And then it happened: our first 3 week renter texted me, and texted me and texted me. She's probably in her mid 70's and she's a great texter. It is how she has communicated with me from the beginning. Through texting and email. Need directions. Can't find cottage. Will there be wi-fi? Where is the remote? Trying to figure out how to protect puzzle from our toddlers. That was answered with a long list of toddler precautions with low handrails and opening windows above window seats from the top. (I am the always worrying mother and preschool teacher). I appreciate your being so helpful. We followed directions for trash too literally and they didn't pick it up. Can you give us detailed instructions for next week? I should tell you how much we appreciate your well equipped kitchen. Is there a way to stop the drain on the tub to give a 3 year old a bath?
And my favorite "Oh dear! We DO have a problem. With no provocation other than normal use, the upstairs toilet is clogged. We've tried rigorous plunging to no avail. Is there a particular plumber we should call? There are 4 adults and two children here now and two more adults with toddlers arriving. (With no luck getting plumbers to come for a whole house filter and other routine service we thought we didn't have a chance of getting someone to come on a Saturday in July. We called around and got a place that has an emergency line and left a message.) She got back to us and said she already had someone on the way. He had to snake the toilet (sorry if TMI) and it was all fixed. She paid the bill. We asked for his business card and the invoice since it might have been a previous issue and not her fault. As it was the plumber from the emergency line did not get back to us until Monday. Nice. So convenient. And if it was a real emergency, then what?
But the best text of all: Some news: We will be leaving earlier than planned. Departing on Tuesday the 22nd. Therefor concerned about inability to lock porch door and getting trash out for Thursday. Best text yet. A few unexpected nights in our cottage before the next renter comes. Some plans to move around. But gotta take advantage of any nights we can!! Maybe some friends will even be available to join us that can't come up that last week in summer.
This is the time of summer I love. My body has adjusted to the lazier summer schedule and stopped waking up in time to get ready for school. FINALLY! Even the dogs and girls are learning to sleep in a bit. But it's also the time I start getting nervous about fitting IT all in. My brother-in-law saw our summer bucket list and said "That's 10 summers worth of plans for us!" I love being busy, taking day trips with cousins and grandparents and friends. I know the days are numbered where my girls will want to spend their summer days with their mom and sisters. They will have jobs and plans with their own friends. They won't want to spend every day with us or might roll their eyes at the thought of going to the petting zoo and splash park or playground with their cousins and grandparents. I hope not. But still I want to take advantage of every minute of their summers while they are young. Still little girls that like to play, have water balloon fights with neighbors, squirt gun battles with the boys, play on a noodle in the pool with their cousins for hours, and climb through rock caves at the beach with friends rather than working on their tans. Of course they like getting pedicures and going shopping but they also really still like to play. These are the summers of their childhood and I'm so blessed I get to share them with them! And I'll take all that extra unscheduled time with family and friends to share it with as well! If only every day could be a summer day. And if only Rod could be home for more of them!
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