We had planned to return to Boston after two years of being abroad. It's funny how life changes as you go along. We have to make plans, to have a direction to head but simultaneously learn not to be too set in our path. We stayed another year in London, in the meantime we felt more urges toward being closer to family (and away from a New England winter--I'll be honest, the feelings were about as strong between family bonds and moderate climate!). When it came time to decide finally where we would go there was a place in San Francisco that was interested in what Collin could offer. So we decided to return to the states to a new place.
All our things were in Boston--two small storage units full. We'd pared down quite a bit, leaving just the sentimental and special in Boston and going to England with only suitcases. I'm sure there were several ways we could have acquired the stuff but what we decided to do was return ourselves. Sort out the things into pods that could be shipped across the country, say hello and goodbye (again) to dear friends, and enjoy the best of Boston. Seeing my friends in Belmont was harder than I'd anticipated. Those friends are family to us, after seven years and babies and a fire and all the other day to day interactions. I'm not sure I weighted them properly in the equation of pros and cons of leaving Boston for good. I mean, I'm still pretty sure we made a good decision for us now. I miss my Belmont friends a great deal.
And cannoli. I miss cannoli.
Our blitz through Boston was great! It was hot--especially after England and then Iceland!--but just what we needed. We ate our way through with a passion. Pizza, gelato, cannoli, more ice cream, Dunkin Donuts.
Swan boats are a classic. The last time we had ridden them Eliza was a couple days old. I know for all of this I was more excited than the kids, but they were kind to humor me.
Forever trying to get a keeper shot of the ducks. Gotta go on a rainy early morning if you want them to yourself! But we don't mind sharing, really. That's the magic of the ducks. They are for everyone.
Pizza and Mike's. Brave the queue and be rewarded! We were stuffed to the point of being sick but really, you can always squeeze in one more bite of cannoli.
Then it was time to actually do the work we were in Boston to do. We got the stuff out of storage, arranged it into the travel pods and sent them on their way. The kids enjoyed the freight elevator and dolly system to move the boxes.
The view over the Charles from the red line always gets me.
The books the school kids at Abacus made were treasured from the moment they were received. The boys enjoyed quiet moments reading the notes their friends wrote.
Wild turkeys in the Belmont hills. I forgot how funny it is to be driving around the neighborhoods and see a turkey saunter across the road.
AMERICAN FOOD!! The ice cream aisle at the grocery store was like a mirage in the desert. So beautiful.
We stayed at our friends' home (while they were visiting London, ironically!) and it was so pleasant to have an Airbnb-esque place, complete with trampoline, to start and end each busy day.
Now I'm in a random order of pictures and too lazy to fix it. Anyway, more favorite food. Mainly treats.
One of the places with the best memories is the Old North Bridge. Our family enjoyed it, but more than that we went with many friends and visitors. I was able to practice taking portraits here several times in different seasons. We saw the reenactment soldiers march along the path a couple times to send off the shot that was heard round the world.
We attended church in our home ward before we left for the airport and our next leg of the journey. It was the strangest feeling, feeling home but passing through. The Belmont ward is the most family outside of family I've ever experienced. Part of that was us making an effort to be involved and active in the social life of the ward, but mostly it was the amazing people who wouldn't have let us fade into the background even if we'd tried. I love those people.
