She’s From Boston

Dear Mom:

I don’t know if I just have an ear out for them these days or what, but you’ll find a song about Boston just about everywhere! One that my memory failed to drum up until it floated from the radio “Heads Carolina, Tails California” by Jo Dee Messina. One line in her song touches it all for me:

“I’ve got people in Boston, ain’t your daddy still in Des Moines?”

Recently, I’ve heard “She’s From Boston” by Kenny Chesney and my roommate Traci enlightened me with “Please Come to Boston” – apparently sung by a few people.

Speaking of which – someone is coming to Boston. YOU.  Only a few days from now your little glorious self will arrive in The Hub (that’s local speak for Boston. Please make note.) via Amtrak.

I’ve thought long and hard about which things to show you, where to take you, where not to take you. I am certainly eager and anxious to have you here. I hope you are too.

The past month or more has been delightful. My words could hardly explain how much I have loved my time here.  Things are going great with the McEuens. Evan will turn 3 in November and Caleb is going to be 1 in a matter of days! When I first met him, Caleb didn’t even crawl.  These days, he’ll pull himself up in the blink of an eye and walk himself around the entire house – providing there’s a handy ledge or handle somewhere to help! Evan is such a smart boy, learning things and retaining more than I thought a 2 year old could. He’s gotten so good about helping with Caleb, always saying please, thank you and sorry. They’ve both changed and morphed in such a short time.

We take fun little trips whenever we can. Today, we went to the Children’s Museum of Boston with Evan’s friend Colby and his mom. They are the best of friends and could go, go, go all day if they were allowed.  The weather was amazing today, too, so we all had a picnic lunch just outside the museum, right on the water and downtown Boston.  When you arrive, I’ll be able to point it all out so you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

We go to the library all the time, drive over to an industrial park that is right on the water, which happens to be one of my favorite spots.  Logan airport is on the other side of the bay and planes come and go right over our heads non-stop.  It’s amazing to see and count how many planes can be in the air at one time. My favorite part is seeing where the planes are coming from – like France or Ireland or Alaska and Canada. They are almost always different the entire time we’re there. The other day, we came around the corner and saw the BIGGEST cruise boat I have ever seen. Mind you, that was the first and only cruise boat I have ever seen!

A few weeks back, my friend Sarah (from BSU) came to visit for about a week.  She was going to surprise me, but when I had an accidentl week of vacation, she couldn’t sit on the news anymore and informed of when I could be expecting her and where to pick her up. =) It was great to have our first visitor! We roamed around the city, she ventured to see a few other relocated BSU friends (Rhode Island, New York).  While she was here, one of the highlights was going to the Old Crow Medicine Show concert! The night before the concert, we were able to go to a in-store signing and release party for the groups new album. We met them, chatted a litte (the lead singer not only knew where Bemidji was, and referenced Paul and Babe, but he pronounced it correctly!) and we all got signed CDs.

Part of the appeal to Boston, for me, was always the access to music and other experiences I may never have had otherwise. Since moving here, I’ve been lucky enough to see three of my favorite bands/groups/acts:  Old Crow, Crooked Still and Mason Jennings.  Mason’s opener, Zach Gill, instantly won me over and I’m officially a fan of his work!  Crooked Still was seen at an all-weekend Irish festival – so the entire day was full of amazing music and food and beer! And Old Crow had just an amazing vibe and energy to their show that I’ll compare most future shows to them for years to come!

In October and Novemeber, I have a handful of gradute school open houses to go to. Emerson, UMass Boston, Boston College and Boston University. I am considering other MFA programs, but those are the local ones and the ones highest on my list.  This also means that the next few months will be a whirlwind of tuning my work/manuscript, filling out applications and getting them all in by their respective deadlines. This time next year, I fully intend and hope to be lucky enough to be mind deep in a creative writing Master’s program! I can hardly imagine!

Anyways. Everything is most certainly rolling forward and smoothly. I do not pretend to not notice or acknowledge how lucky I am to be enjoying my experience. My roommates are wonderful, I enjoy my job and the McEuens, I am taking in music and shows and other sights I’ve always wanted to and I get to do so with some of my very closest, dearest friends.

