well, we've had a whirlwind two & half weeks since we packed up and left dc behind. lots of errands and loose ends and visiting to wrap up. what an experience it's been to condense all our lives into a door-to-door crate, then into two small backpacks! 
thank you so much to both of our parents who took care of us & let us crash while we sorted out all the last minute details! we love you so much & we couldn't have done this without you! and thanks to all our friends and family who gathered in different places to see us off in so many special ways! (special thanks to emris for that delicious curry on our last night in nyc!) we will miss you all so much!
after an action packed week in nyc, we headed out to the bay area for the wedding of some good friends of ours.
congratulations tamara & wil!! we had a such a wonderful time & we are so thrilled for you! you may not know it, but you both inspired us to pick up and take this huge leap of faith!
we hadn't even left the country before the jokes had begun! on the low low budget tip, we stayed at "the duplex" in oakland...the lovely rental home of our friend joanne. (thanks joanne!) we were happy to have hot water, electricity and a bed that was left behind by former tenants...it sure beat paying $400 for 4 nights in a hotel! except for the shady, late rent-paying, possibly dope-selling tenant downstairs whose antics and flea-infested cat had sent the previous tenants packing (minus their flea-infested mattress set), "the duplex" was great! lol!!
from oakland, it was a long drive down to ventura to see my folks. we started out on the quick route down rte 5, then spotaneously opted to cut across 58 to highway 101...that was a move that cost us a couple of hours in the hot sun driving through the mountains to get to the coast. the scenery was actually quite breathtaking at first...then we got tired of winding around and around & became increasingly aware that we hadn't seen a car in over an hour & there was not even a drop of cell phone reception! here's to taking the road less travelled! we will try to make our motto on this trip!
there's a candle burning in the santa barbara mission for our safe travels. thanks dad and debbi!
Launch Pad to Orbiters . . . Debbi and I loved having you on the "left coast" and sending you off to Tokyo. After we left you at LAX we kept track of time and tried to imagine where you were over the Pacific Ocean.
I was rereading a line of scripture this morning (Monday, 9/11) that seemed appropriate counsel for the two of you: "Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do no hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes." (Isaiah 54:2)
Your home is no longer Washington, DC. It is the world. Your tent is enlarged. Let your relationship be more deeply anchored each day and your stakes will be strengthened. Give each other freedom to grow, to be transformed, and your cords will be lengthened.
God's Peace and Love, Dad David
Posted by: Ronald David aka Dad | 11 September 2006 at 06:34 PM
whassup peoples!!
i miss you already. i am glad to hear the adventures have begun. i have been checking the site daily, although i know you don't have time to write every day...too busy looking for some shelter. hey how can i get copies of the wedding pictures you took? we are putting them all together and would like to include some of yours...wedding of the century huh? oh and what emails are you using these days? inquiring minds want to know. be safe.
with love,
tam
Posted by: tamara | 26 September 2006 at 09:41 AM