Big Changes

New Beginnings

Why have I changed the tag line to this blog from “Exploring Creativity” to “Living Creatively”? Because I’ve made a major shift into unknown territory. I’ve shrugged off the confines of a 9 to 5 job, sold my home in California and moved across the continent to Massachusetts. Muddle along with me as I find my way in this brave new life. Creativity? I’ll need it!

What I left behind

Packing up and leaving my home of 17 years, a 1908 craftsman that I’d lovingly restored wasn’t easy. On that hot afternoon I opened my arms wide as I stood in my backyard and told my trees and flowers and herbs goodbye. I sobbed in Mike’s arms as I stood in the dining room devoid of anything tangible of mine.  

As Mike wrote  recently, “The room screamed empty, nothing here, not yours, go.”  And go we did.

On the Road

California

Boo

We (Boo, my somewhat reluctant feline companion, Mike, my brave human companion, and I) drove across the valley headed to Barstow. Being rush hour we crept along, slowly leaving life as I knew it behind me.  

There was little time to feel nostalgic when at mile 8.2 something smelling suspiciously like tuna began to waft forward from the back seat.  Boo had been meowing incessantly but had recently gone silent in his crate.  After disposing of his issue, we plugged along through the Cajon Pass as the sun set behind us, still grimy from a day of high emotion and frenetic house packing and cleaning.

The Motel 6 in Barstow was a welcome sight. Even more so the Motel 6 shower. We lugged in our gear and had brought what was left of my wine cellar with us, thank God. Not being a wine enthusiast, Boo was less pleased with our landing but eventually settled in. Mike and I, on the other hand, rewarded ourselves with a bottle of pinot  and leftovers from the previous night before losing ourselves to sleep on the hard bed.

Bacon

Barstow morning

In the morning we woke to a fabulous view of parking lots and tractor trailers from our room. But as soon as the bags started to be gathered, Boo went MIA. In my last days in Pasadena I had been cooking from my pantry and freezer, trying my best to use up what I had and not buy more food, only to have to dispose of it. One thing I had thought to cook up was a mess of bacon. Thinking it might be good finger food that wouldn't take up too much room in the cooler, I stuck it in there.  

Boo, who has been known to snag a strip or three from the kitchen counter, is a sucker for the stuff and it took little time to lure him out from under the bed and into his crate and then the car.  It became a precious commodity as the trip continued.

Next... Jersey turtles in Arizona.