It’s that time of year. Things got real this weekend when I
went for my fall haircut. As I sat in the chair visiting with Erin it really
started to sink in that it is time to leave already. It’s such a silly thing to
mark such a major event as leaving for the winter, a haircut at her shop marks
my return home and my departure each year. This weekend was also the last put luck
of the season in volunteer village. It is a Luau theme each year, although the
weather wasn’t very tropical feeling, we sported our Hawaiian shirts and
dresses over long sleeve T-shirts and leggings and of course wore our leis. We
feasted had a big campfire and talked about our upcoming winter plans and how
much fun we all had this season. We are fully aware of our good fortune to be
able to volunteer here each summer. At first it was simply the proximity and
familiarity of the park. We have grown even more connected to this place after
three years of working out here all summer. It’s hard to imagine doing anything
else from April to October. The other facet of our good fortune are the
dynamics of the village atmosphere. It is quite a tight knit little community. In
our years here so far three gatherings have evolved. The season kick-off happy
hour that Champ and I host. The mid-season fish fry that Don holds when his
deep freeze is filled with his summer catch and the Luau hosted by Rena and
Pete that we had last night.
Ranger Coty enjoying the fire with us 
Love a good climbing tree 
Judy, Rhonda and Leslie 
Pete manning the grill 
Rena talking to the grandkids 
Two of my favorite gentlemen Will and Don 
Piling on grandpa's lap 
Hunter the owl 
Yard games at the Luau
We had a last hurrah of sorts with three of the younger
grandkids that we have watched the most this summer. They all came yesterday afternoon, joined us
for our party and spend the night. An eight year old and 2 five year old’s kept
us hopping. As we enjoyed the evening with our volunteer family last night I
couldn’t help but smile watching the kids run around in the dark, playing their
own made up games and hooting like owls from the low crotch of a big tree near
the shelter were we were gathered. It brought back memories of how much fun we
had as kids when, we were allowed to play outside after dark. It’s a simple pleasure in life that is too
infrequent these days.
Picking up acorns by the bucket full 
Craft time on a cool morning 
Hanging out with Don 
A visit to their favorite Nature Center at Jester Park
We delivered them all home late this afternoon, exhausted
and a little stinky but well-fed and happy, toting along a couple of fun crafts
that we made to show their mom’s.
Having all the kids in one place is truly a double-edged
sword. They are nearby all summer, but it seems to get harder to pry ourselves
away each fall. The Old Farmer’s Almanac winter forecast comes out around this
time of year, and that jolts me back to reality. As much as we miss the kids,
neither one of us can fathom enduring an Iowa winter ever again after escaping
them for the past three. The southern United States fills ups with people just
like us who cry a river, collectively when we get to missing the kids as we sit
and sun ourselves by the pool in mid-January.
Until next time…
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