The 7 Wonders of Mystic, Connecticut (an excerpt from the Mystic Seafarer’s Trail, which includes little-known details of Amelia Earhart’s wedding) by Lisa Saunders Cover image: Mystic River Drawbridge. Photo by Lisa Saunders Copyright Lisa Saunders 2011 Smashwords Edition, License Notes: This free-book may be copied, distributed, reposted, reprinted and shared, provided it appears in its entirety without alteration, and the reader is not charged to access it. Also by Lisa Saunders Mystic Seafarer’s Trail (includes the secrets behind the Titanic’s shoes and Amelia Earhart’s Wedding) Published on Smashwords: Shays’ Rebellion: The Hanging of Captain Henry Gale How to Get Published – Free! How to Get a Job --Free Other Books by Lisa Saunders: Anything But a Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV – memoir EVER TRUE: A Union Private and His Wife – non-fiction (also appears as a play) Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator – children’s novel Public Speaker Lisa is available to speak to your group anywhere in the world and to give tours of Mystic, CT. To see her topics, or to ask her to consider a new one, visit Lisa at www.authorlisasaunders.com or e-mail her at saundersbooks@aol.com. *** Table of Contents—Points of Interest in Mystic: 1.Mystic River Drawbridge—located in the heart of downtown and thrilling to watch 2.Mystic Seaport—The Museum of American and the Sea and home of Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world 3.Mystic Pizza Restaurant—the symbol of the movie, Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts 4.Enders Island—Out of a widow’s loneliness grew elaborate stone hedges, trails, gardens and former three-sided tea house on the Sound. Now site of St. Edmunds Retreat 5.Elm Grove Cemetery Memorial Arch—massive entryway to park-like cemetery where Mystic’s “Who’s Who” of 19th century ship builders and sea captains are buried 6.Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration—innovative crown-like exterior designed by famed architect and one of the nation’s largest outdoor tanks for beluga whales 7.Mystic Train Depot—model for American Flyer’s toy train station includes visitor’s center and serves Amtrak The 7 Wonders of Mystic, CT-- Mystic Pizza and Beyond! When most people think of the tiny seacoast village of Mystic, Connecticut, they think of the movie, “Mystic Pizza,” starring Julia Roberts and debuting Matt Damon. Yet when they visit this maritime community located half-way between New York and Boston they find a lot more than pizza! Included in National Geographic’s 100 “America’s Best Adventure Town,” this historic shipbuilding district has welcomed such notable honeymooners as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and currently attracts tourists from all over the world. Aside from the picturesque Mystic River lined with the Greek revival homes of noted sea captains, and Mystic Seaport’s 19th century village, exhibits and ships, visitors also come to experience the quaint shops, nationally reviewed restaurants, and the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, where the discoverer of the grave of the R.M.S. Titanic, keeps his home office. Like the ancient Greek historians who compiled "The Seven Wonders of the World," I too, with the help of locals, compiled a list of seven, awe-inspiring “must-sees” in Mystic. I decided that for a site to make it onto the “Wonders” list, it should be man-made, free to view from land or boat (some do charge admission to enter), open in all seasons; and be located in Mystic. 1. Mystic River Drawbridge Images of the Mystic drawbridge, which is considered a local icon, are featured on everything from mugs to t-shirts and the locally brewed beer, Mystic Bridge IPA. If you are strolling across the bridge licking your ice-cream cone while taking in views of the tall ships along the Mystic River, and suddenly have ringing in your ears, don’t be alarmed—everyone else is hearing it too. But you must quickly get to the other side because the bridge is about to lift. Once the bridge operator, who is watching you from a little house perched above, sees that you are safely to one side, he will pull the whistle cord signaling to the mariners on the river below that the bridge is ready to rise. Watching the historic 1922 drawbridge, called a bascule bridge because of its seesaw design, lifted by the massive, overhead concrete counterweights is thrilling to pedestrians as well as to the bridge operators, called tenders, who man the bridge house 24 hours a day (yes, there is a bathroom). Bridge tender Bruce Sullivan, known around Mystic as “Sully," said, “I have the best view to watch all kinds of vessels go through—schooners, clippers, sloops, tugboats.” He was particularly excited to watch the maiden voyage of the Amistad replica, built at Mystic Seaport. “I’ve seen the yachts of Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood and Phil Donahue.” How does he know those were celebrity yachts? “Because [those celebrities] stood on their decks and waved up to me!” This National Historic Landmark is itself a celebrity and was prominently featured in the movie, Mystic Pizza. Sully got to meet Julia Roberts during the filming in 1987. Bridge tender Rod Coleman was especially excited to meet former President Jimmy Carter who shook his hand and personally thanked him for keeping the bridge down during the tightly-timed schedule created by the Secret Service for Carter’s motorcade. Carter and former first lady Rosalynn were staying in Mystic for the 2004 christening of the Navy submarine, Jimmy Carter, in nearby Groton. Located on U.S. Route 1, the Mystic River drawbridge replaced a steel swing bridge. A prior wooden bridge used oxen to move the span and another version of the bridge posted the sign, “WALK YOUR HORSES,” to keep vibrations to a minimum. Before the first bridge was built in 1819, people crossed the river by ferry. As thrilling as it is for pedestrians to watch the drawbridge go up for sailboats coming from all over the world, it’s not as thrilling for the cars trapped on either side. Nor is it fun for boaters who must wait for its hourly scheduled lift. Kayakers, however, always look happy—they are close enough to the water to paddle under the bridge, no matter what the state of the tide. For more information, contact the Mystic River Historical Society: mystichistory.org, 860-536-4779. 