After searching for a few hours, while printing more of Barbara, I found a place in Inverness. Inverness? Yeah, why not. I have never been, in the spirit of the mysteries that Barbara holds, why not go where the Lockness Monster hides? I didn't really know what to expect but I booked a place on AirBnB. A few nice email exchanges and I was packed and ready to go. Headed out the very next evening on a late train and was met by the most lovely woman to take me off to my home for the week. She opens the front door and the beautiful wooden stairwell takes me to my room (along with a meet and greet of a cat and dog who look like brother and sister and actually match the furnishings of the beautiful house- the full package, really). A lovely room, huge bathroom and I can already sense the place of relaxation that I had in store. Perfect place to write, correct? What I didn't realize, is while I was trying to get away to find a place to write, I was about to spend some time with some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. I should mention, the last few weeks have been really hard for me on a personal level. I have been missing home, feeling lonely, isolated and even had a birthday that I spent most of the day wandering the streets alone- reflecting on my life. Turning 31.. I don't know what it is about birthdays- but I often get the bIrthday blues and boy did these ones hit, thank God for the dinner I had with a few friends that night because I think I would have been pretty devastated. Anyway back to my current story. I went to bed, I slept a peaceful sleep and got up early for a run. Came back to a glorious breakfast of meats and cheese, fruit, cereal.
As I was working Margaret offered to run to the store for me and pick up some things for my lunch. She was headed out to pick up some other American guests. I was able to have a healthy salad, with chicken and some veggies that I had brought from home. I worked and worked. I didn't realize how long going through each piece would take. Color coding, asking questions, trying to be you know.. 'academic'- I made progress. I began to connect some dots. I took a break and took a walk. My view in the sitting room over looks Moray Firth and is so bright and airy that its just the best place to be in. In the afternoon I met house guest number 1, "Larry from Montana" - note: Easy to remember, because my dad's name is Larry. I continued to work and then later met house guest number 2. Rebecca… which it didn't dawn on me right then an there because I was on the phone making travel plans with my awesome friend and colleague. Once I was done for the day I headed down to socialize with the American guests.. Wait, Larry, Rebecca? My dad and my sister?? Both Americans. Ha. Small world :) Easy names to remember. Although the personalities are very different from my family they were familiar. And familiar helps. We then began cooking and sharing a meal and wine with each other. All strangers from America had to come to inverness to meet. Calum came home shared a dram with Larry and then next thing I knew we were all in the living room chatting until late in the evening. Something in my soul sparked- what was this, community? If you know me, you know that I thrive much better with people than without but I often get so wrapped up in my work that I miss out on the community piece. I went to bed, happy and content, knowing another long day of work was ahead and parts of my soul still needed to be ignited, but I knew I was in the right place to do it.