Day 57 - Last Night

I have to admit, I'm a little sad right now. It's like the last cookie on the plate, or the last book in the series, or the last present under the tree, or the last inning of a baseball game... You know it's almost over. What has been planned, anticipated and enjoyed now becomes the past; and the present unfolds into what life was like before. Or does it...?

It is already 11pm as I begin my blogging tonight. We were chatting for hours; we didn't want to go to bed. I should have been packing or sleeping, but it's the last night. I've always been like this. If I stay awake or keep talking, I feel like I have a little more control about what comes next. Of course, I have no control. This day will end; the new day will begin. The rest will end and the work will begin. The pain will end, the joy will return. As I have been reminded many times over these last 8 weeks, God's mercies are new every morning.

And isn't that what I've been telling you (and myself) every night as I write out these words? Getting lost, receiving sad news, climbing a mountain, enjoying a meal, meeting new people. Each day offered more. Why should I expect any different when I am back in my "real life"? Why should you?

The day started out with pancakes! : ) It really has been pretty cool that I haven't had to worry about food - at all - ever - this whole summer! (Note to self - write a grocery list on the plane tomorrow!) The eclipse happened at 9am out this way. We drove to Maple Leaf Park not far down the road. A family who lives around the corner from the park shared that even the 4th of July does not bring this kind of a crowd here. We met: the family from the neighborhood, a sherpa from Nepal, an English teacher from Germany, someone who plays the ukulele... it truly was a communal experience!

Beatrice & I were planning a bike trip, but she did not have a bike or a helmet. (Long story) So, we headed to Gregg's Bike Shop. I got a bike box that will transport my bike back to New York. She got a helmet with MIPS. We came back home for lunch and then we were driven to Gas Works Park to rent a Lime Bike (look it up on google - the Seattle rent-a-bike system). I was being very patient (If I do say so myself) to wait for Beatrice to come up the hills and/or figure out those gears. Well, when we reached the road that we had to take home, no other route would make better sense, she asked if we could switch bikes. Sure, if you need the extra gears (to get up that "little hill" I thought). Whew! No wonder she was slow and gear challenged! Beatrice is taller than I am. This bike was too short. She did not have enough torque on the pedals. I felt like a lanky adolescent trying to get another summer out of his kids bike! We made it to Green Lake (20 minute walk from their house.) and enjoyed our time together, both on the bike and off.

We promised to be home at 6, in time for dinner. (did I tell you that food just shows up here when asked for...my house doesn't work like that!) That morphed into conversation til 11pm. And here I am.

If you're keeping track, I'll try to blog before I leave the airport tomorrow. But if I don't, I'll be flying east starting at 9:30 pm PT. 5 1/2 hours later, I am due to land in New York, 6am ET. I'll let you know when I land. : )

May God open your eyes to the "more" he offers you today!

#PeopleMet #Lessonslearned