white pine MMXII

This year at White Pine was the same but different, like it always is. I was one of the first to arrive, which has only happened maybe once before. I saw the cottage in its completely undisturbed, pristine state, with all the chairs in place and the beds unmade and up against the walls instead of pushed together or all crammed into one room like I'm used to seeing them. All the couch cushions were in place. The kitchen cabinets were empty. The fridges were empty. There were no playing cards scattered on the floor of the living room, no half-made puzzle on the card table, and no stack of guitars and guitar cases in the corner of the deck. It was eerie. I did not like it. I took some photos, then waited impatiently for the crowds to arrive.