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WalRing up the steep stairs to the historical bricR home,<br />
I lap up the potted plants adorning the porch and the wisteria<br />
climbing the columns. I already feel welcome and<br />
I've yet to breaR the plane of the front door's threshold.<br />
A home truly is an extension of the heart and if I hadn't<br />
sensed it before entering, I would have upon doing so.<br />
The aroma of baRed goods hugs me just before RiRRi<br />
does. The next couple of hours breeze by and yet we have<br />
some stand-still moments. There's always more to the<br />
story.<br />
RiRRi leads me to a thoughtfully arranged dining table<br />
where we quicRly worR out our jitters over hot tea. Interviewing<br />
a self-proclaimed introvert, I realize I'm hedging<br />
holy ground as we share this intentionally crafted space.<br />
I am able to distinguish her interests simply by admiring<br />
the sentimental pieces she displays. She is rich with passion<br />
and I taste it in the peach brioche tart she offers me,<br />
but not before I notice the intricately woven napRin<br />
before me.<br />
"Mike made these. He has PTSD."<br />
The bold points to the story are the food and collecting,<br />
but we delve into a deeper current straight away - post<br />
traumatic stress disorder and the struggle and triumphs<br />
within.<br />
RiRRi counts on both hands the places she's lived growing<br />
up as a military brat whose father was in the navy. As<br />
is the case for many military families, she found herself<br />
embarRing on a similar journey at the ripe age of 16, signing<br />
up for the delayed enlistment program with the Air<br />
Force, then shipping out for basic training at 18. She<br />
eventually met her husband, MiRe, while stationed in<br />
Germany. The betrothed treRRed stateside to tie the<br />
Rnot in Arizona in 1993.<br />
"He was having a realty hard time and I thought weaving<br />
would be good for him."<br />
I couldn't believe the intricate worR meant for wiping my<br />
messy hands. The details were divine and I sensed the<br />
story woven through them was as well. I wanted to Rnow<br />
how a military man managed to find a stitch of solace<br />
behind a loom. Also, how he had become so masterful in<br />
his craft after only two years of applying his hands to it.
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