Dear Reader,

On Friday, my family and friends went to go see The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (extended edition) in the theater. This year is the 25th anniversary of the first film, so they’re re-releasing them all in theaters. I remember seeing all of the films when they came out, and it was great to share that experience with my kids. We’ve watched all of the movies on tv, but there’s certainly something special about seeing an epic film like that on the big screen. Even though I’ve read the books, this is one of the few situations where I’ll say that I liked the movies better. It was so magical to sit in the theater once again and to be transported into Tolkien’s world. It also made me think about where I was and what I was doing 25 years ago.

Back in 2001 I had just moved with my husband (then boyfriend) and our two cats and two dogs from Phoenix. Our first stop was a town in Virginia, which was terribly wrong for us, so we stayed there for less than a week, packed our things up again, and landed in Lancaster by default. After living in the wide open spaces of deserts and mountains with snow capped peaks, I wasn’t prepared for the culture shock I would feel when I arrived back east. I felt strangled and trapped here, and my heart ached. I missed the west with every fiber of my being, and I longed to go back with each passing day. But, that wasn’t in the cards, so we both found jobs, and I spent my time brooding, and wondering why I ever wanted to come back in the first place.

I know the reasons why we left Arizona were valid. We loved living in Flagstaff because it was a beautiful liberal mountain town, but job opportunities were almost non-existent. We knew that even though Phoenix had a pretty low cost of living and jobs, it just wasn’t where we wanted to live anymore.

We found jobs soon after arriving in Lancaster. My husband worked as a chef. I had multiple jobs, working as an educational director at a tutoring agency, a professor, and a yoga instructor. I’m pretty sure that I worked so much to take my mind off of my constant yearning to be somewhere else. The years passed with us working very hard, so much so that we were barely able to take much time off of work.

Then, at some point, we made the decision that we wanted to open a vegetarian restaurant, and that changed everything. Honestly, I can’t remember why we decided to open the restaurant. Probably because we were trying to fill a void. I still longed for the west (and honestly still do), but the restaurant started our journey of working for ourselves. Not only that, but it connected me with my community in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. We found so much support and met many lovely folks over the years. At some point though, since it was just the two of us running the place, and I was still teaching yoga, we decided that it was too much, and we closed our doors. To this day, people still talk about our restaurant in hushed reverent tones. We were quite ahead of our time here in Lancaster. So much so, that we were a bit of an anomaly. Even though the food industry is not for me, I really appreciate my time spent in our restaurant and what the experience taught me.

While I still miss the west, I’m grateful for the community that my husband and I have cultivated here. A community that has held and supported us over the years. Where we can carve out our own paths and work for ourselves in a town that has been so warm and welcoming. Many thanks to all of you who have made that possible over the years.

I appreciate all of you who choose to be here and read my newsletter. May we all find joy and peace when we receive the gift of opening our eyes each morning in this beautiful chaotic world.

xo,

Christa

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Last week at a glance

• I started reading Heartburn, and I like it.

• I listed clothing and made-to-order earrings on the website.

• Our van decided to stall at the intersection of Harrisburg Pike and Dillerville Road. Luckily we managed to get it into the parking lot of a gas station and have it towed. Not sure what’s wrong with it yet. We’re hoping it’s just the battery.

• We went sledding and played in the snow with our kids.

• I drank hot chocolate with marshmallows

• I made some tomato sauce.

• I made buttermilk waffles

• I made some things out of paper clay. Now I have to be patient and wait for them to dry.

• When I was taking Albus for a walk I saw a guy who was stopped at a red light open his door, sit his cup of coffee down on the road, and drive away. I was shocked, but not surprised.

• My husband and I watched The Substance.

• I applied to an art show.

• I gathered up a bunch of crochet accessories to take to River Pearl Studio.

  Links

  Email: wildchildfibers@gmail.com

  Website: https://www.wildchildfibers.com

  If you’re in Marietta, you can find my work at

  River Pearl Studio.

  Book a shopping appointment: here

  Anytime 20% off discount in the online store for subscribers