We broke ground one year ago today so the installation of the mailbox is now a grand symbolic event marking how far we’ve come. Nicholas was asking today if we’d ever again see Nick Ford and Al and Adam and the guys who built the house. Lily was asking for a dog. Chris and I are reflecting on the passage of time. The bullet points of this three-year journey: rennovating our 1880s home in Rhinecliff, selling so quickly, living in a hotel for six weeks to finish school in Rhinebeck, renting a drafty old rambler in Valatie for 11 months, adjusting to a new school district, doubling-up with my parents next door for 10 months, and moving into our dream house just two weeks short of a year since Ted Bombola and his backhoe broke ground. I am ridiculously pleased to see our mailbox standing tall at the end of the drive, ready for Peggy the postmistress to deliver letters containing good news only.