We just moved locations after what was a whirlwind of sightseeing and friends in Boston. So much love and appreciation for Mandie and her family who were such incredible hosts. Laughter, interrogation of the flawed retelling of the Salem Witch Trials, hot tubs, retracing old Harvard haunts, Italian ices, new rituals of journaling and online schooling, lobster, the most delicious cookies I’ve ever eaten, generosity of friends, and appreciation of the sweet lives they have built for themselves.
We arrived last night in a funky Airbnb in Rochester to spend time with my brother, sister-in-law, and to meet my new (first!) nephew, Evan.
On this quiet morning, our first with low clouds and threatening thunderstorms, the muddy Eerie Canal pacing below, I watch my kids adapt to a new place. In Boston, we slept together in the same room. My youngest two kids were at each other’s throats. Yes, we stayed up way later than normal. Yes, we pushed them outside of routine and its comfort. Yes, it was the first stop on our journey, with so much uncertainty about what is to come. But it was not pretty and we were not at our best.
At this Airbnb, Emmet has been ‘gifted’ his own room. It was incredible to witness the change of character that emerged. He laid out his pens in the rainbow order of choice and intently dove into his creativity and calm in a way that felt right to him.
It makes me wonder how we are going to create the space for each of us on this trip. It is clearly something I have wrestled with myself over the years. What do I need to do to cultivate a sense of wholeness – that ineffable balance between grounded and expansive? Is the quiet of the mornings sufficient? How will we do that on this trip for each of us? How can this exploration be part of our collective journey so that each of us can better learn ourselves and our needs – both together and alone?