No Place Like Home

I arrived home to a fully furnished new home. The pictures were hung on the walls, which were freshly painted. New curtains hung in the dining room – sheer panels of purple, turquoise and gold. A new leather sofa courtesy of Wendy and Edith rested against the living room windows. Mayra and Natta playfully taped one of my bras overtop of the bare breasts on one of the paintings and Lucy made a Welcome Home sign to which all of the helpers contributed a signature. Edith bought plush plum towels and John put in a new sink and a piece of wood to ramp an abrupt drop between the kitchen and dining room and he is coming back on Saturday to see what else he can fix.

There was a large and enthusiastic workforce by all accounts, which was led by Edith, Kathy and Wendy who were also the Welcome Home Committee, making sure I had food, a shower and a high enough toilet so the transfer to the wheelchair is easier. Oh, yes and my wheelchair is now swathed in leopard skin.

It is impossible to describe how it feels to come home to a HOME you’ve never seen and have it feel like home. It’s as nice a place as I’ve lived my whole adult life and so festive and colorful! It’s impossible to describe how it feels to know so many people were there for you, chipping in. It’s impossible to give enough credit to my “moving captains” who think of absolutely everything and there’s no amount of thanks that feels sufficient.

Mayra and Natta are organizing a Mexican dinner complete with FIREDANCING to thank everyone so that’s a start! Next week Kris will begin the task of organizing the kitchen and closet and Mac and I will nail down plans for our next trip!

Mac is loving his internship with a local legislator and is already working on writing a bill! He is finishing of his sophomore credits and if all goes according to plan he’ll be junior at Berkeley this coming fall and continue working at the State senator’s office. Life is good as the t-shirt says.

It’s great to be home.