Home Sweet Home

The closing on the new apartment took place yesterday afternoon without a hitch. Ollie the cat and I will leave the hotel shortly to be there when the moving van is scheduled to arrive at 8AM. And then we will – after a year of planning and waiting - be at home with all our “stuff” in our new place.

During the past week or so, several people commented here that they’ve moved so frequently that they have no emotional attachment to their homes. This is my 43rd move and I agree; most of them were not important. But Bedford Street in New York City was different - leaving it after 23 years was a painful decision. And choosing a new place that suits me well enough to be my home, I hope, for the rest of my life was an emotional decision too.

Some people, the nomadic sort, don’t even need a fixed address to be comfortable. But not me; I need my little nest. Home, whatever or wherever it is, is such a universal concept that most cultures have rituals for blessing new homes. Yesterday, Claude at Blogging in Paris posted one kind for me.

Be sure to read her explanation that goes with it.

Chancy of driftwoodinspiration posted an Irish blessing which I’m repeating here too. You never know when you might have need of it for yourself or others:

Touch the lintel and touch the wall,
Nothing but blessing here befall.
Bless the candle that stands by itself,
Bless the books on the mantelshelf,
Bless the hearth and the light it sheds,
Bless the pillow for tired heads.
Those who tarry here, let them know
A threefold blessing before they go:

Sleep for weariness, peace for sorrow,
Faith in yesterday and tomorrow.
Those who go from here, let them bear
The blessing of hope wherever they fare.
Lintel and window, sill and wall,
Nothing but good, this place befall.

Anna of Self Winding sent this most perfect ecard with her good wishes for Ollie’s and my new home. [I hope the link works.] I especially like the piano version of “The Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker Suite that goes with the image – a piece of music I’ve known every note of since childhood when I listened to it every day of my then young life.

I thank every one of you for so many wonderful, good wishes on this new adventure of mine. You have made me weepy in the best way possible.

[Pictures of the new place will be forthcoming whenever I locate the box with the cable for transferring images from the camera. What was I thinking when I packed it separately from the laptop.]

Comments

[tamarika]

Good luck, dear, dear Ronni. Welcome home.

[zuleme]

Hope to meet you in Portland some day, Ronni. And Oliver! I am so glad and amazed it worked out the way it did.

[joared]

Congratulations, just as smooth as clockwork! Does this mean you've moved into another dimension now?

[Melinda]

Congratulations dear Ronni! (and Ollie) It's almost 8am EST so the moving van is just arriving - you must be ALL SMILES!!! Enjoy Enjoy!!!

[Dee]

Nothing but the best for you Ronni & Ollie too, as you being this part of your journey. Dee

[donna]

Well, good luck! Hope nobody burns down the city again, but I guess that was a long time ago now. Looking forward to the tour once you're settled!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Maine

[Jean]

Thinking of you so much in your new home, Ronni. I can't wait to hear all about it and see some photos. It's particularly riveting for me because I've just made a decision about moving (see my new blog, which you can get to from my old one)

I've just been reading an interesting article about the renaissance of French-speaking in and around Portland, which a French blogger I read linked to today (I love these interlinking webs of connection): http://tinyurl.com/h76o8

[Chancy]

Wonderful news Ronni !!! I hope all the boxes arrive safe and sound. Do not try to unpack it all today; just take your time and do the essentials like make up your bed and plug in a lamp or two.

I am so excited for you. And thanks for re-posting the Irish Blessing.

You mentioned you were concerned about book shelves for all your books. You know in many of the home magazines now they picture stacks of books on the floor in the rooms.
Your books will find their own place in their own time.

[Fran aka Redondowriter]

Just checking in before I begin a weekend trip -- and I had to smile as I wrote about my own home today.

Good luck in this truly exciting time of life. A new start and we all need that sometimes.

I also wanted to share with you my friend Hazel's retirement after 47 years on the job and even living on the campus. She is an inspiration to me--and I think she might be to other older people.

Thinking of you on the journey.

[millie garfield]

Hi Ronni

Welcome to New England!

I'm looking forward to sharing your adventures and discoveries with you.

Wishing you good luck and many good times in your new place.

[Claude]

Moving in is soooo exciting! I hope Ollie likes the new place. I'm happy you liked my housewarming plate and that everything went so smoothly. You're in for a few tiring weeks, but it's worth it.

[Anna]

Sorry about the Ronnie, Ronni.

[notdotdot]

All the very best to you in your new home and community. May you find (continue to find) happiness and fulfillment in this new environment.

[Joy]

Welcome to your new digs Ronni. Take your time, and love every minute of it. Happy unpacking!

[kathryn magendie]

Portland, Maine - lovely- went there maybe 10years ago, and it's one of my favorite trips I've taken.

I moved to the smoky mountains of Western NC not long ago, ahhh.

Just stopping by, saw your address in the issue of AARP!

[H.A.Page]

You've moved 40 times. Wow. I have a post coming up Tuesday on the oldest house in the US (I'm in Santa Fe) and it got me thinking about my moves...I've only moved 20 times and I'm still catching up to myself after moving to NYC. (and so sorry you left right as I was arriving!)

I've lost the information on the elder community being built here... I'll go back to the library and get it and post it in your comments.

Happy Settling...Cheers.

[Scott]

Hi Ronni, I have a question concerning your Aunt Edith. Did she ever mention that she was a Budweiser Girl? I have an authentic old picture of a Budweiser Girl (circa 1920?)that has written on the back that it is of Edith Daily who in 1924 was the Portland, Ore. Rose Festival Queen. I could send you a digital picture of this for you to see. It is framed in an original Anheuser-Busch frame and is quite beautiful. She is holding a budweiser bottle in one hand and a rose in the other. I would like to know it's history and any help would be appreciated. Thanks