2. Charles W. Morgan -- last wooden whaleship in the world Although the majority of the country’s wooden ships built in the mid-1800s are gone, some are enjoying their retirement years in Mystic. One in particular is not only history-making, but a sight to behold—especially now that it has been hauled out of the water. Seen towering above the homes lining the Mystic River, on the corner of Isham and Bay Streets, without any argument from the locals, is the first official Mystic Wonder—the Charles W. Morgan—the last wooden whaleship in the world. Even Governor Dannel P. Malloy loves the Morgan and designated the 2013-2014 academic year to be the "Year of the Charles W. Morgan" in the State of Connecticut. Looking very much like someone heard it’s time to build another ark, the Charles W. Morgan is presently undergoing restoration at Mystic Seaport. In its long career, the Morgan witnessed floggings, stowaways, drownings, desertions, amputations, burials at sea, and men who took the “Nantucket sleigh ride”—a high-speed whaleboat ride sometimes given by a harpooned whale. If one touches the Morgan, launched during the height of the whaling industry in 1841, one is not only touching a vessel that has survived typhoons, hurricanes, crushing ice, stirrings of a mutiny, and an attack by Pacific Islanders, one is also touching a movie star. Featured in several films, including Steven Spielberg’s Amistad with actor Morgan Freeman, the Charles W. Morgan can be viewed in her (a ship is still referred to as “she” even if it has a male name) original role as a whaling ship in a 1922 film playing inside Mystic Seaport. Visitors to the Morgan will not only see the industry side of whaling, like the brick furnace used to process the blubber into oil, but they will also see the personal side, such as the captain’s cabin that includes a private “head” (toilet to the sea), sitting room, and a gimbal (always level) bed installed by a captain so his wife could sleep comfortably despite the pitch of the sea. When actor William Hurt climbed aboard the Morgan to prepare for his role as Captain Ahab in the TV mini-series Moby Dick, he sat on a sailor’s bunk with Mystic Seaport staff members and talked for an hour about what life aboard a whaleship must have been like. “This is the only place in the world where he could have done that,” said Matthew Stackpole, the ship’s historian. The Morgan arrived at Mystic Seaport, a 19-acre maritime museum, in 1941. Having been in a derelict condition for several years, Mystic Seaport’s shipwrights got her back into shape. Since then, approximately 20 million visitors have crossed her decks. More information: mysticseaport.org, 860-572-0711. 3. Mystic Pizza Restaurant Sign Although this “wonder” may not have been considered by the ancient Greek historians, how could I not choose the lighted restaurant sign, “Mystic Pizza: A Slice of Heaven,” when the majority of tourists ask me, “Where is Mystic Pizza?” Although it’s been more than 20 years since the release of the 1988 romantic comedy, Mystic Pizza, starring Julia Roberts and debuting Matt Damon (whose only line, "Mom, do you want my green stuff?" was said while eating lobster), visitors still flock to the restaurant that inspired it. When Jim and I had dinner there for the first time, we sat in the front window to watch the pedestrians stroll past. I actually got to feel what it must be like to be famous—everyone outside was taking our picture! At first, I wondered if the tourists thought I was Julia Roberts. It wasn’t until I got out of my chair and got a closer look that I realized they weren’t taking pictures of me; it was the Mystic Pizza sign! The Zelepos family, owners of Mystic Pizza, state, “Incredibly, our little pizza shop caught the eye of screenwriter Amy Jones, who was summering in the area. Ms. Jones chose Mystic Pizza as the focus and setting for her story of the lives and loves of three young waitresses.” The movie depicts life in a small fishing village and was filmed in Mystic and the surrounding communities. The locals will never forget the day that Hollywood came to town—just ask Mystic shopkeepers and waiters what it was like to accommodate the 80-member film crew. Most have a story to tell—how the bridge operator needed to raise the drawbridge on cue; how local fishermen advised actors on stringing bait; or how they have a friend whose family moved into a hotel while a scene was shot in their home. Local racing sailor Katie Bradford said, “I’m friends with Skip, the guy who was actually steering the boat in the Mystic River scene. He had to do it lying on his back so an actor would appear as though he was steering.” Katie also tells how another friend became a local celebrity—simply because the back of his head made it into the movie! For those who have never seen the film, they can have their chance by peering into the restaurant where it plays continuously on three screens. “It’s on mute—otherwise, we’d go nuts!” confided one waitress. The restaurant sells souvenirs (as well as pizza) and proudly displays movie photos, posters and newspaper clippings featuring the restaurant. The waitresses even have a little fun by dressing up a mannequin as Daisy, the Julia Roberts character in the film. They change her hair accessories to match the colors of the season. More than 20 years after the movie’s release, film production companies still can’t get enough of Mystic Pizza. Restaurant co-owner John Zelepos recently received a call from California asking if his restaurant and family would star in a reality TV show. For more information about Mystic Pizza restaurant, visit mysticpizza.com or call (860) 536-3737. To see which scenes were filmed where, follow the movie trail map available at: