June 17, 2005
Believe
Two weeks ago on Sunday, James asked me to marry him, and I said yes.
Actually, I said, "Yes, of course!"
It was very Portland - we were drinking coffee, the dog lay on the floor next to us, and outside, a light rain was falling. There was no getting down on one knee, no big lead up. We were talking about what it means to be a couple, about supporting each other and helping each other past the doubts and through the hard times. So, in that way, it was very us, an everyday conversation leading to a life-changing moment.
It took much calendar-wrangling and discussion back and forth with our respective families, but we settled on a wedding date of October 1st, 2005. It will be a very small wedding, on the beach in San Diego. That's about as much as we've planned so far.
Today, our engagement rings arrived in the mail. Matching silver bands, engraved with the word Believe. That's what we've been doing since we met - believing in ourselves, believing in each other, believing in the power of love and of faith. Belief is a cornerstone of our relationship, and it will be a cornerstone of our marriage and of our lives.
I will continue to share in this space our belief, and our story, and our lives. I hope you continue to read along.
June 05, 2005
Snowballs
Have you ever had the feeling that circumstances of your life were snowballing, carrying you along whether you were ready to go or not? That's how I've felt that past two months or so.
I have said time and again that moving to Portland was the best thing I ever did for myself, and that is truer today than it has ever been.
In late May, James and I moved into a house in the Sellwood neighborhood of Portland.
The house is an older one, as we both wanted, but with an upgraded kitchen and bath. Addie has a small yard to call her own, and has been busy chasing away the squirrels and occasional neighborhood cat. There is a loft that is split almost perfectly in half by the stairs from below, and we have each claimed a side for our "offices." There is a ton of storage in the basement, as well as a washer and dryer. The management company has been very good about fixing all the small problems we found upon moving in.
(If you want my new contact information, and you haven't received an email from me, send me an email from the link on the front page.)
When we want to get out of the house, we have only to walk to the end of the street – about eight blocks – to get to a large park that looks over a reservoir and the river beyond. For indoor activities, we are on the edge of two business districts, with antique stores, cafés, three bus lines, two grocery stores, about three dozen restaurants, and the local branch library within close walking distance. The location places us smack between his workplace in West Linn, and mine in downtown Portland.
Yes, I have a job now. I started off as a temp, working through one of the many agencies in town. Soon, though, I will be a permanent employee of Vestas American Wind Systems. It isn't the copyediting job I might have hoped for, but as the Technical Documentation Coordinator, I'll still be working daily with words on paper.
Last week, we were able to dress up and walk to a nice Italian restaurant a block away to celebrate the "anniversary" of when we met. It hardly seems like only three months since we first set eyes on each other outside the Portland Art Museum. All the things we've done since. From a getaway in Astoria to rafting on the Klickitat River in Washington State, to attending local poetry readings, to just fixing dinner together and spending the evening talking – they have all reiterated our feelings and our commitment to each other. We've packed a lot into a short amount of time!
And we are looking forward to all the many things we will be able to do in the years to come, for the rest of our lives.
