So, this is my pre-whirlwind week, before the real Whirlwind of a week. Yesterday I discovered that my plane departs for parts northeast on Friday morning, not on Saturday, and wow that kind of just changed everything in less than a heartbeat, and a loud gulp (a big thank you to sacred sister-in-law for reminding me what my true itinerary is). I am leaving THIS Friday morning... yikes.
- What shoes do I need? and the more important, what shoes do I want with me?
- Do I really want to take a raincoat, and as Kelly has already said, do I even own a raincoat? [I looked, and in fact, don't seem to own one.]
- Do I pack my paint in my suitcase, only to have it explode?
- Do I have enough electronic devises and chargers to stuff in my bag?
- How will THIS trip be with my family?
- Should I ditch the rental car, or keep it as a possible escape hatch?
- Will my head blow off if I continue to sleep only 4 hours a night and wake up to add more things to my to-do list?
- Will my head blow off regardless of how much sleep I get?
- Will I meltdown somewhere tremendously inappropriate, at some point along this travelling odyssey?
- Will I ever run out of "Don't Forget To's" to add to my list?
- And if I bring only 2 pairs of shoes, which ones will they be?
First stop on the whirlwind express is NH, and a visit with one of my brothers and his family, and I get to meet my new-est niece for the first time in her little life - so looking forward to that... and catch up with my ever so grown up nephew, who is soon to be 5.
She's a bit bigger than this now, but how precious is that little face...
And then down to Boston to surprise my mother on her birthday... I think all the siblings have managed to keep their mouths shut, an all time first for my family, and she has absolutely no idea I am coming (I hope). Regardless, though, I have not celebrated a birthday with my mother [in person] since sometime in the 80s, and it something I am so looking forward to doing with her this year.
Here she is, a 20-something, riding tricycles with me and my brothers... and look, I don't seem quite as concerned about shoes at this age...
And then, it's back to my brother's in NH, visits with cousins and whoever else I can fit in, and soon after a drive further north to Squam.
How is that a week I have been looking forward to for quite a few months is arriving so quickly? How does time do that? How do we move through time, sometimes so oblivious to its passing, and then look up and find a precious moment has arrived, and now is a memory? It remains a deep and sure mystery to me...
And then, as if I weren't distracted enough already, THE book arrived on my doorstep today. Oh happy moments, oh sparkly thoughts, oh, to sit down and commune with this wonder of a book, in between adding things to my to-do list.
Staying on track (a little), staying on course (not at all), and running around the house all day in my jammies (not yelling Squam, but my hair was sure sticking up), designing something, jumping up to go through my travel shampoo and etc's supply, sitting down to design, jumping up to answer the phone, sitting down to gather the thoughts, and jumping up to see if my favourite skirt is clean or if I need to wash it, sitting down again, to unsuccessfully gather the thoughts, jumping up again (I need lunch!). OK, sitting down again and not even attempting to gather anything, just throwing together some random thoughts, some random images, and some earthly distractions.
Here goes nothing, as they say... and also, lest we forget, and since my nephew is very fond of quoting, I really can't forget: "let the rumpus begin"!
You are CRACKING ME UP!!! I am laughing to think of how frantic so many people are this week, getting ready for THE BIG EVENT. So excited to see you...safe travels and have fun with your family. xoxo
Posted by: Swirly | September 03, 2008 at 08:18 AM