Jon dropped his bike off for a tune up while we were in Utah.

The shop is right in the North End of Boston, one of my favorite parts.

I dropped him off to pick it up tonight and drove my usual way home.

I drove down State Street--

tall, tall modern buildings surrounding old, grand building always stirs something up inside of me.

And I always feel nostalgic driving past the Old State House. 

 

I wonder if it will ever get boring or common-place for me to drive past these landmarks.

I drove down Beacon Street and onto Storrow Drive,
all of which was such a challenge to find when we first moved here.  

Now, I didn't even need my GPS to do it.

I call that progress.

The sun was setting as we drove along the Charles and I remembered some of the conversations Jon & I had about residency.

We were trying to decide how to rank our picks of where to go, 

weighing all of the pros and cons of the programs and the areas of the country we could go--

and also trying to reconcile that in the end, we didn't get to choose.

We wanted to be out of our comfort zone, someplace exciting and new.

We both thought we knew where that would be and were really surprised to find out that would be Boston.

And as challenging as it's been to live here, we really love it.
We have found wonderful friends, great schools, good co-workers and a love for New England.

At so many times, we both feel that this is exactly where we should be with our family.

These were my thoughts as I drove home.

And then I secretly prayed that winter would be kind to me this year and that Jon would be safe biking home.

Jon made it in one piece and so far, winter has been mild...

And I have a grateful heart.