Walking along the lake this late afternoon, rejoicing in the sun after 5 days of rain, I was admiring the old hotel. Many happy hours have been whiled away in that old wooden structure since we moved to this village 25 years ago.
I was on my way home to New Hampshire when we moved here. DB promised that we would stay no more than 2 years. This new job would improve his chances of finding a good job in New England, he told me. That was during the years of the gas crisis, and jobs of any kind in New England dried up shortly after we arrived here.
Our first night in this village, we stayed in the hotel, as our household goods wouldn't arrive until the next day. The courtly older gent on the desk welcomed us to our new home, and extended an invitation for us to use the porch anytime we wished. And so we have. We've rocked away many hours on that porch, admiring the sunsets, conversing with hotel guests or other "locals".
One year, the hotel's 100th birthday, I helped clean the building for its opening on Memorial Day weekend. I took special care, enjoying the antiques and the quaintness of the place, because I knew our children were planning a 25th anniversary party for us in the sunny dining room. I rented a room for DB and me so that we would have privacy and time to ourselves. All the relatives were coming from the East for the party, and many would be sleeping in our house.
It was wonderful. The food was good, the music excellent, and we all had a great time. It was reminiscent of our daughter's wedding reception, which was held there 5 years before.
And now, these 19 years later, life has changed dramatically. Not the least is that both DB and I are now orphans; my Dad and stepmother, and his mother are gone. The wife of one of the two brothers who own the hotel died this late winter. She had been in charge of the food and flowers for both the wedding reception and the anniversary.
At the anniversary, one-year-old N was the only grandchild; now he has finished his second year in college, and there are four more grandchildren. I've left Early Childhood twice, and have gone back to it each time. DB has changed jobs twice, and now is a VPS manager ( I have no idea what that means, either).
What hasn't changed is our hopeful outlooks, and our planning. We have always had plans and dreams. They've taken different forms and directions, sometimes, but we come back together and work towards joint goals each time.
Not too far ahead of us is retirement. Both of us are planning for that; and again, we have different ideas of what retirement will mean. But I know that we'll find a way to mesh our dreams and meet our goals together. Meanwhile, I revel in the lake, the view of the bay, my garden, the old hotel, the family, and my relationship with DB.
It was a great walk.
Reminiscenses; in which a lovely walk by the lake brings up many good memories.
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