Today is the first rainy day we’ve had in a while. The rain in steadily falling filling the house with a faint hissing sound. I have the windows open just a crack to let in the clean fall air. As I sit here writing, I’m delighting in watching water bead up on the deck outside the window. We just finished sealing it on Monday.
It was a three day process to actually complete the job but it seemed like it took months of planning and preparation. “When do you want to do it?” “I don’t know.” This was how the conversation went. Then, Saturday morning we decided we would go to Lowe’s and get everything we needed to complete the job.
Unlike other projects, where we assemble the required items and leave them stashed in the garage for several months, we set upon this task immediately. In no time we were clearing the outdoor furnishing down to the lawn and Dave began to spray on the deck cleaner from our new handy dandy pump sprayer. It didn’t take long to realize that we were going to need more than we bought. I was a little annoyed since I wanted to buy the big bottle in the first place but, grabbed my keys and headed back to Lowe’s before the conversation of “Do you want to go, or do you want me to go?” progressed any further. In half an hour I was back and the cleaning continued.
Sunday we decided we would go on a mini “date” before hitting the deck again. So, after Mass, we headed over to Green Hills to hit a few buckets of balls on the driving range and then grab a sandwich at the clubhouse grill. It was a glorious day! The sun was out, the sky was blue and the temperature was just right. Taking the time to stop and enjoy the day before working was a wonderful idea. If we’d tried to work first, we never would have made it to the driving range and would have grumped about it all week. Instead, we went home, rested a bit and got back to work on the deck.
I have to say I enjoyed sealing the deck with Dave almost as much as enjoyed our time on the driving range. Working together towards a common goal, our hands rhythmically guiding our brushes back and forth, provided a kind of intimate sharing. Sometimes we chatted, others we were quiet in our own thoughts. But all the while, we were together, working, sharing and just being.
We have come to know just how special our life here has become. Aside from the house, the neighborhood and the spectacular views, our new life here has given us more undistracted time to be “us”. We have fallen in to a rhythm here that is pleasing and easy to follow. Anyone want to sing along?