Idyllic Memorial Weekend

What a weekend. The weekend was so good it made heading back to school tough. I am pretty sure I have said that before on this blog somewhere -- I think the last time I said it though, it was ski season. Tons of time outside and with family -- and if you can believe this one, not one hike. I almost think that is against my fundamental beliefs, but beliefs can change.

The best part about the weekend was my mood. I felt patient. I felt like I had time to do most everything I wanted to do, and I did not "push" myself to do things I thought I "should" do. That philosophy started early in the weekend when I "should have" headed down to Auburn to party with Kendra and the rest of the girls for her pre-wedding fun. She and the girls went to Boston for a bachelorette party (I was in VT for the conference) and poor Kendra was puking just after DINNER. So Beth planned a quick replacement gig -- at 7:30am on Friday when she called, I thought, yeah, I will probably go. Sure. After a cycling/spinning training all day and a 7pm ride with Cheri -- I will be up for Auburn. Right. And I wasn't. So we did not go. Instead we watched the Sox at Cliffy's and I drank a little too much. Which was perfect.

Saturday was spent heading to Eustis to see my old, GOOD friends, Dave and Brandy. They are running a serious greenhouse (lettuce and other greens). The drive was beautiful, their view was monumental, the greenhouse so interesting and catching up with the two of them...better than I could have thought. It has been a long time since I have spent time with either of them, and I am so wondering why. There is this list of "Life's Instructions" poster in the women's bathroom at the high school (I love it and try to do many of the suggestions on it) and one of the tips is to rekindle old friendships. Check. So nice to see her. So good to see him. Being with friends who know you that well and loved you and still do feels so right and easy. Wicked good trip. We drove back through Oquossoc and the Height of the Land -- as usual, it did not disappoint.
Dinner at the Bistro and an amazing night's sleep.

Off to feed the horses in the morning... Luna always waits for me outside the barn or on the tractor road. She does not come into the barn (I am sure that has something to do with the electric fence that got her several times last fall before she decided to just steer way clear). So this is where she waited as I left the barn to head back up to the house. Faithful friend who loves our life as much as I do.
We then loaded one of the canoes onto the FJ (with much healthy communication -- no, I am not being sarcastic -- we communicated and it worked!) and headed up toward where I grew up. We put in on the Ellis and canoed to Mom and Dad's for hanging out, whiffle ball, food and family. So sweet to show up at my parents via canoe. We started in a light rain (no matter) and lunched on a beach in the beautiful warm sun.
The beach where we ate lunch and listened and watched the birds go off. Coincidentally, this is the field (directly across) where Sal and I rode Taco and T-2 last fall before I bought Taco. Killer spot just at a bend in the river.
One of the many amazingly green and vibrant trees that lined the banks. Sooooo pretty.
We docked at Mom and Dad's and the first thing we see is the old truck I drove in high school -- the F-150. She is a rust heap, but damn, I still love her.
Mom and Dad's nieghbor (at the head of the table -- he is 83) called Dad for a little computer help (why he called dad, I am not quite sure). Dad handed the phone to me and I ended up driving the 2 miles up to help him. He was drafting a letter to the editor regarding Rumford's dirty town politics (what is new) and thought he had deleted it. I amazed him by retrieving it from his trash can. Seriously, he thought I was a genius. I assured him I was not. My sister was with me and invited him to dinner (she is so good that way -- I never would have thought of it, but as soon as she had, I was like, yes, of course he should come to dinner). He was my mom and dad's English teacher in high school (1958 or so) and then worked "for" my dad when dad was principal of Mexico High School. Crazy. He put on a tie (to go with his gray fleece pants and his button down gardening shirt) and joined us for dinner. Sitting beside him and talking about Donald Hall with him felt good. He is something. Traveled to Italy last year. He is a gem, in the truest sense of the word.
I started a game of Homerun Derby with Kylie and Caleb -- soon Craig was out there, then Jim and we played until dark. I absolutely love time at my parents. It is ideal. That is Grampa's field (well, now it is my Uncle Wally's) that is the homerun line -- gotta get it over the barbed wire.
The horses in the pasture came to see us (this pic was taken at dusk, near dark with no flash -- strikes me odd at how brightly it came out). There was also a newborn calf in the sandpit too. Animals abound. These two (my kinda cousin's horses) got the whole family out there. Many carrots.
And then on Monday we (Jim, Grampa and I) put in the garden. It was a perfect day for anything outside. Clear, crisp, breezy (so no bugs) and dry. Amazing. Did that until noon, then went for an hour horseback ride (I so could have ridden for two) and then to Jim's family's for more food, friends and family.



Seriously happy and satisfied sigh. I was almost angry to go back to work (which went against EVERY emotion I had felt throughout the weekend). I realize the contradiction here. But now, looking at Thursday morning tomorrow, I am adjusted.


I am so fortunate.