An Offering of Wine

We're house sitting again. Lily's clients are in England for two weeks and we're watching their home, dog, cat, rabbit, and guinea pigs. Lily has four clients we house sit for, but Loren and Helen's home is my favorite. In the mornings I look down, yes down at Newberg below. There are usually one or two hot air balloons making their way across the sky. The telescope in the dining room is inviting, but I hesitate to use something that was not offered. Yesterday morning, under a pink sky, I watched small patches of fog make their way across the valley floor. Imagine every morning standing on their large deck and watching as God raises the curtains on a new day.

I like Newberg. It is only thirteen miles from where we live, but it feels so different. The people in the Safeway here are so much friendlier than the one near our house. People always make the difference. Why don't retailers get that?

In addition to Rupert, today we have Murphy, his brother. I just came in from playing with them outside. I used a hi-life racket to throw tennis balls they love to chase. It's a lot of fun watching these golden retrievers chase balls in the shade of these large trees.

I have never met Loren or Helen, but you can tell a lot about people when you house sit. Since their experiences are so limited their pets, especially these dogs, reflect how they are treated. You and I are the same. We reflect how we are treated, but how we are treated has a lot to do with how we treat others.

In the living room, dining room and master bedroom their large and many windows face west. In the afternoon it can get pretty hot inside their home, even with the shades pulled. However, I gladly accept the hot afternoons for the luxury of beautiful dawns, sunsets and night lights from the valley below. I need to remember that life is like that. If you love Oregon green, but hate the rain than you have a problem. Maybe you should listen to the old Eagles song, Get Over It.

When we come here we always find a note of thanks and a bottle of wine. I drink wine now and then, but what I appreciate most is the gesture. Sometimes life can be in such sharp focus that the details over shadow the big picture. Whenever we house sit it takes me a while to overcome my absorption with the details of HD TV. In life those details can overwhelm and rob of us of what is most important. Acts of kindness soften the impact of the harsh lines between what we can get done and what we cannot get done. They're also a gentle reminder that other people see us and recognize us as fellow travelers.

Speaking of travel, Portland is exploring safe space, the idea of having fewer signs so people will have to look out for one another. 'Fewer signs, do's and don'ts, less instructions on what you can and can't do' is a possibility, if people will look out for one another. I like the idea, but I wonder if our cookie cutter mentality can make the leap to mutual concern.

Looking at the bottle of wine on the kitchen counter reminds me I should be more hopeful.