After 24 hours in a travel tunnel we made it back to Flagstaff safe and sound! I watched three movies, several documentaries, read a book & finally slept on the last two legs of the journey. After a week of catching up and almost back to normal sleep schedules we both came down with head colds. Then it was off to California to visit family and with 6 stops to make it took 12 days. Now we are back in Flagstaff for a final week of recovery when I fly to Sioux Falls and Paul flies to China with a colleague. I love my husband but after the rigors of travel and being cooped up with him in either a car or a hotel 24/7 for three months, I think a little time away from each other is in order. Once I get to the lake my plan is to “stay put” through the rest of the year. I suppose we will be ready for several short area excursions by late summer/early fall, but that’s all I’m going to be up for until our next adventure to Chili and Argentina in early 2020.
I feel like I should have tales to tell after our road trip to California during which we visited seven different family units, but the best I can do is to remind myself of the “wide range of normal” out there, especially in families. What always strikes me during these visits is how differently various members of the same families often think and live their lives in ways that are very different from ours. The mantra I try to remember in maintaining good family relations is “Don’t judge and celebrate the differences.” This is not always easy but doable with focus and discipline.
Now it is on to packing up so Paul can just load the truck and take off after his return from China in late May. As the years go by there is less and less stuff to cart back and forth. Beyond one container each from the craft room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom we are mostly hauling glass bottles (wine) and canning jars(both full and empty). This is a good thing as there will come a time when we choose to fly instead of drive each season. We are still contemplating if and when to sell our Flagstaff house which will lead to a myriad of decisions surrounding “stuff management.” I have prepared my summer/fall project list, gathered most of my supplies and cobbled together a gardening list so should be ready to “rock and roll” upon returning to the lake this coming weekend. I figure spring gardening and catching up with my neighbors, friends and relatives will take a couple weeks after which I will turn most of my attention to weaving. My goal by the end of the season is to become independent on my rigged heddle table loom which I am sure will lead to some trying moments and a few good laughs. Let summer at the lake commence! 2019