“In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between them, there are doors.”
― William Blake

I’ve been thinking about the word “threshold”….because we crossed a big one this week.  According to the dictionary, not only does it mean a kind of doorway, but also the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be manifested (which, I suppose, is a kind of doorway…but so much more!)

Not only did we move into a new house with a completely different feel (yes, I’m still finding my way around it) but Maki got his driver’s license! The American Youth’s official rite-of-passage (I remember my own well, just as my dad, who taught me to drive, remembers his.) As of Tuesday morning, the first day he left early to get a parking spot at school, drove himself to work afterward, and then went to visit his girlfriend. That’s it…he’s got wheels. He’s independent—a thing I’ve long been encouraging him toward— and with that, we have both crossed over a threshold. Here’s a text after his first drive alone:

He loves it. I love it. Friday he doesn’t work and he’s already told me he will pick up groceries for me after school as well as pick up his sister at her school. I know he’s a good driver because he’s been transporting my other two prized  possessions (Justine’s body and mine) for six months. (Why should I worry? I won’t.) And by the way, both our first cars were VWs, which to me is kind of sweet. Thanks to his lovely mother, Synnove, for going in on it with with me. It was nice that we were able to do this thing for him together. He’s happy…even though he has to take care of all the expenses from here on out. He’s very positive and understanding on that end too (so far…)

This was the day I’d been looking toward for so long…and for all the hours spent at the DMV on Monday, I honestly wasn’t quite sure it would happen.  After a wonderful summer of entertaining visitors and making sure we had a fulfilling holiday as a family, we started school, but then almost immediately, we moved house, and many of my professional obligations got pushed back further yet. It was great, I loved the season of being full-time family, but I knew I was shirking my financial responsibilities. So here we are…suddenly I feel I have one less child to raise. I can attempt to  feed Maki and make sure he has a place to lay his head, I can listen to him, and I can even advise him (on the days he lets me.)  But once a kid is driving…and working…he’s a part of the greater world, not just the one adults have offered him. This was my experience at his age, and he says its already the same for him. I’ve never been more proud (of either of us.)

Immediately, that very first day, I could feel the difference in my world. This was the day I’d put on my calendar as the day to get back to the grindstone…and I did. I still have to finish organizing an office and setting up the painting studio, but this week, I was able to get back to those things with clearer intention and momentum. And within another day, I could see the dominos that have been waiting for that push, start to fall down the line: some commissions, interviews, etc. Everything has been waiting for my assurance that Maki is ready for the road. And here we are. I have no excuses anymore. 🙂 We are both filled with relief and potential…and responsibility.

Right on schedule, this week is already turning in some delectable fruit. Yesterday, I went to Chapman University in Orange to visit a type-design class (same as last year) and speak about Vernon’s work. This time, I was treated to the fact that the students were designing posters for a display in the library to honor his work. Here are some photos of the process:

The Type Design professor is hoping to do a greater exhibit of his work next year, funding pending. In the meantime, she introduced me to a co-ordinator who is interested in my own painting work I was offered an exhibit next year, hopefully with a panel from the Women’s Study’s dept…I’ll keep you posted. (The University setting is something I’ve imagined for awhile, and the shared ideas are exciting!) We donated Vernon’s treasury of alphabet source-books to the university library a few months back, so it’s nice to have a continuous connection to this quality school. I’m thankful for every one of these doors.

We are now in our future. And that feels good. There is space, there is momentum, there is focus. I like where we are going.