Huck and I have started knitting together while listening to the “Invisibilia” podcast, and I’m sure to passersby we look like a couple of elderly women from the olden days gathered around the radio. Huck’s working diligently on my birthday present, which will hopefully be a beautiful multi-colored infinity scarf. I’m currently creating an uneven black rectangle that never seems to get bigger.  It’s a beautiful example of enjoying the process while having no hopes for the finished product.

But we also know all about longing for the finished product. Since the day after Huck’s birthday I’ve been happily rehearsing a play at TheatreSquared with a tremendous group of actors, stage managers, designers and crew, with director Shana topping the list. Thanks to a supportive workplace, I’ve been given lots of paid time off in order to do this, and my fingers are crossed that I keep surviving once I return to working by day and playing by night for the next month.  An added sweet touch to this experience is that my huband in the play has a daughter ten days older than Huck who spent her spring break (and ours) in Fayetteville. Since she and Huck are likeminded little souls, this meant lots of fun knitting, hiking, playing cards, sharing a babysitter, watching “School House Rock,” and surviving a tornado threat in our cellar together. Plans are in the works to meet up at the St. Louis Zoo this summer.

And finally, our home buying journey culminated this afternoon in the final 450 signatures and the handing over of a rather large cashier’s check. The three of us aren’t sure what you’re supposed to do when you officially own a house, so we did what we think you do and immediately hung up our beloved hammock in the back yard and enjoyed the rapture of it all. We won’t officially move in till May, what with April being jam-packed, but still. Home sweet home!

April first has been much anticipated in our hearts and minds, and we joked that opening night and the house closing weren’t enough so we had to add Huck’s parent/teacher conference to the day.  At least I thought we were joking.  Last weekend during my dinner break from day two of 11am-11pm tech rehearsals, Huck and I were cuddling on the couch. As sincerely as possible he said, “Oh, I’m feeling so nervous!” I asked why, and he said in all caps, “WE’RE BUYING A HOUSE! YOU’RE OPENING A PLAY! AND MY STUDENT LED PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE IS ON THE SAME DAY!”

Two down, one to go.