reader, I married him

I think my world's about to change. it's hard to tell at this point. the wedding, the house full of beloveds, the lovely dinner outside, it's all like a dream though it's only a few days ago. after a couple days of lying around and honeymooning with me, blake went off to opera rehearsal yesterday -- though he's quit all his jobs, he'll complete the rest of august at st. matthew's and the pagliacci performance this weekend before we head south. meanwhile, we're taking it easy on the to-do lists for a few days. we're waiting to hear about the second appraisal on the steeleville house, after the first one came in 15K below our offer and is poised to nullify the contract. we can't really start to pack because the way we do that will depend on whether we move into the house or the parsonage. so we're using the down time to rest up.

I got word this morning that I got the job as director of the steeleville area public library. it's a lovely new building, set on a grassy sweep between the high school and the grade school, an unexpected opportunity for me to get involved in education and books again and use my managerial skills too. I talked them into making it a part-time job, 3 days a week with as much flexibility as I want. I think it'll be a great way to interact with townspeople while still keeping some time aside for myself and my new husband.

blake has his bloomington house on the market, but what about mine? I learned that the neighbor's son is interested in renting it "for cost" in return for doing the leaves and lawn. by next spring, I'll have recovered enough psychic space to decide how to proceed. I love it so much and don't want to let it go, but it's not practical to try to manage it from a distance of 4 hours, nor indeed would that arrangement afford me much pleasure. the house we found in steeleville would do as a replacement -- beautiful yard, privacy, quiet -- but it remains to be seen whether we'll get it.

lots of changes coming on. but today it feels like the old days: quiet, low-key, not really lonesome, not very productive, waiting for a shoe to drop so that I can get on with things other than mere maintenance.

What's new since Feb 1?

What isn't new? I'm getting married to Blake -- takes "goin' steady for good" to a whole new level! He's reviving his vocation to be a full-time minister. That means I'm gonna be a pastor's wife. That means we have a wedding to plan: vows, music, food, rings, wills, venues, all that. It also means that he's resigning his jobs as a musician and seeking, and recently taking, a ministerial call. That means we're moving to a small town in southern Illinois. That means we're combining our 2-of-everything, selling our houses, and looking for a dream home there. That means we're de-junking and cleaning up our houses, having garage sales, and making house-hunting trips to Steeleville. That means I'm seeing more of Martha and Dad. Blake's in northern Iowa enjoying his last year at Lutheran Summer Music. That means we're making lots of plans together via long distance. It also means I have his cat as well as mine. That means there are yalpings and gallopings in the middle of the night. Meanwhile, Mom has moved into Ridgewood in Seward, and Dad will be moving to a neighboring abode in a few weeks. That means we're all grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent. Is that all? I don't know: I'm weepy and emotionally spent. Meanwhile, I went to Oregon to attend Gretchen's confirmation and realize that she's growing up so beautifully. That means I'm grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent. I also had a great time sistering around with Margy and looking for wedding dresses. Meanwhile, Michael went to China, Jessica went to Spain, Katy & Beth went to Ireland, Sarah D. got a BA and decided to go to New Zealand, Josh & Amy decided to move back with their darling peapod to St. Louis, John & Sarah witnessed Ben turning one, Stephen finished freshman year... and that's just that generation. That means I'm grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent.

I was planning on posting some photos of a house we're considering in Steeleville, but this catalog has left me grateful, weepy, and emotionally spent. I'll go have a bowl of oatmeal instead.

Freedom!

hello, everyone!
yesterday was my last day of work. I'm a retiree as of 1February2009. sighs and yawns take turns washing over me... ahh! so many things I want to do, they keep popping into my head. so many languages, so little time! musical instruments to dust off, a cabinet stuffed with fabric to sew, a collection of cookbooks, habitat houses to build, heirloom tomatoes to grow, apple tree logs to whittle, pottery, quilting, lolling in the hammock eating bonbons, watercolor, upholstery, the early church, machu picchu, the homes of all my friends and family. that's the list that comes to mind as I sit here now. we'll see how it shapes up as I step into this new frontier!