http://www.mysticchamber.org/doc/1/Mystic%20Pizza%20Movie%20Trail%20-%20Web.pdf 4. The “Hanging Gardens” of Enders Island Out of a widow’s loneliness sprang a stone landscape so intriguing, it should be referred to as the “Hanging Gardens” of Enders Island. But you must stroll through slowly if you hope to appreciate the absurdity of a brass bird spigot beside a cat statue, or the whimsy of a heart-shaped stone path. The driving force behind this maze of rock hedges and archways was Alys E. Enders, widow of Dr. Thomas B. Enders. Having outlived Thomas by many years, Alys found a way to ensure companionship on her 11-acre island estate. “She was always adding on to her mansion and gardens just to keep the workers from leaving the grounds.” says Jeffrey Anderson, Executive Director of St. Edmunds Retreat, the Catholic oasis that now occupies the island. Alys donated her estate to the Catholic Church upon her death in 1954. Worried you might not be welcome—especially if you’re not Catholic? The website declares, “Not a Catholic? Not a problem…all are welcomed to enjoy the peaceful natural beauty of our island.” And peace you will surely find as you listen to the waves of Fishers Island Sound slap against the rocky shore and stroll past tiled pools, fountains, and Alys’ former tea house, now the three-sided Seaside Chapel that protects an altar covered with hand-written prayers (some very personal and heart wrenching), funeral cards of missed loved ones, and unlit cigarettes cast off by repentant smokers. On the concrete floor are Alys’ initials, A.E.E., presumably engraved by her in 1951. The island’s mansion and chapel, which displays relics (including the actual withered arm of Saint Edmund who preached for the Sixth Crusade in 1228), are used for twelve step recovery programs, retreats, sacred art workshops and daily mass. Jams and jellies (with names like "Fire and Brimstone" Hot Pepper Jelly), are made from fruit grown on the island and are available for sale. For more information about St. Edmunds Retreat, visit endersisland.com or call 860-536-0565. 5. Elm Grove Cemetery Memorial Arch The “Pearly Gates?” Not exactly—these gates are made of iron, but the colossal arch to the Elm Grove Cemetery does beckon you in. Although some may be afraid to cross through the Memorial Arch to the “other” side, brides are actually sent there. Located along the Mystic River, one hotel representative said of the cemetery, “It is the most valuable real estate in Mystic—too bad the people there can’t enjoy it! But we do recommend it for wedding photography because it is so very beautiful.” This “garden cemetery” was designed in the shape of an elm tree, which is easily discernible in satellite images. Intended to be enjoyed as a park, you are invited to stroll leisurely along the river to view statues of women in flowing robes, angels, marble benches, mausoleums, plus an elegant duck pond—with some very strange looking ducks. I was almost alarmed the first time I was greeted by one with a red, lined face topped with a puffy headdress. According to James Davis, superintendent of the cemetery, the pond is home to White Pekings, Muschovies, Kyugas, Blue Swiss, and Mallards. More than 13,000 souls, many on Mystic’s “Who’s Who” list of 19th century ship builders and sea captains, have been laid to rest at Elm Grove Cemetery. I became particularly interested in the tall obelisk depicting the steamship, City of Waco, which tells how Captain Thomas E. Wolfe died piloting her when it caught fire off the port of Galveston in 1875. The ship exploded into flames and sank—a dramatic end to a man who led an adventurous life. During the Civil War, Wolfe had commanded the Texana, which transported supplies from New York to New Orleans. He was captured by the Confederates near the mouth of the Mississippi River (the Confederates showed the U.S. flag and trapped the Texana before Wolfe realized what was going on). The Texana was burned and Wolfe and his crew were taken prisoners. More than a year later, despite his weakened condition from imprisonment, he made a daring escape with some companions. Because Wolfe knew celestial navigation, he was able to find his way through enemy territory and make it back to Mystic. He was in very bad health, and it was said that he never got over the loss of his ship. After the war, he lost another vessel, the steamship Loyalist, while on the way to New Orleans for repairs—but all hands were saved. When the City of Waco exploded and sank, everyone perished. Wolfe’s body was recovered, and again he arrived back to Mystic—but this time, in a coffin. The Elm Grove Cemetery was formally dedicated in 1854, and Mystic residents were so supportive of it, that they dug up their dead relatives and replanted them there. In the 1890s, however, Mystic residents were outraged when the widow of a prominent shipbuilder, Charles Henry Mallory, donated funds in her husband’s memory for the erection of the Memorial Arch entryway. Its construction meant the removal of two elm trees to accommodate the arch’s massive span. Despite the public outcry against a manmade object replacing “nature’s grand handiwork,” the trees came down, stone cutters were imported from Italy, and the Memorial Arch was completed with the verse, “He Gives His Beloved Sleep,” engraved across the back. Perhaps the citizens learned to appreciate the Memorial Arch after the Hurricane of 1938—for it survived, but half of the cemetery’s trees did not. More information: elmgrovecemetery.org, (860) 536-7834. 