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A Quiet House

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On Saturday, in our new EV—the Chevy Bolt—I drove Clif and Dee to Brunswick to catch the train to Boston, where they will be staying until Wednesday. The big occasion for this trip is an early birthday present to Clif from our daughter Shannon and her husband Mike: a ticket to The Who concert at Fenway Park on Tuesday, August 26.

For a variety of reasons, mostly involving my creaky knees, I decided to stay home. Even at the best of times, I’m not much of a traveler—I’m one who likes sleeping in my own bed—and my creaky knees have clinched the deal for me: home is best.

Time to be honest: Being on my own is a bit of a vacation. I don’t have to plan much for supper. (Poached eggs on English muffins? Yes, please.) I can watch what I want on television. (I’ve  settled on Back to the Frontier because, as it turns out, Clif, Dee, and I really do like many of the same shows.) I don’t have anyone’s schedule but my own to worry about.

However, I will admit that at night, the house creaks, and I listen for Dee and Clif, who of course aren’t here.  While I’m enjoying the time on my own, I will be happy to see them on Wednesday and hear about the concert and all the other fun things they did in Boston.

This afternoon I went to the cinema to see Freakier Friday (not a Dee or Clif movie), and it was utterly delightful, a movie that is both fun and heartfelt. At times I laughed, and at other times, I had tears in my eyes. When I mentioned this to the woman next to me, she told me this was her second time seeing the movie. I could understand why. Kudos to Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, and the rest of the wonderful cast.

Note: Unfortunately, the camera on my phone has been acting up, and until I get things sorted, my posts will be picture free. It’s always something, isn’t it?

 

72 thoughts on “A Quiet House”

  2. Thanks for letting us know you enjoyed Freakier Friday. I was on the fence but now I will go! Do you remember the very first one with Jodi Foster and Barbara Harris?

  3. Hi Laurie, it’s sometimes nice to have some time to ourselves .. but then …. it’s nice to have our family back home. I hate being alone in our house because the slightest sound travels across the raft foundations. I will check out freaker Friday – sounds good.. I like to watch a diverse range of movies …

    As for the WHO … I love their music. Concerts stalls and steps – I can understand fulll well your reluctamce with your knees. LoL whenever we go anywhere new it is afull risk assessment on stairs, access and facilities.

    1. Yup, that’s the way it is with creaky knees. Also didn’t want to hold the others back.I am such a homebody that books, movies, and gardening keep me occupied.

  4. I guess when you’re not accustomed to being by yourself, the noises a house makes (especially at night) can be disconcerting, huh? I’ve lived alone for 25+ years and know every creak and groan my house makes. I hope you enjoy your few days of freedom. Don’t let those creaky knees ruin the fun!

    1. Yes, I think it makes a difference if you are accustomed to being alone. I have enjoyed my few days. The creaky knees haven’t ruined my fun. It helps to be a homebody who likes books and movies.

  6. The WHO – What a great present! I hope they have a blast.

    I hope you enjoy your time alone. I love being alone in the house, but my husband is a recording engineer with late/unpredictable hours. I’m well used to being alone.

    Enjoy controlling that TV remote!

  7. Am smiling for you! Have lived alone for decades now and absolutely LOVE it. No problems about going to the pictures or theatre or opera on my own either, except *grin* someone also alone oft trying to ‘pick you up’! Yes, one does at times put on the lights to ‘investigate’ the bumps in the night in this ‘wicked’ world!!!

  8. Laurie, it sounds like the perfect amount of time for your secondhand gift of alone time. Not too much time to get lonely, not too little time to really relish just doing what YOU want to do (or not), but just right! Perfect for everyone!!

  12. Delights with solitude, I imagine, come with an abundance of bonding together times. I feel you because I enjoy my alone times too.

    Younger Child was talking about Freakier Friday just a couple of days ago. We are waiting for it on Disney+ as we do not frequent the cinema.

  13. As much as I enjoy solitude (and I do) I would have opted for The Who! Pete Townshend and I were born on the same day. The only astral twin I know of!! And of course, both born in England, right at the end of WWII. Pretty remarkable, right? (Yes, we’re both 80.)

  15. I hope it’s turned into something of a mini-vacation for you too. I understand the knee situation, as mine are similarly bad, restricting what I can do when walking is involved. The solution is replacements, but I haven’t taken that plunge yet.

    1. Yes, it is like a vacation, which I have enjoyed very much. My knees really do limit my walking, and like you haven’t taken the plunge for knee surgery. Someday, perhaps.

  19. Im definitely not a fan of crowds anymore but Im also not great at extended times on my own…I tend to go a bit nutty 😁 and how’d the new car cope with the roadtrip?

    1. The new car did really well. When I came home, I charged it up, and it is ready for the return trip. So far, so good at being alone. Haven’t gone nutty. Yet. 😉

  20. I haven’t spent a night on my own for many, many years. Don’t think I could cope, but it seems like you’re doing fine. Hope you’re planning a wild “welcome home” party for Clif and Dee!

    1. It certainly is different being alone when you are used to living with someone. But I am doing just fine. I expect Dee and Clif will be too tuckered out for a wild party. 😉

  21. Some alone time is good for us, providing time for us to mentally stretch and explore the world through our own eyes and feelings only. It will be wonderful to reunite with your family again – the best part of alone time!

  22. There’s a lot to be said for living a quiet life with a soulmate, but there’s also a lot to be said for having a few days alone doing whatever you like and (in my case) doing all the washing up the day before she comes home. 🙂

  25. This sounds like a win win for everybody Laurie, a concert for Clif and a vacation for you too! 💛🎶 xxx

  27. Sounds like you need to borrow the Monk for a few days, Laurie — his hearing is exceptional, and he’s got quite a good barker!! I empathize with the creaks in a house at night, though I admire your spirit: it’s rather enjoyable to have a few days to yourself, isn’t it?!

  28. I would love a short time of just having the house to myself, Laurie. I only get that when my husband has to have surgery, and I don’t wish for that! A Who concert would be great.

    Good for you for making the most of your free time, and I hope having Clif and Dee home is wonderful. 😀

  29. I’ve always loved the sound of a house creaking: except in hurricanes, but that’s less creaky than chaotic. When I was a kid, my grandmother told me that the sound of a house creaking is its way of talking to us, and that we should listen as carefully as we could to learn what it was saying! That was the end of my nervousness!

  32. I couldn’t agree more about the simplicity of time alone. It’s a rare treat and one to be savored. I hope you enjoyed every minute of your mini-vacation 🙂

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  34. There are advantages to living alone! I know you will be glad to have Cliff and Dee back but sometimes it is nice to be properly selfish.

  36. I agree with you, home is best, and I’m glad you had a great time at the movie and enjoying your own schedule! I’m sorry to hear your creaky knees are still bothering you, I had hoped they were still improving. Never made it to see The Who and what a wonderful gift and stadium to see them.🙂

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