Home is Where the Heart is

I type this, sitting on the floor, drinking wine from a beer mug. My lamps are gone, the couch cushions cleaned and leaning against the wall, and Pho delivery by my side.

Moving day is upon us!

I think I never really knew until now, how powerful the sense of home is. Perhaps this stems from having grown up in hotels for months at a time, or in 12 or more “homes”. Don’t get me wrong, nothing wrong with my multiple moves and I happen to love hotels. I just never really had that connection.

Until now.

A week of moving loads of stuff from the old to the new place, and it hits me. The sense of home is overwhelming. It is a sense of calm, of safety, of belonging.

This, compared to the insecure, hard to sleep, lack of compassion I have for my current apartment.

Even the dog can feel the difference. The door opens to the new place and in she bounds, prancing like the happy dog she is, exploring each room with her crooked smile. Even she has a new sense of calm compared to the old place.

To be true, the new place is not so new. It is the same unit I lived in three years ago. I feel I may have left my heart here, though I left for good reasons.

 I now want to put my stamp on this place, from the floors to the furniture I’ve rescued from an unknown dumpster fate. Home is where the heart is, and I plan to reclaim home here.

Where is home to you?

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Moving Minneapolis

Its that time again for me… a time full of boxes, bubble wrap and one confused puppy.

We are not moving far, but into a place that does not come with its own peeping Tom…. long story. To a place where warm water is the norm and landlords are responsive. The last few days in this place cannot come soon enough.

 As excited as I am to move, moving also makes me reflective. O the many bottles of wine we’ve had, the serious discussions, the tears, the meals I’ve made, the puppy romance Olive had with little Napoleon across the hall, the many walks exploring the neighborhood.

This apartment was a step back. I went from a beautiful building, full of every upgrade, to not even a functioning communal washing machine. Sometimes steps back are needed. It reminds you to appreciate. To be thankful. I learned I am definitely not as grateful as I should be. I did my fair share of complaining when I should have been thankful.

My hope for this move is just that. Appreciate. Be thankful.

And once those boxes are all moved and unpacked, I plan to celebrate with this:

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This pasta from Tilia…. heaven in my mouth.

Have you moved recently?