...may lead you to new paths

At least, that was part of what I picked up from Nikki's grandma tonight while I was in the kitchen.
I've been in Boston now an entire week, and the time has really flown. I'm sure Nik, and her lovely family have grown tired of me, but I'll be jetting through the wild blue yonder on Tuesday eve soon enough.

Our time together this week has been pretty magical and opening. I learned more classic rock and she learned more country. I got to see Beantown. -> I'm really very interested in this idea of a city with flora, and Chicago has very little to offer in the way of a Commons.

So, here come the highlights. It'll be a long post, but completely worth it.

I have:

Gone to the MFA and nabbed an out of this world catalog called Rhythms of Life, British Prints 1914-1939
-There was a great exhibit of Art Nouveau jewelry, and a small showing of Winslow Homer (who I hadn't gotten enough of from the AIC show). I was also greatly impressed by a grouping of opaque water colors from India.
Eaten fried dough (apparently very big on the East Coast, essentially funnel cake without the holes)
Lounged in Boston Commons (gorgeous!)
Waded in the frog pond with children
took a ride on the swan boats :)
collected roses from the community gardeners
visited OLD cemetaries
seen possibly the best work John Singer Sargent ever did, located at the top floor of the old portion of the Boston Public Library (free!)

Eaten a most delightful dinner with old and new friends at a wonderful place called Vee Vee (this includes the BEST dessert I have ever consumed)

Made a nacho feast for Nik's family, with her help (8 avocado guac of my secret recipe)
listened to some Fats

I will:

eat pizza NE style
have my first canoli

This weekend was great for both of us. I met up with my friend Benjamin, from couch surfing. He and his grandfather hosted us on Cape Cod, along with five others. I had my first taste of NE clam chowder (delish!), scallops, and clams. Revisited my love for bananas foster and port, then chatted for hours. Saturday we were all up bright and early, as Benjamin's grandfather, Alfred or "fred", took us on a two hour boat ride to Provincetown. Two hours, a bag of salt-water taffy, box of fudge, and the best gelato ever, it was back on the boat to beat a squall home. On the way we sunbathed, learned about piloting boats, and stopped to swim in the ocean.* Then it was back to the house to fix a monsterous feast for 9.

Including:

mashed potatos
spinach
scallops
burgers
curry stirfry
rice
shrimp (which I shelled and de-veined by hand)-it was fun :)

afterwards there was tea and cookies and the olympics.

*I was a bit afraid to swim but in the end decided that 8 other people wouldn't let me drown, so I jumped off the boat with a yelp and swam around in the briney, warm ocean.

Tomorrow, Nik and I have some celebrating to do. The destination? Walden's Pond. Nature, self sufficency, and swimming. After that it's TO THE NORTH END for pizza and canoli, and maybe a haircut.

Conclusion:

It's all a grand life, really. And I'm pretty sure I finally understand the meaning of, "Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship".

On the road again!

After Wisconsin, I pulled into home (Iowa) for a few days and stayed on the farm (my home). Later I met with my massage therapist friend, introduced her to couchsurfing.com, and learned about the "underground art/healing movement" in north central Iowa. Who would have thought that a drum circle was so close?!
Then it was back to Chicago via Greyhound, work and meetings for a week. One of which was an interview at the Chicago Conservation Center, which happens to be the leading conservation firm in the Nation. They do both public and private work, as well as disaster relief.
At this current moment, I'm sitting in Clarion, Penn., the farthest east I've been to date. (Until tomorrow!) I'm official co-pilot on an excursion to the Holy Land known as Boston, with the holiest of missons. To restore my good friend of four years, Nikki, to her home and loving family.
I won't lie. I'm torn up. Really sad, and regretful of many things. But it's all a very yogic experience. Loss and gain. Uncertainty and reaction.

The only problem is, I'm more attached to this world that the Buddha was, at least...for the next two weeks.

*updates later may include: Boston, Philly, D.C. and of course, loneliness.