Weather
It's been a cold, rainy season so far in the East Bay. I work outside with 11 4-6 year olds in the heat and rain. We're a little tribe with me a part of their 'group'. I know that I am a part of them on days when I am relaxed and the rain is not blowing sideways. I get more pictures of me, often with a marketed scarf or straight black hair, and many "I love you"s.
I am grateful to have a job after a year long "furlough" from my previous job of 9 years where V attended from the age of 2.7 - he made very close friends over the 8 years he went to school there. He left with good feelings. Me, not so much. I am grateful to have a good paying job, a small and tidy home, a heathy child, a loving husband and a very funny boyfriend. I think of people living around the lake in mud and demolished tents from the most recent storm. 41 degrees is the low tonight with rain forecasted until 11am tomorrow. My thoughts won't warm them but at least it's an idea.
We're all picking up stakes and moving. The first plan was to move to Seattle - affordable, relaxing, less earthquakes, less gun shots... But. We need to get out of Fruitvale yesterday. I could make a list but the tell tale sign is that my 11 year old counts the number of gun shots heard in a round setting off within 4 blocks. 4 blocks away from us. ... The Richmond Hills is most likely where we will end up until we can get to the place where we really want to be.
Until then we're weathering it out in Oakland until we can get our baggage out the door.