There we were, enjoying our last day of holidays before going back to work today.
Hubbs and I lounged our way through a lazy morning. I walked past the Christmas tree and confidently said “no” in its direction. Clean dishes waited in the dish rack and a clothes basket sat nearby. “Jimmy Cracked Corn,”I thought to myself.
Yes, friends, I took a page out of my own book and said “yes” to the day – our very last day off together and my fourth of feeling really well.
We went out to a favorite restaurant, a place we never made it to last week when I was sick.
We ordered our favorite foods, chatted with friends, and watched the Spartans win in overtime – wow!
Coming home, we braced against the bitter westerly wind. Brrr … we both said as we rushed to our cozy spots in the basement.
“I think I’ll start a fire; sound good?” said Hubbs.
“Yes, please.” Said I.
It was there, by the fire, feeling that last bit of satisfaction of a day well spent, we noticed it.
A down draft. A big down draft.
Soon the basement filled with smoke.
We opened windows, raced to get summer’s fans, sleeping in cold storage.
We stood near windows, venting out the smoke that choked our lungs and drawing in the air that tried stealing our joy.
Finally, his bottled water put out the fire-log and, with it, the last of our holiday.
*Poof*
It. Was. Gone.
In an instant.
.::.
I won't forget you, Vacation; Googleimages.com
Aw, I’m so sorry your perfect day ended on such a bad note…. (sad face).
Thank you, Dianna. It was quite the scene but surely could have been worse!!
MJ
These holidays will linger for quite a while until…classes start in two weeks and it may feels like we never left.
2 weeks left sounds glorious to me! 🙂 MJ
As you can see from my comment I was clearly still enjoying the holiday…2 more weeks and all! It wasn’t till I pushed submit I got it…MJ and hubby almost asphyxiated/burned up! Forgive this reader who definitely needs a reality check to get her head in the game…soon.
Not a worry to be had and no offense taken 🙂 Enjoy your time .. not in the game 🙂 MJ
MJ, next time just write a story about ‘poof’ it was gone – you need not go to the trouble of starting a fire and having the smoke travel back in to the house. (smile) Better to go out in smoke than a blaze, eh?
My niece was in Tampa for the Spartans/Dawgs game. Her boy friends is in school at UGA (my Alma mater), though he’s a lifelong Spartans fan, so he was glad they won.
I know, what a scene it was. The whole house stunk for hours … and since it was about 18F outside, opening windows brought other issues – argh.
We didn’t see the whole game, just the last quarter – but hey that was the most exciting part! Neat that you have that connection :)MJ
Don’t you just hate the end of a good holiday – especially when it goes sour. Happy 2012 to you.
Yes I do – boo hoo hoo!!
Cheers to you Renee 🙂 MJ
Easy to picture, easy to feel the moment.
Wow! That was quite a tangible end to the holidays. They always end too soon, don’t they? Oh well. I’m glad you’re feeling better and had a chance to do at least a few of the things you’d planned to do before you got sick.
“out with a bang!” almost literally 🙂 Thanks Terri, MJ
look at it this way…it’s certainly a memorable ending to the holiday.
“Remember, 5 years ago, when we almost burned the house down, dear?”
Funny, we said that last night! 🙂 MJ
Poof – another year gone in an instant!
We will just have to make new memories
Looking forward to reading about your new year
God bless
Yes – just like that – Poof and gone!
Onward & upward, MJ
Oh, well, at least you had a great meal out at a favorite restaurant–and the smoke incident gave you a great story to write about. It’s good material to work with.. Sorry your holiday has ended.
By the way–love the Peter Pan quote.
Kathy
Yeah that story wrote itself at about 6:35 this morning! *Sigh* Another year, another vacation over …. Cheers to you Kathy! MJ
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Peter says it well–don’t forget and remember you can return again. 🙂
Yes … we can return again to our happy place! 🙂
Cheers to you, MJ
I totally hear ya! I really tried to savor all the remaining moments of vacation until this morning. I’ll miss a great two weeks. Sounds like you really made the most of your final day too.
We tried to jam a lot into that last day :). I hope you’re feeling better now, Leah.
MJ
Many of my worst moments make the best stories. The fact that they are often embarrassing seems to make people like them more.
Had it been a comfortable, relaxing evening by the fire, sans smoke, you’d still be trying to figure out what to post tonight!
You are so right, Elyse. I have no problem sharing my faux pas, as I seem to make many over the years. It was definitely a story that begged to be told … 🙂 MJ
Was the down draft caused by the wind? I didn’t know that could happen…a holdiay memory for the books.
Yeppers; we had very strong northwesterly winds that night. It can happen and then some. But I also think we got a dud for a firelog. We don’t burn regular wood down there b/c it’s a 20+ foot chimney – you need to burn something hot and quick otherwise it’s a smoky mess….. Cheers! MJ