Episode 25 - February 1, 1999 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

February 1999

This series of posts on each Friday, moving forward during 2016 will continue the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began.

Earlier, we have seen the community move from January 1997 through January 1999. We now pick up our story on February 1st of 1999, continuing in episodic serial format…

Episode 25 - Monday, Feb. 1st - Lori and Karen at the Homeplace Country Inn

Lori [setting a cup of coffee in front of Karen and taking her own around to the other side of the kitchen table]: After a week or so, now, how are you feeling about learning you have a first cousin you didn’t know you had, this Bruce Randolph?

Karen: Well, now that it has played out the way it did, I guess I am just fine with it. It certainly was unsettling for a while though. We had a few scary days there, but then things fell into place, and it all worked out for the best, I suppose.

Lori: He seemed to be a really decent guy after we all got to meet him, and we could all relax a little bit.

Karen: Yes, that certainly is true. It was great for us all to be able to get together here in Heritage Hall, and just relax, and get to know him a bit more. He grew up with such a different background than all the rest of us; it really is amazing we got along as well as we did. I honestly think he was ready to got back to New York City, after meeting all of us, though, don’t you?

Lori: I got that impression, yes. I think he was perhaps as relieved to have the ordeal over with as we were.

Karen: He really didn’t realize what he was getting himself into, for sure. Christopher set him in his proper place much more than he was expecting, I do know that. Bruce found out quickly he was not dealing with some ‘country bumpkin,’ that is for sure.

Lori: Have you talked to Virginia about Bruce?

Karen: No. I suppose I must do that. I don’t look forward to it, but it is only fair that I share what I know with her, soon, otherwise she is liable to hear about it from someone else.

Lori: If she hasn’t already. Word seems to travel around the community very quickly.

Karen: I know. I’ve got later today, and tomorrow, before I leave to drive down to Austin. I really must do that. Thank you for reminding me.

Lori: It is your call, of course, but I do think that is a good idea. You’re leaving first thing Wednesday morning?

Karen: Yes, and I should be back Monday night. The birthday party for Jessica is on Saturday. She’ll be a good ‘party girl,’ I’m sure, this year for her 2nd birthday. Erin says a couple of others in the daycare have already had theirs, so she is following their pattern.

Lori: Did I have a 2-year-old birthday party, Mom? [A bit of a chuckle]

Karen [with a big smile]: Certainly not. Those were very different times. You did have a cake, and a couple of presents, as I recall. But that was about the extent of it. Doing any more than that for a 2-year-old never crossed my mind, and certainly not your father’s!

Lori: Dad would have liked a party.

Karen: Yes, he would have. And we had many of them, over the years, but not that young, not for any of you.

Lori: Well, on that happy thought, I’ve got work to do. There is a work schedule to finalize for here, and some prep work I need to do before my next meeting with Trace and Gary on Thursday evening.

Karen: Me, too. I need to start packing for my trip, and, think about what to say to Virginia… and then go do it.

[To be continued, next Friday]

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."

Dr. Bill  ;-)