The Diary - August 29

The Diary

August 29, 2026

I was feeling smug. Two monarchs were dizzily dancing around the butterfly bush I recently planted. Bees were deep in the white flowers of the calamint, another recent addition to the garden. Since the start of the summer, I have been gradually removing the grass (mostly of the “crab” variety) from the parkway between the sidewalk and street in front of “the Cottage” (my Peoria Airbnb), replacing it with a pollinator-friendly perennial garden. All the insect activity seemed to confirm that I was on the right path.  Looking up at the Cottage, I was confident that the cottage-style garden would make a nice new amenity for the rental.

Monday night, two guests in the Airbnb threw a massive party that disturbed the neighborhood and trashed the Cottage. Neighbors called the Bradley University and city police. Officers arrived at 2:30 am and shut down the party. Faced with a house turned inside out, broken fixtures, and a daunting clean-up and embarrassed by the disruption the party caused, I decided to close the Airbnb. I cancelled all reservations for 2027 and blocked any open dates in late 2026. The garden would not be an Airbnb feature.

I have been living in Henry while operating the bookstore. I spend nearly 2 hours each day commuting. Although it is not a difficult drive, the commute sucks up a lot of  time and energy.  I realized that the ill-fated party was likely God telling me it was time for a change. Not only will I close the Airbnb, but I will also move into the Cottage this fall. My commute will shrink from 50 to 10 minutes. I will spend the week in Peoria. On weekends, I can head to the little house in Henry with its easy access to Lake Thunderbird, the river, and lots of picturesque countryside.

I am very excited about this change.  I look forward to more free time.  I intend to take advantage of what Peoria has to offer from parks to restaurants to sporting events. I can visit the new friends I have met in the Reading Room. And, if I am tired, I can sit in the Cottage  living room and gaze at the new garden as it grows.