Bathing Beauties

The cottages lining the lake in Maine were on small lots.  It was easy to see into your neighbor’s home from the side living room window or even the attic.  My grandmother was not a full-time Maine resident but spent most of the summer months in the Pine Tree State away from the heat of Boston.  Phyllis and Bill Carson, the Polish couple in the Christmas red cottage, became her summer buddies.  Meals were shared, cards were played and Phyllis filled everyone in on the latest lakeside gossip.

One special ritual between my grandmother and Phyllis occurred each evening after supper.  The lake was empty of splashing children and all forms of boats.  The surface of the water was calm and glassy.  Grandma and Phyllis would snap on a garish rubber swim cap adorned with colorful floppy flowers and emerge from their respective homes decked out in one-piece skirted bathing suits.  Each would secure a life preserver belt around her plump waist and wade into the depths of the lake.  There they would simply float together, talking and laughing until they became pruned.

The only pictures I have are my memories of the two floating friends…the bathing beauties of Bauneg Beg and it makes me smile when I think of them.


(RIP Phyllis 12/19/2012 and Marielle 12/21/2012)