First Guest

Anna Maria knows my philosophy about home as a gathering place, so she had no qualms about asking if a friend could use my apartment for recording, as it would be quieter here than at her house with her and the girls there. I gladly said yes, but also asked that she please let him know that I hadn't unpacked things yet and to be sure the clutter wouldn't bother him. And I asked her to turn up the heat, show him where the coffee pot, cups and kitchen stuff was and said, "Please tell him to help himself to whatever he needs." And I left for work -- not really understanding just who was to be my guest. Hence my first guest came the first week I was here, someone I've never met and still haven't met, except for a note left on my table, something to the effect of, "Thank you for letting me use your home." There was also something about the comfortable working space and "And thank you for letting me use your coffee mug." Somehow he DID understand that I really did want him to feel at home, and welcome. So Anna Maria must have communicated my desires very well.
Except for the note, however, I'd have never known he was here. He returned everything to its proper place and was a respectful, gracious guest. After checking Steven's blog tonight though, I came to understand a bit more about that guest. Steven wrote, "Singer, musician, and designer, David Stith, . . . came to visit (our home) . . . .David asked me to create some publicity photos for his new album (to be released on Sufjan Steven's label Asthmatic Kitty)."
Below is one of Steven's photos...and now I'll have to see if I can get a copy of his CD.




Since Dave came, I've had other guests. My daughter and her family, and a couple friends. I hope that they are just the beginning of a steady stream. Home just isn't home, unless it's a place where people gather.

The Guardian

This photo is a still taken from one of my son-in-law's video projects. I can play that video again and again, and each time I still love it. This photo by itself reminds me of that video. Because the photo has been aged to make the lion look ancient, this photo also makes me think of Aslan in the book, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In front of that is a gift from my friend Dana, and it says, "May the Lord bless you and keep you. . ." When I talked about setting up this area near my front door, AM said, about the lion, "like a guardian." Ah yes, that summed up my thoughts well. The lion reminds me most of all of The Guardian of our Paths, the one who blesses and keeps us. So this display serves as a reminder that I don't go anywhere alone. In fact I often pause here, on my way out of the house, say, "Here we go, God. I don't know what's going to happen next, but I know you're going with me. "

And the basket? Well it's the guardian and keeper of the daily necessities -- house and car keys, receipts for filing later, my running watch . . .

My Gang

Unfortunately I couldn't get a good view of this entire wall. In the center of this group are three photos of the girls, one when Sam graduated from the womb, one when she graduated from high school, and one when she graduated from single life to married life. In all three, AM is on the left and Sam on the right. And my family photo wall has always had AM and her crew on the left, and Sam on the right.

That changed at Christmastime, however, when both girls gave me framed photos from Sam's wedding last fall. Now the "wall" has expanded to include Sam's husband Chad. Some of those photos are displayed on bookshelves at work, but I have a couple good ones here as well. And since I can't get a good photograph of that end of the wall, y'all will just have to come see them for yourself.

A Special Space

As I was moving from Staunton, Magdalena patted and hugged the radiator and wide window sill in front of the window in my bedroom and said, "Hmmmm, I wish these could go with us."

Alas! I, too, knew the girls would need a special place at Gramma's new space and wondered what might fulfill the need. A friend of Anna Maria's sold me this wooden computer desk, and it fit perfectly between my bookshelves. And a baseboard heater is behind the desk, in front of the window to keep them warm and toasty (don't worry! I pulled the desk out far enough to allow efficient heating). With the pillow, Magdalena is happy as can be sitting on the desk, with her back to the bookshelves. Eliza loves sitting on the chair at the desk. The two girls have already spent hours coloring, reading, eating, and creating projects there.

Honey Suckle Johnson

That's Honey Suckle sitting on my bed. Eliza named the bear, which Magdalena gave me so I'd have "someone to snuggle with" at night.

AM Tries a Bit of Exercise

Anna Maria thought she'd try a push-up on my exercise ball and, later, tried a sit-up, but before she rolled out to the push-up or sit-up positions...
Maggie decided she should work out with weight.

And soon there was a pile of giggly girls...

Ready for Company

Now that everything is in its place, I'm ready for company...

Great 9-Miler yesterday . . .

I am now in serious training mode for my upcoming Half Marathon, so there's no photos of yesterday's run. But it was a great one--not horrifically fast (about 10:54 mile pace, I think), but a good, solid, steady-state run.
The neat thing about most runners is that they support one another. All goals, small or big, fast or slow, long or short, receive kudos and encouragement. Sometimes that's in word, and sometimes it's in deeds -- like yesterday when the 63-year-old secretary of the running club ran 6 of my 9-mile-run alongside me. In the past I've done my long runs in segments -- run 20 minutes, walked one; run twenty, walked one . . . I just haven't been able to settle into a proper long, slow distance pace. But yesterday, with Butch pacing me, I did it -- I only stopped twice, once to remove my jacket and the second to suck a gel.
And with that pace locked into my head, I was able to maintain that first 6 mile pace, once I headed on alone to finish my run.
I also received encouragement in words from my virtual running partner, who is still slogging away in snow, ice and cold in upstate New York. After hearing my 9-mile story, he said he thinks that I have improved so much that I'll now beat him in Charlottesville, although he hasn't been timing his runs so he's not real sure about that. What I know, however, from experience, is that all his training in snow and cold is paying off more than he knows. He may be slow right now, but get him down here in warmer weather and dry ground, and he'd be amazed at just how many dividends he's earned through his winter runs.

Mandalas

Daughter Anna Maria was teaching me and her girls how to make mandalas a few weeks back. The first time I tried I just got very agitated and frustrated. Finally I flipped the paper over and started again. Anna Maria approved. She something to the effect, "If you don't like what you're doing just start over." The process is supposed to help you relax and center down. On the second stab I actually got into it and began to have fun. The finished project is in the bottom photo (Photographs by Stephen David Johnson).

Evening Commute

Mountain Bowl

Just a couple views from my new apartment the other morning as I headed out to work. The mountains form a rim surrounding the apartment, and the view is unpredictable. It all depends on the mood of the wind currents, the jet streams and the weather both produce.

Between "somewheres and somewheres else"

After snapping photos of The Champion (next entry), a friend and I went exploring. Later, if I remember right, he said he'd learned we'd been on Walker's Mountain. Well, wherever we were, this is a couple snapshots taken from the above bridge.

Knightly Hill Bridge

This is a 1915 Champion, as the plaque shown below states. This was a recent Virginia DOT restoration project.

The Middle River, as viewed from the bridge.

Another Move...

Though moving is never easy, this one was probably the easiest. The kids and their kids arrived around 11, and the truck was loaded by 2ish, I think. Steven left with the truck, and Anna Maria, the little girls and I cleaned the Staunton apartment. By the time Anna Maria arrived in Broadway, the truck was nearly unloaded. By the time I got there, the unloading was done. Two of my new neighbors helped unload. Those little girls can sure haul boxes, and for little Maggie, hauling boxes down the Staunton stairs meant lifting her little legs knee high repeatedly. But she did it and never complained. When she awakened Sunday morning though, she rolled over and said, "Oooh! my cheek by my hip hurts!" The sore muscles didn't last too long though.