking of others.
We strolled leisurely back in the direction of the Visitors Center. Our next stop was the United First Parish Church. We took a tour of the church and discovered the tour guide to be a fellow relocated, Virginian from Frederickburg where Anne went to college. We talked ad nauseum about the perils of Southerners who have lived for years in the North eventually going back South. The church was designed by the same architect that did the Quincy Market in Boston. The dome in the sanctuary was particularly stunning.
Downstairs, crypts had been carved out for private family memorials to the Adams. Both John and Abigail and John Quincy and Louisa are buried there. Every Memorial Day, wreaths are sent there to be placed on the former Presidents graves from the White House.
Well, it was time to go. We definitely had a ball … not to be confused with the ball sculpture from the old Quincy granite quarries. It is recognized as the World's Most Nearly Perfect Sphere by Ripley's Believe It or Not and weighs about ten tons.
Time to wave goodbye to Abigail and little John Quincy.
And before John Adams can say,
"The redcoats are coming, the redcoats are coming"
We'll be home in Vermont and planning a new adventure.
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