At home in Spokane . . .

We are settling into our new home in Spokane, somewhat in the suburbs to the south of the city, an apartment complex with views of pine trees and a winter landscape. Each day we stroll past a pond just now covered partly by ice to see if the mallard ducks are at home. The houses are all gray, the sky is gray, the trees are bare. They say spring comes in late March. Some mornings the fields bristle with white ice. But inside our new place, we've begun to unpack books and put prints and textiles up on the walls. I'm cooking again (and writing), internet is up, and a somewhat normal life resumes.

Highlights for this week (aside from seeing Canada geese fly in large arcing circles): Rachel and Nick (with cello colleague John) played Mozart's Divertimento in E-flat for Violin, Viola and Cello (K563) at the Spokane Symphony's Chamber Soiree. Ah, beautiful! They played with verve and balance, intense feeling and discipline. What a delight and privilege to be in the audience. Rachel's love of Mozart came through in her comments: she made us look at this well-known piece with fresh eyes. Altogether a lovely evening of chamber music.

On the road again . . .

I'm remembering how we felt when our laptop was stolen so many months ago in southern Peru, just after crossing the border. A sense of violation, of things taken apart and not easily patched back together. Distrust in the most common situations. I'm feeling that way again, only this time, I can't just run to the computer store and replace a laptop.

So I'm not driving in the dead of winter 4,000 miles from Philadelphia to Spokane. Allen's doing very well after the stroke, but his stamina is limited to fifteen minute shots. I keep thinking what could I do if something happens when we're in, for example, the wilds of the Texas Panhandle.

Allen says we should not make decisions based on fear. How does he know me so well? So we're flying. Southwest. Two bags each free. The car will be shipped or transported or whatever they do coast-to-coast with cars. No stops in the many places we love, New Orleans, Tucson, Corvallis, Dallas, Portland. But home and safe by January 15. As safe as one can be. And I'm still working on patching things together.