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May 30, 2020, I Go to a Dinner Party for My 78th Birthday

“The times they are a-changin’”

Brian Leekley
7 min readJun 16, 2020
Brian Leekley June 10 2020 in his Bainbridge Island room

Since autumn 2018, at her invitation, I’ve been living at the Bainbridge Island, Washington, home of my niece Lura. I voluntarily pay rent proportionate to my means to use a detached guest bedroom with a half-bath. Lura’s son Andrew has his living quarters in the garage. He is currently on a road trip. Her stepson Thomas and his girlfriend Selena rent one of two guest bedrooms. When home, Lura sleeps in the loft and studies and relaxes in the den. In the house, we all may use the kitchen, bathroom, living room, laundry room, and (except when Lura wants to be alone there) the den.

It seems like a commune and a year-round creativity retreat. Andrew and I are into creative writing. Thomas is into carpentry and drawing. He and Selena often cook together with fine taste and craftsmanship. Lura is into lace-making.

Being homebound by the COVID-19 pandemic has not had a big impact on my life. I’m an introvert and also spent the bulk of my waking hours before it in my room, working on writing projects. I look forward to eventually getting back to attending church services and committee meetings, critique writing group meetings, Showing up for Racial Justice meetings, special events, etc. Meantime, I don’t mind being at home almost all the time.

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Brian Leekley
Brian Leekley

Written by Brian Leekley

Born in 1942. Had an antiquarian bookseller career. Avocation creative writing. Unitarian Universalist, raised Catholic. Support Movement for a People’s Party.

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