Charlie get’s his new hip today, and it’s been a busy week getting all our ducks in a row. This kind of thing makes you think about your life together, you know, all you’ve been through. So I thought I’d revisit the story of how Charlie and me got together. It appears in my book, The Sweet Life.
Puppy Love
I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t know Charlie. Mahoosuc Mills is a small town, so he was always in the background somewheres, plowing with his Dad, stacking wood for Mrs. Thibodaux, riding his bike to Blue’s General Store to get licorice or playing hockey for Mahoosuc High.
Best as I can place it, it was the last half of my freshman year. Charlie was a couple years ahead of me in school. That’s when my friend Dot started dating Charlie’s friend, Tommy. Charlie and Tommy are buddies to this day. In fact, most of the folks we hung out with in high school, we hang out with now. Roots run deep around here.
So Dottie, me and the usual suspects, Celeste, Rita, Betty and Shirley would be in the school cafeteria, and Tommy’d come up to our table and start flirting with Dottie. And sometimes, Charlie would be there with him, hanging back, to be sure, but taking everything in. And one day, I remember thinking, Wow, Charlie sure has filled out some. When did that happen? He was looking more like a man. But frankly, that seemed a little scary, him being a Junior and all.
Yet, skating parties on the pond behind Shirley’s farm always seemed a little more fun if Charlie was there. He was a hotshot on skates, and he liked skating in front of me, backwards. Before I knew it, he was my favorite hockey player. I admit I found myself cheering a little bit louder when he was on the ice, especially when he made a break toward the goal. And sometimes, in the cafeteria, I’d catch him looking at me.
Then came the Fourth of July party up to Dottie’s parent’s camp. (Dot and Tommy bought it 
from ‘em.) There was a whole gang of us there: Dottie’s brother and his friends, Dot and Tommy’s friends, and a few kids who just showed up. We had a cookout and spent the day hanging out on the dock, horsing around in the water, swimming out to the float and diving off.
Charlie sat beside me during lunch. Can’t remember what we talked about—I was too distracted by the sight of his bare arms resting on the table, our bathing suits almost touching, the heady aroma of burgers cooking on the grill.
Then, out of the blue, Charlie says, “Want to go out in a canoe?”
“What?” Like I said, I was a little distracted.
“We can’t swim for an hour. So wondering if you want to go for a paddle. You know, something to do.”
“Sure. Kind of boring just sitting around waiting.”
And off we went. I’ll tell you, from the minute we got into that canoe, things just clicked. You know, some folks have a hard time paddling in sync. Some never do get it. But for Charlie and me, it just flowed, one smooth and easy stroke after another.
And that was it. We kind of stayed within sight of each other the rest of the day. After dark, there were firecrackers, sparklers and the like. We all sat around the campfire toasting marshmallows, eating s’mores and nursing our sunburns. I can still picture it, all our young faces in the glow of the firelight.
Later, Charlie asked me if I needed a ride home, and I said, “Yes!” (which was true, once I told Shirley I wasn’t going to ride home in her car).
All I remember about that ride down the camp road to the highway, through Mahoosuc Mills and home was the smell of Coppertone, and the feeling of my hand in Charlie’s, his thumb caressing my palm. (Remember what that was like, that electric feeling?) My thoughts racing. Will he kiss me?
He did. Just a little kiss, sweet and gentle. Oh baby, I still have a soft spot in my heart for Coppertone!
So began our summer of love. Between movies at the Strand, cookouts, and trips to the Dairy Joy, Charlie and me spent many a steamy evening up to the Moose Megantic Lake Overlook, otherwise known as Makeout Point.
A lot has changed since then. But some things stay the same. Makeout Point? That’s where the Sky Lodge Inn and Restaurant is now. And holding hands has a different kind of pizzazz. More like slipping into your favorite pair of gloves.
And know what? Every once and awhile, Charlie and me drive up to the Sky Lodge and park, overlooking the lake, and we never do go into the restaurant.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Puppy Love
Summer Preview
July 12: Makin’ Whoopie, Deertrees Theatre, 7:30pm, Harrison, ME
July 25: Book Reading, North Gorham Library, 7:00pm, Gorham, ME
August 17: The Best of Ida, Celebration Barn Theatre, 7:30pm, South Paris, ME
August 22 & 29: The Best of Ida, ACT ONE Summer Festival, 2:00 & 7:30pm, Portsmouth, NH
Check out my full schedule here.
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