BEANERY ONLINE LITERARY MAGAZINE
VARYING BOTTLES OF WINE Part 1
Peggy Jo Farr
Between the jagged flashes of bright lightening and the reverberating thunder it was hard to wait out the severest thunderstorm of late summer. Then the power went out! When the pounding rain finally stopped everyone headed outside hoping for a cool breeze. It was a sweltering week of weather and now after the storm with the power out, the whole neighborhood gathered in Dora’s front lawn to chat. Dora is the social coordinator of West Lawn Subdivision, at least she thinks so, and I would agree. We know each other pretty well considering the times in which we live, when no one can name half the people living in their neighborhood. Dora has managed to corral us in to having an annual garage sale, Christmas cookie swap, and donations for various organizations throughout the year.
Standing in Dora’s front yard chatting, we were surprised that Dora herself was not present. Surely, she is as miserable as the rest of us. Then suddenly Dora’s small side garage door flies open and she dashes over to us and seems to be in quite a tizzy about the power outage. Being the organized person that she is, she had bought the hors d’ oeuvres for the room parents ‘meet and greet’ at school, which is two weeks from today.
While chatting away Dora suggests that we all retire to her back patio and help her empty the freezer of the defrosting hors d’ oeuvres. She has a beautiful backyard with fruit trees and a summer garden overlooking the Napa Valley with a professional chef’s outdoor kitchen. The old world rattan wicker furniture layered with pillows, the long sheer curtains hanging about, along with the candle lanterns, gather us into a warm inviting intimate group.
Opening several bottles of various wines, we set up a buffet and sit around the open hearth. Relaxing in the gentle breeze, our conversation begins. Most of us have moved here following our husband’s careers. We are well educated and have some outstanding resumes’, yet we have tucked away our goals and ambitions as we raised our families. Now, sitting here, privately secluded we share our dreams and aspirations that we haven’t shared with anyone in a long time.
The storm has cleared and the sunset is spectacular! The afterglow of this spontaneous moment has begun to open up new avenues in each of our lives. Dora seems quiet as we each say good night.
Our lives have changed suddenly.
…to be continued.
ADDITIONAL READING:
Moving to the (Laurel Ridge) Mountains
I BELIEVE GOD INVENTED DANCING
THE SWEETNESS LASTS A LIFETIME!!! An Adoption Reunion Story
The Old Rocker MIDDLE AGE KNIGHT vs. MODERN DAY SOLDIER LAUREL HIGHLANDS PHOTODOCTOR: WHO IS THE PERSON BEHIND THE NAME? “DATING WHEN FIFTY-SOME:” A Guy’s Version WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS IN MY CAMERA VIEWFINDER? WHAT DO YOU SEE THROUGH YOUR CAMERA LENS? SHE’S A CANDLE AN OAK TREE MARKS THE PLACE WHAT RIGHTS DO CATS HAVE, I ASK FERAL BIRDS: THE LATEST COMMUNITY HAZARD A Singapore Pine Tree & Kampong Buangkok, Singapore
SITE LINKS:
www.beanerywriters.wordpress.com/
www.carolyncholland.wordpress.com
www.westmorelandphotographers.ning.com
