Weekend at CRR

[randy_byers]

When I arrived at the Redmond-Bend airport on Friday, my mom said, "You're the youngest one in the house this weekend." The family was gathering at the Crooked River house for a belated Father's Day celebration, but none of the younger generations was there. I'm not sure when last it was just my parents, siblings, and sister-in-law. Probably decades. As I said to said sister-in-law yesterday while I was putting dishes in the dishwasher after the Father's Day meal, "Well, the nice thing about the kids not being around is that there are fewer dishes to clean."

"True," she said, "but the kids aren't here to do the cleaning!"

My parents moved out of the Crooked River house last year, and they want to sell it. Fortunately my brother wants to buy it, so it will stay in the family. My parents built that house, and we all worked on it, so the family connection is particularly strong. In any event, my brother has his own ideas about various things regarding the house, including what kind of finish to put on it, so he spent all weekend stripping the old finish off the south side of the house, which takes a hard beating from the desert sun. This left me feeling a bit antsy, because I felt that I should help, yet I really just wanted to veg.

Mostly I vegged, although I did help a little. I felt weirdly exhausted this weekend, particularly on Sunday. I'm not sure what the cause was, although I've been feeling a bit stressed out by work lately. A co-worker retired at the end of May, and I took on some of her work, so I guess it's been just that much more demanding on my time and mental energy. Anyway, I surely could have used a few more days to vacate and bake myself in the desert sun. Then again it started to rain yesterday, so the baking part wouldn't have been in the cards.

The plan is to get together for a week at the end of August, and we discussed various plans for hiking and day trips. Sounds like a grand time. I can't wait.

Comments

[ron-drummond.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear of new work stresses, but very glad of your time away. Good tales and pics.

Chunga arrived on Friday and looks great. All three CDs arrived today, and over tea I listened to Transfigured Night with more than a little pleasure. Thanks again for facilitating.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Cool! Well, I should warn you that the chamber symphony on that disk is an entirely different kettle of fish and not something I like very much yet, although I find the Smithsonian performance more interesting than the other recording I have.

[kalimac.livejournal.com]

You've gone home? I've just arrived in that part of the world this afternoon.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I came back to Seattle yesterday. What are you doing in that part of the world, may I ask?

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

And maybe I shouldn't mention that when I was at the airport yesterday to catch my flight home, there were people waiting for a flight to San Francisco that had been delayed for hours due to fog at the SF airport.

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

It's cool that the house will remain in your family, mainly because it's cool that you all built it. That's not as common as it used to be, for sure.

[(Anonymous)]

Report when I get home, and don't have to type one-fingered on my little portable any more.

Attending the Or. Bach Festival concert in Bend this evening, tho that's not why I am here.

By car, so no plane worries.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Yes, even though we were all fully grown and living on our own by the time the house was built, we're probably more invested in that house than any other house our parents have lived in. And it makes sense that my brother would get the house, because he's done more work on it over the years than any of us other than my dad.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I envy the drive. Hope to hear what route you took when you give your report.