6. Mystic Aquarium’s Ocean Planet Pavilion Strolling through Olde Mistick Village, you will feel like a time traveler as you drink from the old-fashioned water pump and nibble on homemade fudge. Once you near the parking lot, however, you will be cast into another world by the sight of a massive, blue King Neptune-like crown rising out of it. What you are seeing is the outside structure of Mystic Aquarium’s Ocean Exploration Center, where the discoverer of the grave of the R.M.S. Titanic, Dr. Robert Ballard, keeps his home office and exhibit. My reaction to this nautical sighting is exactly what famed international architect Cesar Pelli was going for. He designed some of the world’s most recognizable structures, including Canary Wharf Tower in London, Britain’s tallest building. The Ocean Exploration Center, which features “Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below,” is part of Mystic Aquarium, where Pelli also designed the glass entryway canopy. Reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty’s crown, it’s called the Ocean Planet Pavilion. Pelli’s goal was to transform the visitor into an explorer. He states: “In this aquarium, the visitors have entered a new environment—they have left behind our known world.” Explorers do not cross under the glass canopy to enter this “unknown world” alone. Welcoming one in are seagulls perched on the canopy tips and smaller birds flitting among the rafters above. Erin Merz of Mystic Aquarium, said, “We happily invite birds to nest in the Ocean Planet Pavilion. Most of them are sparrows.” Inside the aquarium, sea lions perform, fish swim, and seals scoot along on rocks as best they can with their awkwardly shaped bodies. In one quiet corner, I peered through windows to glimpse a rescued seal receiving medical attention before being released back into the wild. The beluga whales provide more face-to-face interaction. They were just as curious about me as I was of them as we watched each other through the glass of one of the largest beluga whale habitats in the nation. One whale became particularly interested in the guide dog standing nearby and pressed its blubbery head into the glass to get a closer look. The dog, unafraid of most obstacles in her way, drew back in concern—she had not been trained to negotiate around a whale. For those interested in visiting the grave of the Titanic through their imagination, explorers can stroll through the state-of-the-art exhibit, “Titanic – 12,450 Feet Below,” where Dr. Ballard shares his discovery of the famous, “unsinkable” ship. He states, "I grew up wanting to be Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." Well, he’s done it. Dr. Ballard is now able to reveal the secret mission behind his search for the Titanic. Only in 2008 had it been declassified by the U.S. Navy, allowing him to do so. Excerpt from the Mystic Aquarium website: “As a commanding officer in the Naval Reserve, Dr. Ballard turned to the U. S. Navy for financial support to test his invention, the ARGO-Jason, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) system to locate and videotape underwater objects. In the summer of 1985, in exchange for funds and time to look for Titanic, he was commissioned with a secret mission to explore two Navy nuclear submarines that went down in the 1960s in search of their nuclear reactors and weapons systems, one off the coast of Massachusetts, the other in the Azores. “With the ARGO proving successful and mission accomplished, Dr. Ballard sped to the Grand Banks to search for Titanic. Though he had only 12 days to find the ship, Dr. Ballard had made an important discovery while documenting the two submarines—in both cases the downed subs left a long debris trail. Dr. Ballard calculated that if he could find Titanic’s debris trail, it would lead him to the ship. “Narrowing his search to 50 square miles, he ordered ARGO to make sweeps one mile apart. Nine days flew by and hopes were dimming. Then, at 12:48 a.m. on September 1, 1985, ARGO’s operator spotted debris. Dr. Ballard raced to the control room and entered just as ARGO glided over one of Titanic’s 29 boilers…”i What struck Dr. Ballard the most when he viewed the wreckage of the Titanic were the pairs of shoes lying together on the ocean bottom. Shoes were all that could be found of the victims. The sight affected him so much, he made sure to include a reconstruction of them on the sea floor in his exhibit. The plaque on the shoe exhibit explains that sea creatures and a “deep water environment unsaturated in calcium carbonate dissolve the skeleton, leaving only leather shoes behind. Treated with tannic acid in manufacturing, the leather shoes endure as a memorial to those men, women and children who went down with the ship.” Of the 2,200 passengers and crew who left Southampton, England, on the Titanic on April 10, 1912, only 700 survived. Of the 1,500 who died, only 337 bodies were recovered--and not all of those could be identified. For more information about Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, visit mysticaquarium.org or call 860-572-5955. 7. Mystic Depot--model for American Flyer’s toy train station Whether you arrive by Amtrak's Northeast Regional train, or are biking past the Mystic Train Depot, you may wonder, “Haven’t I seen this before?” Yes, you may have—and you may have even played with a miniature version of it. Constructed in 1905, the Mystic Train Depot served as the inspiration for American Flyer’s “talking” toy train stations made in the mid-1900s. Now a collector’s item, the toy model bearing the name “Mystic” can be viewed and even touched at the Mystic Train Depot. When you press the button on the model, you’ll hear a far-a-way, long-ago train whistle and a conductor announce in a crackly voice, “All aboard…New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and all points west. Aboard!” But don’t stand around pressing that button all day long. Look around—you are in the very epicenter of every adventure National Geographic says is possible in the Mystic area. When you step inside the Mystic Train Depot, you step inside the Welcome Center sponsored by the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce. Here, you will find every imaginable “Mystic Country” map and brochure possible—you will find information about fishing charters, pleasure cruises, tall ships, submarines, lighthouses, hiking, kayaking, wineries, museums, where to sleep, shop, gamble, eat, drink beer, cider or lick ice cream. Free bike “rentals” are available (through Mystic Community Bikes) as well as discount tickets to Mystic Seaport and to the Mystic Aquarium. I visited this spot often when we moved to Mystic