Weekend R&R (Repairs and Recreation)

by Wendy
We had a great weekend recently, when Dad (Joe) traveled to DC to help us tackle labor-intensive home repairs. It was impressive to see what Jack and Dad accomplished in a matter of days. They’re both hard workers and work well together. Both have a calm presence that is reassuring to me (important when large chunks of your ceiling are suddenly missing). Not only did we save money going the do-it-yourself route, but it was fun! Home repairs can be stressful – but staying relaxed and leaving time for recreation makes all the difference.

The projects centered around wall damage in the entrance foyer and ugly cracks in the upstairs hallway ceiling, particularly one spot that looked ready to crumble to the floor. Being the thorough blogger that I am, I did not take before and after photos, so you’ll just have to imagine it. Dad basically took care of the entire foyer, doing the lion’s share while we were at work (rockstar). He and Jack made amazing progress on the ceiling Friday afternoon through Saturday – adapting quickly and calmly when things did not go according to plan. I offered to help (really!) but they declined. So I tried to pitch in by keeping coffee cups filled, doing laundry and cleaning up a bit – but Jack and Dad were already keeping the mess to a minimum.

When Dad made the generous offer to spend a whole weekend working on our house, Jack and I had a goal to be like those French vineyards that make sure everyone helping with the harvest is fed very good meals. The weather was cold, so the first two nights were spent walking to neighborhood spots for dinner – one Dad hadn’t tried yet and one old favorite. Both were great, but we wanted Saturday night to be a special treat.

China Chilcano was the perfect choice. The three of us have visited several of Chef Jose Andres’ other restaurants in DC, and couldn’t wait to try this newest one. Chef Andres is known for his imaginative takes on global cuisines. China Chilcano did not disappoint – stylish decor, an interesting modern Peruvian menu with a twist of Asian influence, and friendly knowledgable staff. We tried about 8 different delicious plates, from fresh ceviche to yucca fries, from dim sum dumplings and pork buns to a fantastic stew with pork, egg, vegetables and rice. We drank Peruvian cocktails and shared a bottle of wine at dinner. It was perfect.

Even though we stayed up until almost 2:00am watching The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Dad and Jack continued their work on the walls and ceiling the next morning. It was a little warmer out and I suggested we get things to a stopping point and go out for a Sunday drive. This was probably one of the best contributions I made all weekend, as we enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon walking around Harpers Ferry in West Virginia. We took in the fresh air and nature views of this famous spot situated about midway on the Appalachian Trail. Harpers Ferry was the site of John Brown’s raid on the Armory and the town changed hands 8 times during the Civil War. The historic village is very walkable, with a backdrop of mountains, railroads and the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. There is a series of little houses with free museum exhibits inside. As we drove Dad to the airport, we watched a stunning deep red and violet sunset over the farms and woods of Maryland.

Starting any project can be intimidating – whether it’s home repairs, a writing or art project, or another task or goal. I am realizing that the key is to learn to be comfortable with the process, and find a way to enjoy it – from start, to middle, to completion. I sometimes catch myself wishing for a steady state in life when all chores are done, there are no lingering repairs, all issues are neatly resolved. But the reality is: that state doesn’t exist, and you wind up wishing your time away, or sitting around watching paint dry. So I keep trying to be more relaxed about change, setbacks, the unexpected, and balancing multiple projects or activities in varying states of development. I really appreciate weekends like this one, and people like Jack and Dad, who always keep a good natured outlook, a calm and methodical approach to tasks at hand, and who realize the importance of taking time to notice and enjoy the present.