by Phyllis McCrossin
I’m watching King and the maintenance person from the campground as they work this morning. King is weed wacking, one of his favorite pastimes, and the maintenance person is spreading gravel on the driveway with the tractor.
Busy. Busy. Busy.
I’m inside. I started a loaf of bread, emptied the black tank, vacuumed and am sitting here feeling guilty that I haven’t walked the dog. All that guilt, I may have to nap.
I take comfort in the fact that Petra does not like to get wet and it is sprinkling a bit. She should be thanking me that I’m not forcing her out into the rain where she might melt. The resting of her head on my knee tells me her desire to relieve herself is outweighing her penchant to remain dry. I will relent and take her outside.
It’s a rough life and I often ask myself am I lazy or simply enjoying retirement?
I’m not certain, but, I remind myself, I’m not fully retired yet.
Saturday I work in the campground store and will get off in time to watch the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby. Over the course of our marriage, King has become a big fan of horse racing. I’m not exactly sure how that started but it is a very real thing. He takes his horse racing seriously. Especially the Kentucky Derby.
We always place bets with each other and King will also put some real money on the races through our daughter, who has access to off-track betting.
He spends his time looking at odds, jockeys, trainers, track conditions, etc. etc. etc. I like to pick them by names and horse colors (always bet on the greys, which by the way have only won a little less than 6 percent of the Kentucky Derby races). I also feel sorry for the longshots and bet on them too.
This year is a bit of a quandry, however. My favorite horse name is Journalism. He’s one of the race favorites. I have to bet on him simply out of principle. I’ve decided to temper that choice with a long-shot – Publisher. I think it will even out itself.
This weekend also marks the start of Tulip Time in Holland and the campground is reflecting the influx of visitors to West Michigan. I have a little history with Tulip Time. More than 50 years ago I used to march in the final Tulip Time Parade, which this year will be May 10.
It’s been 36 years since I was a reporter for the Holland Sentinel which meant a headache for employee parking, but lots and lots of street food from vendors (there is always a tradeoff, right?). While the campground will be busy for the kick-off of the event in Holland, it will be quiet for the finale on the 10th. It IS Mother’s Day, after all.
So… the season begins and life goes on.
Look for the fun things in life as time passes quickly.
