Part 5… My Summer Vacation
Friday night fifty plus people arrive at our home for a pot-luck and barbecue. Michael loves to barbecue. Tables are brought outside and loaded with an assortment of whatever is provided. Chairs are carried onto the porch and patio. Children, siblings, grandchildren, cousins, childhood friends, business friends, out-of-state friends… all gather and recount stories.
As the evening winds down, I receive a text from a friend in Connecticut:
“I’m currently immersed in house painting, and I’m listening to the work of David Whyte, a poet. The book is “What to Remember When Waking,” and I thought to reach out and see if you were familiar with his work, as I think you would appreciate his ability to ‘see’ and capture the essence of a moment, much the same way you do in your writing. The audio CD takes you through poetry, past and present, myth, classics, all while centered on the idea of being open (and trusting) to the unknown. It brought you to mind and I began wondering if you’ve written or considered writing a memoir or non-fiction book… you’re such a wealth of inspiration, perhaps sharing that with others might do some good in the world. —hope you’re enjoying the summer and your house guests if still there. In love and friendship,”
I thought about her kind words and what I was actually feeling in the moment. My life had been turned upside down and my home inside out. Yet as I wrote my true feelings, I realized that I had overcome fear and anxiety and that I was happy, surrounded by a feeling of well-being and love. I responded:
“What a lovely message. We still have our kids here, as a matter of fact we have 35 and nearly that many more of our son-in-law’s friends. A real houseful. We had a lovely family/friends potluck tonight. One grand had mowed the lawns. Babies everywhere. Laughter and memories created in the mild summer air. Oregon green abounding and framing the whole against a blue sky. Ships in the river and laughter on the lawn. A truly lovely day. Tomorrow we have Michael’s Celebration of Life. He’s holding his own but tires. All my worries about the summer have evaporated and been replaced by goodwill and joy. Learning to live in the moment and surrender the false sense of control I thought I had. Life is good. Thank you for being my friend. I’ll have to look at Whyte’s work. As to a memoir, yes, I have one in the works.”
Our home is elastic. Room has always been found for family, friends, and occasionally strangers. I’ve always known that the heart is elastic as it has expanded with each of our eight children, again when they added spouses, and yet again with each grandchild. I am so grateful that the brain is also elastic. When we embrace new experiences, our outlook changes and, if willing to explore the unknown, we can create a more beautiful space in which to live.