life's path

our homecoming was bittersweet in many ways. it was wonderful to be surrounded by so many familiar sources of love and support, but it was challenging to continuously explain our mysteriously abrupt departure from costa rica. more so for me because i still wasn't quite clear on what had happened exactly.

my grandmother had generously invited us to stay with her until we were ready to take the next step, whatever that would be. she spoiled us in the way that only a grandmother can...by cooking delicious meals from scratch, demanding absolutely nothing from us, and directing smiles of love and approval in our general direction on a regular basis. it was blissful.

my grandmother, an amazingly independent woman, passed away peacefully in her sleep one night. it was a complete shock to the entire family. i suppose none of us had truly realized the effect she'd had on all of us until she was gone.

my sister, crystal, with grandma in 2007 at our wedding

everything kind of went nuts after grandma was gone. family tension started brewing and we were all still grieving. as much as it hurt to lose someone i loved so much, i have to admit i found a sort of peace in it. i finally understood why we'd come home: we were supposed to be here with her. and i am so thankful to have spent my grandmother's last three weeks together, simply enjoying one another's company. i picture her on the sofa, knitting, and i miss her calm wisdom and unbiased love.

and thus began our new life in an old familiar place. as life here tends to do, we were soon swept away in the frantic current of busy-ness. it already seems like ages ago that we left costa rica. i can barely remember the feeling of the thick, heavy bealizean air. and north carolina fades into focus like a snapshot from another person's life. i am thankful for pictures, which help me to remember, and have that ability to conjure up feelings and memories long since forgotten.

we're still working on finding balance...between work, a social life, and personal time. we'd forgotten what a challenge that can be. i suppose three years in a rural village will do that to you.
we're both working full time now. we have an adorable little apartment in a great neighborhood. and it's wonderful to finally be able to invite old friends over and catch up. it feels...good...right.

so, while the blog posts may not continue to be as exotic or fantastical, i do hope this will be a way for me to stay engaged in life and continue exploring. i know that pittsburgh has a lot to offer us, if only we bundle up and take a walk outside...