We finished up everything at the house on Saturday afternoon. Later, I must admit, than we planned. With our final errands run and the house cleaned up and locked tight, our storage pods had left for the terminal and we were free at last.

And tired. So very, very tired.

We headed out to Front Royal to see family and friends. A cookout on Saturday night gave us a chance to see a bunch of people we don’t get to see very often, and we stayed with Paul, one of my best friends from High School, in the old 19th century farmhouse that he completely remodeled last year. It was my first chance to visit the place, and it was absolutely stunning. It was a reminder, once again, of what we love about Virginia. We sat on the stone patio, under the stars, drinking cold beer and talking about our lives, where they’ve taken us and where we think we might be going.

Sunday was Kiana’s birthday, and we didn’t get to do as much for her as we’d have liked. Brunch with family, a late Latin Mass, and some general hanging around delayed our departure to visit more friends in Pennsylvania, just north of Baltimore. We arrived late, and got a tour for the second time in so many days of a new (old) house, with all the potential that lies therein. Two sets of friends, two homes, two families that have finally found a place to call home and not leave again. The sense of permanence and contentment at each place is a little hard for me. I’m jealous. I want a home for my family, and stability for my kids. I want my wife to be able to make that home her own, and fill it with the things that will offer us comfort, familiarity, and a measure of peace.

Instead, we find ourselves nomads again. Detached, drifting, moving somewhere we know will only be temporary, trying to figure out where and when we’ll ever be able to settle down, fit in, and plant some roots.

All the same, I am enjoying the hospitality of our gracious hosts. Today, we got a late start, tired and needing to do laundry from a week living out of suitcases. By the time breakfast was done and I had switched the loads, I laid down and fell quickly asleep. The exhaustion of packing up and moving out in just two and a half weeks has finally caught up to us, I think. It’s nice to take a breath and go slow, even if I feel some pressure to get on the road. We were going to head West today, but we’ve decided to delay it one more day. Instead, it sounds like we’ll be heading out to a lake. The kids could use a real break, and time to play and have fun, rather than be cooped up in the car.

I, on the other hand, could use another cup of coffee.