It’s like “Duck Duck Goose,” but I have to drive the entire way! We survived spring break! A road trip from home to Georgia (where we sat…and enjoyed the sitting and the not DOING ALL THE THINGS and the warm…even if the Georgians thought it was cold, the Chicagoans were super happy with it!) and a brief stint in Florida…where my mother tagged along as an extra adult…and we all survived that too. Although there were times when that was questionable.
In sum, traveling without Ace…it’s okay, but it’s less fun. There were so many instances where I wanted to turn and laugh with him, or point out a silly (or stupid or naughty) sign along the road (thank you Florida for your juxtaposition of anti-choice, bible thumping roadsigns with all the naked lady signs…both things I wasn’t prepared to discuss with my children…) and it just wasn’t as funny by the time I told him over the phone. I LOVED hanging out with B and just having some girl time. That was SERIOUSLY fun, and needed, but Ace can rock being one of the girls for those nights pretty well. He’s also well versed in “oh, I think I’m going to bed now” while she and I stay up all night solving the world’s problems (and planning our take over of the public school system when we get our hands on all the monies!) Traveling to see Grammy without Ace…I don’t think that will happen again. My expectations for helpfulness doesn’t necessarily match what my mom does. And it’s nobody’s fault, and there are many times when I’m not able to communicate to her what I need her to do. I’m used to Ace, who just knows, and does it. And quite frankly, seeing Grammy was very emotional for me, and I’m not even done processing all of it. The realization that the person you have known and loved for 38 years is no longer the person you see before you is a very painful one, even if you’ve seen it coming for 5 – 10 years.
I’m grateful I took a day at Dr. B’s house before I journeyed home. I needed a friend. I was at home for two days before I hoped back in the car to drive to Nashville with 2 girlfriends (ROAD TRIP!) to meet up with a bunch of other gals (SUPER MOOT) for a wedding celebration. There was a lot of shopping (again, you’re welcome economy, I’m definitely doing my part), some drinking, a lot of eating, and a LOT of laughing. While it wasn’t the perfect trip, I can specifically identify how my expectations were off and I can better plan for that for the next get together, if I go (Austin, Texas 2014, ladies!).
Now I’m back at home, with my lovely family. M, my traveling companion, and I, were met with shouts of joy when we returned, and treated to T-3′s Move it Move it dance…and leaping about. I muddled through the first day back at work and I have made some decisions about my job that need to simmer a bit and I have made some decisions about Hedgehog Hollow that will take it in a slightly different, but more doable immediately, direction. I feel more at peace with those decisions. I just need to clean the house and put it back in Elly Order, because whatever the hell tornado came through here (or maybe hurricanes named Ace, Princess Ahem, General Tank and T-3 the Gnome…) left a lot of debris. I ALMOST took a picture of the papers strewn about 3 different surfaces, but I was too twitchy over it.
I’ve made my (rainbow) to do list (no unicorn sparkle glitter orgasms involved, sorry), I am working on organizing my photos (and uhm, deleting some…) both from vacation and ALL THOSE YEARS BEFORE, and trying to get all my ducks in a row before I get goosed.
…see how I brought that around full circle? That was just for you my pretties.
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