The Goodenough Blog

Today we landed in Windermere, or Boness-on-Windermere which is the little town on Lake Windermere. This is a tiny little town about the size of Carpinteria maybe that has adorable little shops and restaurants and B&B’s everywhere.  This is where the English come on holiday and so everything is kinda touristy but still has a lot of charm.  This is where Eric lived for a few months in the summer of 1996 while working at the Belsfield Hotel by the lake.  In the scheme of things here in Boness, it is by far the biggest and most domineering hotel in this area.  The staffs quarters where Eric lived were so drab and depressing and yet he has such great memories of this place.

It was sooooo much fun to come here since I have heard the stories for years about his time here with Chris.  In fact I think that is part of the reason I fell in love with him is because he was so brave to come live here all alone at 19 and his enthusiasm for traveling and adventure.  I saw the place pub where they used to hang out with the other staff from the hotel.  I saw the hills where they used to go hiking and get into trouble.  I saw where the stoddy shop used to be, a sandwich that I have heard tales about for probably 10 years.  It was so much fun to be here with him and watch him relive his time here.  He grew up here, meaning that he became who he is today.  He found a love for the british culture, a love for travel and a deep empathy for others and people away from home.  I have often said that I wouldn’t have married him if he never came to Europe, he was a completely different person before he came here (so he says).  I don’t know if that’s true or not but I can say that I love him more for showing me this place that is so special to him.