The Sweeter Side of Bitter

This will be my last post from my river home. As many of you know, I'm moving on. It's not entirely by choice, but it's necessary. Financial constraints require it. I'm sad to leave, and I'll miss my woodland hide-away.

But. (Ain't there always a but with me?!)

The good news is... I'm madly in love with a guy who wants me to live with him. His place isn't so shabby either. It's got a glorious view off of the back deck of the Snohomish valley and a really lovely view of Mt. Pilchuk. I've seen some amazing sunrises this past week. Views aside, I'm so excited to start my new life with Steve. I haven't felt this good and sure about something or someone since I left Maryland over 11 years ago... and I did that without ever having seen John face to face.

All of this has been a whirlwind to say the least, but it beats the snot out of some of the storms I've weathered over the past couple of years. And I don't know when I'll stop being blown away that I've been gifted with this kind of love again. I'm overwhelmed by the power of it. Sounds cheezy, but it's true.

The Universe takes. The Universe gives. Me... I'll stand in the torrent, whatever comes at me. (Like I have any choice.) For now, it's diving into cool, clear water on a Summer day; it's the scent of woodsmoke on a crisp Autumn morning; it's the sun caught on shimmering dunes of Winter snow; it's that first verdant burst of Spring.

And it's all wrapped up in the gift of Steve. My Steve. Steve who looks at me with those amazing faded blue-jean blue eyes, hands in my hair, and says, "how's my girl?" in a way that makes my chest feel like it's going to explode. Steve, who holds me into sleep in such a way that I can still feel his arms around me in the middle of the next day. Steve who knows how to make me laugh until I'm breathless.

You never know what the Universe has in store. You never know what's waiting around the next bend.

The path just is.

Here I go.