Home Again

I left for Seattle one week after Thanksgiving. Today I'm finally nestled back at home, here in my corner of southwestern Pennsylvania, where snow and winter have arrived in my absence. And just like that, it's time for December and Christmas. The uncut pumpkins languishing in the garage, the orange and yellow wreathe on the living room wall, the little autumnal gourds in a bowl on the dining room table -- all of them out of time now. Everyone has moved on to the holly and the ivy, to berry red and evergreen. But here in my house, ten days after I left it for the other side of the country, it's still November.

I stayed out west longer than I'd originally planned. With a quick change of plane ticket and the hospitality of friends, I set out to suss out a serendipitous opportunity, one I've been wishing for for awhile now. I almost let it pass me by, but when you've been asking the Universe for opportunities, and one shows up, well, I think it's a good policy to investigate. No news or change of address to report right now, but the dreaming and scheming and being open to wishes-coming-true all continue.

I'm home for the next two and a half weeks, which is just enough time to take down the fall decorations, do some laundry, stock the fridge, and start to feel settled again. But then it's up to cold, blustery Vermont for school, which will be my last residency before I graduate next summer. If I do manage to put up any Christmas decorations, there's a good chance they'll stay up until Valentine's Day.

Time rolls on, and I'm just trying to roll with it.

Comments

[kelly]

i love every single bit of this.

[Katie]

Rolling with it can be such a gift. Hope you get to enjoy some twinkly Christmas spirit in the meantime, Jenna. Welcome back to the East Coast.

[Steph]

Welcome home! I call my decorations "Winter" decorations and leave them up till February pretty much every year. : )

[Jenna McGuiggan]

Steph: If I'm honest, I usually do, too! :)