because I love brochures. Not just the smell of them, but how they take me places I’ve never been, but hope to. I also enjoyed talking to the tourist advisors stationed behind the desk—they are full of behind-the-scenes secrets. One young man Dave volunteered at the Center simply because he loves the area. Well-read, he delights in sharing his little-known secrets with others. He said, “I love seeing the look on visitors’ faces when they discover something neat about Mystic.” Upon hearing I wanted more information on the Great Hurricane of 1938 because it had altered so many of the Mystic sites I had been researching, Dave told me to read the book, Sudden Sea, by R.A. Scotti—especially if I wanted to learn about the tragic train derailment of the Bostonian on a causeway between Mystic and Stonington. Apparently, it was because of the brave brakeman that more people weren’t washed away when the storm surge trapped them on the causeway. Also brave were a group of prep school boys and an MIT student who helped passengers move to the safer, forward cars. Thanks to that brakeman, who plunged under five feet of water to uncouple the front cars from the flooded, derailed cars, only two perished. Of the two who died on the Bostonian, one was an older woman who panicked when the train became trapped on the causeway. She jumped into the storm surge and never came up, possibly trapped by the loose boats and homes slamming against the train. The body of the pantryman was later found in the garden of a private home in Stonington. What the Bostonian passengers saw happening around them would never be forgotten. A Brown University senior reported that he watched helplessly as a woman and her two children clung to each other in the remains of their home that went floating nearby. Suddenly, the walls and floor fell apart, and the little family went down into the roiling sea. For more information about touring Mystic, including other locations for free bike rentals and a list of attractions, restaurants, accommodations, and events, visit: mysticchamber.org, or call 860-572-1102. DEAR READER, You have been reading excerpts from my book, the Mystic Seafarer's Trail, which is a humorous and historical look at the haunts and homes of Mystic’s famous sea voyagers—living and dead—and includes little known details about Amelia Earhart’s wedding. The following excerpt will give you a flavor of the book: Chapter One Wanted: Epic Adventure Moments after I stepped out of my new home with my hound for our first stroll through the historic seacoast village of Mystic, Connecticut, a woman pulled over in her van and yelled, "Excuse me." Assuming she was a tourist wanting directions to Mystic Pizza or some other attraction, I wasn't prepared for what she really wanted to know. "Do you realize the back of your skirt is tucked into your underwear?" What a debut in my new hometown—I don’t think this is what National Geographic meant when they named Mystic one of the top 100 adventure towns in the United States. Once recovered from my wardrobe “malfunction,” I continued toward downtown Mystic with Bailey, a beagle/basset hound mix, to embark on a new life—to shake off my old, sedentary landlubbing ways. No longer did I want to be known as the lady who always talks about losing weight but never does it. No longer would I sit around daydreaming about becoming thin and famous so I could hire someone else to clean my house. I had a real shot at it now that I lived in a place where I couldn’t help but fall into a swash-buckling adventure—the kind that might inspire me to write a bestseller. Straddling both sides of the Mystic River in the towns of Groton and Stonington, the village of Mystic takes its name from an Indian word, “river running to the sea.” With its scenic views of tall ships, islands, lighthouses, and secluded coves, it has attracted such legendary honeymooners as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. It is a place where those who cross the oceans gather to swap stories and repair their boats. It is where famous explorers are born, visit, or come to live. To launch my career as an adventuress, I decided to walk Bailey to the haunts and homes of such celebrated adventurers as Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic; Dr. Robert Ballard, the discoverer of Titanic’s watery grave; Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, the first aviator to fly over the South Pole; and Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer, who accidentally discovered Antarctica. Now was the time for me to join their ranks, to start living life on the edge. Maybe I could become thin and famous like Amelia Earhart. Like her, I am fairly tall, my middle initial is M, I have a gap between my two front teeth, and until I looked it up, I couldn’t spell medieval either (more on that and her wedding day later). Unlike Amelia, I wasn’t skinny, but that was about to change. I would stop lying around reading about adventurers and do what it took to become one. My husband, Jim, and I were transferred to Mystic by his company, which meant I had to quit my job as a writer for a college and search for a new one in a community that revolves around life at sea—not easy for a confirmed desk sitter like me. Finding the area already teeming with underemployed writers and publicists, I was grateful when my former employer hired me back as a consulting writer. Although freelancing allowed me to work from home in my pajamas, it offered no retirement benefits—hence the need to become famous. Being famous not only helps pay the bills, but it gives you an edge when trying to accomplish other goals. Now was the time for me to follow in the path of prominent authors such as Herman Melville who went to sea on a whaler (a ship designed to catch whales and process their oil) when he couldn't find a job. Although he deserted and had to live among cannibals for a time, he found the inspiration to write his first novel. Further sea adventures, which included mutiny and learning about a whale that rammed and sank the Essex, led to the creation of his