When I learned that I was moving to Maryland, my mother reminded me that as a child, she had spent time in Talbot County on her family’s farm. She never forgot the humidity and reminded me how brutal it was that cars didn’t have air conditioning in those days. I did my homework and read John Barth’s, The Floating Opera and James Michener’s, Chesapeake.

As a child, I was lucky to spend summers here on the East Coast. One summer we drove from Maine to Florida, stopping at every battlefield and historic site along I 95. Lunch in Baltimore was our only stop in Maryland as our destination that day was Tidewater Virginia. I was excited to add the Chesapeake Bay to my list of sights but there was never a discussion about the Eastern Shore of Maryland just across the Bay.

Fast forward 20 years. I find myself on the BELTWAY at rush hour having landed at Dulles from Honolulu. I felt like “Charlie on the MTA’, I couldn’t get off!! My children, including my newborn and I were all crying. After several hours I managed the correct exit to Alexandria and the Holiday Inn, I could have kissed the ground.

When meeting people who have recently moved to Cambridge, I’m always curious as to what drew them here.

Cecile Davis Storm was the newborn in my car on the Beltway all those years ago.

Cece grew up in Cambridge riding bikes, swimming, sailing, roller skating, dancing, and playing dress – up with her best friends. Cece spent the summer of her Senior Year on a European Tour. She loved every minute of it and she knew then that she was meant to live in Europe. Cece attended college in London and continued to live there a couple of years after graduation. I was surprised that she moved back to Cambridge. Recently, I asked her what her reasons were for moving back. Her response was “quality of life, London is so expensive”. Cece spent most her time working to pay for the necessities and had little time to enjoy the theater and arts in London. She missed her days performing her play, CHAV, on the stage in the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. Cece’s college friends were her support group. She had acquaintances such as the checker at Marks and Spencer’s and her work colleagues at Sally Clark’s, but she missed the day to day seeing friends and being involved in her community. The magic of the Eastern Shore pulled Cece home.

Upon her return, Cece jumped right in to her creative life, and worked as the Production Coordinator at the Avalon Theater. Cece had performed on the Avalon stage in the Christmas plays and for many years as a student at Classworks Dance Studio. She is currently directing Stage Fright, a ghost story about the Avalon Theater.
Cece works as a photographer but her passion is the theater.

Cece is an entertainer, when in labor with her first child, the nurses didn’t believe that she was due to deliver any minute as Cece was so charming and polite. Cece loves to walk with her 3 darling children down August Street to the Farmer’s Market , checking the Fairy Gardens along the way. Pickering Creek, the Strand in Oxford, Hooper’s Island, St. Michael’s Maritime Museum, and Emily’s Produce are some of her family’s favorite Saturday outings.

Cece is grateful for her small town life, her work commute is the walk to her studio to do a job that she is passionate about. She has a wonderful coterie of like minded, artistic friends, a beautiful family, and is committed to her community.

Her favorite movie is Clue.
Her favorite animal is a possum.

You can find Cece most mornings in the Rise Up Drive Thru, at Piazza, or Agave where she knows everyone by name.

Kate Emery General is a retired chef/restaurant owner that was born and raised in Casper, Wyoming. Kate loves her grandchildren, knitting and watercolor painting. Kate and her husband , Matt are longtime residents of Cambridge’s West End where they enjoy swimming and bicycling.