Friday, October 16, 2009

Snob or Slob?

We live in the woods with a hill hiding the front of our house from the right-of-way road, and another hill obscuring the back. Both hills are lush with leaves and other great natural camouflage. Because of the lay of the land on which our house sits, we enjoy extraordinary privacy. As Richard says, “We’d have a great view if all those trees didn’t get in the way.”

Being in Mother Earth’s cradle in Coker Creek is a wonderful thing, but it can lead to some embarrassing moments. People around here don’t lock their doors and they’re prone to dropping by for a visit. Richard is a night owl and I’m an early bird. This gives us each our own space in the day to do our individual things. This also means that I stay in my pajamas until he vacates the bedroom, and he may be wandering around in his tighty-whities looking for his glasses when most people have already begun preparing lunch. This works for us, and is one of the joys of retirement.

When I do finally shower and dress for the day, I like to be comfortable. This generally means no constraining clothing. This means I put on very little in the way of foundation garments. This means that people may be in for a surprise if they don’t call before coming over.

Adam and Josie offered to retrieve Richard’s credit card that he had left at the mechanic’s shop in Madisonville. I said that we’d pick it up from them at their house, but Adam is one of those genuinely generous people who loves to give a guy a hand. He picked up the card and dropped by our house with it. Richard went out to greet Adam, and, uncharacteristic of Richard, invited him to come in and say hello to me.

I had a lot to work to do to get the marketing materials for Jack’s book ready for the printer before the Buzz Fest. There I was, working away on my computer, in the privacy of my very hidden home with very little support (if you get my meaning), when in walk Richard and Adam. Thank goodness I wasn’t sitting in front of the fireplace in the living room – only because it hasn’t gotten cold enough yet for a fire. I had just enough time to yell for Richard that I was “indisposed” before Adam got all the way to my writing room.

Mamie has said that she’d like to come over to our house to visit, and asked whether she’d have to call in advance. I really didn’t know how to admit that we’re often “indisposed” all day, so it would best if she gave us notice. I hate to appear to be a snob, but the dinner dishes don’t usually get done until breakfast the next morning and my support garments are usually only donned for company.

I don’t know which is worse for my reputation here: to be thought a snob or a slob?