Small Pleasures

Despite everything that is going on, there is still fun to be had.

Like:

• A boat ride to Meredith for ice cream and the annual Memorial Day fair, even in the cold.
• Having my nephew Zach absolutely stuff himself on my pork tacos.
• Getting back into the water while wearing waders to level the sitting dock which had gained an alarming tilt over the winter. (We did it! Without anyone getting crushed!)
• Convincing Zach to move the rock I wanted for under the dock even though he claimed it was too big.
• Getting another opportunity to use that awesome wood splitter that Amber made clear to us (in an Instagram comment) is hers.

Of course, we have differing opinions as to what fun is. Nicole enjoyed the fair better than I did, and I enjoyed the wood splitting better than she did. She did not participate in the leveling of the dock other than as photographer even though there was another pair of waders available for her use. Zach liked the tacos the best. And Dave went along with everything despite his complaining. “What are we doing?” and “I’ve never been this sore in my life” were heard over the course of the weekend. My mother was thrilled with it all but kept telling me “Stop!” She claims I’ve taken over for my grandfather in terms of “motivating” people to work.

Like Amber, Zach seemed a little taken aback by the relationship between Dave and me. I think the intensity of our discussions involving bed sheets and kiwi fruit concerned him. But, Amber, Zach did not yell at me.

Separate from that fun, there are the flowers. Like a toddler, they demand my attention regardless of whatever else is going on.