I was reminded again this morning why I like to get my walk in the first thing in the morning – bird song. In the morning’s hush, before the rush, the sharp trills of robins and sparrows and the softer, longer sequences of the mourning doves hit both ears, a surround sound that actually makes my step lighter, ramping up my foot speed. Added to it, at 6:00 AM, no cars on the road. In my winding, hour-long walk this morning through the streets of Shelter Bay I encountered only three moving vehicles, all the drivers alert enough, happy enough, to respond to my friendly wave. The wave of my arm and hand is meant to convey a comraderie, an acknowledgement from one human being to another, that we have something in common, both of us just trying the best we can to make our way in the world, and appreciating the support of the other. My only other observation on my walk had to do with my impression of Shelter Bay. Thirty years ago when we first moved to LaConner, I didn’t like Shelter Bay at all. It looked to me like every other suburb in America and so nothing special for me. I preferred my older, historic home up on the hill in town. Now, today, I find a whole, new appreciation for Shelter Bay. Walking out my front door, with water on two sides, is like walking into a seaside community, In the surrounding hills and woods with the many side streets, it’s completely different, like walking through an enchanted forest, the houses built on the upgrades and downgrades offering many different and interesting configurations. I am thoroughly enjoying the sights and sounds of my early days here, surprised at the pleasure its giving me.
The music followed me into the rest of my day, the Man2Man breakfast at the church concerned with preparing the spaghetti feed following the special piano concert to raise funds for the church belfry. Marcella, the pastor, read my poem, “Exuberance” by way of a meditation to start the meeting. It was interesting to me to hear someone else read my words. On the other hand -it just occurred to me – several weeks ago I was reading her stuff. I liked what she’d written. And I liked what I heard today. That poem , “Exuberance”, seems to have some staying power. That afternoon, as I was driving back over the bridge to LaConner for my usual Thursday lunch with the guys at the Waterfront Cafe, I started thinking about my late afternoon plans and so quickly phoned my nephew, Randy Williams, to suggest an alternative. As a result, Randy and Lucie, and their two kids, Cassie and Zeb, will drive to my house for the meal and family get together bringing their 7-8 lb. prime rib roast with them to bake in my oven. Much to my delight, that all happened on schedule, everyone arriving at 3:30 PM which gave us time to get the roast in the oven. While I worked at the house, preparing the potatoes and asparagus and getting some computer work done, Randy and family drove into LaConner to stroll First Street, looking in to shops and jostling with the Tulip Festival crowd.
I was impressed again how well the new house works for entertaining. I like not having a separate dining room. It’s so much more freeing and expansive when you can sit comfortably at the dining room table and look out upon the attractive living room with the stone fireplace, the high cathedral ceiling, the inviting sectional sofa and book cases lining the walls. Everyone pitched in with the final stages of cooking. I mashed the potatoes – Idaho bakers- to which I added the last of the heavy whipping cream and salted butter with excellent results. The roast was done to perfection, guided by the internal thermometer, Lucie thought to bring along. She didn’t bring a roasting pan, thinking I would have one. I didn’t so we used my large Caliphon all metal frying pan which worked perfectly. So much fun, eating by candlelight in the fading glow of dusk, hearing what Cassie and Zeb were up to. Jackson Hole, WY is Cassie’s home for the present where she’s following her pursuit of work in the environmental protection field, her speciality noxious weed control. Zeb is working for a small Biotech company as a Research Assistant and has just been promoted.Their mom and dad are doing well too in retirement, busy with different pursuits including in Lucie’s case, the martial arts. While Lucie helped me clean-up the kitchen, Randy entertained us with music, singing one old favorite after another while strumming his ukulele, one of several stringed instruments he performs professionally with. All in all, a wonderful way to spend a day, music starting it and ending it.
The closing benediction came with a phone call from Kornelia who is in Hawaii, on the Island of Kauai, visiting a friend and setting up her next retreat in September. She was quick to express her gratitude for my presence in her life in terms of the special relationship we have, sharing a deep friendship, housemates for almost 3 years now. The practice of unconditional love and its power is always very much on our minds. This is another example of it, bringing it to the surface occasionally and acknowledging it and honoring it. I can only add an Amen.
