The Path Home

Tonight was a gallery show at the Collingwood that Angela and some other friends of ours had work exhibited in, and Angela asked me to go with her, especially since I'm leaving so suddenly on Sunday. We went out for margaritas beforehand with her and (her) Daddy. It was very relaxing and they were super yummy. I really enjoy Angela's company as well as that of her family, especially Daddy (I have permission to call him that :)). They're like a second family to me.

Afterwards we all went to the gallery show, where I saw a lot of photographer and model friends who I haven't seen in a long time. I'm really glad I got to see them all before I leave. Soon after getting there I was introduced to a man who has lived there since 1986 in the top most room of the Collingwood. The Collingwood Arts Center is an extremely old, historical building. It used to be a nunnery, so to speak, and ghosts of the nuns, among others, have made their presence known over the years. It is a beautiful old place that is rich with the wealth of its past. Anyhow, the very highest room, known as the tower, is a series of rooms that keep going up, and up, and up. The man (Pete? I'm so terrible with names) invited us to go up, all the way to the top, and take a look. Angela had never been up to the tower, though she has wanted to for years. I have seen it and often longed to explore it, but Angela has been going to the CAC for many more years than I. It was a true pleasure for her to experience it at last.

At the very top there are deep set windows in each of the four walls, looking down on the Old West End of Toledo. It was night time, and it was snowing heavily. I've never seen snow from up that high. It barely seemed to be falling...just floating in the world, beautiful and perfectly unique. Pete is a rather trippy kind of hippie dude, very cool, the type of person I wish I met more of. He wished me happiness, love, friendship, and peace. At the top of the tower I felt the presence of all, but especially peace.

I have been growing increasingly nervous about this upcoming move. Will the other girls try to sabotage me, will the girls I live with be total cunts, will the managers be cool, will I make money, etc, etc, etc.

At the top of the tower I told Angela I feel my trip has now been blessed. She agreed and said she really felt everything was going to be all right. It's going to be hard at times but...it will work out. Better than work out, it is my path. The path I have been searching for for a very long time.

I cannot begin to describe what it has cost me to finally find this path. A path that takes me home, no matter what side of the world I am on.