My house guests left on Tuesday morning.
That sentence sounds as if it was written by a hotel desk clerk.
In truth, two of my closest friends shared my life for three days here in Melaque, and have now returned to their home.
That sentence sounds as if it was written by a hotel desk clerk.
In truth, two of my closest friends shared my life for three days here in Melaque, and have now returned to their home.
Jiggs bothered me for the rest of the day. I thought he wanted attention or to go for a walk -- or, more likely, both. But I think he simply sensed a change in the mood of the house -- two members of the pack were missing.
Tuesday morning there were hugs and handshakes and tears. What had once been a household filled with bustle was replaced with the melancholy detritus of visits.
In the background, Ella Fitzgerald was singing out her heart, telling us "Every time I say goodbye, I die a little." At times, I think George M. Cohan stages my life events.
But, I feel I am where I should be at this point in my life. Two months ago, I would have been incapacitated by Tuesday's heat and humidity. But there was a breeze that made the day pleasant merely to sit and think and read.
And to do the laundry. While the sheets and towels dried on the line, I did something I have not done in the two months I have lived here: I swam in the ocean behind the house. Or, rather, I did some heavy wading.
Showing my current home to my friends gave me another opportunity to find the rhythm of the house and this community.
But, to my friends, Roy and Nancy, I say thank you for sharing your lives with me. This is quite a journey.
13 comments:
I felt the same way saying good bye to Michael.
I'm glad you have so many more months yet to enjoy life by the sea. I've never had more than 3 months at a time and that was up to age 17. After that the times got much shorter.
Be sure to take the time to just lie back and become mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the water. I can just watch for hours at a time... in fact, did that for years but called it "surf fishing!"
Julian
I am so glad that you had your friends to visit. That is so wonderful. It really does make you see your area and your space in a different way. And the laughter and happiness in the house lingers in the air and the walls long after friends have gone home.
Immigrante Rentista -- Connections run deep.
Julian -- I have a reading perch that allows me to sit with my feet propped up while watching the full ocean horizon.
Rosas Clan -- One of the downsides of successfully living in the moment is there are no memories. At least, that is my excuse for not remembering much of anything.
Steve - You don't need to remember it, you've blogged it!
I love having company, too, a little at a time. Not only do I spiff up the house a bit (why not just for me, I wonder?) but in showing them around I re-appreciate all I have here, and sometimes make new discoveries when they want to do something I've overlooked.
1st Mate -- And new restaurants. We went places I would not have dreamed of going. Now I need to lose he weight I gained.
Steve, I can't believe you hadn't gone swimming before this! There's your exercise for you if you don't like the little gym!
The water is the absolute best way to cool off that I know of... we have friends here in Centro who cool off in the water more than a couple of times a day, and they live about 4-5 blocks from the shore!
I've been absent for awhile reviewing own motion claims. Checked in today & was pleasantly surprised to see Roy & Nancy's picture. So glad they came to visit you & give you some of that comraderie you've been missing. I'm glad you went "heavy wading" too - part of being there to appreciate the water. Good for the legs too! ;-)
How nice that your friends visited you and filled your home with laughter and fun. After my dad passed and his home emptied out, I sat there one day and I'll be darn if I couldn't hear my dad in the kitchen telling his jokes. I could hear laughter and it did seem like it was bouncing off the walls. I'm happy for you Steve. Swim away with the waves, and my hugs to Jiggy.
Well, I hope that you will take the time to enjoy your surroundings. My nephew was there just last week with his high school class and hasn't stopped talking about it. (And he was only there for 2 days!)
Nancy -- "Swim" was a bit of an exaggeration. The waves are so powerful on the beach at the house that swimming is not a possibility. Heavy wading, perhaps. And that is what I did. Even the skimboarders do not swim there. But about a mile away is a great swimming beach. That is where I took my friends.
Holly -- Good to have you back. I had a great visit with Roy and Nancy.
Gloria -- Odd you should say that. I had the same experience the last two times I left Jiggs at the veterinarian. I could swear I heard his collar clinking as he came up the stairs. Of course, it was just my mind playing tricks. But those experiences are so real.
Leslie -- Just as long as I don't have to go back to high school.
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