| From West by Northwest.org Voices of Spencer Creek Curtains in the Wind By Edie Self Nov 5, 2004
O human, rejoice with us, We your brothers, sisters of the sky, As you toil on the ground We hold your dreams So never cry. And we will never poop our blackberry effluence on your lacy schemes While curtains flair and dry. –A traditional Spencer Creek Valley song of hummingbirds only heard on wash days October 16... a Thursday, 79 degrees predicted on a sunny, breezy day--time to wash the front room curtains. I started before the dew was off the grass, unlooping the clothesline from the tree, with the help of a screwdriver where one or two of the loops had been surrounded by tree and had to be pried out. The line stretched across the back yard, I finally got the other end re-attached to one of the eaves on the garage. It wasn't very taut, but I have a solution for that, the piece of PVC pipe I altered last summer (or was it the one before?) to hold the line up in the air while laundry dries. As I washed the line and pole before hanging white curtains out to dry in the sun, a bright little hummingbird came to investigate this strange new intrusion into "his" space. I admonished him, and asked him to pass it on to his friends, to be sure there was no pooping on the clothesline, or on the curtains. He talked back a little, then went off, and, it seemed, carried out my instructions. I heard him and other hummers, as well as some other varieties, discussing my activities at some length. I was amused, more than anything, when I discovered a few minutes later that he took me at my word--and pooped on me instead! I had to laugh, and acknowledge the hit, being grateful all the time that it was just my jumper that was slated for the wash anyway, that had to be dealt with, and not a white curtain, lacy or not! First the lace valences went out, quick driers, and therefore soon removed to make room for more. With only about 50 feet of line, it's tricky getting all that fabric stretched out in the sun for long enough to dry it in October! As more pieces dried, and I started "stacking" them on the line preparatory to bringing them back inside, I found myself dancing a stately minuet with the line of curtains. The wind swung from north to south, then back again, about five or six short steps worth each direction, and I grinned with delight at the thought of dancing with the wind this way. The sun shone bright into my face, kissing the skin that is already losing whatever bit of color it gained over the summer. The air was fresh and delicious, recently washed by rain and faintly sweet with the fragrance of apples. What a beautiful way to spend an October day, freshening the curtains for the long winter to come, cleaning the windows until they sparkle, so I can look out and watch the glowing colors of autumn, dancing in the magical breeze of summer's last song, racing the dusk to get the job done. This is my wish--for all of life's "chores" to be approached and accomplished in a way that is fun, fulfilling, and blessed with the awareness of the beauty of the world around me. Copyright ©2004 by Edie Self Ms. Self grew up on the sunny side of Spencer Butte and is a member of the Spencer Butte Writer's Group. Visit the down-home Joy of Life stories by Edie Self at West By Northwest.org One Early Harvest Wash Day for Robins by Edie Self The Sunnyside of Spencer Butte: Two Winter Tales and Birding on the Butte by Edie Self Summer at Grandma's by Edie Self © Copyright 2000-2004 by West by Northwest.org |
