Well, Hi.

Whew.

On the one hand, I feel like I should offer a very long explanation of where I've been and everything that's happened and what the hell's been going on. On the other hand, I think if I do that, I will 
a) forget something important so the other things that follow won't make sense
b) bore you
c) be far too overwhelmed and stop writing about 2/3 of the way through.

So, we'll see where this post goes.

We made the move! We made the move and it went well! Lithus and I are officially residents of Massachusetts, now.

On the road:

Goodbye, Lake Pontchartrain

Hello, Mississippi!

A surreal moment

Travelin' Ducks

The Truck

We found a Muppets-themed diner

As close as we expected to get to Manhattan 

But there was a detour...

 Still, we made to Worcester. Bought a car. Got moved in. Ran around like mad doing all the things one must do to move in before heading back out to Oregon again a week later.

When this thing happened...

I got a text from my friend here in Worcester, Bolger, saying "I need you on the next plane home. (His partner, The Lion) has passed away."

Now, The Lion was 43. In good health. The Lion should not have been passing away. So I called Bolger and the first words out of my mouth were "is this a fucking joke???" But it wasn't.

So, I headed back to Woo. There were family gatherings and services and I spent a couple nights on the other side of Bolger's bed, so he didn't have to sleep alone yet.

And in the middle of that, there was more moving, as we got the stuff that has been in storage for the last eight years out and up three flights of stairs and unpacked. While still trying to be there for my grieving friend and trying to grieve as needed myself. And buy a mattress because my mother was coming to visit the very day we returned home from our next tour to Oregon.

Which happened rightnow.

Then home, to Worcester, in time for my mother to arrive later that day to sleep on the mattress we'd bought two weeks previously and hadn't even had time to unwrap out of the plastic it was delivered in. And why was my mother coming to visit right then?

Because Lithus was finally becoming a citizen. Which deserves SO MUCH MORE of a post than I'm about to give it ~ and maybe there will be another. For now, here are some images from that day. That amazing, perfect, wonderful Citizenship Day.

If he ever runs for office, this will be on his campaign materials

If you look closely, you can see him waving

Registering to vote as an American

We decided the best place to spend the afternoon was in Concord, where the shot heard 'round the world was fired and the whole kit and kaboodle started.

Plus? There's cheese in Concord!

 Finally, we went home, napped, changed, and were ready to enjoy the evening.

Straightening bunting

"Enjoying the evening" included STEAK

But citizenship is a big deal, and deserved more than a day. So we also headed to Plymouth, to see where they first landed.

And Lithus stuck his toes in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time

Mama, taking a break in the red rocking chair her mother used to sit in

Signing the citizenship document.

For as excited as we were to be back near the Muppet and his Peaches, Mr. and Mrs. Pike, the Blackbelts, the FE, Nemeria...the list goes on...we've seen no one yet (except Bolger, obviously, but we didn't even see The Lion before he died). It's been too busy, too fast. But as of this week, I think we're done. I think we get to slow down and just figure out what it means to live life here, in Massachusetts.

Today, there's travel back to Oregon. And another fire fighting tour. And so much more to write about. But that can wait for another day, another post. I don't think I'm done here, in spite of the really long hiatus. So, thanks for sticking in with me, and coming back.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee,