Quick Drip Coffee or Sabbatical
Percolate or Not?
A daddy's girl I will always be! There isn't anything I wouldn't do for my daddy. Yes, at 41 years of age, I still call him daddy.
Earlier this week I was looking forward to a four-day weekend of relaxing around the house prior to a postponed Thanksgiving dinner to end the weekend with our girls (who are the girls? refer to first post).
My daddy called wanting to take a trip to San Antonio to visit his grandson Addison after completing one of the many trainings for the Navy. Unfortanelty, his cabin in the hills of the Ozarks needed sitting and his three Brittney Spaniels needed tending to. He asked if I minded to do this for him. I didn't hesitate with an answer and said yes. After few minutes after agreeing my mind reeling of "oh wait", I have to do this, or that, or we planned this or that. All that this and that well it just wasn't going to happen.
My husband wasn't too keen on the idea because meant breaking plans for a concert we planned for months as well as delaying an already post poned Thanksgiving dinner with our girls. But after a moment he understood and feel he thought I needed the break more than I wanted to admit.
I left after work on Wednesday and arrived at dark to the tucked away cabin my daddy built several years ago in the middle of the land; he bought edging the National Forest. The three dogs met me with excitement at the gate. I was schooled quickly on the work of tending to solar panels that batteries are not getting enough juice on these cloudy fall days we been having as well as coffee making.
As I entered the cabin, smell of pine and cedar fill my senses and noticed...wait where is the coffee maker? I was already looking forward to a morning cup of coffee while sitting on back porch overlooking the changing of colors of the leaves. Those who know me know I am an avid coffee drinker and starts my day every morning with a good hot and sweet cup of Joe. Who wouldn't? So, I see a silver percolator pot sitting on the gas stove. Something that I only recall seeing when I stayed at my Memaw Bonnies house and remember my Grandpa Clarence always believed in coffee! I open the lid to find it has already been set up with coffee grounds and fresh water. Okay now what? Google? Okay the internet/cellular service was so slow I could have run to town picked up a coffee from a local coffee shop and back before the instructions on Google would have loaded. So, a little thinking, questions and patience I figured it out. To say it was nostalgic is an understatement and I respect this way of making coffee but let's be honest, my Keurig has me a cup in five minutes and perked to perfection.... with added sugar and French vanilla creamer of course. But maybe that was the lesson I was sent to learn, not everything has to be so fast, so automatic!
Over the last few days, I have enjoyed watching The Waltons reruns, doing my puzzles and just taking in the peace and quiet this cabin offers me. I also have been reminded of the many times with my sweet momma and hunting with my daddy. My girls also experienced this as well and I feel they at times long for those days that we know we can't get back but know we must continue on and give tribute to the memories and lessons learned here.
This may have not how wanted to spend the long weekend to start but it was a sabbatical that was much needed and grateful for. It has helped me to remember the good and that the little things are the most important. This cabin was made by the hands of my daddy as well as made a home away from home with the love and laughter provided by us all. My momma always wished for a cabin in the woods, daddy made that dream reality. Thankfully she was able to enjoy it for several years prior to her passing and this was her happy place.
A sabbatical, yes but also a reminder of slowing down, take the long way around to appreciate what you do have that is the short cut. But to remember the old, long way can always bring you back to where you need to reset....and sip coffee...no matter how it is made!
