two hundred. twenty two.

A song for someone who needs somewhere to long for - homesick

Walks these days are great.
& quiet - the quietest I can remember.
I felt offensive even whispering for Kanoa to keep up as we tramped through the snow. It began snowing moments after we arrived one day and we relished it, running where we would and sitting where we wanted. Twice I heard loud cracks in the forest, startled me. I had to comfort myself the same way I comfort myself when I'm alone in our house - by telling myself that it's old and is liable to make noises. There in the trees I was in a home-of-sorts and those trees are old, older than me, and given to shifting and cracking. Several times Kanoa would raise her nose to the air and I would raise mine too, trying to smell what she smelled.
I've come to love winter and arrive home unwilling to take off thick socks and warm boots.

Greg said some things today about walks and what we learn. "Participation," he said. "It's about participating in what we have. It means paying attention, being grateful."
We say similar things, but I think we mean it in different ways. Greg always says "You just have to get hip to it" which could mean any number of different things. He has an ominous way of talking sometimes, makes me feel like Greg knows things I don't know. He comes across like the crazy guy with the stringy hair, but gosh he's fascinating sometimes. He's hip to it. Whatever it is.

Nose-picker Joe is back from his travels and everyday he's digging. We had a great conversation about how cold weather matures people and how powerful literature comes from places where the writers have a season to be contemplative, when weather forces them inside, and the musings that come from the lingering darkness. But you know, I really struggled to take Joe seriously because I was so caught up with his nose-picking.


Change is slow but I feel it taking shape

I hope these next six months are as crazy as I think they might be.
Do you want to know something?
I'm going to Ireland!!
[I never use exclamation points because they seem awfully intimidating, but in this case I need them!!!]
Like a small child, I am ridiculously excited to have a flight long enough to watch a movie and eat free food.
I won't be there long, just a week, but I'll be there.
Holler if you have Ireland tips. I've been googling lots of random things in anticipation.