Kuriosities

I am so tired, it is  beyond all means of accurate description. Suffice it to say that my brain is foggy and weary, and if this entry doesn’t make much sense, please forgive me.

Yesterday morning I went to the farmer’s market and stocked up on goodies. Samosas, and coffee, fresh donuts made right in front of us, homemade granola, and all sorts of various yumminess. A dinner planned of BBQ salmon filets in white wine and garlic, rice, and corn on the cob. I have had a sort of disdain for food since I have lost weight, it all just seems dull and not as interesting as it used to – so I wanted to make something worthwhile eating, something lively and different than the usual fare.

Then, it started to rain. Followed quickly by some screeching outside as sparks were flying off a passing camping trailer. Eventually the knock at the door from a man wanting help. He had a bit of an unnerving way of making direct and prolonged eye contact. I went to fetch G, who would hopefully  be able to help.

After a prolonged amount of time outside fiddling with the wheel, it was determined that our local friendly mechanic should be fetched, or new bolts procured at the nearest store (10 minutes away on the highway). The wife was to come and sit with me in the house. To which there was a great pause, and then agreement passed my reluctant lips. But what are you going to do? Not help? So, of course she could come in for a bit.

A bit turned into two hours. The mechanic was on his way out. The stranded man did not bring the bolts to the shop so that he could find matching ones, and even though the wheel was put back on the trailer(!!!) , and it could now move again, decided that now he needed a new rim for the wheel. And that it would be best to just stay the night. What the? How did that come about? Complete strangers in my driveway camping overnight.

By then, it was to late to cook. We ate warmed up frozen dinners…grrr.

So they backed their trailer in and hooked their electricity up to the house. And made use of the bathroom, and fetched water, and asked for tea, and mentioned that they did not have any coffee for the morning either… Oh, my. And can we leave the door unlocked over night so that they can come in and out to use the facilities? Very much, oh my. They were so downright cozy, how they set about setting up, these strangers.

Now, I do not mind helping out a desperate soul in need. We seem to do this on a regular basis for tourists. Just a few weeks ago a cyclist from Rimouski asked to stop so that he could fix his bike in shelter, and we offered him tea and cookies to warm his bones and get out of the rain, as it ended up taking him several hours to get it road worthy again. That was just fine, and an interesting conversation.

But it turns out that this couple only lives an hour’s drive away from us… so why they did not leave the trailer and sleep at their own house is absolutely beyond me. If they were great Aunt Mildred and Uncle Fred, ok. If they were from another part of the country, ok. But we are talking a mere hour from home.

Try as I might, I could not sleep a wink. The idea that strangers could just enter my house at a whim, with my children sleeping…

too many “don’t talk to strangers or they will get you” talks as a child
+ too many horror movies with “nice” strangers that are actually psychopathic killers
+ dark and stormy night
+ camping trailer parked in driveway with “nice” (but also slightly odd) strangers
+ door unlocked to house overnight
————————————————————————————————-
= me in bed like this all night = zero hours of sleep

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

They are gone now, finally. The mechanic came back this morning to help, and by 12:30 or 1pm , they were back on the road. Sooo tired. It is not that they were awful – honestly they were fine - a little odd in mannerisms – but fine – it’s just that they were not mine. To lend a hand for an hour or two when a stranger really needs it is more than fine, but to give a day – when it really isn’t necessary, when really they could have taken care of things just fine on their own with a lot less inconvenience to themselves than what they asked from us… I just don’t get it. The mechanic was making jokes about campgrounds charging at least $40/night for the service they were getting from us, so maybe that was it? Short on money, free night of camping with super clean bathrooms, free electrical hookup and clean water? A view of the ocean and lots of interesting animals…too good to pass up?

But o well. Add it to the list of strange and uninvited guests that pass through our farm every summer. I suppose it is to be expected now…

Here is a recent piece that I made for a super nice client from Detroit. She is going to be studying science this year at university, and wanted something that reflected her interest in genetics as well as her love of music. So, a double helix etching of dna in copper, set on sterling, with “Honesty in Bloom” stamped on the back – a line taken from the liner notes of a White Stripes album – her favourite band. The etching is rivetd, and the pendant bail is soldered. More photos of new pieces to come tomorrow!