The Yankee Hangs Pictures

Saturday I ran errands. Of my long list, I managed to pick up three things: two candles and a picture hanging tool. Everything else was either out of stock or not quite what I wanted. I guess three things wasn't a totally unsuccessful afternoon. For one thing, it meant I could finally hang my pictures.

I'd seen the InstaHang advertised on TV, and I briefly looked at it weeks ago at Bed Bath and Beyond. It wasn't outrageously expensive, so I picked it up. It works! At least it works on wallboard and studs. It doesn't work so well on concrete, which comprises a significant portion of my available wall space. I'll need to talk to the facilities folks on campus when it comes time to hang pictures there. When I have pictures to hang.

I don't have much in terms of photos and such to hang: a portrait of my parents, one of my brother's kids, two pictures from my summer in Germany, a photo of the ship of my first Windjammer cruise, my Education for Ministry certificate, and two unframed, signed Jamie Hayes prints. It took less than 30 minutes to hang the five photos and the certificate--the ship and the certificate in my office and the rest in my entry area. I know just where I want to hang the prints, but they need frames first. I also want to find one of the Monet Rouen Cathedral prints for the living room.

Why did it take over six months to hang pictures? In part I didn't, and still don't, have a clear concept for my living room. It also means a commitment to a place. Putting holes in the wall makes a statement about intention, "I'm going to be here for a while." I moved into my last apartment intending only to stay a short while and ended up living there for over seven years. I never hung anything on the walls. In fact, I didn't hang anything on the walls of my two apartments before that one. Neither of them was meant to be long-term either.

Putting holes in the wall seems a bit like putting down roots. Seems? Can you see the hesitation? I came down here to take a new job. Six months in, I'm still learning the job as it is and as it will be, but it's starting to feel less... well, less temporary. Now that I'm beginning to get the job under my belt, it's time to be more intentional about getting out to build my new community and opening my home to my new community.

I guess it's time to put more holes in the wall.

The Yankee Does Fall Things

Indian Summer returned to Northern Virginia today with temperatures reaching 70, but today it finally smells like Fall. We've experienced some Indian Summer days, and we've survived Sandy and the chilly temperatures of the resulting Frankenstorm. Any time now we expect the arrival of below average temperatures, which should stick around for a few days. But today, the 12th of November, it finally smells like Fall.

Like last year, we got blasted by the weather just before Halloween, but many celebrations took place as scheduled. A colleague here at the Seminary invited me down to her house in Old Town for their annual open house. I went early to help her prepare. I enjoyed immensely having social time off hill, i.e., off campus. Although fewer people showed up than expected, we had a good time admiring the children, and not a few adults, in their costumes and handing out candy. A couple of us went up to Lee Street to see the decorated houses and watch the crowds of costumed people. My colleague's husband said it didn't match the scale of previous years, but given the fact that Sandy gave Alexandria a serious, though glancing, blow just two days before, not surprising.

I walk most days, and walks through the Seminary grounds give me lots of flora and fauna to observe. Over the past few weeks I've seen some brightly colored trees, but many seemed to turn brown drop their leaves in a matter of a couple of days. Sandy stripped others. The oaks and the Japanese maples have hung on to their leaves, just like back home. I doubt they will dump them by Thanksgiving, but I could be wrong. With so many oaks, we have had tons of acorns. In fact, I'm surprised that I haven't been hit by one given the number of oaks. During Mom's visit she picked one up and opened it. I'd never actually looked inside one before, and it looked to both of us very much like a small, shelled walnut. The squirrels have stored lots of them, but they still appear sleek rather than fat. Perhaps we are in for another mild winter.

And of course, I voted. This was only the second time in my life that I waited in line for more than a couple of minutes to cast my ballot. The last time was in 2008 when we elected President Obama the first time. It was also the second time I've voted anywhere but in Connecticut. The first being the year I lived in Madison, Wisconsin while attending graduate school at the University. Even so, I spent less than an hour and 15 minutes total, including drive time to and from the polling station. Time passed fairly quickly because I stood in line with a handful of other Seminary folks. The poll workers were good about asking if anyone wanted to check if they were at the right polling station. They had information sheets about the two Questions on the ballot. And they had blank sample ballots, as opposed to the completed sample ballots being passed out beyond the 100 foot line. The workers in the room where we actually voted kept things running smoothly.

Election night several of us gathered at the house of another colleague. We expected we would go to bed still not knowing the results of the balloting. We were surprised and elated (well, most of us were elated) to watch the networks, including Fox News, call the race for the President well before midnight and Governor Romney concede not too long after midnight. No hanging chads this time around, although Florida didn't complete counting until Saturday.

The Seminary also has its Fall events. Convocation takes place at the beginning of October, and the Board of Trustees meets in early November, although they are meeting a little later this year. Both of those kept me busy with preparations and ongoing hospitality.

I have been busy this Fall. But today, 53 days into the season, it finally smells like Fall.