Monday, August 18, 2014

The Warm Waters of Home


There’s a new body-scrubbing puff in my shower this morning. I notice it as I let the warm waters wash away ten days of road dust and it makes me realize, yet again, how little I really need to make me happy. It helps me remember how much I love home.

A silly little shower puff.

Excuse me a moment. There’s some soap in my eye.

It is, of course, more than the puff. It’s the feel of my own bed and the mold of my pillow. It’s the warmth of my wife beside me. It’s the rollicking, goofy joy of the dogs as I come in the doorway. Where have you been? Where have you been? I’m SO happy to see you!

It’s the pile of cool mail that waits on my desk; a friend’s new book, the first honest-to-goodness check for my scribblings, the deed to the ten acres of woodland next door – our additional buffer from the intruding world and an another tether to home.

It’s the garden that needs weeding and the hillside that needs mulch and the driveway that needs stone. It’s the blowdown that needs splitting so that it’s ready for winter burning. It’s the truck that needs its annual cleanup, the redbuds that need replanting, and the chimney that needs work. It’s their needs, I suppose, that I need.

And there are stories to be told. It seems so long since that was true, whatever the reason. But after ten days chasing trout in British Columbia, Alberta, and Montana, I’ve brought home a few. So keep an eye here for the next week or so, as I test my notes and my memory and my photography skills. But don’t worry. Where they fail, as they inevitably do, I’ll just make shit up. It’s more fun that way, anyway.

But not today, so indulge me a bit. For the moment, I’m simply going to stand here and let the warm waters of home wash over me.

And enjoy my new puff.

10 comments:

Arizona Wanderings said...

Welcome home. Looking forward to the stories

Matthew Copeland said...

Finding joy in the little things is no little thing. Beautifully captured Mike.

Mike Sepelak said...

Happy to be here, Ben. Hope the stories don't disappoint.

Indeed, the little things, Matt. Thanks.

todd tanner said...

Amen.

Mark said...

A knowing smile grew as I read this post. Few things in my life are as powerful as home. I miss some places, but I long for home. I think it is infused in our DNA...the ying to counterbalance the yang of wanderlust.

Mike Sepelak said...

Amen, and hallelujah, Todd. Thanks for a great trip.

...the ying to counterbalance the yang of wanderlust. Perfectly articulated, Mark. Wonderful insight. Thanks for that.

Ken said...

My shower,ten days,love home,own bed,wife,dogs,my desk,check,ten acres,garden,driveway,truck.Little....seems like much.

Mike Sepelak said...

Well shucks, Ken, you are absolutely right. I'm a lucky man.

CathyB said...

Don't plant any trees until late October, Mike, if you want them to flourish. And if you want other options besides redbuds, many exist. The Cures down the road from you are now a retail operation, by the way. Talk about fine local options...

Mike Sepelak said...

Thanks, Cathy. It's certainly a wait till fall kind of task. And I think these trees actually came from Bill and Jen. Fine options indeed.