Hi Everyone - quite an adventure these last 6 (7?) weeks. Can't believe it's only been that long since we shoved off for the Midwest. Where's my covered wagon?
It has been great to see the kids settle in. They truly love the new neighborhood, which has scads of kids. And the schools are great. Traditional, but great so far. I think we found a middle school as close to Piedmont Open quality (really good, enthusiastic teachers) as we could hope for.
Sweet shy Gwyneth is doing well in kindergarten, where they take naps and she comes home happy and singing.
Tom is loading up his studio this week (tomorrow?) to come back and set it up here in the garage. He's working on a commission that will provide 4 weeks of work. I'm so grateful he can be with us, living and working in the same town. It's been right at 3 years since he took the job in Winston-Salem and began commuting.
Me? I'm ok. It's been a really rough couple of three weeks at work. Lots of changes from my initial impressions, and lots lots more pressure to fix problems and deliver on projects that are very high profile. Please keep me in your prayers. At times I have serious second thoughts about the job.
But I know G-d led me out here for a reason. I love the guy I came here to work for (the spinner) and while they changed my reporting so he's no longer my manager, I get to talk with him all the time. There are other great people at the office too, knitters even.
The Temple we've joined is about the warmest and friendliest I've ever been to. It's a great to have a place where I know we are welcome and I find such comfort in the rituals for peace and healing. They all think it's amazing that I've known their Rabbi for almost 10 years, in Charlotte, before he returned to St. Louis to become their Senior Rabbi.
I read a piece the other day about people leaping from the Twin Towers on 9/11. I had a hard time reading it, but it focused on one couple who held hands when they leapt, and so it was about connections between us, and Love being stronger than Death. I realized that we all take leaps in so many ways, every day. What motivates us is different, and we have to be careful, but we are always safe.
Another friend told me about a young cyclist who died after being hit by a truck during a ride last weekend. That kid was doing what she loved, riding on faith and her death isn't about crawling into a hole. It's about embracing Life.
What courage it takes to live life fully and with awareness. How hard it is to hold the broken-ness of the world (of ourselves) and joyful wholeness both in our hearts at once.
How wonderful that we can all be a part of healing ourselves and others.
May we always know how to hold hands, and that we are always Loved and safe.
Shalom,
Vicki
Posted by Vicki at September 12, 2004 08:01 AM