Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
What is up with that outfit?!? Who could let their child wear that?
I think I was around 5 or 6 or 7. I can’t remember. I am getting old.
And YES, those are watermelons on the jacket pockets. WATERMELONS.
Posted in Daily | 23 Comments »
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009
This week I have heard word from some friends of mine who, along with some friends of theirs, have decided to invest a substantial amount of money into my sad house that needs a lot of work. Obviously, these are very good people and needless to say – I am completely overwhelmed by the gesture.
Sure, they keep telling me it’s merely an investment, a business transaction that will earn them a return in the future. I completely get this left brained analysis of weighing the risks against the investment and that it’s probable they will earn a reasonable return on the loan. But – and it’s a big but – they just as easily could throw some money in the stock market or a balanced mutual fund and have the same net effect. They could do a lot of other things but they chose to help me.
So it shouldn’t go unnoticed that their investment goes beyond dollars and cents. I want them to know that they are investing in my future. In my ability to support Paige’s future. Maybe I could have recovered from a short-sell or foreclosure (if I couldn’t find a buyer), but I don’t know how I could have recovered over the emotional stress, impact on my self esteem or the sense that I failed at being a homeowner. One does not walk away from these situations unscathed – I don’t care what anyone says. Being in a situation in like this is painful. Even though you know you are going to make it through on the other side okay, you still walk around with your head hung a little lower, with your heart a little heavier.
And I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this situation has changed the trajectory of my life. It’s not the money but the kindness that has made all the difference in the world to me. And not just their kindness, but the kindness of all my friends and all of you out there reading this – sending me your prayers and little notes of encouragement. You’ve split open my heart (as cheesy as that sounds) and for the first time made me realize the abundance of good that is out there. You can’t be touched with acts of grace and not be changed by it.
So what was shaping up to be a dreadful year is now turning into one filled with hope. 2009 will still be remembered as the year that I lost my Aunt and Uncle and subsequently spun into a deep depression that was hard to climb out of. But it will also be remembered as the year I finally realized that this lingering sense of feeling alone in the world is directly relational to me opening the door and letting people in. Being a friend also means accepting other people’s friendship (and help) in return.
At the end of the day, I am still moving to Vashon and will be renting out my house till the market gets better and I can sell it for a profit. I am ready for a change and I am terribly excited about the prospects of blowing open all the doors and windows and see what comes my way. And instead of feeling like I am running away from my past, I feel as though I am running towards my future.
Posted in C-c-changes, Daily | 9 Comments »
Friday, September 25th, 2009
A couple of weekends ago I went “house hunting” for a rental on Vashon Island. For those who don’t live in the Seattle area, Vashon Island is a 15 minute ferry ride from West Seattle and a 30 minute catamaran ride from downtown. It is home to J. Tillman of Fleet Foxes, John Ratzenberger from the show Cheers and formerly home to the likes of Dan Savage and Susan “Stop the Madness” Powter. The population hovers around 10,000 during the winter months and doubles during the summer. I liken it to Washington’s very own version of Martha’s Vineyard meets Woodstock meets Performance Fleece.
Several people have given me quizzical looks when I utter the words “Vashon.” Like, “Why would you want to move to a place where:
- you don’t have access to a Starbucks.
- the best thing you can do to “get away” is drive around the island in a big circle.
- it’s so rural that the Halloween celebration is downtown because most of the houses are so spread out it would take 3 hours to trick-or- treat at 5 houses.
- the single man situation is dire. DIRE, I TELL YOU. Like “you might as well be a lesbian” DIRE. (Thanks, Michelle.)
I mean, for the greater part of my adult life I have kept inching towards a more urban lifestyle (Yards are for the birds! Suburbs? HELL NO!) and I have adamantly shunned living in the country because I might, like, develop a rash from the fresh air or something.
But these past few years, my stance has softened. I grow older and my stances on most things soften. Paige has been commuting (yes, by ferry) to school on Vashon for the past 3 years anyway. It’s been hard on us. The two of us walk around with dark circles under our eyes because we have to get up at the crack of dawn in order for her to take the 6:45 am ferry to the island for a 20 minute bus ride to school. Do the math – an hour to get ready, 20 minute carpool to get to the dock 15 minutes early … we are tired, so very tired. Sleeping in till 6 am seems like a dream come true.
So after a long weekend of milling about island looking at some pretty AMAZING waterfront property for rent that was completely impractical for our regular commuting needs (MUST BE ON BUS LINE) – we finally settled on a house near town. It’s just adorable and (mostly) perfect for the two of us. It’s much larger then our current 780 sq. ft. 1940′s rambler so be prepared for some posts about how I need to get more furniture to fill up the space. Or how frustrated I am about the fact that I can’t paint the walls. Or that there is wall to wall carpet throughout. Oh the horror!
Despite the trials and tribulations, I am feeling quite happy (thanks antidepressants!) and settled on the fact that I am moving to an island where “fast food” means going to a Subway (the one and only chain restaurant). Or a place where you don’t worry about sending your kid to the grocery store on their bicycle because EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY else.
Maybe that’s what sounds so attractive to me in the first place … you can’t really get lost … because you’re on an island and eventually you’ll end up right back where you started.
Posted in Daily | 17 Comments »
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