“Small children disturb your sleep, big children your life.”
For me it’s still early, and I’ve already been busy. First was a blood test which meant no coffee when I woke up-a painful way to start the day. Then I got yelled at to slow down by an elderly lady who had turned the corner halfway into my lane such that I had to stop or be hit. She looked panicked. Next was the pharmacy then Dunkin’ Donut’s where I ordered an iced coffee with equal and cream. She repeated my order: hot, black and medium. Slowly, distinctly and loudly I tried again. I figured take away the loudly and it was like practicing Ghanaian English for my trip. Such was my morning.
It’s a deck day no question about it. I have a few things to do this afternoon, but I’m staying outside and lolling for as long as I can. Today makes me grateful I’m retired.
My house has no shades. I wanted it that way. When I was a kid, my mother put the shades down all over the house on hot summer days. She was trying to keep the house cool, but it was always dark and cave-like to me, cooler definitely but still cave-like. The kitchen was the only room with light because the back door was always open to the screen door. I remember that screen door perfectly and can still see and place it in my mind’s eye. It was wooden and painted dark green. It never shut slowly but always slammed. The screen was one piece and was replaced every fall by the storm door which shut more slowly because of the weight of the glass. We never walked out the screen door; we always ran and it always slammed.
I loved our house in South Yarmouth. It was close to everything, and my brother and I had our own rooms. We were on the first floor while my parents and my sisters were on the second. The house had a dormer added later so the stairs were behind a door and couldn’t be seen from the living room. That also meant my brother and I couldn’t be heard. He sneaked out a lot. I didn’t. Most times, he was lucky enough to get home before my father woke up. Once he didn’t and all hell broke loose. My father yelled at me figuring I was a co-conspirator, but I wasn’t as I had no idea where he’d gone. I only vaguely remembered hearing him leave through his window. I was surprised my father didn’t think to nail his windows shut because in a short while my brother was back to his nighttime escapades.
I always think it interesting the memories we keep.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: dunkin-donuts, Iced coffee, lovely day, memories
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
July 11, 2011 at 11:23 am
It´s a very nice day over here too. Much like yesterday but perhaps a bit cooler and that´s perfect 🙂
I too had a busy morning. I had to buy shoes and I didn´t realize that they were rather expensive and I just couldn´t say I didn´t want them 🙂 🙂 But it was a summer sales today so I only cried a bit in my mind 🙂 🙂 The worst thing is that they look cheap 🙂 🙂 but they are sooo comfortable that I´m happy anyway 🙂
I also haggled for the first time 🙂 I just can´t haggle and always feel almost sick while trying but today things went well 🙂 🙂 So now I have a lemon tree on my patio 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
July 11, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Christer,
I got really warm here so I turned on the air conditioning. It will get to 90° in Boston but not as warm here. The ocean is already 68°.
I have more to do tomorrow as well as getting a hair cut. Nothing is cheap any more. If you buy cheap, they fall apart quickly.
My brother-in-law haggles all the time. He was so proud he got the interest down to 2.7 for his new car. I called and said mine was 2.6 and I was a better haggler. I didn’t tell him that was the going rate!
July 11, 2011 at 3:55 pm
What a day. I won’t bother to write about catching my daughter sneaking back in from her nightly escapade. I nailed the windows shut and key bolted the doors and sliders. She was beyond shock to see me when I turned the light on and her friend went scambling into the woods. Female friend, thank God.
July 11, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Z&Me,
I never did sneak out. I don’t know why not. I just didn’t. My father was a nail the window type. I still don’t get why he didn’t.
July 14, 2011 at 2:12 am
I did sneak out lots of times when I was in high school, and would stay at a girl friend’s house instead of going home. I was a terrible teen, as my mom used to say. I even arranged to hitch to the Philadelphia Folk Festival in the summer. We each told our parents we were staying with the other friend for the weekend. Oy! But what great music. My dad used to say he was going to lock me up in a nunnery, which was odd because we were Jewish.
July 14, 2011 at 12:14 pm
Lori,
I never did. It just didn’t occur to me. I had no curfew, but I was most careful not to abuse the privilege. I’d call if I were going to be late and that pleased my parents.
We never hitched when I was in high school though we did in college. Once got a major lecture about safety from one guy who had a daughter our ages, and he was appalled we were hitching. He asked how we would defend ourselves, my friend and I, and I showed him the knife up my sleeve.