It is a well-known and oft used saying that “life is full of surprises.” I’m sure that it is true no matter where you live, but here in the Methow with the unpredictably of so many elements, it does seem like there are more surprises than I remember in the other places that I have lived.
So — I’m on my monthly catch-up phone call with my friend in North Carolina. You may remember, the friend who asked if I had expected to be dealing with the lunacy of a creek running amok through a burn scar. Chatting away, I see my husband approaching from the back pasture with something in his arms. He dumped the bundle in my arms as he turned to retrieve “three more,” he said. Soon, there were four hungry puppies diving into my pup’s food, as he looked on bewildered by the hubbub. I tell my friend I’ll call her back in a minute while I dealt with the chaos.
It turns out that the puppies had escaped from a neighbor’s and their hunt for them had turned up the first three puppies hiding in our pasture while the other four spent another night out in the dark by themselves. Gathered together, all puppies were reunited with their mom, and I returned the phone call to my friend. I don’t think such a thing happens in Wilmington. I could feel her shaking her head back there in civilization.
The Methow Valley Community Center was jammed on Saturday. Inside, readers browsed the Twisp library’s book sale. Outside, shoppers looked for bargains at the Senior Center’s Western Sale.
Due to family circumstances, I found myself alone on my birthday. That shouldn’t matter in the least as there were plenty of texts and messages shouting out, “Happy Birthday!” Still, I was feeling a little melancholy and thinking about taking myself out to birthday lunch, when a strange car pulled in the driveway. I walked out to greet a young woman with her hands full and a “Happy Birthday” greeting. Whaaaat?
It turns out that my stepdaughter called all around the Methow for someone to deliver flowers but came up empty. Undeterred, she called the Mazama Store and, according to her, “begged” them to deliver me a bottle of wine, carrot cake cupcake, and a candle. I know this isn’t a service the Mazama Store offers, but it sure was a pleasant surprise and, of course, something this thoughtful young woman would do.
The kickoff weekend for summer has filled the town with visitors. After a long winter and shoulder season, it is nice to see the businesses being patronized. It always brings a grin to my face when I see so many looky-loos at the four-way stop taking pictures of each of the four corners. It seems like Three Fingered Jack’s is the photo op of choice. The Western Sidewalk Sale at the Senior Center, book sale at the Community Center, and Farmers Market in Twisp also enticed myriads of shoppers on a beautiful day. Summer has arrived.
