Old Friends, New Friends

Five Happiness calls North Carolina home now, going on seven months. In that time we've reunited with familiar faces, some out of the blue not seen for twenty-plus years, others like the crunch of an apple: delicious and known. We have met new people in our search for our own kind, in looking for some hybrid of creativity and fearlessness matched by exuberance and emotional intelligence. They are rare, and do not breed in captivity. Our hunt is in the wild, so to speak.

In the old faces become new there is a joy to see what life has brought in the seemingly brief, yet vast intermission since we saw them last. Many have children, or grandchildren, even. They have "become" new to me, though familiar to themselves and true to all. It is so comforting and generous to be allowed to reenter a childhood friend's life as an adult, with all the challenges requisite: To allow them to be who they are, unclouded by the person you thought you knew. But knowing that you both share a deep and complex rooted past that chiseled you both into the shapes you now hold. We can credit each other for some small bit of that molding.

We take our time moving through days. We recently visited some Seattle friends traveling through. (see photos) Wes and Laura were in Virginia for a wedding and were tempted by the quaint burgh of Asheville, NC. We intercepted them and our mutual friend Trip for a lovely weekend full of children and easy days.

Wes and Quentin enjoy Tallulah and Bradley's Company

A Reflection of Parenting

Laura, Wes, Trip, Bradley, and Felicity Sip Sweet Tea

Upon our return we began in earnest to find people that could possibly fill the vacancies left by our dear group of Seattle friends. For those readers in the aforementioned population, don't worry. To plagiarize Sinead O'Connor, "Nothing compares to ewe." We feel sheepish to even mutton the phrase. Shear lunacy. [editor's note: There will be floggings as a result of this rash punography.] But that's not to say we aren't trying. Durham is a growing artist's haven. A downtown in the midst of revival, with lots of large studios is a scenario Seattlites will recognize, if their histories dip back into the Eighties. We have much to do, with work, our little rascal [status update: Tallulah is 20 lbs. and almost walking,] and the mix of socializing, working out, and play we place at the top of our agendas. We have time for all our family: you included. We want to hear from you. What you want to know, how you are, who you are...let us know you're out there. We'll write more.