And to top it off, you, my dear mother, are on your way to see what life I’ve made for myself out here. And don’t think that my enthusiasm for where I am, dwarfs my excitement for returning home in a few short months for Christmas in Minnesota. I tingle with anticipation.

I love you very much. Share these words with dad. Travel safe and bring walking shoes.

From here to there,

mp

Damn.

Dear Mom:

You must promise to forgive my gaps in letters. I swear I have good intentions. Please don’t refer me to the quote about the road to hell.

The quickest update:

Traci and Shani have landed in Boston.

We work hard everyday trying to tackle our ‘urban chicness’ and blend with the locales.

Learning the Boston accent is the best part.

We have moved into our new apartment.

It is amazing.

I swear this week I will take pictures and write a better, more detailed letter.

I love you every day. I miss you and everyone.

Love you from here to there.

-mp

Get Excited

Dear Mom,

Well, has long as it has been, I wish there were more exciting things to be relaying on this beautiful August day in Boston.  Though, that in itself is something to be happy about: it’s sunny, but not too hot, not gray and not rainy (though still, as an avid sweater, I personally enjoyed the rainy,cool run that the East Coast has last week).

I guess I haven’t had that urge to write when there haven’t been mountains of adventures to send word about. My days are the same: wake up and head to the train, celebrate if I get to sit during my commute, still feel happy if I have to relinquish my seat to someone who needs it.  Evan and Caleb are doing great. We are definitely getting into a routine and comfort zone with everything. We go to the library once a week to find new books; Thursday is playgroup date at a local church (probably more of a reprieve for me than them!), we try to catch up with Evan’s BFF Colby once a week or when time allows, and we’re always walking or taking a train ride somewhere!  I used to have to prod Evan to say “Good Morning!” – but nowadays, he usually beats me to it with the signature, perky tone a 2 year old can muster in the AM. His “Marfa” is *nearly* and *almost* as endearing as my nieces and nephew. Though of course, not quite.

My highlights have included, but are not limited to, the following:

-I FINALLY got my Zipcard in the mail. This will *finally* allow me to reserve a car for an hour or two or 10 if and when and where I need it. It will come in exceptionally handy with moving and picking up Traci and Shani from the airport. I highly recommend Zipcar to anyone who doesn’t ‘have a car but finds themselves in a city in which the business operates. And if you’ll let me refer you, we can BOTH get driving dollars for our accounts! Wooot!

-The apartment search is officially and finally and wonderfully OVER. After over a MONTH of setting up meetings and phone calls and walking near and far (mostly far) and getting lost and finding my way – Traci and Shani and I will call Somerville, MA home for at least the next 12 months.  It is near where I currently reside, in Davis Square and is in a great neighborhood.  I just now sat down after walking from our new address to the train station to see what it would be like. Very quiet area, right next to an el0ementary school.  We are above excitement to get in, get settled and get living. (Look for pictures ASAP.

-My friend Bud came up from Providence last weekend – and it was very much needed.  As much as I adore Evan and Caleb – there is something to be said about adult interaction and conversation and just simply being with a familiar, comfortable friendly friend! We started our day at the Fisherman’s Feast in the North End- it’s a big Italian food festival to celebrate a blessing of the fishing fleet (or somethign along those lines) and I had my very first rice ball. Very good!  After that, we tried to get to the Samuel Adams Brewery – but they were full by noon! Then we ventured to Forest Hills Cemetary – WHAT  A PLACE! A handful of notable authors are laid to rest there, and its over 200 acres that feel more like a rambling, hilly park than a cemetary. I experienced my first willow tree – it was wonderful! I highly anticipate going back soon!  At the end of our day or roaming the city, we caught up with 2 other displaced BSU-ites that now call Boston home. the ‘Jakes’ live near the bay and we spent the remainder of the night catching up with them, sitting in a “Little Italy” like neighbor hood singing on the streets (Jake J is going to Berklee in the fall and BOTH Jakes are wonderful musicians!) And at midnight, on our way home, they showed us a 24 HOUR PASTRY SHOP!!!!!!!! How EPIC is that?! I had an oreo-looking cake treat and a cream cheese brownie. OYE!

