It’s been an intense week. Lots of unpacking. Lots of cleaning. Lots of decorating. Lots of reflection. A little bit of kittening.
I got moved into my new place around 11:30 p.m. last Sunday (06/13). The movers came late, because their truck and their back-up truck broke down earlier in the day. After they arrived, they got me moved. The guys were very nice, despite having a hard day. They got me into my place.
The days after that have been unpacking and exploring, with an emphasis on the prior. Man, am I sore! Moving boxes around, hanging curtains and pictures, putting together furniture… I’ve been exhausted.
But I’ve also had a bit of a chance to explore the new ‘hood. I found a sandwich shop I like a couple of blocks away. I walked to send a package. I walked to pick up a pizza one night. I’ve walked down to the waterfront a few times. I biked to yoga one morning. A friend and I walked to a nearby brewery, ran into a friend of his, and had a most fantastic conversation. I’m definitely enjoying my new neighborhood.
Part way through the week a friend put out a call for a forever home for a kitten. I’ve been thinking about adding to the family since Willow passed in March. I still can’t think about getting another dog. I need a break from that type of relationship. But I have been thinking about getting another cat, and specifically a kitten. I thought I would choose a cute little black kitten, but this tufted-eared tortoise shell cat came my way so I committed. Bubo joined our family yesterday, named for her tufted ears that remind me of an owl.
Rusty isn’t convinced yet. If Bubo comes within a 3 foot radius, Rusty hisses at her. But no blows have been thrown, and though Rusty is wary she doesn’t seem overly concerned.
Bringing her home was hard. It’s hard to open your heart to a creature you know you will lose someday. Willow’s passing still hurts. But I don’t want to shut animals, or people for that matter, out of my heart just because I might someday get hurt.
On that note, Happy Father’s Day! I’m definitely missing Dad. It’s been 5 years since he passed. Some days I don’t think about him much. Some days that’s not so true. I was thinking about him a lot yesterday as I walked along the bay as a storm was rolling in. Dad loved a good storm. He’d tell us to go inside, while he’d stand in the front yard before the rain came. Of course, we’d peek and watch too.
A lot of reflection has been going on in the midst of the move. While my move just required a hop across the bay, the move feels bigger to me. I feel like this is the true entrance into the next phase of my life, even though I’ve recently hit some big milestones (e.g. my new job, finishing my Ph.D.). The winds of change are blowing.
So there’s my hodgepodge post of happenings and thoughts through the week. For those celebrating Father’s Day, enjoy it!! Honor yourself, dads, granddads, etc… There is such a need for positive, male role models in our society. Keep fighting the good fight with trying to raise kids to be the best they can.
If you aren’t celebrating Father’s Day, I hope you are celebrating life!!