From time to time, we like to check in with each other, to see how we’re weathering this whole living in a foreign land thing. Are we homesick? Are we tired? Are we happy? Are we thrilled? It’s a periodic reaching out of fingers, past the daily and the mundane, to reconnect with the essence and the essential.

On New Year’s Day, Toby and I celebrated the first morning at the dawn of the year by sharing conversation over coffee and croissants. It was one of those rare carefree days where we had nothing in particular to do, nowhere in particular to be, and no one in particular to see. It was the kind of day where you could sip your coffee and feel the sun warm your face, lean back in your chair and experience the weightlessness of a moment where time ceases to matter.

It was a perfect time for checking in.

And he said to me that he learned something, in moving here to Thailand. He said he learned that all he really needs to be happy in life is his wife and his dog, and some friends to rock climb with from time to time, and that wherever I am is home.

{Pardon me while I swoon for a moment and fall in love all over again.}

It’s true; moving abroad strips you down to the core. You learn really quickly what is convenience, what is nicety, and what is necessity. In the tough moments, you expect you’d learn the worst of each other…but the truth is, you learn the best of each other. At least, I know I learned the best of him.

You’re home for me too, babe. You’re home for me too.

Each Thursday, we come together to celebrate living life with intention by capturing a glimmer of the bigger picture through a simple moment. To spice things up a little, during this month of FEBRUARY, we’re reflecting upon the tender gifts of love – however ordinary or extraordinary – that bring sparkle our lives. Share a picture, words, creation or list; just come to the table with LOVE in your heart. 

August 2006

“Do you think he’s ready?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know how much more time it could take, how much more we could do to know if this is it or not. I just don’t know what he’s waiting for.”

——————————————————-

December 2006

Despite the chill in the air, we felt glowy and warm. We huddled in our thick jackets and caught a bus to the Christmas market, where we stood under blinking Christmas lights, sipped gluhwein, watched vendors selling fresh marzipan and nougat, and smiled at shoppers mingling with their little ones in tow. Christmastime in Berlin is nothing short of magical – especially to this southern Californian who finds snow a foreign element.

On Christmas Eve, we went to Mass and reveled in the triumphant music, and then Toby and I joined his family at their home for more caroling, gift giving, and holiday joy by their tree which was decorated so beautifully with real candles shining their cozy flame.

We each took turns opening our gifts and collectively appreciating each one, until finally there were none.

The air buzzed with a satisfied glow.

And then, Toby announced: “Well, I have do one more gift to give…”

Looking around at him, my pleasant surprise turned into a heartstop, the only part of me moving was the blood rushing to my face.

He was down on one knee.

He took my hand, cleared his throat, and said, “I had a speech all planned, but now I’ve forgotten it. Will you marry me?”

I burst into tears, grabbed him in an embrace, and cried very wet yeses into his neck.

His family applauded, though his dad was still unsure. “Did she say yes?” he wondered.

Yes, a thousand times, I said yes.

I guess he was only waiting for it to be magical.

This month, the gang at Bigger Picture Blogs is celebrating and sharing love.

Join in the fun at Hyacynth’s this week and share the love!

…was a series of coincidences that might have easily gone any other way.

It was the first day of painting class in a bright, fresh new year at university. I spotted a guy across the room who I thought was so good-looking that…well, let’s just say, by the second day, I had my easel set up next to his. Nothing serious, of course. I did have a boyfriend at the time. Just, you know, when a girl’s gotta’ get her Muse on, it doesn’t hurt to have a nice view.

We chatted and made friendly. But nothing serious, ’cause, I did have a boyfriend after all.

One quarter bled into another, and then we had a different class together, but this time, he had a girlfriend too, and so all we exchanged were some hellos and a few blithe quips. Our worlds kept on going, always along the outer edges of each other’s orbits.

Then summer came along and I had plans to go to Thailand. And then he had plans to go to Thailand. At the same time. And we said, “We should totally meet up.” “Yeah, totally, we should meet up.”

And then we didn’t. Because it wasn’t ever anything serious at all.

And then, I moved into a new place and broke up with my boyfriend. He broke up with his girlfriend. Change was in the wind and I was a butterfly floating on top of it. I was walking to class with my friend, Sumit, and then I saw him.

“Hey, you went to Thailand! I went to Thailand!”

“Wait, yeah, that’s right!”

“We should totally meet up and share photos!”

“Right! We should!”

And we never exchanged numbers or addresses or dates. But after we parted ways, Sumit turned to me and said, “What was that?”

“What was what?” Except my blush coulda’ lit up a red light district.

And then, I was in the library and he was in the library, and I said, “Hey I’m in a new place. You should come over and we can share those photos.” And then we did exchange numbers and addresses and dates.

And then he came over. And then he kept coming over. And I said, “I just got out of a three-year relationship. I just want to keep things loose. No commitments.” “That’s fine,” he said. Besides, it was nothing serious. He was the type to have nipple piercings and tell stories about all the crazy stuff he got into…and I was so not.

But then I saw that he wasn’t that type at all, not really. I saw that if he was a type at all, he was the only one in it.

And then I didn’t want to keep things loose anymore, and I said, “I don’t want to see anyone else anymore. I just want to see you.” “That’s fine,” he said. “Nothing serious. It’s just I like you, is all.” That’s what I said. What I meant was I liked him enough not to want to let him go.

And then one day, he had to go to work, and I caught his hand. I might have squeezed my eyes shut so I wouldn’t see my voice shake. “I’m in love with you,” I said. “You don’t have to say anything back, I just –”

“Actually, I love you too.” And when I opened my eyes, I saw his bright blue eyes shining on me like I was his angel sent down to earth just for him. And I thought maybe I’d found my angel too.

Doin’ a little focus on love, for the month of February!
Share your love with us, this week at Alita’s!

P.S. And now we live in Thailand. Turns out it was pretty serious after all.