Crisis? Emergency?

January 2, 2008

Emergency. Crisis. No, we had a wonderful trip from Ben and Penny’s lake home today.

Oh, it was difficult to leave. Their place is so comfortable, so spacious and there is the lake and the Wii. And there was the access to family. We looked forward to every weekend when Ben and Penny would arrive at the lake. Pisgah and Charlie would always greet us as they arrived. We always felt committed to take care of Ben and Penny as they were coming off their week of work. However, they took care of us. We will miss that. And their lake home was the center of our holiday experience. Very special to have Kari, Nathan, Cailyn, and Janie fly in. Four days were too short. Ben and Penny made it work. They have set the standard very high for future holidays. Thank you, Ben and Penny.

Also, we regretted leaving our new friends Kenny and Maxine. They live two houses down the lake from B&P. B&P introduced us to K&M on our first day at the lake. K&M virtually adopted us. Just a few years younger than us, we went out to dinner with them three times and attended gatherings at their home another 3 times. They introduced us to neighbors and family and made sure we attended the neighborhood Christmas party. They also advised us as to where to make our holiday purchases. Kenny filled us in with the local lore. He grew up in LA, God’s country he calls it. LA to him is lower Alabama. A graduate of Auburn, he manages private forests in the area and keeps his eye on local politics. An affable and knowledgeable person, Kenny added to our experience on Oconee each week. Maxine is a middle school teacher and the consummate family matriarch. At each gathering at their home, we met family and neighbors. We relished in her ease at inviting us and others into her home. Meals were always centered around bubbly conversation and family stories. We will miss them but now look forward to them coming to our area. Almost family, they are, Kenny and Maxine. Come and drink our coffee and see our woods. A bedroom is always open to these special people.

We spent New Year’s Day packing out after the family left to catch a plane at 7 a.m. and Ben and Penny went off to work. We grudgingly transported our belongings out to the RV while trying to restore the home to the condition of our arrival. We didn’t want it to end, this retreat so comfortable. Kenny and Maxine invited us for supper one last time in their home so we wouldn’t have to cook our last evening.

We awoke to a lake troubled at our departure. It was the first time that we saw whitecaps in our six weeks at the lake. The wind blew and the temperatures where in the mid 20’s. We left around 10 a.m. and the six hour trip south brought us within 7 miles of the Florida border. It was not until we “hooked up” settled in, and turned on the TV that we were informed we are in a crisis. It will be in the mid 20’s here tonight. The local news show began with the information, then connected to the local fire department that warned us of safety issues using space heaters, then to Home Depot to recommend preparation to keep pipes from freezing and from furnace problems, then to local nurseries for information to keep plants from freezing. The last piece featured workers who informed us as how they cope with working outside when it only got up to 41 today. Their best piece of advice, they wore hats. They left us with an acronym to take care of us this evening. PPP – Take care of your pets, plants and pipes. An emergency. Yes, if you grow strawberries or oranges. But for most of us it is because the news depicts it so.

I know that most of you are in climates far cooler than we are tonight. You can rest assured, that even though we are in crisis mode, my pipes, plants, and pet are well and comfortable.