33 in the Flood (and why I took off my boots)

33 in the Flood (and why I took off my boots)

Flickering lamps, flooded streets, and choosing how we show up in the middle of a storm—

Is there a place that feels like home to you? Not just a house, but a place where you feel completely embraced by the space around you?

For me, it is on the southern shore of Stone Harbor, New Jersey. I first came here when Jim and I were dating in law school to meet his family for the first time in the early 90s. It became a sanctuary of love, flying kites, making sandcastles, birthday celebrations, watching July 4^th fireworks, ice cream at Springers, lots of holidays and most importantly precious moments creating memories.

This past week I came back alone to work on the recordings of the guided meditations that will live inside Live and Die Awake. And the whole time, call it what you may, the lamp next to me flickered. This is days before the storm. I have been coming here since 93, and that lamp has never flickered. There was a constant sense of presence. I knew I was not alone.

Then my older son, Jacob, arrived with a dear friend of his from NYC. And yesterday morning we woke up to flooded streets downtown, yet he was determined that we were going to his and his dad’s favorite restaurant, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House.