Christmas 2009

I was looking at photos from last Christmas (2008) and realized that things have changed so much in twelve short months. Lucy is now in her own apartment, Lilly and Stu have new living arrangements and Tiger and I are in our new house too. This doesn't even begin to touch on the changes in school, jobs, deaths, etc. that have gone down in a matter of months. Whew! No wonder we have all been a little off kilter.

I could not help but feel incredibly blessed and lucky amidst all the exhaustion this Christmas. So much living really--love, loss, laughter...the inspiration for me comes from all of the amazing people in my life who encourage me to just keep going: nothing particularly glamorous, just every day, one-foot-in-front-of-the-other living. Sometimes that is all we really have to focus on.

As we packed away the boxes of decorations and dishes and trees today, I couldn't help but feel somewhat accomplished in the fact that Tiger and I had moved in to our new house and managed to pull off a pretty decent Christmas celebration as well. Our house was cozy and gorgeous, there were gifts under the tree, and we got to spend Christmas Eve and morning in a beautiful, comfortable country house with kids and family. Very nice and a pretty decent accomplishment for two women who have been through what we have in the past several months.

I am looking forward to the future and taking the next few days to contemplate on what the coming year might bring and where I need to put my energy. Meanwhile, I feel good about how Christmas 2009 went down and quite content to tuck it away in the memory vault and photo albums. Once again, it is time for new beginnings...

Settling into the Willow Avenue House

It has been about two weeks since I stepped off the plane from my visit to Indiana and joined Tiger in moving into our new shared house on Willow Avenue. I have to remind myself that it has only been two weeks because with the bustle of moving, coming home from our respective trips, and wrestling with the holidays--time has become a bit of a blur.

We expect a great deal from ourselves and, of course, want the little house to feel homey and comfortable and give a sense of feeling a little settled after a really tumultuous year. We want to make room for us as a couple, make room for our own individual selves and endeavors, make sure that all our kids feel comfortable coming by and hanging out and provide a welcoming space for all our friends and the hostessing we both like to do. That is a rather tall order for a sweet little bungalow and two already-stressed women!

Meanwhile, there is still work and job hunting and fundraising that needs to get done. Christmas that needs to be planned for and such, and all the details of tending to a young relationship. We are settling in but it is a process. Trying to remember to be gentle with each other and ourselves, negotiating and celebrating all the little pieces that are involved in making a home and building a new version of life...