Brighton

We love where we're living for the summer. Brighton is a busy city in Boston Proper, filled with a very eclectic group of people. I love that. It's not predictable. The roads aren't even predictable. I"ll share what my brother says about the road-grids in this part of the country. He reminds us that Boston was one of the first major cities. All the other cities who's roadways are laid out in a more functional way learned from Boston's mistakes. It's part of what makes this city historical and quirky. It is something to get used to. The faster moving traffic, the lurching of the car as you start and stop every few blocks, watching constantly for pedestrians who sometimes obey crosswalks but who always have the right of way. And of course, the confusing way roads are laid out. Thank goodness for a satellite in our car.



We drove 30 hours to get here. The first 'leg' of our trip, we had the dog and cat with us We drove from St. Louie to Greenville. That leg took us 13.5 hours (usually more like 11). My-my ate one too many doritos and 'tossed' them just outside of Chattanooga. Whilst stopping at a chick-fil-a to clean her up, poor thing, Kate the cat made a run for it and ended up hiding in some woods next to the parking lot. Bryan began saying things like, 'We'll never find her. She took off." He doesn't know Kate as well as I do. I did have the thought that maybe we wouldn't be able to find her because she is the same color as the ground under the trees. But I also knew that she is not privy to the outdoors and would merely be sitting under some branches, enjoying the fact that we couldn't see her. Brat. After 30 minutes of calling her name, shaking her container of cat food, and peering through the trees from the lot, we prayed. I decided to go in after her, even though it meant ticks, prickers and poison ivy. I glanced back before stepping through the rough landscape to see Molli sweetly panting and sitting obediently by the car. I could read her thoughts. "I'd never to anything like this." Dogs make so much sense sometimes.

As I looked for my 'needle in a haystack', I prayed that God would just let me see her in the seemingly impossible situation. Just then, she moved slowly. I yelled to Bryan, 'I see her!' He yelled back, 'where?' I yelled, 'on the other side of these prickers!' At that moment I literally asked myself, 'How much does Kate mean to me?' And then I stepped right through, feeling the fresh blood trickle down my arms and legs as my flesh got caught on the brambles. I emerged with my fat house cat, lounging in my arms, and about 50 stinging, itching, welts all over me. Even now, as I type this, I wreak of calamine lotion to stop the spread of a mild case of poison ivy. Thanks Kate. Love you too. Hope you have a great summer in Greenville!

The rest of our driving north was completely uneventful. We were greeted here with such a warm welcome. Bryan's boss's family brought us some furniture and a very thoughtful basket of local goodies, gift card, and quarters for parking meters. Tim and Lacey showed up with beautful flowers, 3 gift cards, and toys for Mya, not to mention dishes, a television, and silverware. What a great way to start off our first night here.

I leave you with this photo of Mya who is able to adjust to any place, as long people she loves are with her.



until next time!