Teepee

Dave and I have been living out of a teepee in the backyard of my new house in Missoula for the last couple of days. It's been wonderful to go back in time with him, to talk about the youth we spent dating each other ten years ago. It's wonderful to be all the way through it, and realize once again that life does blossom on the other side of heartbreak, where true friendship flourishes.

I have a huge grass field as my backyard. Last night as the sun was setting we went out and watched the deer come through about 20 feet away, staring at us as we delighted in their serene steps, whispering our own secret conversations.

Joanna is wonderful. An hour after we rolled into town, she took Dave and me out to dinner to this quaint outside garden restaurant. She drove us all over the town and pointed out places and things I'll need to know as a new resident. Yesterday afternoon she took us to the forest about five minutes from my house. The three of us enjoyed the smells of trees and open meadows, and ended with an hour sitting next to a perfect river, cooling our feet in its embraces. The sun was hot and I kept surprising myself with the thought, "This is my new home..."


With the river, I sang and sang without restraint.