magnum opus: Moby Dick. I, myself, could barely get through this “Great American Novel,” but somebody must like it. And now that I lived within walking distance of the Charles W. Morgan, the last wooden whaleship in the world, I felt that was a sign. Perhaps I could enlist as a deck swabber for some epic voyage on it. The house we purchased came with a brass, whale-shaped door knocker. That had to be a sign. If following in the footsteps of a whaling writer didn’t work, there was always the chance I could get famous by finding a dead body—just like Bailey and our older daughter had. Although it didn’t make her into an international celebrity, I use it as a party stopper whenever I want to be the center of attention. Of course, I should really find my own body, preferably of a well-known person. Celebrities are always coming to Mystic to film movies or vacation. Since I couldn’t count on finding a dead body, famous or otherwise, I decided to start small. First, I planned to compile “The 7 Wonders of Mystic”—something quick I could shout to the tourists who rolled down their car windows asking what they should see (besides my underwear). National Geographic’s website suggests that Mystic adventurers bike what it calls the 25-mile Vineyard Loop that includes “some hairy climbs that stops at two of the best wineries.” Hairy climbs? I hoped to get thin, but did I have to go uphill to do it? I thought not. Instead, I would conquer a trail of my own design—one that would avoid hills where possible—and call it the “Mystic Seafarer’s Trail.” It would include “The 7 Wonders” (once I figured out what they were) plus the spots where legendary adventurers lived, worked or got married in Mystic and nearby Stonington and Noank. It would include not only the haunts and homes of those adventurers already mentioned, but also of those you may have never heard of—such as Kate the acupuncturist who gave birth on a schooner and rowed to shore to weigh her baby on a lobster scale. With so many potential wonders to consider and adventures to try, I had a lot of ground—and water—to cover. So, every afternoon, I checked my skirt and off Bailey and I went to follow a scent of our own. More about Mystic Seafarer's Trail: While searching for the Seven Wonders of Mystic with her beagle/basset hound, author Lisa Saunders uncovers the secrets behind the Titanic's shoes, Captain Sisson's hunt for gold, and Amelia Earhart's Noank wedding. But will she ever find an adventure of her own--one that will make her thin and famous? Enough to afford a housekeeper? When walking the Mystic Seafarer's Trail (which Lisa designed for those who don't like to go uphill), she meets a blind sailor who invites her on a long, winter voyage. Can this plump writer defy squalls, scurvy, and her fear of scraping barnacles to survive this epic journey? More chapters of the Mystic Seafarer's Trail, which is available as softcover or e-book, are available for viewing by clicking on the "LOOK INSIDE" image on: http://www.amazon.com/Mystic-Seafarers-Trail-Titanics-Earharts/dp/1480085847/ref=la_B001K7Z5AC_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1355776710&sr=1-1 It is also available in Mystic book shops and can be purchased among other gift basket items through A Taste of New England. It will be available through Smashwords soon. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Saunders is an award-winning writer and speaker living in Mystic, Connecticut, with her husband and hound. She works as a part-time history interpreter at Mystic Seaport and is a member of the Mystic River Historical Society and Daughters of the American Revolution. A graduate of Cornell University, she is the author of several books and a winner of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations Gold Medallion. She is the Congenital CMV Foundation parent representative. Lisa’s other work, plus her free “How To” e-books and availability for speaking, can be found on her website at: www.authorlisasaunders.com. To continue to read her exploits, sign into her blog at: http://authorlisasaunders.blogspot.com Lisa’s books (and short video of her hound in Mystic) are available through her author’s page on Amazon at: www.amazon.com/author/lisasaunders Lisa can be reached directly at saundersbooks@aol.com OTHER BOOKS BY LISA Anything But A Dog! The perfect pet for a girl with congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus)—the true story of a big, homeless canine and the little girl who needed him. Reviews: "Saunders takes readers on a road trip as harrowing as any Dog Whisperer training challenge...Beyond the laughs about a dizzying pet search, Saunders' dog tale is about a mother who candidly reveals her family's burden, love, and acceptance of a daughter born with severe disabilities-and the people, and pets, forever touched by her life." Tonia Shakespeare, Rockland Magazine "Sheds light on a disorder that is preventable and not talked about enough. If you're an animal lover, you'll love the critter tales as much as the special-needs storyline...really lifted my spirits." Terri Mauro, About.com “A hilarious set of pet tales! This mini-classic shines with the assurance that every child is beloved and valuable."