My third grade classmate and I were on the same page. Back in “The Good Life,” she was cleaning her desk. Apparently I was doing the exact same thing last week! I found a card I had stashed and sent it to her with a lovely, lengthy rambling-about-nothing-much note. (Something I might have perfected?)
In her cleaning she tossed a card from her desktop which I had sent last year, one that made her laugh. Imagine her surprise when the exact same card showed up a few days later?
After we laughed about that on the phone this morning, me getting over my embarrassment at not recalling the first missive, I had a brilliant idea! I am going to go and buy the rest of those cards and send them each year until they run out. I think she’ll appreciate it.
The risks inherent in friendship…looking like an idiot and being one with a person who understands. And of course, finding great practical jokes to employ.
For every hour of time difference in your travel, you will require the same number of days to readjust your internal clock upon returning to your usual abode? I’ve still got two full days to claim before I can quit using the “sleep deprivation” excuse.
It does explain this interminable jet lag feeling. The dreary weather today might have helped me adjust, even as I sit here with a heating pad to try and warm my toes. (I was outside in my fashion boots, not my proper winter gear. My tootsies got cold!) Just having a slow, grey day is somehow calming. There is no gorgeous weather beckoning me, no errands that need to be attended, no demands on my time, and probably the best reason I’m feeling somewhat back-to-normal, my hair appointment this morning! “Chop, chop!” My stylist loves it when I give her free range.
So while my hair looks great, I’m not nodding off at the table, and I have a dinner date with fish, things are looking rather hunky-dory. Do you know where that term originated? Neither do I. I do not know.
You know you need them or you drift around looking for one.
I’m kicking myself to get back into the Thursday routine I’ve pretty much kept for years – cleaning and organizing this domain of which I am the chatelaine. (Of course, I don’t exactly know how many keys there are to this abode and where they all are. I did try to organize them once, but it left more questions than answers?)
Back to the need for routine. If I don’t do the cleaning it gets left for another day. Review the upcoming week, update the calendar, do one undesirable task, and it at least gives the impression of being prepared for the weekend, which we know, begins on Friday.
Hm. Perhaps we commence by having a Hostess cupcake, one of which is left over from snack time at class this morning? That should give me the kick I need!
Once again, weather alerts have come twice a day warning of impending doom.
The plow is still at the ready as we prepare for battle on the land and with the pen! Enjoy this brief spelled-correctly, spell of spring. Ooh! Fun alliteration on that one.
We have definitely entered the “engineering” phase of toddler-hood. Yes, it was our privilege to corral two little activity seekers yesterday sans their leader, the three-year old. Testing, exploration and freedom ruled the roost with those two!
First of all, they enjoyed playing with a few of their elder sibling’s toys and actually can say her name associated with them, all with a mischievous glance at you for recognition, of course. A few times I couldn’t find one of them – but then the errant one would appear from a doorway giving me reason to wonder what was up. However, the opportunity to “do it myself and figure this thing out” reigned supreme. This only makes sense.
They wanted to “clip themselves” into their car seats. (Do you realize how long we would be waiting in the car before being remotely able to turn the ignition on with this method? There are three clips associated with safely!) They can consume a good five minutes working on the highchair clips, too, maybe longer if other adults are engaged in conversation ignoring them. (Lunch time can be a dual purpose activity now.) They get clipped into the stroller. (It was more fun to stand there trying to clip the stroller attachments than ride in it.)There are clips on the swings they own, the wagon they sit in. Clips, clips, clips! My hardly-nimble-anymore fingers are continually challenged. When they get a clip clipped – life is grand – until it has to be unclipped to return to the engineering study.
It made me realize why their mother gave up on hair clips for those two. They are easy feats of engineering. You put them in, they take them out. “Rinse and repeat” for entertainment.
Apparently my retailers missed me. Receiving this email gave me pause. I think I would rather take a flight to Italy and shop there – not anytime soon, however.
Here I was thinking I was acclimating quite nicely when I walked into my class this morning. The first words out of the receptionist’s mouth – “Boy, you look tired!” I wasn’t quick enough to respond, “Don’t I always?” That would have been handy to know – when I don’t look tired.
Ah, the small price to pay for travel. The harder price is being away from your loved ones for so long. I’m happy my little pups remembered us when we returned. My three-year old even commented on the number of days we were gone. Was she counting? I assume so. Her math whiz mother is a fine instructor. I’m also happy I remembered how to bid at bridge, though I think I did a lousy job of it. Now, to recall what it was I was going to do before I left? I know I wrote a note to myself last month.