I think the good part about Bud’s visit was the conversations – we’re both up to our elbows in wonderment about what comes next in terms of careers and livlihood. I enjoy being a nanny – I just know it’s not what i want to do for years to come.  I’ve already begun looking at the MFA programs in the area and am eager to dive into them and see what they are all about.

-Exactly ONE WEEK FROM SUNDAY – Traci and Shani will ARRIVE in BOSTON! I am *thrilled* to have local friends to flitter to and fro with, finding and experiencing new things!

I find some of my thoughts floating back to BSU – as this is move in weekend. I can’t help but to acknowledge how bittersweet it is to not be there and be involved. All the same, I am still happy to be here, in Boston, figuring out where I can be involved. I have looked into a few places that are needing volunteers – I am missing that part of Bemidji – all the little opportunities that arrose to help and make a difference. I’ll find them here, too, I know.

Things are good and I am well. I hope this letter finds you in the same condition.

Share this letter with dad. Enjoy the last days of summer. Before you know it, you’ll be doing your yearly trek to Texas and writing me about all your sunny days.

I love you.

From here to there.

-mp

Obsession

Dear Mom,

I don’t think it has anything to do with you, but ever since I was little, I’ve loved typing…properly, that is.  Sure, you were adement about using the home row – but I do proclaim I honed my skills on my own. Much like a math teacher would drill their children with proper theroms and equations – they either have it or they don’t. If that makes any sense…

So – when a friend sent me this game – I got hooked immediately.  Go figure. You should try it and let me know what you think.

Hint: if the game stops you from continuing and tells you that you have to fix a word – type ONLY that word or it won’t let you go on.

Have fun! =)

Typing Game

7/27

Dear Mom and Dad:

Happy Anniversary.  I love you.

From here to there…

And all that Jazz…

Dear Mom:

I’ve added a few pages, jazzed things up a bit, and made big plans – I just don’t know it yet. I bet you’re new to blogs – so explore my page and familiarize yourself with its epic features.  They’ll change periodically and I expect nothing but astute observations on your behalf. (YOU, too!)

Love from Here to There…

♥

Dark Room…

Dear Mom,

Today, I tried to think about all the things I could offer you, to try to help you worry less and enjoy more.  It doesn’t do you any good and it certainly doesn’t do me any good having you worry or sick or any combination of the two.

I keep thinking that, sooner or later, you’re just going to discover this confidence within yourself – about me and my ability to live and live well.  With all the things you could spend your time worrying about – I am surprised that an educated woman like yourself worries about whether or not I have sheets for my bed or whether or not the people I work for have my contact information.  Do you doubt your child rearing abilities that much?

Perhaps there are greater or smaller things that elude the both of us – but my list is as follows. Please take it to heart – as it comes only from mine…

Things To Really Worry About:
-the small child who wondered from car to car asking for spare change.
-the middle aged son who wrestled the liquor from his elderly father’s back pocket, for just a swig, and then put it back.
-the old woman who hunches over at the waist from such gnarled and twisted bones and spine; who sits in the train station everyday along side her life’s possessions in a shop & save bag. Whether I see her at 9am or 9pm – she is there, alone.
-the girl, barely older than me if at all, who cried silently in the corner of the train the whole way home. i ached with hope that she had someone to go home to.
-your sons and whether or not they are acting the way brothers should act
-your daughters in law and if you’re doing all you can to melt their lives, families into your own – the way your mother did.
-your eldest daughter and if she’s found her happiness
-your youngest daughter – but please – worry only that’s she’s happy and alive. The rest will take care of itself.
-your husband and how you interact with him these days, these years
-yourself – who you may have been years ago, who you may be tomorrow and the gift of knowing what you can change and what you cannot.

You’ve both armed me well for whatever it is you’re fearful these streets may throw my way.  I’m not so naive to think all my days here will be adventurous and shiny – I’m just fool-hearted enough to hope for more of those days than the other kind. And I’m experienced enough to know my worst day is probably far better than I’ll ever realize. My happiness comes when I do realize such a blessing and recognize it before it’s too late.

I’d rather you ‘waste’ your time sourcing your happiness, than anticipating my troubles.

I love you mother. Father, too. Share these words.

