What Is And What Should Never Be

I did not do a good job of making friends when I moved to DC. Actually, I tried at first, going on tons of friend dates, but most people either moved after the summer or lived in Virginia which is a bridge too far to cross. (All of a sudden I understood all those Seinfeld references about having to take two trains to get to a boyfriends house or dating someone with a different area code--its too much to ask!) Eventually I met the right people--friends who tried harder than I did to make and stay friends with me, and full groups of friends who graciously let Craig and me into their circle. We also made some amazing friends during Craig's years at Pittsburgh Seminary who we've stood by at weddings, ordinations, and graduations. So things worked out friend-wise. Still, I was determined to do better this move, and prioritized reaching out and getting connected early on. I found running buddies through the GirlCrewEdinburgh Facebook, and we've met up with friends of friends, s

Above is my "best nine" aka most liked pictures on Instagram in 2017. Honestly many moments of pure joy (Including the ice cream. Also that company is called Pure Joy I think.) One of the mixed emotions and exhaustion (the 2nd one; basically the exact mid-point in our year in so many literal and figurative ways). And also one of my haircut: the only day of the year (or every other year as the case may be) that my hair is styled. Here's my personal 2017 recap: January Feeling: nauseous and numb as the reality of this new administration set in; glimmers of hope thanks to the resistance. (This is a picture of enthusiasm building the day before the Women's March, on my street, in front of two of my favorite local business, who not only make incredible food, but stand up to hate, even when it literally comes to their doorstep with bigoted signs or through their entrance with a loaded rifle and head full of conspiracy theories/aka bullshit.) February Appa

I've mentioned that this fall I was disoriented without college football on Saturdays. (I've since decided I'm over it completely and didn't even watch a bowl game.) And yeah, it's been a struggle to find markers of fall, and now winter, in Scotland. The weather got cooler faster (and summer was never really hot) and the leaves changed colors. Fall is a really beautiful season to visit anywhere I think. Now that winter is here, the rain is too. And there are the short days. But nothing has felt like anything. Not Halloween or Thanksgiving or Christmas. Mostly because those aren't holidays here. Still, it has been fun to holidays and seasons in new ways. Halloween  The American version of Halloween is just beginning to catch on here. When kids start saying things like "candy" and "jack-o-lantern" parents know they've been watching American Youtubers. Jack-o-lanterns aren't really a thing, and candy is called "sweets." (Sid

My parents came to visit the week before Christmas--our first real visitors since moving. I love putting together travel itineraries when I travel somewhere or when someone travels to see me. Even though my dad was unknowingly suffering from strep throat during this trip, (he was taking allergy pills for a "runny nose") we managed to pack in a bunch of fun stuff. The highlight was probably just laughing a lot together mostly as we tried our "best" Scottish accents, and watching my dad run around like a kid, enjoying his first non-US vacation. We did a walking tour of Old Town where we live, a full day in Queensferry and Dalmeny where I work, and a day trip to St. Andrews. We went inside the Castle, hiked up Arthur's Seat, poked around museums and Christmas markets, and saw about every square inch of St. Giles, and some of New College. We ate haggis, fish & chips, sticky toffee pudding, & so much more. We drank whiskey that was apparently strong enoug