Back Here in Tucson

After 2 years of living in Andover, Massachusetts I now find myself back in Tucson. When we first left 2 years ago it was our hope to return within a year. It has taken us two years instead and during that time I started to settle into my life in New England. It felt good to be back near my family again. During that time, I fell in love with New England again. So much has happened since then and now here I am in  new house in new neighborhood unpacking boxes.

 

It was a whirlwind drive across the country with little to no time to access the Internet, let alone blog. We left Connecticut on August 22nd and drove all day until we reached Fairmount, WV. I was driving across country with my friend, Kathryn and my pets, a little dog, named Blossom, and my two cats, Breezy Boy and Sweet Bonnie Blue Eyes. I did not want to subject them to the airplane flight. Plus, it sounded like a grand adventure. Kathryn is a birder like me, so that made it even more fun. Our route to West Virginia took us through Maryland and so we made it a point to stop there and count birds at least once since I did not have even one bird species listed for that state. We found a place called "Fort Frederick" right off the interstate and spent about an hour birding there. From West Virgina (the state without a straight road anywhere) we drove to Kentucky where we spent two nights visiting my son and his wife and my little granddaughter. It was a nice break for all of us before the final push onward. On Saturday night we were in Texarakana, Arkansas. Sunday night found us in Odessa, Texas and Monday night we arrived here in Tucson.  We drove, ate, checked in, unloaded pets, ate supper, returned to our rooms, fell into bed, arose the next day to reload the car and do it all over again. Mile after mile fell away until we were almost here. I drove the last 2 hours of the trip and as I saw the Santa Rita Mountains come into view I felt my emotions welling up inside. The sun was setting in the west and curtains of rain fell in front of a golden sky which splintered out in dazzling rays between the sheets of gray.

 

Once I get my regular computer up and running I will have pictures and stories to tell. For tonight I just want all of my regular followers to know that we did arrive safely in Tucson Monday night. The movers arrived yesterday and unloaded our stuff. We unpacked boxes like banshees and fell into bed exhausted. This morning Kathryn and I went out to breakfast, then I took her to the airport and we said good-bye. While I still have lots of boxes to unpack and things to organize I am finally getting some time alone to process everything and to think.

 

Many people have asked me if I like my house and if I am glad to be back in Tucson. The answer is, I don't know yet. I need some time to process all my emotions and feel what it is like to be back. I can tell you that I bought a new bird bath on my first morning here at the new house and that there is a mourning dove nesting in the rafters of my covered patio roof! I love the area of Tucson that I am living in and I can see the Tucson, Catalina, and Rincon Mountains from my balcony. I am a bit farther away from my beloved Santa Rita Mountains but I can see them when I drive around town. I have yet to visit them.

 

I do not think I will set up such elaborate bird feeders here as i have already seen pigeons and white-winged doves flying overhead and I do not want to attract them to my yard. Once I am settled I plan on setting up my hummingbird feeders and I may try a thistle seed feeder. However, if it attracts nuisance birds I will take it down. I do have lots of lizards in and around my yard and I hope to have some time to photograph a few soon. We should get our other computer up and running this weekend, then I will post more photos and stories from the trip.

 

Other than that, the dog and cats are adjusting to their new house as am I. I felt the desert wind on my face this evening as the full moon rose in the sky. I feel like I am in a time warp and I have just driven back into the dream of a life I once had. Now this is my reality and the life and the house I left behind are the dream. Today I thought about the new young couple who live in my old apartment and I wonder if they are enjoying it as much as I did. Once again I find myself letting go and reaching for something new Back Here in Tucson.