HonBons: And Other Insightful Indulgences

So here's how it all went down. Dad had a meeting in Lynchburg on March 1st. He told Lollie and Papa Don that he and Mom would be coming up and can we visit? It probably didn't go quite like that because they would never invite themselves over but the HonUnion folks know what we're really saying when we say were coming to town. Mama Lollie said she'd see about Will and Katie's schedule and Mama Union checked with Brett and I and in the end we all arrived in Goode on Friday, Feb 27th.

Mom and Dad got there first, somewhere around 6:00pm. Unbeknownst to us, Don and Laurie were scrambling around completing not-so-minor house repairs just moments before they arrived. Brett and I were just getting to the treacherous part of our drive. It was dark and rainy with a bit of fog and we snaked a hilly trail with our knuckles white and our fannies clenched. We reckoned it would be a pretty drive in the daylight but locals rip-roared around curves, blinding us with their headlights and creating a fearful silence in our car. I knew it must have been scary for Brett to admit minor discomfort. Earlier in our drive, Brett barreled across train tracks in front of an oncoming train and later we were hit by vinyl siding that blew off of a house that had been sawed in half and put on a big rig. It was flying down the highway with all of its furniture wiggling around inside. The house was open on one side, like a dollhouse. You could see chairs and tables, blankets, there were even pictures hanging on the wall. Stuff was blowing out and all around and a big sheet of vinyl tumbled along, arching high in the air, and chopping across the top of our car. I've never been more relived to end a drive. 

We arrived at 7:30. Doc tried to scare us with protective barking but when I said his name his little nub tail wiggled with vigor. Inside, Laurie had already set out a dessert display. The house was cozy and warm, filled with heaters and a toasty fire. It felt good to be home. I hugged my happy Hons and we immediately sat down for a meal. Dad had made and brought along a big lasagna for supper and Don asked if this counted as Meals on Wheels. After supper we threw our plates in the trashcan and scurried off to the living room to toast our buns by the fire and tell stow-ries. I had been very excited for Brett to come to Goode. He's never visited this slice of heaven before and I told him about the view and the land and the general serene goodness that envelopes you as soon as you arrive. He looked out the big kitchen window at true darkness. "Great view," he said.

Will, Katie, Evan, and pup Wando, got in late. Maybe 11? I'm not sure. I just remember that Mom and Dad stayed up long enough to say hello and then they nearly ran to go to bed. Evan was both bigger and smaller than I expected. She's a whole little person now. There's no real baby left in her. As soon as they arrived Evan let out a big celebratory poop. Will and Katie seemed shocked as well as impressed. They cleaned her up but her warm welcome lingered. "We may have to burn those pants," Katie suggested. 

We all snuggled into our chairs to chat, except Laurie. She wandered off to put Evan to bed and she never came back. Don sat with us until I offended his literary and linguistic preferences. We kids stayed up until 2:30 or so, getting caught up on life. We finally called it a night and Brett fell asleep as soon as he laid down. I laid awake giggling about a comment Don made about catch-and-release trees. 

Brett wooed Doc, the Hon's least cuddly pup.

Now, as usual, I didn't take many pictures. These people distract you with in-depth conversations and you don't even remember that you own a phone with a camera. For that reason, I only have the pictures Laurie took. When I get back from these sorts of things, I wish I had taken a picture of the view and at least one with everyone in it, you know, as proof. But I won't think of that until I get home. 

Saturday, February 28

I woke up to two scary African masks and the sound of Laurie's meat thermometer. Someone in the house was snoring and Brett made Evan cry when he went to the bathroom. Everyone but Will woke up at a normal time and we all had breakfast casserole and cinnamon rolls. This is when I really got to meet Evan. I felt nervous that she wouldn't like me. It would break my heart. Olivia is indifferent to me, you know. I couldn't take it if Evan was too. Turns out Evan bashfully enjoys those who attempt to play with her. In the end she was indifferent to me but she was much less rude about it than Olivia is. I also think she could tell that I was scared of her. On this morning, I helped Evan climb into her Cocaine Corral and then helped her back out again. Later we sat on the rowing machine together where she very much enjoyed me saying "Pull! Pull!" She would look at me and smile, and I felt like a hero.

Here I am trying to come off as cool and disinterested. Don't I look apathetic? 