-- Dr. Elisabeth Schafer, author of Vegetable Desserts: Beyond Carrot Cake and Pumpkin Pie Excerpt from Chapter One: “Mom, can I have a dog?” my six-year-old daughter Jackie asked, standing next to me while I washed the breakfast dishes. I cringed. The dreaded day was here—all kids inevitably ask for one. And why wouldn’t they? Movie dogs like Lassie drag you from burning buildings and keep you warm when you’re lost in a blizzard. But by the time we're adults, we've learned the truth about them: they urinate on your new wall-to-wall carpets, dig holes in your leather recliners to hide their rawhide bones, and bite your neighbor's kid. “No, you can't have a dog,” I said, bracing myself for the age-old argument. “Why not?” she demanded. My mind raced for good excuses. Might as well start with the standard one: “A dog is too much work. And I know I'll end up being the one who walks it in the pouring rain.” “I promise I'll take care of it. I will, I really will!" Jackie exclaimed. “Sure,” I thought, “that’s what they all say.” Avoiding her pleading eyes, I picked up a plate sticky with leftover syrup. “The truth is,” I said, “we just can't risk a dog around your sister.” I hated admitting that. I didn't want her to blame her little sister, three years younger, for being so fragile. But taking care of Elizabeth, who was quadriplegic from cerebral palsy, was already enough work without adding a dog that might playfully nip at her. I know! I’ll give Jackie the “lip-severing story.” That’ll convince her we can’t have a dog around her sister. “When I was 13,” I began, “I talked Grandma and Grandpa into letting me have a Weimaraner. His name was Bogie—short for Humphrey Bogart—and he was a nipper. One day, my two-year-old cousin Suzannah was playing on the floor underneath the table with a Popsicle stick in her mouth. Bogie snapped at the stick and bit her lip off! My grandmother got the lip off the carpet and wrapped it in a paper napkin to take to the hospital. But it couldn’t be sewn back on. A surgeon fixed Suzannah’s face, but when we got home, my mother loaded Bogie into the back seat of the car and took him to the vet’s. I never saw him again. He took the ‘long walk’ as they say in the Lady and the Tramp movie.” I paused so Jackie could let the horror of the incident sink in. But all she wanted to know was, “Where’s Suzannah’s lip now?” “Gosh, I don't know! The last time I saw her lip it was stuck to the napkin, all shriveled and mummy-like on my grandmother’s bookshelf. But that’s beside the point; can't you see how dangerous a dog could be for your sister? She can’t speak—how would she call out to us if she was in another room and the dog was bothering her?”... Anything But a Dog! is available through: Amazon (e-book or soft cover) at: www.amazon.com/dp/B005GRAE0I National CMV Disease Registry at: www.unlimitedpublishing.com/cmv (If purchased through the CMV Registry, a portion of the proceeds is donated to CMV research and parent support.) Publisher at: http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/saunders RIDE A HORSE, NOT AN ELEVATOR Lisa leaves the bullies and elevators of New York City to confront the outhouses, horses and eccentric relatives on her grandparents’ farm. Chosen by Cornell University for its "Horse Book in a Bucket" program. Reviews: “A special treat for children and adults!” Mary K. Henderberg, Wayne County Star. “A ‘warm fuzzy’ in paperback form. It is a tangible tale for storytelling that provides a springboard for discussion between children and adults.” Ruth Zwick, Educational Director, Sentinel Publications Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator, is a children’s novel about a test of young courage. In this story, based on Lisa’s childhood summers, Lisa is a chubby city girl searching for friendship and excitement. She leaves home, and the elevators and bullies of a big apartment complex, to spend a summer in the country at her grandparents’ farm. Culture shock! Accompanied only by her loyal beagle, Donald Dog, Lisa faces a summer in a very different environment with its own challenges and dangers. Using an outhouse is the least of her problems! She is terrified of her new pony. Lisa’s grandfather is injured by a charging cow and needs her to ride the pony to get help. Remembering Grandma’s lesson about how love overcomes fear, she pushes herself past her anxieties to ride alone and obtain the help he needs. Book includes recipes from grandma’s kitchen. Excerpt from Chapter Three: …My mother sighed and then smiled as if she knew something Uncle Jim didn't. "Okay, but you'll be sorry!" With that, Uncle Jim and I drove off. Donald Dog rode in the back with some clothes and packages, and hung his head out the window. As we picked up speed, his ears flew back and his lips quivered when he faced the wind. "Lisa, I don't know this area so I'm going to need you to be quiet until I figure out how to get out of the city. O.K?" "Okay." I was glad to be quiet. That meant I could dig into the huge bag of gum balls Uncle Jim had bought me. I chewed one gum ball until the sugar coating was gone. I wanted to spit it out to chew on a fresh one. "May I eat another gum ball?" "Go ahead. But please, I really need you to be quiet so I can concentrate." "But, Uncle Jim, what do I do with my old gum ball?" "Spit it out the window. I just can't worry about it now," Uncle Jim snapped. Spit it out the window? That sounded like fun! My parents would never have let me do that! I carefully aimed my lips toward the window and spit my gum through it. The wind quickly grabbed it and flung it backwards. I chewed another gum ball. As soon as it lost its coating, I again spit it towards the window. I repeated this several times. I was keeping busy, just like Uncle Jim hoped I would. Once Uncle Jim and I were on the open road driving away from the city, he relaxed. I had almost chewed through all my gum. "Uncle Jim, I have to go the bathroom." "Well, you'll have to wait until I find a sign for a rest room." "But Uncle Jim, I have to go really bad--now...I can't wait!" "All right. I'll take one of these exits. Maybe we'll find a gas station or something." I could barely stand the ride, I was so uncomfortable. When I turned around to check on Donald Dog, I was horrified. Donald's head was happily hanging out the window, but stuck all over him and the back seat were chewed up wads of gum! The gum I had spit out had been swept right back into the open window behind me. It was all over the seats and Uncle Jim's clothes. Donald Dog had been stepping on it and grinding it in. What was Uncle Jim going to say about this!... To buy: click on image at: www.amazon.com/author/lisasaunders To have Lisa present her book and the "Horse Book in a Bucket" program, contact her directly at saundersbooks@aol.com Learn more about Lisa’s Writing Workshops for Children at: rideahorsenotanelevator.blogspot.com Ever True: A Union Private and His Wife—The Civil War love letters