Thank you so much for all of your sweet words to Friday's {this moment}, at the news of my grandmother's passing. I am touched that so many of you had remembered me writing about her and her role in my life in the years past. I hadn't realized just how much I had done that, but how could I not have? She taught me so much.
We are just back from a long weekend family getaway - we think it was our first overnight with all seven of us since late in the summer of 2013. But with a farm sitter secured and long-ago-made plans in place, we got ourselves right out of dodge, thinking we were leaving behind an epic snowstorm. Turns out, we weren't leaving one behind (we only got an inch here at home), but driving right into one! A foot or more landed where we were - deep in the woods - on top of the already enormous piles of snow that have come down this winter. And a snowed-in weekend with dear old friends commenced, a day longer even than originally expected (thank you, snow). A total number of children that far outnumbered the adults, a ridiculous amount of good food and drink, and I do believe a touch of every possible winter sport that can be found deep in the New England woods with Moms and Dads who once were (and some still are) outdoor adventurers of every kind. Ice fishing, sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, and more - ranging the spectrum from entirely benign and completely appropriate for all ages to....slightly sketchy, but wicked fun. Or so say my teen boys. And Papa. And Adelaide too (she's a brave one, that girl). All of the above resulting in blissfully exhausted children crashing into bed each night - full of good times with friends they've known since they were babies, and new adventures shared.
I, for one, feel as though I did very little these past few days. I brought work, and edited - I kid you not - one sentence. I brought knitting, and only a few rows were added. I brought my camera and all my favorite lenses, and came home with a nearly empty camera card. I did take a two hour walk. And I must have done a lot of cooking. Definitely a lot of eating. Maybe a little bit of drinking. And without a doubt - a whole lot of laughing, talking, crying, hugging, listening and all that good stuff that happens when loved ones gather. When we began packing up the car to leave - even with our extended stay - I thought it couldn't be possible that three days had gone by. It was, I realize now, just the weekend I needed, just the very pause and slowness, and peace that I've been craving.
Today, we return to farm chores and daily work (SONG goes to print this week- stay tuned!), and our regular at-home - oh so good but very busy - rhythm, plus a lot of time spent with extended family celebrating the life of a very special woman. I'm ready for all of that, but holding onto and honoring a long weekend that was just right, and full of the very moments in life that make it all so special....whether with the family we are born into, or that we have chosen. A blessing, all of it, and deep and nurturing breath with which to proceed.
