Vacated Life

I’m officially on vacation now. When asked if I was off and had gone North I told several people today that I’d vacated my life. I’m not sure if that is the correct nomenclature but it’s kind of what a vacation is supposed to be. I’m in the land of my forefathers now and will spend the most of a week here. I was up early to help load the truck and see my parents off, they are helping my sister get settled in her first ever house. The truck looks a bit like one bound for the dump but that is just because it is loaded with raw materials and things long in storage.

The way my parents loaded it does nothing to help with that, everything tossed in ramshackle style. I spent my morning walking the property and gardening. I thought about a nap but instead watched some mindless HGTV. Later in the morning I went into town and got some Wendy’s. I skipped breakfast so it was hungry. Down the road from the eatery of the red-headed lady is the garage where my boat is waiting. I popped in to say hello and went back to have a look at. I was able to measure the rear axle height at fourteen inches, which I mention here for my own note keeping. The casting deck is 56” wide by 56” long. The middle width for the floor is also 56”. I don’t know anything about outboard motors so I’m gonna need some lessons. I took a picture so I can start to understand.

I was invited to stop by and see Theodore Complete but I knew he was working on a project to fix his deck and didn’t want to derail that so I slinked home. It poured rain as I arrived so the dogs and I had that nap I’d been hoping for. When it was done I went for a walk. The rain did nothing to kill the heat so it became a tarps off jaunt. First time I’ve done that in twenty five years. I wandered around the property, drinking in my personal history. I’ll share one photo I snapped while walking.

It’s of the old barn. This was the calving pen. We’d put a new mother in her with an experienced one and their calves so everyone would learn how to properly raise their kids. It was like a Mommy and Me class. It’s kinda sad to see it like this. Both because it was such a useful and lively part of my formative years and because it’s an eyesore that should be cleaned up and removed if not being used anymore. Several groups of worked away at it but the bulk of the old collapsed barn is just weathering away to a rotten mess of wood and steel. My sister took all the tin off so it’s ready for the torch now. Not sure if that solution is allowed anymore but something needs to be done. After corralling the dogs and laughing about watering the garden before a rain I had a quiet dinner of some tuna casserole, my absolute fave thing my Mom makes and settled down to a quiet evening listening to an audiobook with the accompanying chorus of slow, subtle dog snoring.