embracing the process...

the past months have been an evolution of sorts in our house...one of evolving questions and less answers with more questions...seeking, ever seeking to find the next steps in the path.  you see, our youngest son decided, after his first year, that the college he thought was his best place to go...well, the whole thing needs to be on hold for abit at least.  and so...the questions.   his discovery and joy at said institution of learning is not underestimated in the least by this time away--no, really, it's all apart of this process of learning about one's self and, in my experience, that beautiful, sometimes painful journey has various curves, bumps and side trails.

and so...NYC came up in this equation...as potentially the answer to all the suggestions and learning up to this point for C.  because, you see, one of the discoveries at college was how very much dance needed to be a continuing focus for him, he now sought to pursue this on a more professional level--hence, NYC!  so, after various (and I mean Various!) conversations over the weeks and months of this summer, we set 'sail' so to speak and settled on plane reservations (one way tickets...), housing to stay while in NYC and a few connections made to create 'the village' for him/us in NYC.  we chose to leave from Portland, OR and rented a car one-way from WW to Portland thus reducing our need to return there to pick up a car plus all the other various reasons to not leave a car at a parking lot for undetermined lengths of time.  having settled into our hotel room there and excitedly looking forward to our next days, we slept to wake to the long-awaited day of departure to NYC!

                     taken by the great photographer/dancer...
                                           on our way to Portland, OR, September 26, 2013

it is...all about love~

over the past few weeks, I've been privileged to participate in or attend some pretty spectacular celebrations. so, today, when my spouse asked if we were going to another wedding, well...it did make sense.  you see, the past two weekends, we've had these amazing, generous celebrations to embrace--lovely weddings both--so very similar in the love expressed and yet, so very different for other reasons.

after the supreme court decided to recognize the unconstitutionality of not allowing same gender marriages to be seen, from a federal perspective, the same way as opposite gender marriages, many of us were delighted to celebrate an amazing couple's love and relationship of commitment after 20 years of committed partnership...so, yes, not only did we get to go to celebrate a marriage, but the 20 years together as well as the reality that things are changing.  this change is such a long time coming and touches deep, deep in many of our hearts; yet, I am so grateful to be a part of watching and celebrating this change.

to watch the young people in life honor this change is delightful; however, in truth, many of them have never realized why it's taken some of the rest of us so long to not make an issue of this.  from this openness of perspective comes true love and celebration to realize that one can love another -- just as they are and choose them, yet again, after 20 years, 1 year, 50 years, 3 years...every day...whether one is celebrating life with one of same gender or opposite gender...it just doesn't matter.  we are more alike than different...our struggles are more similar than different...one doesn't take from the other ...rather, it is truly, all about love.

so, going last weekend to another loving commitment ceremony of marriage of the lovely young woman I've known since she was 2 was yet another lovely, celebration of love.  the beautiful setting, again, outside, the amazing flowers, trees, landscape...the wonderful food...the happy families....all of those, like me, who celebrated as part of the community who supports...yet again, similar.  the love, the commitment, the excitement and courage...all of this and so much more go into relationships that can continue to "yes" over time...whoever we are, wherever we are...it truly is, all about love.

summer days...

yes, today's one of those very hot, somewhat muggy, summer days...i would prefer the dry heat but alas! it seems to have gone away from what once was a very dry climate.  ah well...gardening still happens--yeah!  and the raspberries seem quite happy all around.  so, what's to complain about really?!  the other evening, in fact, i got to make 17 jars of jam--it was a warm project but the berries were so yummy...fresh strawberries from a local berry farm and even better, red & black raspberries fresh from our very own gardens...lovely!

and so, the process of life continues...questions about what happens after the summer's over for some...for others, back to school or to school for some.  what an exciting time of year it is!  there are possibilities and yet, sometimes, the possibilities can overwhelm and make us wonder if we should just take the next steps of what we know...or should we explore the dreams and possibilities of what might be?