Spring-soaked

Pittsburgh is wet with spring, overflowing with muddy rain, misty and glowing and bursting at the tips of its branches. 

My head is ringing with exhaustion.  I sang and played and led worship for SIX services this weekend.  Six.  I am so. tired.  Bed will be delicious. And soon.  Have to unwind.


I took Liz, Samm's sis to the Strip District on Friday for sushi to show off Pittsburgh.  We bought flowers and spread them all through out the living room. We bought gourmet cheese and ate it on the fire escape/"porch" while listening to Yo Yo Ma.  

Here's Liz at our "picnic" which got cold after about ten seconds.  But it was a fabulous ten seconds. 

Here are some flowers we mixed together.  And, of course, had to get daisies.  
In other news... I planted some wildflowers in this happy little orange pot (below) so that when I have a porch/and or garden one day (hopefully in a bout a week) I will have some life to bring with me.  And look.  They are sprouting, the little cuties.  I'm terribly proud.

We went to see The Last Station tonight, about Tolstoy.  I wept.  WAY too close to home, about marriage and the struggle of an being committed to doing art and not getting swept up in comfort.  The film deals with the tensions fairly, showing the need for the love and acceptance of one person and yet the need to do great things "for humanity." I nearly walked out at the beginning because it all felt too raw - the nagging wife, unable to grasp the sacrifices necessary for her husband to make... another house guest I don't know coming... another week with Samm consumed by deadlines... 


But as the story moved, I let it move me, let it calm me.  Let it inspire me to love more and to let go a little bit.  We have a long road ahead of us, for both of us, doing jobs we are so ridiculously lucky to have.  It costs something when you care about what you're doing.  As supportive and life-giving as a partner can be during that - marriage seems to also be the first thing to take the hit when life gets stressful.  We need intimacy, yet it holds us back.  This is good. This is hard.  This is a dance I am learning.