Ten years ago yesterday my life changed completely. That was the day I poured my old life of cohabitation with my ex in Takoma Park, Maryland into my new life as a single woman with a big dog on Capitol Hill. In a state of shock, I carried boxes and furniture into the house on Tennessee Avenue, wondering what the hell my life was going to look like in this brand new neighborhood, living with strangers. Frankly I was quite worried.
Happy portents were all around - the neighbors came right over to introduce themselves and offer a hand while I was moving things into the house. The children were cavorting on the sidewalks, the birds were singing, the roses were blooming. I didn't notice any of that, not really, because I was in shock, and also because I had never lived in such a lovely village before, so I had no idea that this kind of behavior, the easy friendliness was totally normal here.
Should say IS totally normal here. At the time I wondered if I had somehow become part of a David Lynch movie in which everything on the surface is picture perfect, hiding some kind of awfulness. I was completely wrong. That's what happens when I worry; I create terrible scenarios. For heaven's sake.
The Sufi acupuncturist says that angelic interventions take place more often than we can ever guess. Based on how beautifully everything in my life has progressed since that scary day in mid-May, 2001, I'm guessing the healing angels were all around me, guiding me gently and lovingly into my new life.
Maybe I'll stay on Capitol Hill forever. Or it could all change tomorrow - you never know. I'm grateful that my destiny lead me here, more grateful than I can ever say. Thanks to the angels, my neighbors, my ex housemates, and current housemates. Thank all of y'all SO MUCH. Thanks.
16 comments:
yeah for finding the right spot at the right time....
as you mused forever? or change at a snap? - yes, who is to know.... here's to 'being here now'
yes, life can change on a dime and we find we have to re-invent ourselves. I'm glad you landed in such a happy place.
What a happy post! Carpe Diem Reya! Sending you love today...And continuing HAPPINESS!
Who would expect that Washington D.C., the swamp as you call it yourself sometimes, and the hottest and most humid place I remember from my stay in the U.S., can hold such joy for you. Great. I love all those angels around you!
My husband and I have made so many moves and changes in our lives we're now anticipating the next with joy. I wasn't always so pliant. It took many years for me to come to terms with change because I'd been raised in one place for the first 23 years of my life, going off to college but not far. My husband had been raised never knowing what tomorrow would bring. His dad was the chicken or feathers type.
I like what you have to say about becoming cognizant of the "happy portents...all around." Like you, I was a worrier and tended to see the glas half empty.
No more! And it only took 35 years to change.
I think it's both wonderful and amazing that you recall the exact day you moved to DC. Happy Anniversary!
Happy portents and healing angels are sure to abound around you for the rest of your life, Reya, wherever you choose to live.
I wish you much love and happiness on this auspicious day! ♥
Look at all the faces in the first cloud photo! Some of your angels perhaps?
It's good to remember life can change so quickly - and that change, though scary, can be good. Keeps us in gratitude for what we have while we have it :)
Glad it all worked out for you.
I so believe in the frequent "angelic intervention" thing. My arrival in our wonderful urban village of Capitol Hill was preceded by a long string of them, although it took me a really long time to appreciate many of them as such.
Having done the same myself nearly two years ago I understand you completely....
Without my trust in 'angels/god' I would never have had the courage to leave.
Now looking back I realise that all is as it should be....
reya, i really appreciated this piece of your story because like you, i've experienced a set of what i call "transitions" - another word for shocks - for shocks they are, not in the harsh and unkind use of the word but more to reflect the the sudden and unequivocal manner in which i suddenly found myself in the right place (if right place can be thought of in the same way as the next place). in each instance i left an entire world and i mean entire as in one or all of family, friends, work, every single detail, and was somewhere else within a day. this has happened at age 8, 15, 23, and 33. i received a call at age 50 and more or less ignored it. in hindsight it was a good decision. there's a call in right now and i'm moving on it but it's very very different to any call i've got before. how cool is that! steven
Steven, me too!
Debra, 35 years actually isn't that long. Some people never get there.
Thank you Jo and Pauline! I didn't see them until you pointed them out. Wow.
Adrianne it was angelic intervention that brought the two of us into each other's lives. We're so lucky.
Oh wait it wasn't angelic, it was Larry! We really have to drag him down to the Matchbox bar one of these days!
Yes, all unfolds exactly as it should. I'm good at trust AFTER the fact, hardly ever in the moment. I'm trying to remember.
My guess is, Reya, that you attracted all that goodness to you because of your very own goodness. It delights me to know people like you bless our world. Cheers!
I bet we could agree that Larry *is* angelic and further agree to book him for a date to buy him some "thank you" martinis at the Matchbox bar?!? :-)
Adrianne I'll work on it from my end, and you from yours. Remember he will most likely be a part of the pesto-fest I'm planning for summer solstice (hope you'll be there). But yeah we should take him out, just you and I. I am very sincerely grateful he put us together. Oh yeah!
Jo it's not only the day I moved to Capitol Hill but also the day I became officially single. The last scene between my ex and I was not pretty - then I rolled into a scene of perfection. It was surreal.
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