Goodbye, for Now January 4, 2013

For reasons that resonated eight months ago, I now find myself making ready to abandon my home for four months.  Several friends have laid claim to Pi for different ventures – an anniversary weekend, a writing retreat, a few days of solace.  They will keep an eye on it for me, hopefully doing battle with the thistles, sweeping out the spider webs, and dialing down the heat in the advent of spring warmth.

I spent the day preparing Pi for the long winter and for them: cutting back the tomato plants after the frost (will they survive?), sweeping out the guest studio, and fleshing out its meager kitchen with supplies. Annie came with me and attended to her own project of waterproofing a new pair of Blundstone boots, just purchased from Cabaline, in preparation for winter quarter in Seattle.  The sheep are again in the pasture, and Annie and I enjoyed their wooly company.

And then, with great gusto, I attacked a project long in the making: cleaning up a 1960s lab stool, covered in chartreuse leatherette, which I had salvaged from the trash at work years ago.  Armed with steel wool, baking soda, a bucket of water, and a stiff brush, I reinvigorated the stool to my satisfaction and placed it aside an old slate-topped lab table and a chartreuse architect’s lamp, both rescued from the same source. 

It was evening by the time we finished, and as Annie headed out to lock the gate, she said in surprise, “Look, a shooting star!”  I had missed it.  But there will be many more when I return, and I am already counting the days.

Goodbye for now, dear Pi.