Favorite Places: Old World Deli

Emily sent me more mail yesterday. The only good thing about being apart is that our voluminous mail exhanges are acutally justified now that more miles separate us. I knew we were going to be friends 10 years ago when, after having her over for dinner, I got more than one follow-up card. You locked me in, sister.

This time, her card included a thin strip from a fortune cookie. It said, "You will make a new friend." 

Liz and I went out for lunch, and if the parking meter and picking kids up from school hadn't been realities, we would have eaten a lot more charcuterie and drank a lot more beer. Bellingham friends, I'm thinking about getting direct deposit to Old World Deli. I love how everyone's having leisurely lunches in there on a weekday. 

And I was connected with a colleague up here. We had an animiated time over coffee and even talked about doing some work together.

Cry, and the milk will come. I'm finding it to be true all over again.

We've had seven nights in our new (unfinished) house. I'm learning how the light falls and when, swooning over the view of Bellingham Bay, trying to be patient with the months left of work to do, and feeling overhwhelmingly grateful to have landed. Eleven months ago, Yancey and I were in Vancouver for our annual getaway and decided it was time to move back to Bellingham. We came home, spent six months getting our house ready to sell, sold it, moved up here into a rental, and spent another 5 months fixing up this one. God. We are tired. And ready to focus on each other what else is going on in the world.

What about you, long-lost readers? I miss you! What are you grateful to have survived this year? I'm happy to be heading into Thanksgiving with you. I'll probably be making good old-fashioned apple pie, maybe these, and already starting to think about trifle for Christmas. Bring it on.

Comments

[jordan]

oh the parallels.

on this brisk, sunny, perfect brooklyn morning, sj and i went to bakeri for a morning cappuccino and yummers. i came home and actually participated in the first of my personal "40 x40" (40 items by the time i'm 40): writing each of my two grandmothers monthly hand-written notes. once i finished, i re-read the note and was wonderfully struck by how often i wrote "i'm thankful;" for my book club, which met the night before at my place; for dear friends near and far away; for a new job/career; for my family's imminent holiday arrival here in nyc.

it has been a big year hasn't it smk? much to be thankful for.

you my friend and central to that list...

[Suzy Laas]

Hi Sarah,
I'm so glad you moved up here, now I just need to see you! I am one of those secret admirers who checks your blog daily, it's ridiculous how excited I get to see something new. Maybe one of these days we can connect! Welcome to town. Suzy

[Dana]

Yes Sarah, we did miss you. I checked back everyday - so nice to be surprised with a lovely post. I hope you all are well and happy with your move. It sounds wonderful.

[tiffany]

Oh, Sarah, I am so happy for you guys getting settled into this new season. I was just reading your apple pie recipe and am planning on making it for Thanksgiving. Do I need to make it Thursday or could I do it Wednesday?

[Sarah MK]

Hi Tiffany! You could totally make it Wednesday, Pies that sit for a day are even better, in my opinion. Happy Thanksgiving!

[Lynn M]

I'm grateful for having had the "wisdom" (read: CHEMISTRY!) to marry a man I wasn't looking for, simply because I suddenly could not imagine life without him----we've just passed our 50th anniversary of meeting, but are headed in June for our 50th wedding anniversary. He inspires me in so many, many ways, as he faces his Parkinsons Disease diagnosis for 22 long years, and works his fanny off to continue to be available to his family, community, and world. I'm also grateful for "working at it" passionately and diligently, so that we're dealing with children and grandchildren who absolutely inspire us to be working at making this a good world to live in. We've got a ways to go, but let's don't get discouraged! Happy Thanksgiving!

[Sarah MK]

Lynn, so good to hear your "voice." I can't say enough how much I admire you and Gary--your relationship, your passion for justice, your engagement with the world despite so many obstacles. Lots of love to both of you this Thanksgiving.

[Kari]

funny, I totally saw you guys at Old World that day, pretty sure. You were sitting in the window right? I was the red head eating lunch with her mom & 4 yr old daughter, then walked by the window as we left, saw you and thought how fun it would be to be drinking beer for lunch w/ a girlfriend. Not to be a stalker (cause now I really sound like one) but sometime I hope we can get Kelli to introduce us. Lunch at Old World perhaps?

[Kurt Whitner]

First time to enter your blog and I really enjoy reading your thoughts. I love the perspective of the photo above. :)

[me.you.key]

I'm thankful to have survived a move to South America in January, back to the States in May, shipping all our belongings a few weeks later, and moving half way across the country to Texas and now finally settled in a great neighborhood that we adore. I miss the NW loads and now recognize what things I took for granted when I lived there but am confident that this was the right move for us. And I'm also looking forward to becoming a mother next year. :)