A big thanks to everyone for your patience as we’ve traversed California during the final weeks of the holiday break. Yesterday was the day “Back to Life… Back to Reality” was on a continuous loop in my head. And today was the day I had to do some hard things.
After dropping the boys at school I went to the mortuary to pick-up James’ ashes. I was a little early so I had some alone time in my car in the parking lot. Had the entire lot to myself. I cried. “This is How We Do It” came on the radio. It made me laugh. The lady at the mortuary is incredibly sweet and there was no hard sell, but in the end, I was glad to get James outta that place.
We drove home. I continued on the never-ending bureaucratic paperwork projects, went on a walk with my neighbor, and then headed to a tour of the Octagon Barn. Now I know everyone has been riveted to the salacious weather news coming out of California. And yes, that storm was something else. The boys and I were holed-up on the mountain for the better part of two days due to the roads being flooded. But we live on top of a mountain. And I am a lifelong trained BFE-living warrior– we were safe and dry and so lucky we never lost power or heaven forbid, the internet.
So my friend Ineke (pronounced ee-nih-kah) and I toured the barn today and I love it. It’s totally safe and fine and not in danger of flooding. It could be a little chilly in January so dress accordingly. It just feels right. It’s a barn. We live in a barn. It’s got 8 sides. Nate the Great is Number 8. And it’s close to home.
I picked the boys up and we had a treat at Insomnia Cookies before Nate’s creative soccer practice on the outdoor roller hockey rink. Jacob and I had a nice little hour-long car talk while we waited. I wanted to talk about my day and I was like, “I mean I can tell Dad about it but I don’t get much feedback… which, now that I think about it, isn’t really that different than telling you guys.”
He had the good manners to snort appreciatively.