So, here I am in this new, strange chapter of my life where I've come full circle. I am living in the very spot where I grew up; now with my parents and brother in houses on either side of us. It happens to be in the prettiest spot I can possibly imagine.
Beachy views, BBQs, blond-headed tots running about, screen doors, sandy feet-- sounds Kennedy-ish, right? Thankfully, its not.
The many years living in SF & NYC I wondered what this would be like, I admit, with some trepidation. How much privacy would we have? Would there be a steady influx of obligatory get-togethers and social compromise? Other too-close-for-comfortisms? Would I feel confined? Bored?
Happily, two months later, I'm here to report it's not. It's wonderfully relaxed.
Scott was out of town last night, a Saturday, and my brother & his family invited us all over for dinner. I'd taken the opportunity to have lunch with Whitney which included a glass or two of wine; resulting in a nap when I got home. Zzzz. 6 pm came quickly and I heard my parents being greeted by my brothers kids "POP-POP!!!!" I washed my face, threw together a quicky salad and headed over. My neice was on her way over to get me in her pretty white dress.
Looks preppy, sounds preppy, but let me share you a snippet of dialog while watching the youngest (nearly 2) dine on grapes, ketchup and huge handfuls of hardly coagulated yogurt:
Me: So, you're all getting ready for B's 6th Birthday Party! Its so neat that you're going to have a water---
My Brother: [abruptly] Hey!Who wants more lumpfish? [their term for potatoes]
Me: ...
Bro: [aside to me and Dad] Holly, the water slide a surprise...Dont spill the beans. I don't want to live here in Disappointment Acres if this thing doesn't pan out.
B: I'll have more lumpfish!
Mom: ....so, anyway, I get a call from Janie from church saying there is some kind of an emergency in the garden. So I show up to find that someone had pooped in the planter.
Beachy views, BBQs, blond-headed tots running about, screen doors, sandy feet-- sounds Kennedy-ish, right? Thankfully, its not.
The many years living in SF & NYC I wondered what this would be like, I admit, with some trepidation. How much privacy would we have? Would there be a steady influx of obligatory get-togethers and social compromise? Other too-close-for-comfortisms? Would I feel confined? Bored?
Happily, two months later, I'm here to report it's not. It's wonderfully relaxed.
Scott was out of town last night, a Saturday, and my brother & his family invited us all over for dinner. I'd taken the opportunity to have lunch with Whitney which included a glass or two of wine; resulting in a nap when I got home. Zzzz. 6 pm came quickly and I heard my parents being greeted by my brothers kids "POP-POP!!!!" I washed my face, threw together a quicky salad and headed over. My neice was on her way over to get me in her pretty white dress.
Looks preppy, sounds preppy, but let me share you a snippet of dialog while watching the youngest (nearly 2) dine on grapes, ketchup and huge handfuls of hardly coagulated yogurt:
Me: So, you're all getting ready for B's 6th Birthday Party! Its so neat that you're going to have a water---
My Brother: [abruptly] Hey!Who wants more lumpfish? [their term for potatoes]
Me: ...
Bro: [aside to me and Dad] Holly, the water slide a surprise...Dont spill the beans. I don't want to live here in Disappointment Acres if this thing doesn't pan out.
B: I'll have more lumpfish!
Mom: ....so, anyway, I get a call from Janie from church saying there is some kind of an emergency in the garden. So I show up to find that someone had pooped in the planter.
