New Rooms

The television groaned unintelligibly from the other room, leaving two dogs confused on the couch. Pundits seemed to be squawking about the impending doom of a nation, while the two bulldogs sat patiently, waiting for the channel to be tuned back to something more “comfortable”. The last three times CiCi tried to change the channel on her own, it cost me the remote. It is an expensive habit that I am trying to break, leaving the changer on the couch that is. Grabbing the remote from the chest that doubles as our coffee table, both dogs watched as I punched in the three numbers that bring Saturday morning animation. I reminded Rex that I used to watch the same thing at his age. He smiled.

With the dogs taken care of, I walked back to the small room that I have claimed as my own. It isn’t big by any stretch of the imagination, but it is big enough for my desk, chair, and most importantly, the fly fishing gear that I have dutifully accumulated over the years. And taking one look into the southeast corner of the space, I can confidently say that I have been doing everything in my power to stimulate the economy. It feels good.

Un-emptied boxes lay scattered on the floor, ready to be aired out from a move that happened three weeks ago, but a transition that is still uncomfortably new. But soon enough, the books, videos, tying materials, vise, and any other unnecessary, but still very pertinent objects will find a spot that will define their home. Or at the very least, the junk will get respite from its confinement in the cardboard where it now sits idle. Maybe idle is okay.

The smell of the fresh paint has started to fade, all but replacing an old tenant’s enthusiasm. Two coats took care of that. Two coats that replace memories that were not mine, but respectfully acknowledge a past I didn’t know. Much like the slide that pours off our deck into a small garden, I don’t ask questions, I simply appreciate the whimsy. A whimsy that makes it tolerable to pull half a dozen wall anchors out of a six inch by six inch square, or replace the shower/sauna grade “can” lights that gave little to no light in the dining room and kitchen . This house was not ours to judge, we came in late. It just happens to be our turn in the rotation to make this home our own.

I recounted the rods, trying not to be caught doing any real work to my new space. Maybe idle is okay, I’ll go check on the dogs.