Friends at Work

This was a great week! Mom and Dad came down on Tuesday afternoon and immediately started helping out at the site (Dad) and in the kitchen (Mom). Mom and I picked a strainer full of blueberries from the fields out back. That night, they headed to a dance in Brook Village while Geoff and I anxiously awaited Matt's and Lucas' arrival. We killed time by watching Extras. The one with Chris Martin is soooo good. Matt and Lucas had some trouble finding the driveway, and ended up traveling a ways down the dirt road that runs alongside the cottage. But in the end, they found the place and settled in for the night.

We spent Wednesday heaving shovelfuls of gravel into the bed of my once-pristine and recently-purchased white Ford Ranger. I had to keep reminding myself that it is, first and foremost, a work truck. Besides, all the dirt and bugs washed out pretty nicely with a high-powered hose. But then the next day, we did the same thing all over again. Two more times! But again, the truck washed clean. Mostly. Lucas and Dad were a huge help during these gravel sessions. The sun was insanely hot and the black flies were out in full force, so having two more people made the job run much faster.

That night, I think I made some Kraft pizzas. Or maybe we had a BBQ. Then Geoff, Matt, Lucas and I went attempted to watch the sun set at the Mabou Coal Mines beach, but a detour to an ice cream barn prevented that from happening. Hey, sometimes Tiger ice cream is just worth it, you know? We went to the beach anyway but dusk was coming on fast. I found a cave that struck me as the perfect place to sleep if I ever found myself stuck outside for the night. But then a whole bunch of screaming black bats flew out of it and I changed my mind. We sat on some rocks and took pictures and watched the dull glow of a lantern creep down the side of the mountain across the way. Then it started raining. Then the lantern got closer. Then I got scared. Then we realized it was some campers looking for a place to pitch a tent. I wanted to suggest the bat cave, but decided against it.

After that, it pretty much rained all the time. It stopped now and then, allowing the boys to continue with the platform. (I was holed up in the basement, trying to revise my thesis.) Mom picked a million blueberries. And we all went to the dance in Glencoe on Thursday night. The fiddler was about ten years old, and really amazing. I danced with Geoff, Dad, Matt, Lucas and a messed-up man with Afghanistan written across his shirt. He'd just returned from a tour of duty, where he had "seen things." Then he said, "But you try not to look, eh?" Matt danced with my mom. Lucas danced with a really hot blond girl from Ohio. Go Lucas.

All in all, a fantastic time. Thanks Matt and Lucas!!

- Carla