A New Beginning

Today is shaping up to be chock full of meaning.

It is absolutely a new beginning. First order of business: It's time for the Blogging From A to Z Challenge. Hard to believe that nearly a full year has gone by since I heard about this cool endeavor from Lynne and her Winnie Views blog. But, sure enough, when I checked Lynne's site this morning, I saw that she has signed on for the challenge again. This year -- particularly given that I am officially participating -- I intend to get the challenge completed in the allotted time frame.

Ahem.

The second piece of the new beginning is that I gave notice to my landlords today that I'll be leaving my small, well-loved home of nearly four years. I have been itching to move on for about a couple of years now, but have found that a mixture of timing, circumstances, and reluctance to leave what is known and familiar has kept me here. Now, though, it's become abundantly clear that it's time to change things up and go visiting. My hope is that a recreational vehicle is in my near future so I can get that part of the "trippy" under way. Time will definitely tell.

I'm also fond of this date because it is the anniversary of a beloved four-legged being coming into my life. At the time, Elmo was a four-month-old pit bull brought home rather impulsively by my former husband. I hadn't wanted to add another pet to our mix; life seemed full enough with the dog and cat we already had. But when I got home from work that day, I was first greeted at the bottom of the stairs by our rather large adult dog. Following him was Elmo, thumping down the stairs with his too-big paws to say hello. My resolve to not want him melted at the adorable way he maneuvered the stairs in what looked like his first-ever attempt. In that moment he took up a place in my heart that he will always hold. His departure from this world nine years later -- far too suddenly -- happened just three days before the munchkin's entrance. If ever I wonder if I am loved and cared for by a force greater than myself, all I have to do is look at Clifford and know that it is true. A trio of days after losing Elmo, there was an unexpected answer to the deep sadness in the form of a mouse-sized week-old puppy that was placed into my hand. Even though he didn't come home with me for another six weeks, the thought of Clifford was a positive, hope-full aspect of life until he did.

Anyhoo, good things are happening. And it certainly feels good.