Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Settling In


Hello from Provincetown! We are 95% moved in and the autumn seascape could not be more beautiful. I am still hibernating but I know rustles of activity are beginning to surface. I may walk down the street to ask a B & B if they'd like to offer workshops with me; I may take a writing course; I may join a town committee. But not yet. First I need to keep moving slowly.
    


Last weekend I went to my first and only high school reunion. With the exception of this crew--all of us friends since I was barely out of elementary school--I hadn't seen most of my classmates in fifty years. I was popular in high school and at the time I worked hard for that to be so. I was also kind, and that was re-enforced by the several 'loner' kids who sought me out fifty years later to say hello. I was also irreverent and funny and not beyond time in after-school detention. I straightened out my senior year so I could go to college, but barely. Since then, I've somehow become smarter. And still irreverent.

I have some impressions about people my age fifty years later. Less tolerance for b.s. More appreciation  of time and family. Calmer. Settled. But still traveling.


My heart hasn't let go of the farms and back roads I've left. I insisted on bring orchard apples back to the ocean with me and I think I will head back to those farms at least once or twice a year. I'm in search of locally grown fruit and vegetables and I think that search won't be easy. This is Lookout Farm in South Natick, Mass. Those are pumpkins in the foreground, there for the picking. I brought home a peck of apples and I'm ready to make apple crisp. And buttermilk biscuits too. And then, in time, apple pies and holiday cookies and chocolate cupcakes. I'm a sap for holidays.

My daughter Jess has four children and she calls the two youngest 'the littles.' Ages 4 and 2, Here are the littles. This is a huge delight in my life--these four fascinating kids. They are wild and entertaining and wonderful and exhausting. They call me Gram, except 2 year old Reese, who calls me BB by mistake. Which I don't mind….


This is the scene up the street. The bay sparkles like this almost every day. Sometimes people ride horses on this beach, and sometimes you can see seals playing in the background. Often this is a place to calmly walk and breathe in ocean air that surely must heal and help. I'm grateful to be here. It's been a bitch of a move but we're here and the house is nice and the bay is a block away and winter will be desolate and I just may finish this book of mine sometime soon.


love
kj

24 comments:

  1. Oh, you are going to love those ocean walks, those chilly morning runs with just you and the watery universe...
    You do sound at peace with the world, and as far as your irreverence is concerned, well, I sense a kindred soul there too.

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    1. thank you, rosaria. the body of my general contentment seems to be returning, and i am grateful! little by little parts and pieces seem to be falling into place. and the ocean is grand indeed!

      love
      kj

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  2. karen, this all feels wonderful to me. Love "the littles." And all the wonderous new things you are embracing along with still loving the old things and places. Blessings to you.

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    1. thank you, suki. you know i wish this for you too. it's not possible all the time--embracing, but i'm miserable if i don't have enough of it.

      love
      kj

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  3. oh those littles! and you guys rock with everything you've been through this year. Love to you both

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    1. thanks, mim. i know you know, and your enduring encouragement is gold.

      love
      kj

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  4. You do know why God made grandma's right? So grandpa's can send them to the kids house. My oldest grandchild is just about ready for her first hot rod and my youngest *meh* he cries whenever he sees me, hasn't acquired the taste yet. glad you didn't get that blow i was pushing for it to move out to sea.

    Hope you have a good windbreaker of woollen cloth to cut that North Atlantic winter wind.

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    1. mark, i hope i don't end up hibernating all winter. i could be tempted.

      love
      kj

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  5. If I hadn’t flunked out, my 50th high school reunion would be in two years.

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    1. i had a grand time, snow, as though we were back then and there. it's not like i've kept in touch with my old friends over this many years, not even. but i guess the ground held strong roots.

      love
      kj

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    2. Four weeks since your last post!? I hope that all is well.

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  6. Irreverent people are always the most fun. ;-)

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    1. most definitely, birdie, most definitely.

      thanks for coming by. i see i'm not able to return the favor….

      love
      kj

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  7. Always good to read you. Glad you survived the move.
    Wow, popular in high school? I can't quite imagine what that was like, myself.
    Winter will be desolate, the way winter should be. The stuff of poetry, methinks.

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    1. Hi Barbara, I made sure I know just about everyone in my hs class. I've backed off of that effort at this age, but I still like the attention :-)

      You're right about winter. I'm looking forward to that writing life

      Take care of yourself
      Love
      kj

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  8. Glad you've survived your move.
    We've just moved, too. From house to apartment. (Actually, condo, but we're just renting.)
    Blessings and Bear hugs.

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    1. Hello mr bear!

      How was your move? Ours was horrible!

      Love
      kj

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  9. Hi Kj, I am so happy you are settling in and it sounds like things are calming down.
    I so envy you that beach to walk on, I have not seen the ocean for 3 years and it breaks my heart. Keep it simple and have fun. Love, Annie xoxo

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    1. Thanks Annie xo. I can't believe the ocean is now in my life. Soon the leaves will be off the trees and we'll again see the shimmered bay from the porch window.

      I hope you see that ocean soon

      Love
      kj

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  10. Glad to hear you are settling into your new home!

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    1. Thanks cs. I imagine you're settling in too.

      Love
      kj

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  11. OPTIONS for a Better World has been included in our A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that we hope this helps to point even more new visitors in your direction.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-sunday-drive_25.html

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  12. I just found your blog and bookmarked it. We were just on the Cape 3 weeks ago, visiting from CA (my aunt lives in So Harwich). The light and the waves were sublime.

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