At home again

My things did catch up with me. I unpacked them and put most of them away, so now it looks as if I live in this new place. There's still a lot of more random than usual material scattered over the surfaces, but the outlines of a place where I might live are there underneath. That's my "grandmother corner" in the photo. I took the last load of packing material down to the recycling dumpster this morning on my way to go on vacation in Montana. That's what home is for, right? to have a place to leave and come back to?

One of the Columbine folk I spoke with told the story of moving to Littleton and feeling very content. Her husband had said he knew she was happy because the pictures had gone up on the walls. My pictures are up. They more or less placed themselves on the walls, and I installed them where they told me they wanted to be. I think this is a good sign.

In my neighborhood there are a Nepalese/Indian restaurant-- not as good as MoMo's in Manchester, NH, but good-- and a Vietnamese restaurant, also good, reminding me of one I liked in Vernon, Connecticut, a long time ago. Still, it's very busy with lots of commerce and lots of traffic. My apartment complex has some of us post-family folk, but mostly is occupied by younger adults. I did make a conscious choice to be in this sort of complex. The alternative was a lovely senior citizens building where I would have been one of the younger residents, and I'm so not ready for that!

My living-on-the-third-floor fitness plan is starting to pay off already, though there are moments when I wish I didn't have to make that one more trip up or down the stairs (no elevator).

I'm glad I stayed for the Board meeting before heading out on vacation. I learned a lot about how this congregation is working and what some of its issues are, and I believe I had a couple of helpful suggestions. Someone remarked that what I am doing is "oozing" into being there. My first chance to lead worship is August 21, but I will be making smaller appearances in many different ways before then. And my official ceremonial momsnt of beinb welcomed will be on September 18.