Today’s travel? My discombobulated desk drawers. That will suffice.
This morning at approximately 3:45 a.m. I began writing emails. My children and siblings and brother-in-law all recipients. I had nothing to blog about in my sleep-deprivation, so after boring those loved ones I began rereading what I had written.
The comments left by readers? I do read them and respond, but I do not ever know if my responses get to the reader as I don’t know who is responding most of the time by the anonymous labels. That’s okay, I just wanted to reassure you that I do notice. All of this also brought to mind my prior technique of detailing travel.
When I would go somewhere of note outside of this state, (think Europe) I would write an email to friends and family, always with the silly and inane observations a person can experience when they get out of the comfort zone. My mother would laugh and enjoy them so much that I always pictured writing to her. Even when I started this blog – ? – not sure when now – I imagined writing to her. Thus, I have kept the audience pretty limited and not blasted it on social media.
Hah! Even though I have nothing to say, apparently I do! On to my third cup of coffee to keep these amazing creative juices flowing.
There was always a sign which gave me a chuckle along the way. I also try to take a screenshot of the countries to which T-Mobile so graciously welcomes me. I forgot Cambodia on this trip, probably because I was so enamored with the beauty of the country I spaced that little detail. Thus, here are some signs and comments from the peanut gallery.
So great to have unlimited date…hm.
The smoker shall remain anonymous, save the arm. We all loved the little rebellious action.
This was a sign referring to the possibility of going one way or another, not the option to visit something or someone else. Cambodia.
See below.
Wasn’t sure where the architecture was, and the use of the words “romp and run” was rather humorous. Not even remotely possible for the best of those in fine form to do. This was the easy section. We couldn’t get a good photo of the rockiest parts as we were clinging to the stones to climb up the narrow path. The guide said it would take one and a half hours for the old people, one hour for the young. I think I made it in two hours, reveling in returning to somewhat easier ground. No one tripped or fell!
Apparently the BBC must have had a message deemed subversive in this Communist country? BBC news was a good way to start the day, most like a morning here.
The last country from which we departed. At this point, unlimited data was probably limited by my ability to think clearly. It was a long flight to return to this beautiful weather. Seeing signs of spring everywhere!
The dryer is working its magic after the first load, fond memories are unpacked and scattered about, and exhaustion from a forever of travel time is washed away. You know it was a worthy adventure when you return to find you have used up the life of your hot pink snorkel of 36 years, purchased in Hawaii and now snapped in two! Ah…it served a very dignified purpose helping me on my seahorse expedition and will enjoy its backyard burial come spring. (I know it looks orange, but it was hot pink at one time. So were my old fins and booties, but the ancient things keep working.)
Our chauffeur, “Pen,” asked about our favorite day. It was more like there were favorite moments to each day, excursion and country. Of course we’ll be happy to bore you with our photos, astounding videos (some are quite fun!) and tales of the travelers. (Sorry, Irving.) And Parsha can practice her cooking skills on us when we convene! But more importantly, I know we are looking forward to seeing friends and family after three long weeks.
As we return and I see that nothing is changed here in our abode – the vacuum cleaner carpet tracks are still there – I am hoping that something has changed in us. Perhaps we can glory in our astonishment at the immense diversity in humanity, the common bond of work, family, pride of country, the continual attempts to communicate, even if just through smiles, and the kindness that came from so many and that we hope we reciprocated. We are so much more alike than different, we just do those alike things different ways. I want to keep the memory of those street vendors, drivers, cleaners, families on bikes, market people – all of the service human beings and fellow sojourners in my soul.
Travel broadens our emotional intelligence, if we let it. Gets us out of ourselves to see a different way – not our way. Brings us back home. And we all know, there’s more than one way home! (Thanks, Keb Mo)
How happy to am to return to my family. My son looked taller and more handsome as he retrieved us from the airport. We haven’t ventured into grandland, arriving past bedtimes. And now, we do the woozy dance of time adjustment.
We spent the day enjoying a slower pace as we gear down. A leisurely breakfast, a fun taxi ride to the market, and a joyful journey with music! “Hooked on a Feeling” got everyone jammming.
My spouse pulled up his tunes and our driver happily connected his WiFi and endured our singing. Of course, we also helped him out by visiting “his shop” – aka the local tourist bus stop. It gave us a discount on the ride and gave him five liters of gas. We were happy to oblige.
Yes, we are calling it an evening and packing our bags. We hope to make our tight connection on the flight home and welcome your prayers for the same outcome as we begin to think in dollars and time on our terms.
