A neighborhood has always been somewhat of a fairy tale-ish mystery to me my entire life. I've never lived in one. I would see neighborhoods on TV and I had friends who lived in neighborhoods, but I've never experienced living in one first hand. There was a time in my life when I wanted nothing to do with a neighborhood--I wanted lots of space with woods and no one within seven arrow-flights (that's old Kanakuk Indian lingo for a ways away). And then as my kids started getting older and multiplying, I started dreaming of a neighborhood with other children and other mothers. I dreamed of evening street busy with activity: boys on bikes, girls giggling and moms walking. I dreamed of people just dropping by because they were on their way and of seeing people out my window and running to greet them. . . and then chatting for a while.
Well, guess where I live? THERE! I do! After today and tonight I feel so at home here! I have loved Durango since the moment I moved here and I thought that I felt at home, but I don't think I did. I think I just loved Durango. Now I know that I feel at home.
Today I got to run to Target and Sams with a girlfriend--I know, for you city people, that doesn't seem like a big deal, but it is a day trip for us here in Durango. Valerie has been one of my friends since we moved to Durango, but she is doctor and has been working all of the extra shifts she can in order to pay for a Rwandan adoption, so I don't see her often. Today she had a day off and she needed to go to Target, so I quickly and happily jumped on board. I spent the day with a girlfriend and we had a super time!
Then tonight got even better! My across-the-street-neighbor, Kate (who was also Tiki's kindergarten teacher for two years), was on a jog and I ran up to the street to chat for a bit. Once we were finished talking, two of Hays's friends biked by and he joined them. Then a new friend, Kris, stopped by (she is the mother of those two boys). Meanwhile, three high school girls came to chat and sell me cookie dough. My driveway was full of people and I loved it! I stayed outside chatting for about an hour while the kids played. It was perfect. . . absolutely perfect.
My neighborhood!
And on a side note, my crazy dogs did amazing today! I am so proud of them! I had them "out" all day long with no leash and no shock collars and they just hung out in the yard. It was wonderful! I think they like living in the neighborhood to! It was so nice to have "normal" dogs for the day! (I realize that it may pass, so I am qualifying it with "for the day" for now.)
And to top it all off, my husband was so romantic today. (He isn't typically Mr. Romance, so this was a biggie!) He emailed me this picture:
and all he said was, "wish you were here." Simple, but it swept me away! Thank you, Andy! I wish I were there, too!
What a great day! I am home!
Well, guess where I live? THERE! I do! After today and tonight I feel so at home here! I have loved Durango since the moment I moved here and I thought that I felt at home, but I don't think I did. I think I just loved Durango. Now I know that I feel at home.
Today I got to run to Target and Sams with a girlfriend--I know, for you city people, that doesn't seem like a big deal, but it is a day trip for us here in Durango. Valerie has been one of my friends since we moved to Durango, but she is doctor and has been working all of the extra shifts she can in order to pay for a Rwandan adoption, so I don't see her often. Today she had a day off and she needed to go to Target, so I quickly and happily jumped on board. I spent the day with a girlfriend and we had a super time!
Then tonight got even better! My across-the-street-neighbor, Kate (who was also Tiki's kindergarten teacher for two years), was on a jog and I ran up to the street to chat for a bit. Once we were finished talking, two of Hays's friends biked by and he joined them. Then a new friend, Kris, stopped by (she is the mother of those two boys). Meanwhile, three high school girls came to chat and sell me cookie dough. My driveway was full of people and I loved it! I stayed outside chatting for about an hour while the kids played. It was perfect. . . absolutely perfect.
My neighborhood!
And on a side note, my crazy dogs did amazing today! I am so proud of them! I had them "out" all day long with no leash and no shock collars and they just hung out in the yard. It was wonderful! I think they like living in the neighborhood to! It was so nice to have "normal" dogs for the day! (I realize that it may pass, so I am qualifying it with "for the day" for now.)
And to top it all off, my husband was so romantic today. (He isn't typically Mr. Romance, so this was a biggie!) He emailed me this picture:
and all he said was, "wish you were here." Simple, but it swept me away! Thank you, Andy! I wish I were there, too!
What a great day! I am home!
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