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| 5:28 |
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| 5:52 |
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| 5:57 |
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| 5:58 |
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| 5:59 |
I was up at 5:15, having read my watch incorrectly, thinking it was 6;15. That's life. It's already close both inside and out as the sun has risen, the wind is missing, and I am ready to close the windows as the inside temperature matches the outside. Because I am up so early, I got some watering in, our two new trees and newly planted flowers. And it's now 9: 00, I just got back from a paddle and some zen fishing and Evie's up, the others are still sleeping.
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| Kayak Morning |
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| Clouds at 8:54 |
Yesterday morning was a sad one as Beth and Marsa's good friends, Nancy and Amanda left for home around noon. It did not stop them, however, from enjoying the morning. Marisa and Amanda fished early and Beth and Nancy sat out on the dock talking for a good hour or two, enjoying their last time together. Meanwhile, Evie and I were somewhat busy, cleaning up the kitchen and I ended up washing Nancy's car which was scarred by dead bugs from their trip on Wednesday. Nothing like starting a trip in a clean car.
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| Success |
We said our goodbyes around noon and then, just like a balloon suddenly losing its air, we lost our 'get up and go.' Marisa went up to her bedroom, wanting to be by herself, with her device, and not be bothered. Beth and I wanted to read, perhaps take a nap. And Evie wanted to cut the lawn. Quite a difference in the way we dealt with the void. Around 4:00, we did meet on the dock, to enjoy the sun and swim. Evie invited our neighbor's grandson, Ben, over to swim and the three of them, Evie, Ben and Marisa played in the water for a good hour. Evie came up with all sorts of games and competitions to keep the two of them happy.
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| Falling Slowly |
We decided to skip our booze cruise because of the still warm afternoon and we went in and started prepping dinner, burgers and salad, simple but what Marisa wanted. I cooked the burgers out on my new grill, four minutes, then three and the burgers turned out well. We were all hungry and the burgers and fixings were just what we wanted, nothing fancy just good old American comfort food.
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| Relaxing At The Helm With A Tootsie Pop |
After dinner, Marisa wanted to go for a cruise in the boat and do some fishing, so we headed out to the sweet spots around 8:30, moving around, hoping to catch a fish but we mostly caught great pictures of the setting sun and reflection of it on the water. We were back around 9:00 and both Marisa and Evie stayed out on the dock fishing until it was too dark to see what they were doing.
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| Lake Reflections At Dusk |
We were all exhausted from our day, mostly from the fact that we were alone, no guests to keep happy not that we regretted their visit. It's just that when we have company, we turn on an extra gear, both in the kitchen and arranging things to do, a gear we relax when we are by ourselves.
A simple honest love poem by former Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. Here's to the memory of all Dads.
Father
May 19, 1999
Today you would be ninety-seven
if you had lived, and we would all be
miserable, you and your children,
driving from clinic to clinic,
an ancient, fearful hypochondriac
and his fretful son and daughter,
asking directions, trying to read
the complicated, fading map of cures.
But with your dignity intact
you have been gone for twenty years,
and I am glad for all of us, although
I miss you every day — the heartbeat
under your necktie, the hand cupped
on the back of my neck, Old Spice
in the air, your voice delighted with stories.
On this day each year you loved to relate
that at the moment of your birth
your mother glanced out the window
and saw lilacs in bloom. Well, today
lilacs are blooming in side yards
all over Iowa, still welcoming you.
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