Yesterday, it was raining cats and dogs on Nantucket Island--I think I even saw a cow or two drop. What began as a light sprinkle with wicked winds soon became a shower. What made it worse was the fact that I, along with a couple others, was running around Nantucket in the storm (called a "Noreaster") without a clue where we needed to go. It was by the grace of God that we found the Maria Mitchell Museum before I got soaked to the bone. If you would have given me a hate and umbrella, I would have resembled Gene Kelly singin' in the rain!

What the rain couldn't dampen were our spirits. Once inside and dried off, the group was back to its usual fun-loving self. Our living quarters for this leg of the trip are wonderful--a kitchen, large bedrooms, and even a leisure room with a TV, VCR, and SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE on VHS!

Nantucket seems to be a world of its own, separate from the rest of the country. When about 90% of the homes on the island are empty (since they're summe residences), the only thing for the rest of the inhabitants to do is either shop, drink wine, or, as Dawn put it, "congratulate themselves on being Masters of the Universe." You get an idea about what type of people live here when you find plain sweatshirts for $54.00 and gloves for $43.00. ("Sir, how many kidneys and firstborns do these shoes cost?") Needless to say, my pseudo "college grunge" look is multiplied by thirty around these people.

I'm fascinated by the historic sections of the town. Main Street is essentially cobblestone--every car tire's bane. Alongside the street, wonderfully antiquated homes sit shoulder-to-shoulder. Someone mentioned that one of John Kerry's homes is on the island (SNORE!). Like Salem, Concord, and Plymouth, this place has a colorful history. Though I would never live here (whether as a result of high costs or personal choice), it's a fun place to rest, eat some fish & chips, and breathe in large gulps of ocean air.