of a Union Private and his 17-year-old wife. Published by Heritage Books. Reviews: “The story of how the marriage between Charles and Nancy survives separation, disease, the threat of death, and malicious gossip is compelling.” Pamela Goddard, Ithaca Times “I was thoroughly fascinated by the letters and much impressed by the artful way the material was woven together. The story is cohesive and informative, but charming and romantic in a very personal way - I think this has real potential on several different fronts." Corinne Will, Managing Editor, Heritage Books, Inc. “From seeing New York City for the first time, to the suffering of a soldier at war, EVER TRUE is a compelling first-hand glimpse into the emotions and experiences of the people who helped build our great country.” Terry Thiry, Radio Personality To buy: 1-800-876-6103, or click on image found at: www.amazon.com/author/lisasaunders Excerpt: I carefully unfolded the stiff yellowed paper, incredulous that I was actually touching a letter written during the American Civil War. It was one of 150 letters written between my great-great grandparents that I had discovered in a small wooden box in my mother's attic in Suffern, New York. The note I held in my hand, authored by Private Charles McDowell to his wife Nancy, was written on a small, plain piece of stationery--not at all fancy like some of the others in the batch which bore sketches of the White House and battle engagements. I gently smoothed it flat on the table, afraid I would tear it. The handwriting was strange, the ink somewhat faded, making it difficult to read. And then suddenly I came upon a word I recognized in an instant--Abe! It read, "We have [Secretary of State] Seward down here about every other day, and sometimes he fetches Old Abe with him and [he] looks about like any old farmer." I couldn't believe it - Charles met Lincoln! In addition to the letters was Nancy's obituary, which reads: "MRS. MCDOWELL IS DEAD - SHOOK HANDS WITH LINCOLN. With the death of Mrs. Nancy Wager McDowell...the town of Sodus probably loses the distinction of having a resident who could boast of having shaken hands and talked with the martyred Lincoln… Mr. McDowell was a member of the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery in the Union Army and it was while stationed near Washington that his wife had an opportunity to speak with the President. Mrs. McDowell passed nearly a year in that vicinity and many were the pies she baked for the soldiers stationed at the capital. Typhoid Fever caused her to return to Alton to the home of her parents…" ("The Record," Sodus, Wayne County, N.Y. September 18, 1931) I took the collection of letters back to my home in Maryland and began what was to become an exciting ten-year adventure. First I arranged the letters from Charles by date and began to read. Once I grew accustomed to his old-style handwriting and run-on sentences, I felt myself leaving the present and entering his past. I traveled back over 130 years and joined Charles in heart and mind. I felt his loneliness, his boredom, his fear. I laughed when he found a reason to laugh. He and his brother had enlisted despite his Canadian father's pleas to stay out of the war. As the months of his service turned into years, I hurt over his deep longing for his wife and home and for the life and family he left behind in Canada. In other letters I was shocked to read of the desertions, hangings, amputations, prostitution, and even theft and murder among Union troops. Charles wrote home about the battles of Cold Harbor, Jerusalem Plank Road, Monocacy, Opequon (Winchester), Cedar Creek, the Siege of Petersburg, an attack by Mosby's Men, and the Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Next I tackled Nancy’s writing. As her collection of letters drew to an end, I was completely immersed in her anxious thoughts about Charles's welfare. She hoped there hadn't been a "ball made to kill" him. She hoped he wouldn't get too close to the Southern women when he occupied their homes. She longed for him to return to her--even if it was just for a short furlough. She wrote that she would rather be dead than continue to live the way they were. I now pondered the final years of her life spent rocking in her chair looking out the window. Perhaps she was awaiting her death so Charles could come for her once more… Shays’ Rebellion: The Hanging of Co-Leader, Captain Henry Gale A Revolutionary War veteran is found guilty of treason and sentenced to be hanged for his leadership role in Shays’ Rebellion. The shore-book is available on Amazon or at: www.smashwords.com/books/view/55159 LISA’S FREE E-BOOKS Visit Lisa’s page on smashwords.com to download the following free e-books: How to Get Published How to Get a Job How to Promote Your Business (or yourself) LISA’S SPEAKING TOPICS INCLUDE: 1. Graveyard Adventures—you never know who you will meet! 2. The Hanging of Henry Gale—from patriot to traitor in Shays’ Rebellion 3. The 7 Wonders of Mystic 4. Finding Humor on Life’s Adventures—and Misadventures! 5. Civil War: Union Private & His Wife (available as a talk, one-act play, or combination) 6. How to Get Published 7. How to Get a Job (Lisa is a former employment recruiter) 8. Stop CMV (Lisa is the Congenital CMV Foundation parent representative) 9. How to Get Free Publicity 10. Children’s Writing Workshop (Cornell University included, Ride a Horse, Not an Elevator, in its “Horse Book in a Bucket” program) 11. A Time to Weep, A Time to Laugh—Moving forward after the death of a child Lisa’s appearances: USA 9 News… Cornell University… West Point Museum…Washington Independent Writers Association… Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)… Seward House… Lincoln Depot Museum…Johns Hopkins University… Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics… Rockland Community College… Three Rivers Community College… Daughters of the American Revolution… Civil War Round Tables… Fitch Middle School… Women’s Clubs… Genealogical conferences… grammar schools… Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association.