Spring Cleaning

The past six months have by far been the most transformative ever. All the big events happened prior; starting a new relationship, getting my job, moving to Oregon, training, the loss of my uncle, buying my first house, losing my relationship. It was an 18 month whirlwind. And, I couldn't point out one huge event that happened between November 18th 2011 and May 14th 2012. It was down time. And I guess that's why I finally had the time and distance to start to understand all that'd happened prior. It was an exciting time but filled with so much stress and uncertainty that I couldn't see the forest for the trees. I don't want to recap the mental/emotional process of the last six months. Some was ugly, some was amazing. Most was confusing. I'm not the biggest sharer (says the person writing a public blog) so it's tough to put to words how I felt before and how I feel now. Suffice it to say, I feel better. I feel different. I guess I feel more complete and put together than I did two years ago. But, for a large part of that time I felt like I'd lost a part of myself, something I'd left back in Washington. I can't explain the sense of relief in rediscovering what I'd lost but, even more important, I feel I gained something I never had. I'm not being vague on purpose but I feel it's easier to show than tell what's new. June feels like the perfect time to spring clean. Not just my house and property but the cobwebs you can't see too. I'm looking forward to something simpler than the past two years. It seems real necessary to have my physical existence display the changes less tangible. Yesterday I got home from work, almost a straight four-day stretch with one afternoon off between Monday and Friday morning. A storm cloud hunched over the treeline, pelting rain in between bouts of muggy grey sunshine. I "accidentally" brought home a duckling a turkey chick when I stopped at the feedstore for dogfood. Much of my day involved chatting with those two, holding them until they slept, making them a home they're hellbent on outgrowing. The potatoes were mulched and covered with last fall's raked leaves. I noticed that Buster has been crapping in one of my raised beds. That problem remains to be solved but between cat paws/butts and slugs, the celery are all but gone. I think that's a dumb, high-maintenance crop anyway. The garage workout was simple and satisfying. Dinner was a turkey burger that I felt a little guilty about, considering the sleeping featherball in the next room. And Jackie came up last minute to make the day a much-needed chill recharge after a busy busy May. It felt like a great way to kick off the end of spring/beginning of summer. I'm grateful for the changes that have happened. It's a perspective I don't know I could have gained any other way. I look forward to turning this house into a home. I think it's finally happening.