Last night we put our bed into our new house and spent the night. The fire kept us warm and cozy. There is still a great deal of work to do, but we felt like we at least are in our four, warm walls for the winter. It is time to begin thinking about work (and making a living) again. Both Milt and I are ready to turn some attention to what we will do next. We want to blend his film, Video Letters from Prison with both a forum discussion about the family and a workshop that incorporates constellation work, NLP, and good communication skills. We are looking for venues–colleges, churches, and groups or organization that want to support such work. Let us know if you have any ideas. I think it will develop as we go along.
What have I learned these past few months? Patience, adjusting and adapting, wanting and using less, making the most of less, and how to work hard physically. Some days I stare out the front window of our new house and I see the gardens. Time was so crunched this summer that I did not have a real vegetable garden for the first time in over 30 years. At least I had the berries . . . Milt and I have also expanded our strategies for making decisions that we can both agree on. I have had moments where I felt like the only “girl” around and that my ideas didn’t count. I’ve been working harder to be heard and say things straight. Why is that so difficult sometimes? I have also learned that if I am patient, all things will come together in a good way. The other day we went to Grand Forks to attend my Uncle Ralph’s funeral. We had planned to sand and finish our floor and then go to Duluth for a day but when he passed away, we went west instead of east. Ralph was my father’s brother and the last of my uncles. It was great to see everyone even under such sad circumstances.
In between events we dove into a thrift store on Demers and found a couch within fifteen minutes. It feels and looks perfect. In fact, I am parked on it as I write.
This week we go to Lincoln, NE to launch Video Letters at the Vision Makers Film Festival. It also gives me a chance to spend time with grandkids and kids. Onward.
Jamie