Category Two:The Golden Plum

Home is where the plums are. Last week Basil and I moved into a beautiful home with some friends in the Madison Valley area of Seattle. It is a corner house that has a bountiful golden plum tree in the front yard. The tree has to be at least 35 years old due to its size and from what we've heard from the folks in the neighborhood.

Just about everyday we meet someone new who comes to ask if they can pick our plums. They claim they are the best plums they have ever had. Some say they grew up in this neighborhood and have picked plums off that tree for twenty years. Others bring us their golden plum jam made from the plums they've picked. They truly are the best plums I have ever had and the best way to get to know our new neighbors.

The house is Forest green with a red door and a golden mailbox. Basil and I live upstairs with Jordan and the soon-to-come Elisabet. Downstairs live Helen and Jason, two new friends brought to us by Craigslist.

Madison Valley is, well, a valley. It is on the backside of Capitol Hill, just before Lake Washington. Capitol Hill is a very steep hill and most of my friends and all of my classes are upon it. So I am getting back into urban hiking.

It feels so good to live in community again.