Summer, finally!

Ah, I love it so much when I get to relax into summer and stretch out and pretend there is an endless parade of days when I will be warm, well fed, and not have any work to do. Yes, of course, it is a fantasy, but it is one of my favorites and it is finally here today. I did have to work this morning, and have done some neglected tasks since, but here I am with no pressure in the still-cool house and I am happy.

Under the Crape Myrtle

Vacations are a good idea, it turns out. I had a bit of a hard time with the concept of going someplace strange to spend a lot of money but it turned out to be delightful in many ways and due to a great span of productive months I had the money to spend, and it was easy. I went to Cambridge Maryland, for a family reunion, and lots of happy things occurred. We didn't grow up there; we lived in Wilmington DE, but we did go there once on a boat, and it is a sleepy town that is not a big tourist destination. I got to see my 90-year old mom, all my siblings (though not the extended family) and took my son and his wife too so got to hang out with them quite a bit and was very satisfied. I shared the third floor of a 1912 Colonial that was deluxe with the young couple and the other floors were filled with relatives. Same style as my original decor in my house so that was fun and I do love the architecture and history of the East Coast. We were on the Eastern Shore and that culture is rich and full of seafood so all the smells and childhood references were there and so pleasant. We ate a half bushel of crabs (they're tiny compared to ours here) and ate everything good we could find.

All of us on the porch

The biggest surprise was that letting go of Mom's house meant letting go of some parts of the past that had always hung there for me. I didn't have to revert to my childhood self much at all. I got to be more of the me I am now, even in the family interactions which were just easier on neutral ground. We came within a mile of the place and I wasn't even compelled to go look and see what changes the new owners made. It isn't my house now. What a relief!

It was good to come back to Oregon, too. I do love it here. I missed Market and Tuesday Market and now I'm back in place and all seems well. I am evaluating all of the projects that need to be done in summer, the roofing and the painting and fixing and gardening and may do some of them. I will do some of them. I'm happy to do the gardening. I know this is the best year to make some progress on the house proects that will just get harder if I put them off. It was also way fun to sit and look at the ocean, go to the Boardwalk in Ocean City, see dolphins and the ponies of Assateague, play with kids in the sand. I would enjoy taking myself out in nature more, here in such a paradise.

Next week is the Slug Queen Coronation, always a good time and an opportunity to dress in fun clothes and wear Jell-O. There's even a party to go to that weekend if I can manage to do something after Market. I might. I miss my friends. It's silly not to make the effort to at least do the things I know about.

Extraordinary ordinary moments

But since it's summer everything is now optional. I can sit around and read if I want. There's always fall for some of those projects and some of those hikes. In fact I think I will take the rest of the day off and play.
Just wanted to say hello...all those serious subjects can wait. You have my permission to do the same.

And thanks, family, for a great time! Thanks, Eugene, for not changing too much while I was gone. I kind of like you the way you are.