This day was spent in our usual, scenery-rotating fashion. Sit and chat here. Sit and chat there. The "old folks" played a round of Shanghai while the "young folks" went on a walkabout. Brett wanted the tour of the land. We bundled up and took a walk. Brett got to meet Peanut and Rio, and Will blew our minds with well-trained Wando. That dog just does what you tell him to. No questions asked. But don't worry, he's still quirky and dog-like. Brett and I couldn't get over it. Evan is an industrious self-entertainer and just enjoys the ride, occupying herself with what she sees and hears. 

I spent the afternoon harassing Will and Katie with question about being parents. I don't know many people my age with children, and none of them are people with points of view I'm particularly interested in. (Is there a nicer way to say that?) I tend to lean towards the more unpopular viewpoint in the "parenting" arena and most people think I'm just a jerk. And while I would never insult anybody by suggesting that they are like me, Will and Katie have the ability to step into your shoes and try to look at things through your sole. 
And if they can't do that, I at least know I'll get honest answers. So I stole away their weekend free time and worked to prepare them for Evan's next phase of life where she just has a bunch of rapid-fire questions for them to answer. 

In the evening, Brett and I wandered back down to the barn in an attempt to identify a walnut tree. We took Wando and Gus with us and Brett tried out all the words and commands he'd heard Will use on Wando earlier. It was like test driving a luxury vehicle. 
"How did Will get Wando's attention?" Brett asked as Wando took interest in the woods. 
"I think he said, 'Woo Woo!' or something like that," I replied.
"Woo Woo!" Brett shouted. Wando looked up at us and then went back to sniffing.
"Try 'Hoo hoo'."
"I don't think it was hoo hoo."
"Wa wa?" We narrowed it down to "Ho-ho" or "Woah-woah" but either way Wando humored us and came back, probably because he was embarrassed for us. My favorite bit during our Walnut Walk was visiting with Peanut, the big red horse. I clicked my teeth and he sauntered right over to me like I knew what I was doing and we were old pals. I played it off like I had expertise with horses and farms so that Brett would think I was cool. I pat Peanut's round jaw and then let him smell my hands. He's a thoughtful horse, I'll tell ya. My hands were freezing so I held one in front of each of his giant nostrils and he warmed up my fingers with a big horsey exhale. To thank him I made him a grass bundle from the good stuff on the other side of his fence. Brett and I loved hearing him crunch through it. We gave him a few more grass bundles. 

We got back to the house just in time for supper. Laurie had gotten up at 4am to put a brisket in the smoker and she tended to it all day. Will, Katie, and Laurie squabbled over sides and we wound up having five of them. It was all D-licious. Laid-back Evan quietly sat at the table with us, turning her curiosity towards Papa Chris.

After a bit more storytelling, the Shanghai competition began. Mom, Dad, Laurie and Don played at the card table in the living room while Katie, Will, Brett, and I played at the kitchen table. Though I hated to miss out on the parental musings, it made for a humorous scene. We kids played our Shanghai rounds slowly, somewhat halfheartedly, as we were invested in deep conversation. While we discussed philosophies of existence, marital values, and the ethics of reproduction, our parents sat in the next room screaming with laughter about bathroom jokes. 

They finished their match and giggled their way into the kitchen for snacks. We were only halfway through our game. The folks drifted to bed one by one while we continued highlighting the absurd, fun parts of being married, and delving the foolish depths of my psyche. We eventually finished our round of Shanghai and our conversation turned delirious but committed still. Sometime around midnight Laurie showed up threatening to make another breakfast casserole but Katie diverted her. We all made it to bed by 2:30.

Gus hopes for Brett's cinnamon roll.

Sunday, February 29

Everyone but Brett woke up at a normal time and we had breakfast casserole and cinnamon roles. And yogurt. And granola. And fruit. It was leaving day. I hate those. Brett and I had to leave to get him home in time for work on Monday. Pesky jobs getting in the way of livin'. Brett and I packed up our crap and Laurie fixed of bags of snacks for the road. We hugged a train of Hons right out the front door. 

Don mops the floor with Evan.

It was grey and blustery outside, and the scene perfectly minced my feelings towards leaving. Admittedly I missed out on my Don and Lollie time. In a group of nine, the rotation of people and conversation doesn't leave you with enough time with any one person. Someone was always wrangling Evan, preparing for our next meal, toweling off dogs, or warming up by the fire. 

Oh a busy house full of your favorite people. It's all I really want in life.