Thanksgiving -- November 27, 2006

What an interesting Thanksgiving I had last week... in the morning I started roasting a turkey, a 13 1/2 pound one, so I really needed to share it, even though I hadn't invited anyone over. My old friend Irene mentioned to me that she refused to go anyplace for dinner, so I figured that even if she was not home or was too grouchy to eat it with me, I could leave half of it at her house. It turned out so beautiful, I couldn't believe it. Perfect enough for a how-to-cook magazine cover. As soon as I took it out of the oven, I put it in my car and drove over to her house. It's been so cold here, about minus ten degrees F all week, nose-nipping weather! She was just delighted and we really had fun! I stirred gravy while she peeled potatoes and heated up a can of corn. It was a very satisfying Thanksgiving, I was so glad I had thought of doing this, she'll always remember it. In the evening I took over some pie, and we watched the news together.

Last night I hosted what might turn out to be my last get-together with friends in Soldotna, at least for now. The antique wood cookstove got fired up, and we used it to simmer soups. It was really cold out, way below zero, so the cozy room was nice. We had desserts after the soup, and shared a couple bottles of wine. People came and went during the afternoon and evening, it was so nice to spend time with them.

Today I executed a Durable Power of Attorney for my friend Paul Knight, so he can able to take care of my personal and legal business while I'm gone. I also made out a living will, as recommended, since one never knows what will happen. Some friends tell me they would never want to leave their home that they love, their wonderful lives, and I find myself this afternoon starting to panic, thinking "What in the world am I doing?" How can I just up and leave? I'm still interviewing possible good longterm tenants, and every day I'm packing up boxes and wondering why I'm keeping all this stuff. Every day I say, "I wonder if I'll be the one to ever unpack these boxes?" I leave notes in some of them, explaining what things are, just in case it's one of my kids or someone else who inherits the job. Other times, I'm eager to enter this new chapter, and am excited to go.

Seeing this chapter gradually end -- November 20, 2006

Well, it’s time I added a bit to this weblog. The weeks go by, and every day I am boxing up and storing more things away. Daily our weather forecast has read “bitter cold”, and we had a recent windstorm that scoured the ice on my lake into a huge skating rink. In over fifty years on this homestead, I’ve never seen the lake like this. I enjoy watching bundled-up children arrive to play hockey, fall down and slide around the ice. (I'll paste the forecast graphic below, but remember that our minus 7 degrees F equals about minus 22 degrees C.)

My house is emptier, and although it seems quite bare to me, there’s still too much stuff and furniture. I have yet to sort file cabinets and remove artwork from the walls. Soon I’ll make the decision about who to trust with my home, as longterm tenants. I need to decide when I will leave, whether to stay for December or depart soon. I’m so tired and unsettled that I’m surely not thinking clearly. It's already Thanksgiving week. Christmas and New Year's are coming soon, but the holidays don't seem very important without family to share them. That's one reason to go soon, but I'm thoroughly enjoying my beautiful house for these last weeks.

I think I’ll drive down to The States, with my dog Cheyenne for company. Yes, in the coldest part of winter. It won’t be the first time, but I hope my car putts along happily. I spent $400 last week to get a barely loose wheel bearing replaced, since it’s just not something to deal with at bitter temperatures in the middle of nowhere. I kept my passport for the drive through Canada, but already received a photocopy of my new Peace Corps passport in the mail. It reads "United States Department of State", so now I feel official, but it’s still hard to realize I’ll be spending the next couple of years in Eastern Europe.