When Dad passed away, sometimes when talking to people about what I was going to do I would lightly kick the wall of the house and say, “and then there is this…” The wall would give a strong solid thud. Last night Kate and I had dinner with Matthew and Peggy. There was also as a surprise accompaniment of Trevor and Jennifer, new neighbors of theirs, who have gotten a bit of national attention for their container home lately. Trevor said that Matthew had mentioned I had always planned on building a container home. Being a social event, I didn’t want to turn conversation to my father’s death, so I just mentioned that life happens and I had a house now.

A house. A castle, I thought the other day as I was looking out one of the many south facing windows overlooking the field. We were chatting with a neighbor at the beach the other day who, as a gardener, admitted to coveting that field.

Everything is different. Every time I came home I felt a pull back here that some would try to dispel. Everything is right. So much is new and unknown and constituted of a future of challenge. I’m really happy about this.