Paul and Margot Stevens

Dear friends and loved ones:

Upon return from most recent trip to Columbus, Ohio, having accomplished my mission of spreading motivation and good will, I am able to report to each of you that the end is clearly in sight. This is a good thing because we will technically be homeless as of October 15th.

To the extent to which anyone can be fully prepared, I guess it would be safe to say we are ready.  Ready to tape up the remains of the seemingly un-partible artifacts of our lives, and hurl them into an awaiting receptacle. It kind of suggests the juxtaposition of life imitating art. What would we be without our positions?  Much less heavy!

The attached photo gives you an idea of how far we have come, and have still to go.  If the weather continues to behave, the landscape and driveway work will get underway next week.  With fall right on our heals, it is doubtful the plantings will look like much upon completion. Most of it was have to wait until spring.

10683 Sage Creek Dr. Galena, Ohio 43021

This whole project has been an enormous challenge to keep our wits about us. While great time and distance from the job site has made management of all this a bit more difficult, it has allowed Margot and I  to enjoy a small degree of emotional detachment.  Our son Chris gets by often enough to assess any progress and digitally photograph the results. Within minutes those images are in our hands to be evaluated and enjoyed. What a age we live in!

Neither Margot or I, know for certain whether moving from California is completely insane or not.  It seems like the right thing to do. Very little personnel agony has been experienced over this question.  Of course there is that temporary loss of familiarity, but it is soon replaced with a new one.  It is almost comical that I was experiencing some small degree of pride in not getting lost while driving around Columbus last week. 

Margot still has to find the airport.

April 24, 2004

New word and picture from Paul and Margot

Spring has arrived in Ohio finally. I shot this most recent photo of the early growth, but as you can see all the trees have yet to open new leafs. Wild flowers are every where outside this area and lots more to come as the other species of plants and flora wake up after the winter months. Margot has already planted a couple flats of flowers at the rear of the house. Boxes of just plants are arriving every day from some of the mail order nurseries Margot has ordered things from. By mid May there will be lots of stuff in the ground.

Today is bright and full of sunshine with the temperatures climbing into the seventies already. Rain seems to pay us a visit about twice a week. That is just about the right frequency to get everything growing.

I will communicate further as the weeks go by. Hope you are doing well and keep life tolerable.

Take care.

Paul