Thanksgiving

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. "                                                                                      Helen Keller

Flying from Chicago’s Food Film Festival to Boston for Thanksgiving had me feeling a huge swing of emotions.  Excited and looking forward to a Holiday for the first time in a long time, especially since my Sister and her Family were going to be there from California, but also a huge range knowing I’d be saying Godspeed to Katie as she left for her amazing opportunity and adventure in Sierra Leone at the end of the week.  And, for the first time, I do believe it hit my Girls and I fully, that we no longer have a “base” in Massachusetts.  I personally went from my Mom’s house to my cousin’s (God love she and her family) back to my Mom’s.  Weird.

Twilight In Harvard Square

Silliness in Harvard Square

Spending some “quality” time with family was great, including poking around Harvard Square with Katie, my Sister and her Kiddos..shopping, eating, and simply enjoying each other.   (Even if the long ride home in traffic was frustrating.  The things we forget!)

It was a wacky, loud, loving and fun Thanksgiving: thirty-five of us ranging in age from 3 to 82.   Again, a huge thanks to my Cousin and her family for hosting all of us.  Their home is beautiful, and perfect for such gatherings.  (A blessing and curse for them!)

"The Kids"

Steel & Rye

While “home”, it’s funny, I went to a great new restaurant in Milton three times.  It’s hard to believe that Steel & Rye is in my little hometown.  It has a cool city feel, and the food is consistently good.  A real treat.

Finally, the inevitable.  After watching Katie walk into her terminal at Logan, loaded down with 4 huge bags, I started a prayer that lasted for a couple of hours while I waited for my flight back to JFK.  I believe that she will be okay, and that her experience is going to be amazing.  I am so proud, and thrilled for her.

Looking froward to this!

Having gotten an email confirming what I was dreading while home for Thanksgiving: I had to leave my Hx3 (long story..aren’t they all?); I hit the ground running looking at apartments my first day back in NYC after being gone for over two weeks.  Believe it or not, I had set up appointments through Craigslist.  My faith in his list has been restored!  An angel was definitely sitting on my shoulder.  The first apartment I saw was a sweet studio with an amazing shared garden in back, on Wednesday morning.  I signed a lease Thursday night. 

The couch!

Thus began the furnishing of my new home as I have almost nothing left!  That’s where I fell into another scam on Craigslist.  I found a free couch that had to be moved immediately.  Got the couch, but the movers I hired..crazy.  I had agreed to one hour @ $50.  When we got to my new apartment, they demanded $150.  I very angrily refused.  They locked my couch into the truck and sat outside my building and wouldn’t leave.  I was scared, furious (hate feeling vulnerable) and felt silly calling the police who basically couldn’t do much.  Finally, I got it in for $100.  Oh, well, a NYC “experience."  All’s well that ends well. 

As I found treasures all over the city and yes, online!  I felt like I was giving myself “showers”.  Furnishing my own home, just the way I wanted to. Thank God for T’J’s, Marshall’s, Target for dishes, glasses and “stuff."  Nadeau’s a funky little furniture store in the Village had me buying a great bookcase to use a kitchen storage piece and a mirror for my dressing area.  It felt like Shay, et al, became friends and they introduced me to an awesome mover!  And, yes, I went back to Craig and his list finding a dresser.  Another cool site, krrb (https://krrb.com) lead me to a desk that looks very similar to my Grandmother’s.  Thank God for tiny studios, I didn’t need to buy too much to make a home for myself!