The Word Is:

battle

My Wandering Baltimore Day

Last Thursday I hopped in a car with my friend Kim 

and made my way to Baltimore.

She and I had a wedding rehearsal for which to play,

 along with our pal Joe,

for two of our favorites, Nelli & Ben.

After our rehearsing was complete, 

we made our way to eat harbor side, 

with some of "Belli's" out of town guests.

We then called it a night and made our way 

over to the Lord Baltimore, hotel old and cool.

The next morning I awoke early, and set out for a walk.

 I enjoyed interesting city elements,

 beautiful and unique.

 I stumbled into a lovely little sunlit park, 

and had myself a sit-down thinking session with this guy,

and this one.

The largest take-away was:

I need coffee.

I wandered around the city some more until I found it,

in a coffee shop that met me in my soul.

I sat in stillness,
had a productive phone meeting
and a bit more thinking of my thoughts,
and then headed out again on my self-tour of the city.

I wandered

into the library,

past the first US Cathedral,

and into a local bar.

I figured: Time for lunch!

Then, my day long and full of lovely,

I wandered back to the hotel in final preparation for

a beautiful ceremony,

quality time with friends over coffee and on random rooftops,

& an elegant and fun-filled reception.

At the end of the day, 

I sat with quiet joy in my heart for this beautiful friend, 

whom I have known and loved for a long season.

And I realized:

I'll wander around a new city for any reason,

 but this may be the best one yet.

The Word Is:

precious

If I can believe it, I'm home.

Do you ever have a moment where you think--

Wait.  Is this for real?

Because I have been having those moments, 

frequently, over the past few days.

All would point toward this little cottage 

being fully and officially mine;

I've made my first cups of tea and coffee,

and enjoyed the fact that if I stand in the middle of the kitchen and pivot on one foot, everything I need is within my reach. 

I have rested in my snuggly chair with book and God,

and in my cozy bedroom under the eaves.

All of the boxes have been unpacked and 

all of their contents have been placed perfectly away.

[And by the way--if ever there is a need for beverages, 

I think I might be well equipped to handle it...]

After an uneventful trip across town

even my piano has joined me,

which causes me to say: 

Believe it kid, you're home.

And if I need even more proof that this is really real, 

here it is:

 I've received a welcome loaf of bread from a kind neighbor 

(because this really is a magical place...)

cut my first flowers,

had my first dinner party,

and received my first letter.

So I think the evidence is in.  And I think it will do.  

I think it will do quite nicely.

And maybe sometime soon I'll actually be able to believe it--

This little cottage is indeed my home.

I promised not to squeal, but...

A little over a year ago, this dear and long-time housemate
made a life decision to head into the Peace Corps,
halfway around the world.

Change was a-comin', and we knew it.

Next,

this lovely one went and got herself a husband.

And then, in an unexpected twist,
the house I was planning to continue on in without them?

Went and got itself sold.

I found myself in a conundrum: Where now shall I live?

And then, blessing poured itself all around me.

This [photo-bombing] friend made his own life decision,

buying a house and
[drum-roll please]

vacating the sweetest little cottage known to man.

Enter, blessing: My new and lovely little home.

And so, on Saturday morning past,
a crew of my favorites showed up at my old door,
to usher me to my new.

 In a flurry of activity

[and of love],

 we loaded up the truck,

 we packed things into vans.

Through it all I rejoiced--

I was the giddiest, happiest girl.

And yet, I held myself back from the full-on squealing of excitement that had become customary over the weeks leading up to the big day.  I figured that people were tired of my extreme glee, and practiced keeping myself calm.  Normal.  A grown adult.

So far so good, we drove across town

with all of my belongings,

unloaded

and carried

and arranged.

More than that, though,

 we reveled in the moment,

that brought us all together.

And then, the party started for real.

 We dwelt together

and conversed together,

 filling up that adorable little cottage with our togetherness.

We reveled in the antics of the children,

and in the arrival of the pulled pork.

And then?

 We went out into the green green yard,

 next to the pond
[THE POND!!!!!!]--

 my faithful parents

 and all of these people that I love--

and had ourselves the grandest time.

And though I had worked so hard on restraining my zeal--

my voice rose and my heart leaped 

and I just lost it with absolute and grateful joy.

Because here's the simple truth:  

All I need out of life are my favorites around me, my home warm and cozy, my yard full of green, and pulled pork.

And since that's the blessing given to me for this new season--

how can I keep from squealing?