As I’m writing this, I’ve got my windows open to let in the fresh air, the sun is shining, and I can see glimpses of grass on the ground as the snow that has accumulated in record-breaking amounts over the past few weeks is starting to melt away. As lovely as this “False Spring” is, of course – I’ve got my eye on the forecast since the temperatures are going to dip yet again by the end of this week and we may be seeing more falling flakes before the weekend comes. Regardless, I’m enjoying it while it lasts!
These past few days have been a whirlwind and have required a tremendous amount of driving, emotionality, and being both mindful and present for my loved one – hence why this post is going up this morning instead of this past Monday as originally planned. I’ve been a bit spent in many ways, but I still need to work full-time, too. Such is life, adulthood, etc., etc.
I had mentioned last week that my boyfriend Troy flew back to the East Coast last week for an extended stay to not only see me, but to also begin the process of clearing out his childhood home in Central Massachusetts (we grew up one town over from one another, oddly enough) as it’s expected to be put on the market this coming Spring. Since the clearing out process involves going through a lifetime of photos, books, toys, clothing and mementos from when he was a baby all the way through his years at college and determining what can be boxed up for storage, what can be donated, and what can be thrown out – it’s been an emotional journey for him for sure – and has been/continues to be a very long project that has required quite a bit of back and forth from our respective hometown(s) to my place in Western Massachusetts in recent days. Of all the times for gas prices to go up, it had to be now, right?
But I’ve been there along the way for both transportation assistance and emotional support (and to keep holding the process up over and over so I can look at all of his childhood pictures. He was such a little cutie!) and I’m so proud of the progress that’s been made so far. I know it can’t be easy.
That’s not to say we haven’t had time to have some fun, enjoy some drinks and good food while traveling to and from multiple times. We’ve made sure to grab pizza at Antonio’s in Amherst (Troy’s favorite), some strong cocktails during the ongoing “Escape the Northeast” event at Gigantic in Easthampton (my favorite) and stopping by some of the chain restaurants in and around our respective hometowns to refuel. That’s when I wasn’t trying to recreate the amazing breakfast charcuteries we enjoyed in Italy last year as a means to surprise him, of course – and losing an hour of sleep with Daylight Savings, or taking in some seriously stunning sunsets that have me thinking Spring might be here sooner than I’d originally thought.
But now that I’m back to my usual blogging/scheduling flow again, I’m hoping to have a new installment of “Local Loves” to share a little later on this week and some more St. Patrick’s Day-inspired fun around New England to recap in the coming days!
See you all then!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 