washwords

Too cheesy to say “where the heart is” ?

Probably. But it’s true.

I’ve been thinking a lot about home lately. Not just because Nablopomo told me to think about it – it’s their theme for June, but ABOUT home. About where it is, how you know it, how you hold onto it, how you move to be sheltered by it when it shifts.

It started with a trip home. Well, to the home where I grew up, the town I grew up. “my hometown…. this is myyy home town…” It was a trip to take my boyfriend “home.” So where you grow up? That must be home.

On that trip, I went literally home, back to the source, to THE home, the physical home where I grew up; the home, serendipitously enough, that one of my very bestest friends in the 3rd, 4th, 5th grades had just purchased… with her husband…. and baby.

It filled me with joy. Here was the home where she and I had played. She could teach her son that the evergreen tree was hollow inside if you poked in just the right way, that the basement cabinets made an excellent clubhouse, that the spot to the left of the staircase was perfect for spying on whoever was below.

V had been there when my dad passed the rule “no more dr. scholls.” Too many girls were getting the think wooden heels of those monstrosities stuck on our thin deck and being catapulted into the backyard! She was there for birthday parties, scavenger hunts, t ball games and trips to ground round for sundaes in baseball caps.

I couldn’t wait to see it.

But I also was afraid. This was the home where my father, and my memories of him, lived. And it was the home where he died, making the brightest and Read the rest of this entry »

**LAST CHANCE TO CLAIM YOUR ENTRY**

So, the moment you’ve all been waiting for is … almost here! The entries are piling in (email entrants if I emailed you back, you’re in! ) I wanted to give anyone who posted by the deadline, May 31, 11:59 p.m., one last shot to let me know. So let me know! By 11:59 p.m. tonight (and yes, I’ll know who’s cheating; I migggght let you in anyway, but bonus points will be awarded to those who played by the rules). Results will be posted while you sleep, prizes awarded in the a.m. Who can stand the excitement!!!???

Missed the deadline? Fear not. I like this contest thing and will definitely be having another one soon.

Entries I’ve got… are posted here. Tomorrow they turn into P R I Z E S!!!!!

Oops, I did it again.

So, last night at my coop board meeting, I asked an innocent question related to of our house rules and our rights and responsibilities as owners. No biggie, totally normal and within the realm of reasonable happenings at a coop board meeting. Right? Right.

Except…. the question I asked was “So, what are the rules about subletting again, as in, can we?” and this is a building of 300 people, 300 people who I went through the grueling coop conversion process with; 300 people who include several friends, one ex-bf and his newlywed wife, also a friend; 300 people who I argued with and against on message boards and meetings over several years.
So, the meeting was barely over when…
“So…. what’s going on?”
“Where are you going? Why are you leaving?”
“What’s happening!!!???”

The truth is that my boyfriend and I have been talking, t a l k i n g, about the future. A future where we might be together… more… permanently. Given that he has dogs and other suburban responsibilities, my beeaaaautttious coop is out for us, so…

I hadn’t realized asking would mean I’d now opened myself to investigation, congratulations, advice and even this gem “So… you’re not sure it would be permanent. Subletting not selling?” I think that friend was kidding. I think.

Lesson learned. Even when you’re anonymous, you’re not. Even when you’re You in Real Life, there are things folks don’t know about you. Till you tell them. Publicly. Oops

Tags: identity, outing, out, living together, talking, future, relationships, moving in together, suburbs, city, coop, rules, coop rules, regulations, oops I did it again