The John Crellin House

After thirteen years of retirement, I’m beginning to question a few basics. Like why do I still feel that weekends and holidays (and especially holiday weekends!) are different from ‘ordinary’ days? And why do I wake up on Mondays making lists of what I need to accomplish for the week? And why does it bother me that people assume I have nothing but time on my hands?  Shouldn’t retirement be one long holiday weekend?

I think I’m reflecting on these matters because we had such a fun three days and I want them to continue. But, many of the houses in Oysterville that were full of friends and their families ‘over the fourth’ are now back to empty. Not that most of the homeowners work. A few, yes, but more are ‘retired’ like we are and their beat goes on, like ours does.

We did have time to visit with our neighbors to the north a few houses – Mike and Mary Gray and their daughter and her family.  Theirs is the house that is a ‘twin’ to ours.  Theirs was built first in 1867 by John Crellin.  Ours was built two years later by John’s brother, Tom.  He used the same plans but made all the rooms slightly bigger, added bay windows and extra gingerbread.  Typical younger brother!

The Tom Crellin House

We had a super time. I don’t think we’d really visited since before Mike was diagnosed with cancer six or seven years ago. But, this time he sent us some advanced notice that they were coming… so we went calling. We caught up on the news – theirs, ours, and the village’s. Nyel and Mike talked health issues and Oysterville newcomers; Mary and I talked poetry and publishing and teaching. We did some reminiscing and some lamenting and made promises to see each other again soon – promises I hope we can keep.

There were other folks in the village over the weekend that I wanted to visit – even a relative or two at the Red House. But we ran out of time. And now it’s Monday and we are back to list making – phone calls to make, chores to do, supplies we need, errands to run.  It’s just the way of it and I guess it’s what makes us think we have a life.

But the reality is that it’s time spent with people you care about that gives the days meaning. I hope I can hang onto that thought for a while…