Dream

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. I thought about him as I went running on a dirt road that cut through nearby equestrian properties and passed a row of ash trees with leaves that are only now beginning to turn yellow and gold. The air was crisp and carried the scent of dry leaves, damp earth and distant storms... It was much like a day more than a year ago, when the sun was low, the shadows long, and my surroundings so unlike the typical that it triggered a memory deep inside of a dream I'd had.

In the dream, I was shopping at a farmers market. As I filled a basket with items for a my holiday dinner, I turned the corner and found my dad standing right in front of me. Without saying a word, I knew he'd built his plane and flew in to take me home. I was so surprised, I let out an involuntary exclamation before throwing my arms around his neck, bursting into tears and waking up.

As I ran that day, the memory came back to me so vividly that I was overwhelmed with longing for my dad. I wanted to be home with my parents. I wanted the life I'd pictured when I was young-- that I'd grow up, get married, and live next door to them. Mom and I would bake together every holiday. My dad would let my kids work alongside him, teaching and teasing the whole time. We'd be close and comfortable and happy.

Instead, I've spent nearly 13 years living hundreds of miles away. While I love our life, and feel we've been blessed to have opportunities to cross paths often, I've never given up that longing. "Living in one another's pocket" as my mom likes to say.

And now it may happen! As of last night, the plan is to have my parents move in with us shortly after Christmas while they get their bearings, save some money and look for a place {hopefully within biking distance}. While combining our resources stands to benefit us all, what I'm really looking forward to is daily walks with my mom, casually trading books with my dad, and all the tiny interactions that only happen when one lives close together. I'm so happy, I could cry!

It's a Christmas miracle. :)

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