The Confirmation

This morning, after everyone left the house for school and work and errands, I found myself alone for the first time since my arrival.

I separated my laundry and wandered down to the basement to put a load of clothes in.

The weather this morning is beautiful and so after doing a few of my own chores, I couldn't resist putting Sweetie on the leash and taking her to the park across the street.

I didn't know at the time that I was about to be hit with a feeling that I will never forget.


Sweetie and I at first just walked the park and she took care of her business. I'm quite impressed with her actually. As a little country dog she is taking to city life quite well.

Anyway, we walked and took in the warm sunshine and the glistening dew on the grass.

We passed a group of kids, no doubt skipping school, that thought Sweetie was cute and she took in all their oohs and aahs and petting. Even in their Goth clothing, she didn't mind, nor was she judgemental of the purple steak in the girl's hair.

Part of Puget Sound runs through the park and it always calls me. This morning I could smell the sea air and so we walked to the rocks along the edge and I found a nice flat one that is a perfect seat. Much to my surprise, Sweetie, who is usually a little dog that is quite curious about all smells and things decided my lap would be the perfect place for her to sit, so I let her.

She and I gazed over the water . We watched the ducks swim by and the gulls fly over. We watched two men float by in a boat. My little dog watched all this as intently as did I. Suddenly without warning the tears flowed down my face. All at once I knew without doubt that I was where I needed to be. The beauty of this area suddenly overwhelmed me. Sweetie turned toward my face and licked my tears. In her wisdom I think she knew at that moment that we were where we were suppose to be for now too.

We sat there listening to the birds, to the cars on the bridge, to the sounds coming from the city, to the little children's laughter playing behind us on the playground and to the bouncing of the basketball where two men played. All new sounds to us but sounds of LIFE. And though I am oblivious to the names of the two bridges we are between or the streets or how to get to any store at all, it doesn't matter at this point in time. It is how it is suppose to be.

Stuck before in a world where I didn't feel as if I belonged, perhaps I have found my place. This is right. Never before have I felt such peace and contentment. All is right in my world at the moment.