The fifth bell has tolled, and away she has gone. I sit in the living room, the lights dim, a soft heat radiating from the embers of the fire, the lick of a few flames to punctuate the atmosphere, my thoughts try to escape the void that will hold fast to the next ten days of my life. It is strange to think back thirteen years, when I was last in America while my darling was in the UK, before we were married and all of my dreams and hopes hinged on the sheer determination that one day we would be together, and such distances would only be at will. Now, thirteen years later we are in the heat of that romance and her professional responsibilities require her in the UK, affording her five days visit with her family after five days of workshops. So ten days we will trudge along without her. I have my grandparents and my children here to look after, and I am certain they will look after me as well. Parting is only bearable in the knowledge that she will return, but it still dims the colors, which are already under winter’s blanket.
For the next few days I have responsibilities to attend to, including keeping expenses down here so Katrina can afford a budget abroad. Dollars do not translate well into Pounds Sterling, so our riches here give little benefit there. She has staples to purchase, travel by train and by taxi, and other sundries for day to day costs. I know that will start out with a “full cooked English Breakfast.” Enjoy my love, enjoy. My boys will have to be paid their loading fee for the cord of firewood that now rests on the front porch. I have found a good price on inch thick Angus steaks that will settle the bill. It’s a small price to save my back! So I will get those from Sam’s Club today, along with soy milk for the girls, and hay for the horses, cows, llamas, and goats!
The days that follow will be more or less routine, at home days, keeping warm, cleaning house, doing laundry, reading with Kirynie, feeding and changing the baby, keeping the boys in line, chauffeuring grandma on occasion, and reminding her that she does not need to go to Logan every day of the week. In the mornings and evenings I will continue reading Hitchens, and filling my mind, which I have found, has filled my nights with memorable and vivid dreams as I consolidate memories from my reading.
Since lighting the fire a bit more than an hour ago, the flames have intensified a bit, despite the low hiss from the slightly wet wood. This wood is certainly burning better than soft pine has been for us. We should have better heat from the wood as we burn through this cord. The logs in the fireplace are still full, and may hold out for another hour or so before they require replenishing. As long as they are positioned so none rolls from the grate, I hope to spend the better part of that hour finishing my sleep, perhaps on Katrina’s side of the bed.
Kelsey J Bacon