Love from here to there…

Rainy Days and Thursdays

Dear Mom:

It has been raining here pretty steady for the past couple of days.  I’d like it more if the porch wasn’t merely a deck that allowed rain to drop straight through to where I’d like to sit and take it all in.  Still, I like when its dark and I don’t see the rain – but I catch a slight sound of it.  That’s when I turn the TV off and turn my music up (most likely from my computer) and just listen.  The thunder rumbles low today, like its just above our roof.

Storms always make me think of the old house and its huge wrap around porch; the swing in the corner, the old church pew on the other side and you, me and dad sitting in porch chairs.  Maybe some lemonade, too.  That’s the kind of porch I’m missing.  You too, of course.

Love from here to there,

mp

My First Road Trip

Dear Mom,

My first road trip here in the Northeast…wasn’t really a road trip at all. It was a train trip. And a good one at that.

I went to Rhode Island. (Neither a Road nor an Island. Ponder…)

It was a great place to visit. In some weird way – you become aware that you are in a much smaller, cozier place.  Believe it or not, in the state that is (I think) the smallest – they spread out more there – they aren’t afraid to claim their own little slice of grass or field or rolling sky.  It was reminiscent of home; there, just like home, you feel like you can stretch out.

I took a trip to the ocean which, incidently, is always a short drive away. The waves were sizable and they were red.  The sea weed there is red – but don’t ask me why.  I swear – I am still finding some with every shower.  Sand, too.

Awkward.

I came back to Boston Tuesday morning.  No – it doesn’t quite feel like home yet – not sure it ever will.  That said, it still had a comfortable feeling; I knew I was at the end of my train ride when I got here. It’s nice to have a place like that – wherever it is.  And I like being where the trains head and the planes land.

I’ll be moving into the temporary apartment sometime soon. Its a great place – I’ll share pictures soon.  Below this letter – you’ll see pictures of Rhode Island.

Share this letter with dad. Hope all is well in Osakis with the visitors. I’m sure you’re ready for a long nap!

With love from here to there,

mp

♥

First meal in Providence was at this hot dog joint. SO good!

We didn't eat here. But it's funny. Right?

Me and the beach.

A Good Moment

Dear Mom:

It seems I am caught in a moment I do think even you could enjoy. Between the harbor and bay at my back and, in front of me, the corner Irish Pub overflowing with eager suits anticipating the weekend ahead – I haveclaimed a corner to myself, full of relative home-like sentiment. Fearful of the admitted consumerism I am victim to – I am still happy to tell you I found my way to a Panera restaurant.

On the menu they are introducing a new recipe of soup – Chicken and Wild Rice. Though I would prefer it have been served hotter – the tepid temperature didn’t hinder my ability to lick the bowl clean. (Please don’t be embarrassed Mom. I did not actually lick the bowl clean. I have reserved such behavior for our future reunions; all tucked in at home between our quiet dirt road and reed friendly waterfront.)

I have become obsessed with peeking at the lives around me. And they swarm here, Mom. It’s exhilarating at times. Just now, en route to this moment, I walked amid thousands of people. Its funny to see how they flock and react to their immediate environment; at the change of a street light or traffic signal, dozens will silently resolve to change direction together, at the same time. Imagine the potential of such a powerful decision; of those movements.

If you stare too long, you will be the one left in the middle of the intersection, imploring the hurried drivers to have pity on your soul as you make a hasty decision where to go next, which direction to choose for yourself. Here, if you catch it at the right time, you can see all the currents meet and rush together to keep cities like this charged. There are currents swirled by time, by money, by ambition, by despair, by desire, by force, by resentment, by so much more, and by so much less. It is exhilarating, yes. And at times, too, it is overwhelming.

To my left there was uncountable numbers of souls and heartbreaks and, I hope, flourishing dreams. And to my right, a rather unexpected stretch of wild flowers, seemingly unaware that they deserved more than their urban lit existence, or maybe content and happy anyways. I am, I suspect, caught between those realms myself. And for now, during moments like these and others, I am enjoying it and thankful for it. To be caught in a current, to determine where it is this wave of experience is taking me, to discover what it is that is behind my swirled movement – that is something I’ve craved and something I have waited for.

With love from here to there,

-mp