Turn, turn, turn

50 weeks left
2 pounds lost
47 pounds left
17 (ish) months until the wedding

If you were a choir geek when you were young (like I was) there’s a good chance that you had to sing a *really* bad choral arrangement of the Byrd’s song “Turn, Turn, Turn.” The lyrics of the tune have been running through my head all day (well, they aren’t lyrics, it’s a Bible passage made popular in song. This is the way most people learn the Bible, I fear- through cheesy choral arrangements during those awkward middle-school choir years when your brain stores everything. In a related story, I can also sing you all 50 states and their capitals.)

To everything there is a season. How true this is. It is officially spring here. Finally, spring. If I was going to send J away for year, I’m so glad that he left in the springtime- A much more tolerable time to let one go, while at the same time life is all around returning to the world. I’m without a doubt a creature of the springtime (and summer). I love sunshine beyond what is reasonable. I’ve often said that I’m solar powered (if that was possible, I’d totally do it, by-the-way). If J had left in fall and I had had to head into a dreary, gray, sunless, indoors portion of the year, I fear I’d be generally inconsolable (rather than merely marginally melancholy.)

But that’s not the case. It’s spring here. And this weekend, I was in my favorite of all cities for springtime: Washington, DC. Now, let’s just first say that I have a fascination (mild obsession) with Washington DC any time of year. After living there for several years, I can resolutely say, that the people, the energy, the arts, the food, the power, the politics, the hard work of those who populate the city: I love it all. And yes, I know. I romanticize all things dealing with DC (illustrative footnote: I’ve memorized and can recite for you the first 4 seasons of “The West Wing” because I am wholly convinced that this is really how things work in the White House…or should.) Regardless of my Suzy-Sunshine view on our Capital City, spending the first real weekend of my favorite season in my most favorite city with some of my most favorite people in all the world was just the shot in the arm I have so needed in the last few weeks.

It got me thinking though, about turning, and seasons, and why some relationships have such staying power (season to season, life turn to life turn): How some changes can affect so deeply our relationships, and other changes serve merely as blips on a lifelong radar screen. My DC friends though, they are timeless friends.* I’ve known them 20 years…or some just a few years…lived closely to…or lived with…seen often…seen rarely…but always, always have been able to pick up with just where last we left it. (You know these friends… the ones that ask “how are you doing?” and you can shrug, turn up the corner of you lip in a questioning half-smile, and they know what that means, sometimes when even you don’t. These are friends I’m finding invaluable right now.)

*This isn’t to say that I don’t have timeless friends elsewhere. It’s just that there’s a fairly large contingency of them living in the greater DC area, and it happened to be those with whom I visited this weekend.

DC this weekend was Cherry Blossoms, and theater at the Kennedy Center (performed brilliantly by one of my former students who needed learn absolutely nothing from me whatsoever, but with whom I have developed a delightful friendship and whom I love as dearly as if she was my own.) It was dinner with friends, potlucks with families, days out with children, and sunshine.

J called me today and we got a rare, extended phone conversation (10ish minutes instead of 2). He sounded so good- healthy, content, and in great spirits. It was the first day since he left that he sounded like himself. We laughed, bantered, shared jokes, told stories (e.g. I accidentally ran into Doris Roberts backstage at the Kennedy Center this weekend.)

“You sound so good today, J. The first time you’ve been you since you left. What’s different?”

"I’m finally starting my job. Getting settled. Doing what I came to do. Getting into a routine and staying busy. I’ve turned the first corner.”

Turning. Turning. Turning. All of us.

I stood on the front porch of my friend’s home, sunshine full on my face, breeze blowing, birds chirping, laughing with J today like that he was just in the next room. As I traveled home late this evening, lost in thought, I came to the conclusion that not only is it the beginning of Spring (a new season), but I think it’s the beginning of a new season for us both during this deployment. Each of us, turning a corner into what will be our “normal” for the next few months. And I’ve decided, that at least for now, perhaps while J is gone, springtime can be my mistress.