Today is the last day of my summer. Work begins tomorrow, and classes in a couple of weeks. It’s been a good summer.

Spring, too. It’s been a while. A lot of the spring was pretty rough, though. I still miss Athena a lot. She’s here in Seattle, and we see each other occasionally; she’s moving across the country in a few weeks.

I went out to Utah for A & J’s wedding in May. This was only the second time I’d seen A since highschool, but it was a really comfortable, beautiful experience. The wedding itself was warm and intimate (and, impressively, a surprise). The post-wedding trip to southern Utah (sort of a honeymoon-with-guests) was gorgeous.

My summer internship (a requirement of my graduate program) was a bit less involving than I had expected, so I decided to work on learning Python and Django. My reflex when it comes to web development is pure Perl and MySQL, or at best, Mason, so I thought it might be a good idea to get more Python experience and play with a web framework. I found Django initially awkward, but ultimately pretty fun.

I did have a lot of time to travel during the summer, and went to both NPYM and PYM, as well as to Chico for a comfortably long visit (that nevertheless felt short). I spent a lot of time with K, too. Did I mention we’re together? We are. It’s a good thing, comfortable, solid, real. And while I don’t recommend long distance relationships, the train is pretty nice.

I wrote the following in August, and never posted it:

I’m in Chico.  It’s sunny, with an unblemished blue sky, and just a bit of wind rustling the leaves.  The only sound is the occasional birdcall.  I’ve just woken up.  I slept in my father’s study last night, a small room attached to the main house by a circuitous stretch of deck.  It has a slightly slanted roof, and its largest wall is covered entirely by books.  It also has at least half a dozen old clocks, some partially disassembled.  The large windows make the room feel open and bright.

My parents and K have already left for meeting, and my sister and her family left earlier to head back home, so it’s just me and the cats out here this morning.

And now I’m in Portland, exhausted, several days later. Time passes quickly when I travel.  I’ll miss the homemade granola. I won’t miss the weather.  Well, maybe a little.

Next to the front door of my parents’ house, there is a framed Rilke poem, written out for them by a friend.  It reads:

Once it is realized
that even between the closest people
infinite distances continue to exist
a wonderful living side by side
can grow up
if they succeed in loving the distance between them
that allows each to see the other
whole against the sky.

Pictures since last time:

Utah
Sarah’s Graduation
Chico
Assorted

Oh, and I finally got a haircut.

Be well, all.